Poppy Cat sold to France Télévisions

Leading kids’ entertainment specialist, CAKE has today announced it has sold Coolabi’s animated preschool series Poppy Cat to France Télévisions. The deal continues a raft of sales that has seen the series sold to many broadcasters across the world following its global premiere on Nick Jr. UK in May 2011.

The series has already been placed with Disney Junior in Spain and Latin America, Al Jazeera Children’s Channel, e-vision  (U.A.E),  SVT (Sweden), S4C (Wales), EBS Korea, OKTO Singapore, Nickelodeon Australia, TVO (Canada), Knowledge Network (Canada), NRK (Norway), RTÉ (Ireland) and most recently CITV (UK).

Poppy Cat follows the playful cat with the big personality, along with her colourful companions, on inspiring adventures to amazing places.Poppy Cat’s imagination fuels each and every episode and when you’re with Poppy Cat, anything can happen. The preschool series is based on the international best-selling and award-winning books of the same name by Lara Jones.

Proving popular with viewers on both sides of the Atlantic, Poppy Catis a top five show on commissioning channel Nick Jr. UK as well as being a top-rating show on Sprout in the US.

Poppy Cat is planned to launch on France 5 from July 2012.

Ed Galton, COO and Managing Director, CAKE said: “France Télévisions is a perfect home for Poppy Cat and her friends. We are delighted with the success of the series and it exemplifies the type of content CAKE looks to acquire – one that is beautifully made and can resonate with children across the globe.”

As well as being a co-producer, Coolabi also handles all merchandising programmes for Poppy Cat internationally and has been working hardon deals for the property in a number of territories. Eleven licensees have been signed to date in the UK, with product launching in autumn 2012. JLG has been appointed as licensing agent for North America and a number of other agents are in discussion to represent Poppy Cat around the world, including in France.

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Notes to Editors:

About CAKE:

CAKE is one of the world’s leading kids’ and family entertainment specialists. The London based company, created in 2002, works withanimation and live action production companies from around the world to develop, produce, commercially position and manage their IP propositions for international market.

http://www.cakeentertainment.com/

 

About Coolabi:

Coolabi is a leading provider of high quality children’s and family entertainment, internationally, across all media. Coolabi’s expertise lies in development and brand management, particularly through the channels of TV production and licensing and merchandising.

The company operates across a number of genres and the current portfolio includes Poppy Cat, Purple Ronnie and Scarlett & Crimson. Via its subsidiary, Coolabi Publishing, the company also owns a number of classic literary estates, including Eric Ambler.  In addition Coolabi also represents certain brands, including Bagpuss, Clangers, and Ivor the Engine on behalf of Smallfilms and Peter Firmin.

For more information and a background on the company visitwww.coolabi.com.

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CAKE’s press contacts:                  

Franklin Rae Communications

+44 (0) 20 7490 4050

Robyn Vanoli-Salmon      robyn@franklinrae.com

Jessica Bromley               jessica@franklinrae.com

Coolabi secures terrestrial broadcast deal for UK

Leading children’s and family entertainment producer and rights management company Coolabi has secured a major UK terrestrial broadcast deal with CITV for its property Poppy Cat.

CITV has acquired the 52 x 11 minute animated series, which has been airing successfully on commissioning broadcaster Nick Jr UK since May 2011, and will be broadcast on CITV from this Spring.

Poppy Cat brings to life the wonderful world of the pre-school children’s character created by Lara Jones in the book series that has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. The series is co-produced by Coolabi’s television production arm Coolabi Productions and the Emmy shortlisted and BAFTA award-winning King Rollo Films.

This important new UK terrestrial deal for Poppy Cat follows on from previous sales to more than 20 broadcasters in other international territories including Sprout in the US, Disney Junior in Spain and Latin America, Nick Jr Australia, RTE Ireland, across Scandinavia, and TVO, SCN and Knowledge Network in Canada.

Michael Dee, Director of Content at Coolabi says: “Securing a terrestrial deal with CITV for Poppy Cat in the UK is terrific news. This latest signing with yet another huge broadcast partner demonstrates the enormous appeal that Poppy Cat has, both in the UK and internationally.”

Jamila Metran, Programme Manager, CITV adds: “We are delighted to be partnering with Coolabi to be the UK terrestrial home for Poppy Cat. The series is a perfect fit for Mini CITV, encouraging our viewers to learn through fun and imaginative play.”

For further information contact DDA Blueprint PR:

Janet Balmforth Tel: +44 (0) 20 8868 0511 / + 44 7748 185656

or Email: janet@ddablueprintpr.com

 

For CITV: Charlotte Partleton Tel: +44 (0) 207 157 3056 or Email:charlotte.partleton@itv.com

 

About Coolabi

Coolabi is a leading provider of high quality children’s and family entertainment, internationally, across all media.
Coolabi’s expertise lies in development and brand management, particularly through the channels of TV production and licensing and merchandising.

The company operates across a number of genres and the current portfolio includes Poppy Cat, Purple Ronnie and Scarlett & Crimson.

Via its subsidiary, Coolabi Publishing, the company also owns a number of classic literary estates, including Eric Ambler.  In addition Coolabi also represents certain brands, including Bagpuss, Clangers, and Ivor the Engine on behalf of Smallfilms and Peter Firmin.

For more information and a background on the company visit www.coolabi.com.

About CITV

CITV is ITV’s dedicated children’s brand broadcasting across both the terrestrial and digital platforms. The CITV channel was launched on March 6, 2006 and is uniquely aimed at both the preschool and 4-12 year old audience. 

CITV offers a wide mix of programming including entertainment, comedy and animation which aim to both entertain and inform its young audiences.  CITV’s programming focuses on original UK productions with additional series.

Coolabi secures US home entertainment deal

Leading children’s and family entertainment producer and rights management company Coolabi has secured a U.S. home entertainment and digital distribution deal with Entertainment One (eOne) for its hit animated property Poppy Cat.

eOne, a leading international company with a growing portfolio of family programming in the U.S., plans to launch Poppy Cat on DVD this coming Fall.

Poppy Cat debuted on Sprout in November and has already been extremely well received by pre-schoolers in the U.S.  The brand also has a licensing presence in North America through local agent The Joester Loria Group, which is currently in discussions with potential partners for toy and other key categories.

Michael E. Rosenberg, President Film & Distribution at Entertainment One U.S., says:  “As eOne continues to expand our family programming in the U.S., we are delighted to partner with Coolabi on such a wonderful and enriching, new children’s property as Poppy Cat.”

Michael Dee, Director of Content at Coolabi, says: “We are thrilled by the response to Poppy Cat in the U.S. since its launch on Sprout this past November, and we are equally delighted to be partnering with a company of eOne’s stature in this important territory to extend the adventure for youngPoppy Cat fans.”

Poppy Cat brings to life the wonderful world of the pre-school children’s character created by Lara Jones in the book series that has sold over 2.5 million copies worldwide. The series is co-produced by Coolabi’s television production arm Coolabi Productions and the Emmy shortlisted and BAFTA award-winning King Rollo Films.

Commissioned by Nick Jr UK, Poppy Cat has been sold to more than 20 broadcasters around the world including Disney Junior in Spain and Latin America, Nick Jr Australia, RTE Ireland, across Scandinavia and the Middle East, and to TVO, SCN and Knowledge Network in Canada.

For further information contact Blueprint PR:

Janet Balmforth Tel: +44 (0) 20 8868 0511 or Email:janet@blueprintpr.co.uk

About Coolabi

Coolabi is a leading provider of high quality children’s and family entertainment, internationally, across all media.

Coolabi’s expertise lies in development and brand management, particularly through the channels of TV production and licensing and merchandising.

The company operates across a number of genres and the current portfolio includes Poppy Cat, Purple Ronnie and Scarlett & Crimson.

Via its subsidiary, Coolabi Publishing, the company also owns a number of classic literary estates, including Eric Ambler.  In addition Coolabi also represents certain brands, including Bagpuss, Clangers, and Ivor the Engine on behalf of Smallfilms and Peter Firmin.

For more information and a background on the company visit www.coolabi.com.

About Entertainment One

Entertainment One Ltd. (LSE:ETO) is a leading international entertainment company that specializes in the acquisition, production and distribution of film and television content. The company’s comprehensive network extends around the globe including Canada, the U.S., the UK, Ireland, Benelux, France, Germany, Scandinavia, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Through established Entertainment and Distribution divisions, the company provides extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production, family programming and merchandising and licensing. Its current rights library is exploited across all media formats and includes more than 20,000 film and television titles, 2,500 hours of television programming and 45,000 music tracks.