Halifax, NS – 25 April 2016 – DHX Media Ltd. (“DHX” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DHXM; TSX: DHX.A, DHX.B), the world’s leading independent, pure-play kids’ content company, announces the unveiling of Wild Brain Family International Limited (“WildBrain”), a wholly owned subsidiary of DHX which has been an incubator project since 2012. WildBrain operates a Multi-Platform Kids Network dedicated to connecting content owners with advertisers on platforms such as YouTube, Dailymotion and others. WildBrain offers videos for kids from 2-10 years old and generates approximately four-billion minutes of watch time monthly. In the last 12 months, WildBrain has grown significantly across key metrics: On a year-over-year basis for the month of March 2016, revenue grew by 57%, views increased 114% and minutes of watch time rose by 84%, compared to the month of March 2015. In that same period, the number of channels on the network has grown by 147%. Revenues are up 42% for the trailing 12 months ended December 2015, compared to the trailing 12 months ended December 2014.
“We are very pleased to propel WildBrain out of its incubator phase as we continue to execute on our strategy of delivering content to kids on the platforms they prefer,” said Dana Landry, CEO of DHX Media. “The WildBrain team, led by Managing Director John Robson, has done a tremendous job building the business into an additional revenue stream to complement our core distribution business. As more and more kids move to consuming content on mobile devices, we believe WildBrain represents a significant growth opportunity for DHX. Content owners are looking for ways to reach these audiences through networks that span across multiple online video platforms such as YouTube and others. The WildBrain network allows us to leverage the expertise and scale we have gained in monetizing our own library on such platforms, to team up with others and help them achieve their goals.”
John Robson said: “Platforms such as YouTube are where we are increasingly seeing the new generation of children consume content. YouTube is the leading global video platform, and kids’ content is its fastest growing category. At WildBrain, we believe we are the leading experts specializing in delivering content to that audience. Not only are we able to successfully match content with advertisers, but we are also well positioned to create new, original videos to help brand owners extend and further monetize their presence online.”
Alongside the unveiling of WildBrain, DHX is pleased to highlight some of the numerous shows and brands that can be found on WildBrain, which include Mattel’s Bob the Builder, Fireman Sam, Little People and Polly Pocket; Iconix’s Strawberry Shortcake; Turner’s Lazy Town; DHX’s Caillou, Rosie and Jim and Brum; as well as videos featuring Play-Doh; Minecraft; Hachette and many more.
– Please click here to download a PDF presentation on WildBrain –
For more information, please contact:
Financial Media: Shaun Smith – Director, Corporate Communications, DHX Media Ltd.
shaun.smith@dhxmedia.com
+1 416-977-7230
Investor Relations: Nancy Chan-Palmateer – Director, Investor Relations, DHX Media Ltd.
nancy.chanpalmateer@dhxmedia.com
+1 416-977-7358
Trade Media: Aimee Norman at DDA Blueprint PR
aimee@ddablueprint.com
+44 (0) 20 8985 4708
About WildBrain
Wild Brain Family International Limited (“WildBrain”) is an industry leader in the management and creation of preschool and children’s entertainment content on platforms such as YouTube, Dailymotion and others. WildBrain’s branded YouTube network is the largest of its kind, featuring more than 15,000 videos across more than 350 kids’ entertainment channels, including most of DHX’s world-renowned library of more than 11,500 half-hours of kids’ and family content, including classic Teletubbies, Caillou, Inspector Gadget, Degrassi, Yo Gabba Gabba! and many others. WildBrain also specializes in the creation of new original content for its network, such as animated and live-action shorts; toy-play and unboxing videos; book readings; preschool counting and alphabet videos; nursery rhymes and more. Please visit WildBrain online at: www.wildbrain.com.
About DHX Media
DHX Media Ltd. (www.dhxmedia.com) is the world’s leading independent, pure-play kids’ content company. Owner of the world’s largest independent library of kids’ and family content, at more than 11,500 half-hours, DHX Media is recognized globally for such brands as Teletubbies, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Caillou, In the Night Garden, Inspector Gadget, Make It Pop, Slugterra and the multiple award-winning Degrassi franchise. DHX Media is comprised of four main business units: DHX Studios creates high-quality original entertainment at its Vancouver and Halifax animation studios, its Toronto live-action studio, and in working with top international producers; DHX Distribution is a major provider of content to the global market; DHX Television, home to the Family suite of channels, is dedicated to delivering best-in-class programming to Canadian families; and DHX Brands specializes in creating, building and managing high-profile global entertainment brands within the children’s and young-adult markets. DHX Media also owns the full-service international licensing agency, Copyright Promotions Licensing Group Ltd. (CPLG), which represents numerous entertainment, sport and design brands. DHX Media has offices in 15 cities worldwide, including Toronto, Vancouver, Halifax, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Barcelona, Milan, Munich, Amsterdam and Beijing. The Company is listed on the NASDAQ Global Select Market under the ticker symbol DHXM, and on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the ticker symbols DHX.A and DHX.B.
Disclaimer
This press release contains forward looking statements with respect to DHX Media including the growth opportunity for DHX represented by WildBrain, DHX and WildBrain’s ability to create content and successfully partner with brand and content owners, the business strategies of DHX and its operating subsidiary WildBrain, the future operating activities and performance of DHX and its operating subsidiary WildBrain, and the markets and industries, including the preferences of consumers and industry participants and trends, in which such companies operate. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in such forward looking statements are reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and are based on information currently available to the Company. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from current expectations, among other things, include risk factors discussed in materials filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time including matters discussed under “Risk Factors” in the Company’s most recent Annual Information Form and annual Management Discussion and Analysis, which form part of the Company’s registration statement on Form 40-F filed with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date hereof, and the Company assumes no obligation to update or revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as required by law.