Halifax, NS – 21 June 2016 – DHX Brands, the dedicated brand-management and consumer-products arm of DHX Media (“DHX” or the “Company”) (NASDAQ: DHXM; TSX: DHX.A, DHX.B), is teaming up with Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, one of the world’s leading children’s book publishers, in a new publishing program based on the beloved pre-school property, Teletubbies. Under the agreement, which encompasses the US and Canada and which was brokered by CPLG North America, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing will produce a range of books based on the new Teletubbies series, under its Simon Spotlight imprint. Product will include a wide array of story, board and novelty books, with the first titles expected to launch in the U.S. and Canada in 2017.
Tom Roe, Commercial Director, DHX Brands, said: “Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing is a perfect licensee for Teletubbies, with a strong presence in North America and a fantastic reputation. Books are a significant segment of pre-school consumer products and we’re excited to work with one of the world’s leading publishers on high-quality innovative products as a core component of the Teletubbies offering. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing joins a growing, world-class team of Teletubbies licensees as we continue to rollout this iconic brand worldwide.”
“The original Teletubbies show was a phenomenal hit that made Dipsy, Laa-Laa, Po and Tinky Winky instantly recognizable,” said Valerie Garfield, VP, Publisher of Novelty and Licensed Publishing at Simon Spotlight. “Their colorful, charming, and just-right age appropriate stories make them ideal entertainment for the pre-school audience and, with the new series now airing in North America, we knew that the time was right to bring the brand back with a new series of books. We couldn’t be more thrilled to be working with DHX Brands and helping to have a whole new generation say ‘Eh Oh!’”
The new Teletubbies debuted on Nick Jr. in the U.S. on May 30, 2016 and is also airing on Family Jr. in Canada. Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing joins a growing cohort of North American licensees for the popular brand, including the previously announced Spin Master (North American Master Toy), Accessory Innovations (Bags Backpacks, Hats), SG Company (Footwear), Franco Manufacturing (Juvenile Bedding), Betesh (Toddler Bedding), and VTech (ELAs). Worldwide to date, more than 65 licensing deals have been signed for the new Teletubbies.
Global phenomenon Teletubbies first launched in March 1997 and became one of the most successful global children’s brands of all time. It has reached more than 1 billion children to date and the original episodes have aired in over 120 territories in 45 different languages. It was the very first western pre-school property to air on China’s CCTV reaching an audience of 300 million children. Its enduring resonance with children is further underscored by the brand’s postings on YouTube which reach over 97 million views per month.
For more information, please contact:
Trade Media: Aimee Norman at DDA Blueprint PR
aimee@ddablueprint.com
+44 (0) 20 7932 9800
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
Publishing Media: Jodie Hockensmith – Associate Director of Publicity, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
jodie.hockensmith@simonandschuster.com
+1 212-698-1135
About DHX Brands
DHX Brands is the dedicated brand-management and consumer-products arm of DHX Media Ltd. (NASDAQ: DHXM; TSX: DHX.A, DHX.B) (www.dhxmedia.com), a leading creator, producer, marketer and broadcaster of family entertainment. DHX Brands specializes in creating, building and maintaining high-profile global entertainment brands within the children’s and young-adult markets. With expertise in brand development, licensing, marketing and creative, we develop brands which captivate and inspire through engaging content, first-class distribution, quality consumer products, immersive live experiences, and digital media. DHX Brands’ world-class portfolio includes Teletubbies, Twirlywoos, In the Night Garden, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Caillou, Make It Pop!, Slugterra, and Degrassi. DHX Brands has offices in London, Toronto and Los Angeles.
About Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing
Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, one of the leading children’s book publishers in the world, is comprised of the following imprints: Aladdin, Atheneum Books for Young Readers, Beach Lane Books, Libros para niños, Little Simon®, Margaret K. McElderry Books, Paula Wiseman Books, Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, Simon Pulse, and Simon Spotlight®. While maintaining an extensive award-winning backlist, the division continues to publish acclaimed and bestselling books for children of all ages. In addition to numerous Caldecott, Newbery, and National Book Award winners, Simon & Schuster publishes such high-profile properties and series as Eloise, Olivia, Raggedy Ann & Andy™, Henry & Mudge®, The Hardy Boys®, Nancy Drew®, the Dork Diaries series, the Mortal Instruments series, Mike the Knight, and the original Cupcake Diaries and Creepover series. For more information about Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com.
Simon & Schuster, a part of CBS Corporation, is a global leader in the field of general interest publishing, dedicated to providing the best in fiction and nonfiction for consumers of all ages, across all printed, electronic, and audio formats. Its divisions include Simon & Schuster Adult Publishing, Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing, Simon & Schuster Audio, Simon & Schuster Digital, and international companies in Australia, Canada, India, and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit our website at www.simonandschuster.com
Disclaimer
This press release contains “forward-looking statements” under applicable securities laws with respect to DHX including, without limitation, statements regarding the consumer products offerings and timing of the release of such offerings for Teletubbies, as well as the licensing, broadcast, expected growth, and business strategies in respect of Teletubbies. 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 or events 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 Annual Information Form and annual Management Discussion and Analysis, which also form part of the Company’s annual report on Form 40-F filed with the SEC. 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.