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´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide's Children's and Licensing division is heading to Licensing International Expo 2009, in Las Vegas with a plethora of stand-out TV properties.

At Licensing Show 2009 on stand 2811, the commercial arm of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ will be seeking new partners for key properties as they roll-out internationally. These include Ragdoll's award-winning In the Night Garden, Charlie and Lola, the Teletubbies and Little Airplane's latest pre-school show 3rd & Bird!

After a restructure in the latter half of 2008, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide's Children's and Licensing will be at Licensing Show with more adult brands than ever before. The licensor will be showcasing the multitude of licensing opportunities for world-famous brands such as Top Gear, Strictly Come Dancing (known outside the UK as Dancing with the Stars) and Doctor Who.

Newly launched the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Earth brand will be revealed for the first time, bringing together all of the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s natural history content including Planet Earth which has enjoyed licensing success in the U.S. since launch in early 2008. Visible across all platforms, including TV, digital and in future merchandising, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Earth encourages engagement with current programming, classic productions and future commissions and represents the wonder, creativity and passion that the natural world can inspire.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide will also be introducing for the first time two brand new properties – the pre-teen multi-platform Tronji created by Ragdoll Productions and dirtgirlworld a unique music-centric animation. Both will broadcast on the ´óÏó´«Ã½ in 2009.

Images are available for all properties.

IN THE NIGHT GARDEN
´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide has developed a comprehensive licensing campaign for In the Night Garden, produced by Ragdoll Productions and created by Andrew Davenport, who with Anne Wood created the Teletubbies. In the Night Garden has scored a slew of programming and licensing awards since launch in the UK and is now rolling-out internationally. Thirty-three sales to broadcasters have been agreed to date, including Treehouse in Canada, ABC in Australia and the recently announced sale to China’s state-broadcaster CCTV.

In the UK, In the Night Garden was the fastest-growing toy property in its premiere year 2007 and in 2008 was the second largest property in the toy and game market. ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide is now rolling out a full merchandising program to support the brand on a global level, with over 67 licensees currently signed, across all major categories.

In the Night Garden has a strong presence in Australia, winning the Australian Toy Association’s Pre-School Licensed Product of the Year in 2009. Additionally, Penguin's In the Night Garden Little Library Book continues to be the number one best-selling book in the range in Australia.

The brand is also picking up momentum in Canada. Licensed partners in Canada to date include Hasbro (global master toy licensee), Penguin (publishing), Nelvana (DVD), Adorable Kids (sleepwear and underwear), MEGA Brands (construction toys), Tech4Kids (nightlights) and Danawares (puzzles, tents, placements). The first In the Night Garden DVD, 'Welcome to the Garden', will be distributed by Universal on 28th April.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide is currently looking to add new international partners for the hit series, highlighted by the appointment of licensing agents in France (Hasbro Entertainment & Licensing), Benelux (Telescreen) and South Africa (Character Licensing & Marketing).

DOCTOR WHO
The amazing success of Doctor Who continues to build for 2010. This ´óÏó´«Ã½ One Saturday night prime time series of adventures in time and space is "a remarkable demonstration of what is possible in drama for the family" according to the Sunday Times. The show has won over 67 awards include National Television Awards Most Popular Drama 2005-8, and BAFTA Best Drama Series 2006.

Appealing to both young and old, and regularly bringing in massive audiences, (Series 4 averaged 9.4 million viewers in the UK), Doctor Who has firmly established itself as the family drama since 2005 with a mix of adventure, epic storylines, scary monsters and great writing. The franchise has grown with spin-offs in multiple media, including the current television programmes Torchwood for adults and The Sarah Jane Adventures aimed at children.

In 2009 four landmark 60 min TV specials started with Planet of the Dead on Easter Saturday '09, and will culminate in David Tennant's final appearance in the lead role. 2010 sees a dramatic new era for the Doctor. Matt Smith will debut as the Eleventh Doctor for a wholly new 13 x 45 min series under a production team headed by BAFTA-winning writer Steven Moffat, creator of some of the scariest monsters seen on Doctor Who.
The new series also opens up fresh new opportunities for merchandise. With sales of over five million Doctor Who action figures and a Toy of the Year award for their Cyberman helmet (2007), toy licensee Character Options continues to lead the range, supported by a roster of the UK's top manufacturers of clothing, gifts, games, collectibles and homewares.

´óÏó´«Ã½ EARTH
The ´óÏó´«Ã½ is a true global leader in the production of natural history programming and content. With an archive of more than 50,000 hours of awe-inspiring footage spotlighting the people, animals and places that make up this incredible planet, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ has become the lens through which millions of people see the natural world and all its wonder, helping create a greater sense of awareness about our planet.

Now, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ is bringing all of its natural history content together under one brand, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Earth. At Licensing Show 2009, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide will be launching the new genre brand ´óÏó´«Ã½ Earth to prospective partners.

New programmes under the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Earth brand will include Human Planet – a landmark exploration of man. Human Planet is an enthralling celebration of man's ingenious relationship with nature. Each episode delivers untold stories about real people, who today live with nature's extremes - from the hottest jungles to the frozen arctic, the wildest rivers and the mighty oceans, from bountiful grasslands to the barest mountains, the remotest deserts to the busiest urban metropolis. Each story connects you to people who have used their wits to thrive in the most remote locations on our planet.

Award winning photojournalist, Timothy Allen is on location capturing inspiring images perfect for print based licensed products. View a sample of images on his blog -

PLANET EARTH
Planet Earth, the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s epic award-winning production which celebrates the extraordinary beauty of the planet, is the inspiration behind an extensive licensing and merchandising program. ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide, together with licensing agent The Joester Loria Group, is continuing to leverage the tremendous momentum surrounding the brand with the continued development of a robust merchandising program. Designed to inform, entertain and educate, Planet Earth products echo the awe-inspiring visual beauty of the series, creating a greater sense of awareness about our planet.

3rd & BIRD!
´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide recently announced that it has appointed Fisher-Price as the master toy licensee for the landmark new animated pre-school series 3rd & Bird!, commissioned by the ´óÏó´«Ã½. ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide holds the global distribution rights including programme distribution, DVD and merchandising for 3rd & Bird!, which is produced by Little Airplane Productions, creators of the phenomenally successful The Wonder Pets. The series has been created in bold and colourful photo-puppetry animation – a style of animation created by Little Airplane – and is aimed at 3 to 5 year old children.

Through the deal, Fisher-Price has global rights (excluding Asia) to develop pre-school, infant and toddler toys including electronic and non-electronic plastic figurines, toys, vehicles, playsets and feature and standard plush. Fisher-Price’s product line will debut in Spring/Summer 2010 in the UK with the roll-out in other markets, expected to follow.

TOP GEAR
Top Gear is one of the World's most successful motoring entertainment TV shows. In the UK over 33 million people watched the TV programme in 2008 and it is now broadcast in over 100 countries worldwide. As well as being the UK’s biggest selling motoring magazine, it has also spawned 24 licensed international editions.

Top Gear takes a passion for cars and extends it into an entertainment format that is accessible to a broad audience, attracting not only the car enthusiast but also men and boys. In the UK, an impressive 40% of the audience is also made up of women. Top Gear is about having fun. Full of stunts, challenges and special features, there are no boring stats and talk about camshafts and tyre pressures. Instead you get authoritative information and great car reviews without the boring stuff. Cars are just the starting point for epic road trips, over-ambitious projects – and lashings of good old-fashioned mucking about.

Top Gear merchandise is already a proven success with over 20 licensees onboard across both men’s and children’s ranges including a master toy range with WOW! Stuff from Autumn 2009. Other licensed categories include adult T shirts, novelty gifts, toiletries, greetings cards, Scalextric, games, calendars, bedding, posters, seasonal confectionary, lunchware and stationery. Products embody the humour and irreverence of the brand to appeal to a wide market.

TELETUBBIES
Teletubbies, the award-winning preschool series, featuring four colourful characters who live in a futuristic dome, is still riding high with new products being continuously developed and added to the portfolio. ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide holds global rights to the Teletubbies, produced by Ragdoll Productions, and has licensed consumer products since the "fab four's" phenomenally successful launch over a decade ago.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide recently renewed its contract with Tomy as the master toy licensee across Europe for the brand and continues to roll out a popular range of innovative products across categories. ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide is currently looking to add new international partners for the hit series, highlighted by the appointment of a licensing agent in Italy (Business International Company), and the renewal of the licensing agency in Scandinavia.

CHARLIE AND LOLA
Charlie and Lola, which is produced by Tiger Aspect Productions and distributed by ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide, is based on the books by noted British author Lauren Child. The stunning series features a unique collage animation style which captures the liveliness and tone of the original books and is encapsulated in a range of licensed products.

Following the adventures of a lovable brother and sister as they deal with issues many young children encounter, Charlie and Lola currently airs in 36 countries across the World including on CBeebies in the UK and daily in the U.S. on Playhouse Disney.

US toy partner Kids Preferred had a successful launch of Charlie and Lola toys at FAO Schwarz in fall 2008, along with other licensed merchandise including books, DVDs, card and board game, photo albums and travel diaries, from other licensees. Following the huge success of the existing line -- which includes a range of dolls and accessories, play sets and bean bag toys -- Kids Preferred will be extending their range in 2009.

Other licensees in the U.S. to date include: Penguin (publishing), ´óÏó´«Ã½ Home Video (home entertainment), Celebrate Express (paper party goods), Children’s Apparel Network (apparel), Galison Mudpuppy (puzzles), Rix Products (indoor games), Roger LaBorde (stationary) and SaraMax (sleepwear).

´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide is also looking to explore further opportunities with new partners both in the U.S. and across the globe, for the hit series.

STRICTLY COME DANCING/DANCING WITH THE STARS
Strictly Come Dancing first aired in the UK in 2004 and six series later is still at the heart of the ´óÏó´«Ã½'s Saturday night entertainment line-up, with audiences averaging 9 million. Strictly Come Dancing is known as Dancing with the Stars internationally and is a top rating Entertainment show all over the world, regularly ranked amongst the top 2 shows while on air in the UK, Australia and the US where it is produced by ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide Productions for ABC, reaches audiences of over 25 million and has won various Emmy awards in the creative arts categories. ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide has licensed the format of the programme, to over 30 broadcasters across 6 continents.

At Licensing Show 2009, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide will open discussions to extend the success and popularity of the show through licensing across platforms from publishing, events, promotions and with merchandise where a UK roll-out is already underway. Members of the ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide team, headed by Commercial Director of adult brands Gavin Miller, will be showcasing a brand new styleguide and talking to all partners about UK and International opportunities.

In the UK, a range of licensed merchandise for Strictly Come Dancing will target a broad consumer base and launch to time with the seventh series of the show on ´óÏó´«Ã½ One this Autumn. ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide recently announced that the Master Gift License for Strictly Come Dancing has been awarded to Zeon Ltd. Zeon, which will develop a range of stylish back packs, shoulder bags and vanity cases inspired by the glitz and glamour of the show. The extensive range of product planned also includes jewelry, purses and cosmetic bags, and accessories. In addition to the range of gifts, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide has awarded clothing licenses to Aykroyds and TDP Licensing to produce children's and adult nightwear for Strictly Come Dancing. Children's outerwear, including dance daywear, will be created by Cohen and Wilks.

Blueprint is also on board for stationery products, and Danilo will launch a line of calendars and diaries. These new licenses will add to the Strictly Come Dancing publishing program of over 130,000 books sold from ´óÏó´«Ã½ Books, U Music’s Top 5 CD and best-selling workout DVDs from 2 entertain.

BRAND NEW PROPERTIES DEBUTING AT LICENSING SHOW INCLUDE:

TRONJI
Tronji is a landmark multi-media experience - the first of its kind - for 6 to 8 year olds incorporating a CG animated TV series, website and a 3D massively multiplayer online game (MMOG). In the most ambitious project of its kind, the ´óÏó´«Ã½, ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide and Ragdoll Productions have collaborated with online games specialist Nice Tech to develop a fully immersive 3-D world, launching in May in the UK. Early conversations about developing a licensing and merchandising program to support this hugely exciting new project will take place at Licensing Show.

DIRTGIRLWORLD (UK)
´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide holds UK rights to dirtgirlworld, which launches in the UK in September (TV). dirtgirlworld -- a 360°cross-media brand for 3-7 year olds - is a music centric series which explores the natural world and invites the audience to 'go get grubby' in the big world outside. It is engaging for children and allows them to protect the things they love. ´óÏó´«Ã½ Worldwide will be having initial conversation at Licensing Show about developing eco-friendly/green products for roll-out 2010.

DKC

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