Universal Music and Egmont have embarked on a relationship that will see the publishing group produce a wide range of books featuring Uki, the delightful pre-school character currently airing as part of CBeebies’ hugely popular ‘Show Me Show Me’ programme.
Press Release from Universal Music
Universal Music and Egmont have embarked on a relationship that will see the publishing group produce a wide range of books featuring Uki, the delightful pre-school character currently airing as part of CBeebies’ hugely popular ‘Show Me Show Me’ programme. Included within the range will be 10 Minute Tales, Pocket Library books, Annuals, Colouring and Activity books and Story books for the UK.
Uki is Universal Music’s first pre-school animation, an irresistibly cute yellow character who is never without a smile. With an endless curiosity and an innate sense of fun, Uki is a true reflection of his audience. Each of the 52 x 5 minute episodes describes a day in Uki’s life and, from the moment he wakes until it’s time to sleep, Uki takes his young viewers along on his adventures using not words but sounds, laughter and smiles to encourage them to join in his fun. For Uki, a new day is a new adventure.
Winner of the ‘Pitch it’ award at the 2008 KidScreen Summit, Uki has a modular structure that will quickly become familiar to children and their parents. Like any toddler’s day, it starts with Uki waking up and ready to play. Playtime is followed by the chance of a guessing game with Uki, then it’s story time. Finally, there’s a last chance for some more fun before Uki starts to wind down and eventually goes to sleep watched over by gentle Moon.
The show is already airing in Belgium on children’s channels Ketnet and Club RTL and has been sold into Australia, Portugal, Finland, Norway, Poland, Israel, South Africa, Taiwan, the Middle East and S. E. Asia.
Says Neil Jennings, Director of Business Development at Universal Music UK and responsible for the Uki licensing programme, “We are extremely happy to have Egmont as our publishing partner, Uki has a rapidly growing fan base of tiny tots and we already have parents asking when product will be available. Egmont’s range, once in store, will not disappoint!”
David Riley, Managing Director of Egmont Publishing Group added “We are delighted to add Uki to our pre-school catalogue. The programme’s engaging characters and bold style will translate perfectly into books.”
About Universal Music UKUniversal Music UK is a division of Universal Music Group, the world’s leading music company with wholly owned record operations or licensees in 77 countries. Its businesses also include Universal Music Publishing Group, the industry's leading global music publishing operation.
Universal Music Group's record labels include A&M/Octone, Decca, Deutsche Grammophon, Disa, Emarcy, Fonovisa, Interscope Geffen A&M Records, Island Def Jam Music Group, Lost Highway Records, Machete Music, MCA Nashville, Mercury Nashville, Mercury Records, Polydor Records, Show Dog – Universal Music, Universal Motown Republic Group, Universal Music Latino and Verve Music Group as well as a multitude of record labels owned or distributed by its record company subsidiaries around the world. The Universal Music Group owns the most extensive catalogue of music in the industry, which includes the last 100 years of the world's most popular artists and their recordings. UMG’s catalogue is marketed through two distinct divisions, Universal Music Enterprises (in the U.S.) and Universal Strategic Marketing (outside the U.S.). Universal Music Group also includes eLabs, its new media and technologies division; Bravado, its merchandising company; and Twenty-First Artists, its full service management division.
Universal Music Group is a unit of Vivendi, a global media and communications company.
About Egmont UKEgmont is the UK’s top specialist children’s publisher selling more than 25 million books and 12 million magazines each year. The company is home to some of the world’s best loved authors, illustrators and characters such as Michael Morpurgo, Andy Stanton, Michelle Magorian, Julia Donaldson, Winnie-the-Pooh, Wallace & Gromit, Tintin, Mr Men, Thomas the Tank Engine, Barbie, Waybuloo and Ben 10.
Egmont UK is part of the Egmont Group which was founded in 1878. It is Scandinavia’s leading media group and Europe’s largest children’s publisher telling stories through books, magazines, film, TV, music, games and mobile in 30 countries worldwide. www.egmont.co.uk.
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