Building on the phenomenal success of Pocoyo, Zinkia Entertainment announced today that publishing rights in Italy for the multiplatform global hit property have been granted to the international company De Agostini.
Press Release from Zinkia Entertainment
Madrid, 2 June 2011: Building on the phenomenal success of Pocoyo, Zinkia Entertainment announced today that publishing rights in Italy for the multiplatform global hit property have been granted to the international company De Agostini.
An extensive range of Pocoyo books, starting with a selection of sticker books, flap books, first reading and activities books, are due to hit stores in Italy starting September 2011. De Agostini has mapped out a comprehensive publishing program, which is aimed at a wide demographic of existing and potential new Pocoyo fans.
Matteo Faglia, Children’s Book Publisher at De Agostini Libri said, “We’re very proud that De Agostini is publishing the first Pocoyo books in Italy. Pocoyo has an instinctive ability to connect with audiences worldwide, infusing children, parents and caregivers with laughter, love and great values. In Italy, the TV series is attracting significant audiences and we’re confident that this success will translate positively to the publishing sector.”
Fernando de Miguel, CEO of Zinkia Entertainment, said, “We’re delighted to be partnering with De Agostini and excited that Pocoyo is proving so popular in the Italian market. There’s huge potential for further growth in Italy and we believe, as already proven in Spain, that the brand will become a top seller.”
In August, prior to the book launch, Italian master toy distributor Giocchi Preziosi is rolling out the first Pocoyo toy line in Italy, including a range of beanies , feature plush, Pocoyo SwiggleTraks, activity blocks and a Pocoyo Bump ‘N Go car.
Since airing on Italian state broadcaster RAI 2 from March 2010, and kids’ channel RAI Yoyo since 2007, Pocoyo (104 x 7 minutes) has taken Italy by storm. The series, created by Zinkia Entertainment, reached a 26% share on RAI 2 and an 18% share on RAI Yoyo.
Since Pocoyo first appeared on the small screen in the UK in 2005, the property has attracted a huge global fan base. The CGI animated TV series has been acquired by over 150 broadcasters worldwide, as well as notching up over 450 million hits on YouTube® (www.youtube.com/pocoyo), more than 27 million content downloads from the official Pocoyo website (www.pocoyo.com), over 11 million unique visitors to the virtual world (www.pocoyoworld.com) and securing over 150 licensees worldwide.
Worldwide distribution rights for Pocoyo are handled by Zinkia Entertainment.
About Zinkiawww.zinkia.comZinkia Entertainment, which specialises in the creation and management of entertainment brands for the international market, is primarily involved in the animation business, creating quality content for the audiovisual market as well as interactive content for multi-player console and online games.
Founded in 2001, Zinkia is headquartered in Madrid, with a commercial office in Beijing, China. Zinkia’s TV series and associated merchandising and licensing products are distributed to over 100 territories worldwide. TV credits include the multi-award winning series Pocoyo and the successful series Shuriken School.www.pocoyo.comwww.pocoyoworld.com
About PocoyoThe award-winning animated series, about a young boy’s discovery of the world around him, represents a universe of core values that promotes a philosophy of curiosity, sincerity, tolerance, respect and love. With these guiding principles, Pocoyo fosters “Learning through Laughter,” utilizing a blend of humor and learning which mimics children’s development to inspire and inform children about the world around them.
Recognized as a global hit property, Pocoyo has tallied more than 400 million hits on YouTube (http://www.youtube.com/pocoyo) and has amassed more than 27 million content downloads from the official POCOYO website (www.pocoyo.com). Currently licensed to broadcasters in over 120 territories worldwide, Pocoyo has earned a host of international accolades including a prestigious BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) for Best Animated Preschool Series, three Pucinella Prizes at Italy’s Cartoons on the Bay Festival and Best TV Series at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France.
Pocoyo’s online virtual world, Pocoyoworld.com, has attracted more than 11 million unique visitors, and the Pocoyo app, Pocoyize, which allows users to create their own POCOYO-style avatar, has proven a huge hit both online and via iPhone® with approximately 11 million people Pocoyized to date.
www.mundopocoyo.comwww.youtube.com/pocoyo
About De Agostini Established in 1901, De Agostini is a family-owned international company, that operates in a wide range of industries including publishing, media & communication, gaming and the financial sector.
De Agostini Editore, the sub-holding company for the group’s publishing activities, is present in 30 countries, and publishes a range of titles for all age groups.
De Agostini Communications operates in the media content production sector through its subsidiary Zodiak Entertainment, which is present in over 20 mainly European countries, and in the broadcasting sector through Antena 3 de Televisión (Spain), which is under the joint control of De Agostini Communications and the Spanish shareholder Planeta Corporation.
Rick DeMott
Animation World Network
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