London-based Target Ent. Ltd. has moved into the kids and animation market with a new division, which launched its new catalog at this year’s MIPCOM Junior 2003. In addition to international sales across its portfolio of high quality drama and formats, Target’s licensing and merchandising division is flourishing (started October 2002) and the company has firmly established itself in the competitive U.S. market with the opening of its New York office in January 2003. A partnership with CSS Stellar and its sister companies has enabled Target to move from a distribution into a rights management company.
Alison Rayson, ceo of Target Ent., said, “Becoming a rights management business enables us to help both our producer and broadcaster clients. A key part of this repositioning involves our move into children’s live action and animation. We are delighted to have a slate that includes gems from producers like Varga, Happy Life, Absolutely, Screentime and Optical and are confident that our kids shows will be as successful as our drama and entertainment formats have been.’
Target has already signed up major properties for its new portfolio, and is working with leading producers to exploit brand potential of thee intellectual properties. Part of the launch included MEG AND MOG, a kids series based upon the Penguin books which have sold more than three million copies since they originated over 25 years ago; P.E.T. DETECTIVES, an exciting live action/adventure/mystery series from Screentime Communicado, which chronicles the lives and adventures of three “gifted” individuals and their aunt, as they wrestle with spirits and tackle extraordinary beings; and ANIMAL SCHOOL, a witty animation series produced for the BBC, where all sorts of animals attend animal school to learn how to behave like their parents and their parents before them.
In September 2002, entertainment, sports management and marketing company CSS Stellar bought a majority stake in Target.
The new partnership has proven very successful and allowed Target (
www.target-entertainment.com ) to offer fully integrated global rights management involving CSS Stellar and other companies within the group. These include Peters Fraser Dunlop (PFD) Europe’s leading talent and literary agency and The GEM Group (sponsorship).
