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Henson's HIP Acquires Global Rights to 'Driftwood Bay'

Henson Independent Properties acquires the global rights to Sixteen South Television’s new animated preschool series, Driftwood Bay.

Broadening its relationship with Sixteen South Television, HIP (Henson Independent Properties) has secured the global consumer products rights (with the exception of UK and Ireland) to Sixteen South’s new mixed media, animated preschool series, Driftwood Bay.  HIP has served as the property’s exclusive worldwide distributor since January 2013.  The announcement was made by Melissa Segal, executive vice president, global consumer products, The Jim Henson Company, and Sixteen South Television’s Founder and Creative Director, Colin Williams.

“Media distribution and consumer products licensing are closely aligned in today’s global marketplace, especially in the children’s entertainment arena,” said Segal.  “We saw an incredible opportunity to grow the reach of this endearing and unique new series by strategically aligning our consumer products plans with the distribution plans, combining Henson’s extensive licensing relationships and its television network partnerships. Now, HIP can efficiently orchestrate an extensive worldwide brand launch for Driftwood Bay across all appropriate platforms and consumer product lines.  We believe that Driftwood Bay is very merchandisable and will be widely accepted by every major market.” 

“We have complete confidence that the Henson team has our property’s best interest in mind, whether it’s securing broadcast carriage, developing licensed products and merchandise or introducing the brand to consumers,” added Sixteen South’s Williams.  “With HIP driving the global introduction and launch of Driftwood Bay, we know the property will have a long and successful future.” 

Season one of Driftwood Bay (52 x 7’ episodes) is currently in production with delivery slated for spring 2014. International broadcasters currently on board to air the series, include ABC Australia, Nick Jr. (U.K.), RTE (Ireland) and Sprout in the U.S.  Driftwood Bay follows the imaginative adventures of five-year-old Lily who lives in a beach hut with her Dad on an island. Each day, Lily uses her creativity and imagination to have wonderful adventures with colorful characters inspired by the extraordinary items that she finds washed ashore on the island’s beach. With her trusted friend Gull, the clever seagull, by her side, Lily travels to Driftwood Bay, Lily’s make-believe island, to engage in fabulous adventures with island’s creatures.  And with each new treasure that washes ashore, Lily invents another exciting adventure based on the item’s importance to her friends living on Driftwood Bay.         

With a script edited by Sam Barlow (Thomas and Friends, Bob the Builder), Driftwood Bay is inspired by the artwork of Joanne Carmichael, a mixed media artist whose work comprises items salvaged from the beach near her home on Scotland’s Isle of Arran. Storylines for the series encourage youngsters to create their own fun and adventures, finding inspiration from the everyday and unusual items that appear in our lives.

Source: Henson Independent Properties

Jennifer Wolfe's picture

Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.

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