DHX Media, a leading international producer and distributor of television programming and interactive content, has appointed Universal Pictures UK as home entertainment partner for Rastamouse, the CBeebies stop-motion animated series, which is scoring high ratings on the UK channel and BBC iPlayer.
Press Release DHX Media
Toronto, London 1 September 2011. DHX Media, a leading international producer and distributor of television programming and interactive content, has appointed Universal Pictures UK as home entertainment partner for Rastamouse, the CBeebies stop-motion animated series, which is scoring high ratings on the UK channel and BBC iPlayer.
Universal will release the first Rastamouse DVD on 3 October 2011. It will feature six episodes including Da Crucial Plan, Bakin' an Breakin', Mice Camera Action, Da Rhymin Teef, Pie Widout Cheese and Toots Re-routes alongside exclusive bonus content: three sing-along songs from Rastamouse & Da Easy Crew and fun printable activities. The Rastamouse DVD will retail at £12.99 and will be supported by a TV advertising campaign.
Jessica Horne, A & R Manager for Universal Pictures UK commented: “We’re delighted to be releasing Rastamouse on DVD. In a crowded market, this is a pre-school series with a genuine USP. Rastamouse is the coolest licensed character on the market and the show’s humour and musical content really connect with pre-schoolers and their parents.”
Josh Scherba, SVP Distribution at DHX Media added: “There is a significant demand for Rastamouse DVDs in the UK and in Universal we feel that we have the right partner on board to handle the home entertainment element of the brand. With the album available via EMI and toys set to hit the market through Character Options in the Autumn, there is a growing consumer presence for the brand in the UK which is supported by a strong performance of the series on CBeebies.”
Rastamouse, the animated series based on the critically acclaimed books by Genevieve Webster and Michael De Souza, launched on CBeebies in January 2011 and has since engaged a following of preschoolers and parents alike. The series features Rastamouse, Scratchy and Zoomer of Da Easy Crew, the mystery-solving, reggae-playing band who always make a bad ting good and live by their motto "redemption, not retribution."
A Rastamouse Company Production for CBeebies, Rastamouse is produced by Greg Boardman and Eugenio Perez of Three Stones Media, in association with Dinamo Productions, Little Roots and DHX Media, which handles worldwide TV sales (excluding the UK) and worldwide licensing and merchandising. The production is supported by the Wales Creative IP Fund. Visit www.rastamouse.com. Follow us on Twitter @rastamouse_irie.
About Universal PicturesUniversal Pictures (UK) is a division of Universal Pictures International Entertainment, which is part of NBCUniversal - one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBCUniversal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBCUniversal is 51% owned by Comcast Corporation and 49% owned by General Electric.
About DHX Media Ltd. DHX Media Ltd. is an international leader in television production and distribution, interactive content and entertainment licensing. With offices in Toronto, Halifax, Vancouver and Los Angeles and three award-winning production facilities, including the recently acquired W!LDBRAIN Entertainment, DHX Media is the producer or co-producer of over 40 original television series and maintains a library of over 2,300 half-hours of television productions that spans both animated and live action programming. Live action series include That's So Weird, How to be Indie and This Hour Has 22 Minutes; animated series include Animal Mechanicals, Kid vs Kat, dirtgirlworld, Franny's Feet, Martha Speaks and new preschool show Rastamouse. DHX Media Ltd. shares are listed on the TSX, the Toronto Stock Exchange. www.dhxmedia.com
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