Leading kids' network and studio, WildBrain,
appointed by IMPS to manage
iconic Smurfs brand on YouTube
LONDON, Jan. 31, 2019
/CNW/ - WildBrain, a leading digital kids' network and studio, has
been appointed by IMPS (International Merchandising, Promotion and
Services) to be the YouTube manager of the iconic Smurfs brand on
an exclusive worldwide basis. Under the agreement, WildBrain will
assume management of 41 existing localised Smurfs channels for IMPS
and implement a global strategy to grow The Smurfs' audience on
YouTube and YouTube Kids, including optimizing distribution of The
Smurfs content catalogue, beginning with The Smurfs TV
series.
"The Smurfs is a wonderful brand, with humour and characters
perennially loved by kids and families across generations," said
Jon Gisby, Managing Director at
WildBrain. "Using our experience and expertise in igniting such
classic brands through the WildBrain network, we look forward to
building on the success achieved by IMPS, to reach even greater
global audiences for The Smurfs."
"As licensor of The Smurfs, one of our main goals is to bring
our beloved characters to children, their parents and longtime fans
all around the globe, across all cultures and generations, and
spread crucial fun, positive and respectful values," explained
Véronique Culliford, founder and CEO at IMPS. "We are confident
that this collaboration with WildBrain will give our brand the
boost it needs to reach new heights and strengthen our presence on
YouTube."
The Smurfs began life in 1958 as comic book characters created
by Pierre Culliford, better known
under his pseudonym, Peyo, in the series "Johan and Peewit". The
little blue characters' appearance was met with such success that
they went on their own adventures in a dedicated comic book series,
which is still ongoing. In 1981, The Smurf stories were adapted for
television by Hanna-Barbera, a run that lasted for nine seasons and
almost 300 episodes. After the first showing on NBC, a worldwide
roll-out of the classic cartoon series made The Smurfs famous all
over the globe. With three blockbuster animated movies produced by
Sony Pictures, as well as over 120 publishers and 100 broadcasters
in more than 100 territories worldwide, 700 active licenses and
five theme parks, The Smurfs brand is stronger than ever as they
celebrated their 60th anniversary in 2018 and head into
2019 as proud ambassadors of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
And there's more to come with a new 3D-CGI Smurfs series now in
production by Peyo Productions and its co-production partner Dupuis
Édition & Audiovisuel.
About WildBrain
WildBrain is an industry leader in the management and creation
of preschool and children's entertainment content on platforms such
as YouTube, Roku, Apple TV, Amazon Fire and others. WildBrain's
branded YouTube network is one of the largest of its kind,
featuring more than 145,000 videos for over 600 kids' brands in up
to 22 languages. One in three kids worldwide with access to YouTube
watch video on the WildBrain network, which has over 75 million
subscribers, and generated over 161 billion minutes of watch time
across 32 billion views in 2018. Connecting kids' content owners
with advertisers in the Advertising Video-on-Demand (AVOD) space,
the WildBrain network features popular third-party brands such as
Fireman Sam, Woody Woodpecker, Popeye, Shopkins, Irish Fairy Doors
and Ben 10; original brands Kiddyzuzaa and Ellie Sparkles; and much
of DHX Media's world-renowned library of 13,000 half-hours of kids'
and family content, including Peanuts, Teletubbies, Strawberry
Shortcake, Caillou, Inspector Gadget, Degrassi, Yo Gabba Gabba! and many others. WildBrain
Studios also specializes in the creation of new, original content
for its network, such as animated and live-action shorts; toy-play
and stop-motion videos. WildBrain is a wholly owned subsidiary of
DHX Media (TSX: DHX; NASDAQ: DHXM).
Twitter & Instagram: @WildBrainKids
About IMPS (International Merchandising, Promotion and
Services)
IMPS, together with LAFIG Belgium, are the official licensors of
the little blue-skinned characters, The Smurfs, and manage the
rights of their universe and the other characters created by
Pierre Culliford, aka Peyo. Founded
in 1984 by Véronique Culliford, Peyo's daughter, and based in
Genval, Belgium, the company today
has 30+ employees who are busy developing the brand throughout the
world. With the support of the dedicated in-house studio that keeps
Peyo's work alive with new drawings and designs, IMPS operates the
commercial activity of the brand through distribution of
audiovisual productions and rights licensing for book publishing,
merchandising, promotions, exhibitions, theme parks and live shows.
All of which have secured the everlasting success of The Smurfs for
over 60 years.
Disclaimer
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" under
applicable securities laws with respect to DHX Media including,
without limitation, statements regarding expected activities of
WildBrain under its agreement with IMPS and results therefrom and
the business strategies and operational activities of DHX Media and
results therefrom. Although DHX Media believes that the
expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are
reasonable, such statements involve risks and uncertainties and are
based on information currently available to DHX Media. Actual
results or events may differ materially from those expressed or
implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could
cause actual results or events to differ materially from current
expectations, among other things, include consumer preferences,
market factors, the ability of DHX Media to execute on license and
other agreements, and other factors discussed in materials filed
with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time to time
including matters discussed under "Risk Factors" in DHX Media's
most recent Annual Information Form and annual Management
Discussion and Analysis, which also form part of DHX Media's annual
report on Form 40-F filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange
Commission. These forward-looking statements are made as of the
date hereof, and DHX Media assumes no obligation to update or
revise them to reflect new events or circumstances, except as
required by law.
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SOURCE DHX Media Ltd.