Mercis Media appoints WildBrain to grow the
popular kids' brand, Miffy, on YouTube
LONDON, UK, Feb. 7, 2019
/CNW/ - WildBrain, a leading digital kids' network and studio, has
been appointed by Mercis Media BV to manage and grow the YouTube
presence of the popular kids' brand, Miffy, on an exclusive
worldwide basis.
Created in 1955 by celebrated Dutch author and artist
Dick Bruna, Miffy is a
multi-entertainment brand featuring an adorable white bunny loved
by generations of children worldwide. In addition to animated
content, the brand enjoys extensive global consumer products
programs in publishing, toys and home wares.
Utilizing their expertise at brand management and monetizing
content, WildBrain plans to grow Miffy's YouTube audience with a
strategy that includes the relaunch of the Miffy English
channel with a focus on the US market; the launch of new Miffy
channels in French, Spanish, Japanese, Korean and Brazilian
Portuguese; and the optimization of existing channels in Dutch,
Italian, German and Russian. WildBrain will manage a library of
more than 200 Miffy videos across these channels, many being shared
on YouTube for the first time.
Jon Gisby, Managing Director,
WildBrain, said: "Miffy is a sensation around the world. For
generations, her fans both young and old have celebrated
Dick Bruna's artistry through books,
animated content and consumer products. We are thrilled that Mercis
Media recognized WildBrain's expertise at managing brands on
YouTube and we look forward to working with them to help grow
Miffy's audience."
Marja Kerkhof, Managing Director
of Mercis, said: "We are very excited to become part of a strong
platform that reaches global audiences on YouTube. We are dedicated
to bringing the heritage of Dick
Bruna into the lives of young children around the world.
Teaming up with WildBrain is an excellent opportunity to further
grow our Miffy fan base on YouTube and create more channels."
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 Mercis Media BV
Founded in 1971 and with its head office in the Netherlands, Mercis bv owns the copyright
to Miffy and Friends and is the brand's worldwide licensor.
It has over 250 licensees for Miffy worldwide, featuring over
10,000 unique products, including videos, plush, apparel, toys and
accessories. Dick Bruna's books, over 120 titles, help young
children understand the world around them with familiar story
lines. Mercis' division, Mercis Media, is responsible for the
production and distribution of the Miffy TV-series. Mercis
will celebrate Miffy's 65th anniversary in 2020. For
further Miffy news and information see: www.miffy.com
For more information about Mercis, please contact:
info@mercis.nl
Disclaimer
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" under
applicable securities laws with respect to DHX Media including,
without limitation, statements regarding WildBrain's strategy under
its agreement with Mercis Media and results therefrom, including
growth of Miffy's YouTube audience, and the business strategies and
operational activities of DHX Media. 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.