Announces Host of International TV Sales
13 June, 2012 – Following a hugely-successful launch on CBeebies in the UK, FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has today announced a deal with leading European Toy Company Giochi Preziosi for the Master Toy rights of Tree Fu Tom.
Under the deal, Giochi Preziosi will manufacture and distribute a range of Tree Fu Tom toys, including action figures, playsets, role play items and vehicles, both in the UK and across Europe and will have the exclusive right to manufacture the Licensed Products for sale anywhere In Europe, the Middle East and Africa.
In addition, FME has announced new sales for the interactive preschool TV series to broadcasters across the globe. The magical, adventure-comedy has been acquired by Switchover Media (K2 and Frisbee) in Italy, NRK in Norway, YLE in Finland, Knowledge Network in British Columbia, BBC Kids in Canada, and VRT (Ketnet) in Belgium.
Sander Schwartz, President, Kids & Family Entertainment, FME, said, “Today’s news confirms Tree Fu Tom’s status as the major new player in the global pre-school market. With a significant partnership in place with one of the world’s leading and most experienced companies in the toy market, TV sales to a number of key international broadcasters, consistently superhero ratings on CBeebies and loads more exciting news in the pipeline, it really is Tree Fu Go!”
Giochi Preziosi’s Licensing Director, Graziano Delmaestro, further commented: “Tree Fu Tom will be a significant and valuable addition to our portfolio for younger children. This property has many unique qualities that have truly captivated the TV audience and we look forward to producing a collection that similarly captures the magic and interaction that has made the series so exceptional. With its developmental aspects Tree Fu Tom is both loved by children and trusted by parents, and we naturally feel privileged to be working together with FME and CBeebies on the project.”
Tree Fu Tom was an instant hit on CBeebies as it cast a spell over the viewing audience, becoming the channel’s number one show of 2012. Gaining traction with older children as well, in May it overcame stiff competition to become the most watched kids show in the UK. (Source: BARB, consolidated data)
Aimed at 3-6 year olds, Tree Fu Tom combines innovative elements of heroic action, fantasy and magic, coupled with unique interactive physical activity. Set in an enchanted world where movement creates magic, viewers are encouraged to interact with the show through physical actions that have been devised and approved by movement development specialists to assist in the development of children. Former Doctor Who stars Sophie Aldred and David Tennant voice the lead characters Tom and Twigs.
With animation by the award-winning Blue Zoo Animation, Tree Fu Tom is a British co-production between FME and the BBC for CBeebies. The executive producers for the BBC are Jackie Edwards and Alison Stewart, and Bob Higgins and Sander Schwartz for FME. Tree Fu Tom was created and is produced by Daniel Bays.
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About FME Kids & Family Entertainment
FME Kids & Family Entertainment division was founded in 2009 and has quickly become a worldwide leader in the family entertainment business. With 15 titles in production in collaboration with top producers on four continents, FME Kids & Family Entertainment is already one of the most prolific independent producers and distributors of content in the sector today. Its growing portfolio of content spans across four key genres: preschool, kids comedy, action/adventure and tween/teen fare. FME Kids & Family Entertainment is bringing to networks around the world innovative and exciting shows for television and new media platforms in live-action, 2D animation, CGI, stop-motion, puppetry and real-time animation with programming targeting demographics ranging in scope from preschool through high school.
ABOUT FREMANTLEMEDIA ENTERPRISES & FREMANTLEMEDIA
FremantleMedia is one of the leading creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world. FremantleMedia is part of the RTL Group, Europe's largest television and radio broadcast company, which is in turn 90 percent owned by Bertelsmann AG, one of the world's major media and entertainment companies. FremantleMedia’s worldwide production arm is responsible for many of the world’s highest rated prime time entertainment, drama, serial drama and factual entertainment programmes. FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for all Licensing, Distribution and Home Entertainment around the world. The FremantleMedia Group (which includes FremantleMedia North America, UFA, FremantleMedia UK, FremantleMedia Australia and Original Productions amongst others) has operations in 22 countries, one of the most comprehensive global networks, creating nearly 10,000 hours of programming a year, rolling out more than 60 formats and managing over 300 individual titles. FremantleMedia has some of the world’s most sought after and long running formats in its catalogue, and globally, produces such programmes as: Idols (co-produced with 19 Productions in the US), Hole In The Wall, Got Talent (co-produced with Syco in the UK and the US), The X Factor (co-produced with Syco in the UK), Take Me Out, Family Feud, The Price is Right, Farmer Wants A Wife, Gute Zeiten Schlechte Zeiten, and Neighbours.
About CBeebies
CBeebies is dedicated to delighting and surprising its young audience and it remains the UK's most watched and most loved channel for the under-sixes. Half of the target audience tune in every week (parents and carers with children aged 0-3 and four- to six-year-olds in digital homes) with 57% saying it is one of their favourite channels. Our reach is almost three times that of our nearest competitor.
Our most popular shows include In the Night Garden, Something Special, Justin’s House and Waybuloo. New shows this year include Andy’s Wild Adventures and Tree Fu Tom together with new episodes of the popular series Mr Bloom’s Nursery and Rastamouse. The CBeebies website is also hugely popular with our young audience and their parents and helps extend the ‘learning through play’ philosophy. Last year it averaged over 890k unique users. CBeebies has been crowned BAFTA’s Children’s Channel of the Year for the second year running and is Freesat’s Channel of the Year.
About The Giochi Preziosi Group
Founded in 1978 by Enrico Preziosi, the Giochi Preziosi Group, is today one of the world’s leading companies in the toy market and the unrivalled market leader in Italy. In addition to the production and distribution of a wide range of toys, Giochi Preziosi has implemented over many years an important diversification process that has lead to outstanding business results in a variety of other sectors including food, apparel, retail and childcare products. Headquartered in Italy, Giochi Preziosi has embarked upon a path of international growth by creating subsidiaries in key European markets over the years and now the company is present in France, Greece, Spain, UK, Germany and Turkey, asserting globally its successful business model. In January 2008 the company also established a direct presence in the United States with the firm objective to develop and leverage its properties in the largest toy market in the world. Giochi Preziosi currently employs around 3000 people and the turnover of fiscal year 2011 was over 1 billion Euro.
For more information please contact:
Valerie Taylor
Publicity Consultant Kids & Family FremantleMedia Enterprises
07889 666594
valerie@valerie-taylor.co.uk
Mary Jones
Interim Sr. PR Manager
FremantleMedia Enterprises
Tel: 0207 7691 6515
Mary.jones@fremantlemedia.com
For Giochi Preziosi
Michele Bates
Evolution PR
01327 701 706
Michele@evolution-pr.co.uk