10 new deals bring total broadcasters and
streaming platforms for award-winning animated series up to
40
HALIFAX, Dec. 12, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - DHX Media (or the
"Company") (TSX: DHX, NASDAQ: DHXM), a global children's content
and brands company, is pleased to announce that it has struck ten
new distribution deals for the hit family series, The Deep,
bringing the total number of broadcasters and streaming platforms
for the CGI-animated underwater adventure series up to 40 globally.
The news follows a 2018 BAFTA (British Academy of Film and
Television Arts) nomination for best International Animation for
season two of The Deep, co-produced by DHX Media and A Stark
Productions.
New deals for season three of The Deep, which was
commissioned by ABC Australia earlier this year, have been struck
by DHX Media with CBBC (UK), Super RTL (Germany), VRT (Belgium), NRK (Norway), KidsZone(Baltics), S4C (UK and
Wales), SVT (Sweden), and TVP (Poland), in addition to previously announced
deals with Netflix (worldwide) and Family CHRGD (Canada). DHX Media has also signed two
new distribution deals for seasons one and two of The Deep,
with France Televisions (France)
and RTP (Portugal). Seasons one
and two of The Deep air in 190 countries.
"From the moment it premiered, The Deep has resonated
with kids and families for its wonderful animation and strong
storytelling," said Jerry Diaz, VP
Distribution, DHX Media. "The series continues to generate strong
sales into markets around the world, and the talented creative team
behind The Deep have done an amazing job on season three,
delivering a great new set of adventures for broadcasters and
streaming platforms to share with audiences."
About season three
The Deep follows the adventures of the Nekton
family—a brilliant team of underwater explorers. With
state-of-the-art technology and an unquenchable thirst for
discovery, the Nektons explore the mysterious depths of the ocean,
where most of our world lies unexplored and unexplained.
In season three, the Nektons are back and the Monumentials—huge
creatures capable of changing the world—are waking from their long
slumber! To put the giants back to sleep, Ant, Fontaine, Will and
Kaiko must find the ancient city of Lemuria and harness its secret.
Dangerous pirates, fantastic creatures and tantalizing mysteries
will confront them along the way. But even with unexpected help
from Jeffrey the Fish, they're running out of time.
About The Deep
The Deep is a co-production between Australia-based A Stark Production (scripts,
design and music) and Canada-based
DHX Media (animation, voices and post-production), with
distribution also handled by DHX Media. Technicolor, underlying
rights holder to The Deep, has oversight of the brand's
licensing extensions, with CPLG, a DHX Media company and one of the
world's leading licensing agencies, serving as the multi-territory
licensing agent for the brand, including North America, EMEA (excluding Germany) and Latin
America.
The Deep is based on the Aurealis Award-winning graphic
novel series of the same name, created by multi-award-winning,
best-selling comic book author and playwright Tom Taylor (All-New Wolverine, Earth
2, Superior Iron Man, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight,
Injustice: Gods Among Us, Star Wars: Blood Ties). The graphic
novel series is illustrated by James
Brouwer (Justice League Beyond) and published by
Gestalt Comics.
The Deep is a global hit that has garnered numerous
industry awards and accolades, including a 2018 BAFTA
nomination for best International Animation, Best Music for
Children's Television at the 2018 Screen Music Awards in
Australia, the 50th
Annual AWGIE Awards in Australia
for Children's Television (5-14 years old), the 2017 Kidscreen
Award for Best New Series (Kids Category), the Golden Sparrow Award at the 2017 German
Children's Media Festival.
The Deep toys debuted in Fall 2018 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, UK and Nordic countries, and
quickly became Simba Toy's
bestselling boys' property in Germany. Bloomsbury has debuted a range of
books based on the series in the UK and Australia, including young fiction, an
official handbook and activity-based books; and Blue-Ocean
Magazines launched The Deep magazine in Germany. A larger rollout of toys, books and
more is expected in spring 2019 in these territories as well as
France.
About DHX Media
DHX Media Ltd. (TSX: DHX, NASDAQ:
DHXM) is a global children's content and brands company, recognized
for such high-profile properties as Peanuts, Teletubbies,
Strawberry Shortcake, Caillou, Inspector Gadget, and the
acclaimed Degrassi franchise. One of the world's foremost
producers of children's shows, DHX Media owns the world's largest
independent library of children's content, at 13,000 half-hours. It
licenses its content to broadcasters and streaming services
worldwide and generates royalties through its global consumer
products program. Through its subsidiary, WildBrain, DHX Media
operates one of the largest networks of children's channels on
YouTube. Headquartered in Canada,
DHX Media has offices worldwide. Visit us at
www.dhxmedia.com.
About A Stark Production
A Stark Production Pty. Ltd
(ASP) is a leader in the creative development and production of
quality children's animation and teams with global partners to
deliver successful internationally co-produced shows. From its
inception the company has been led by Avrill Stark, an independent and highly
creative producer who has teamed with companies to produce series
across a broad age range, preschool – teens. She has received many
nominations and awards for outstanding animation: the prestigious
UNICEF Award at Annecy, the Elan Award for Best Animated
Television Production and numerous nominations for the Australian
Film Industry (AFI) Awards. ASP prides itself on the development of
both series and feature films with a diverse appeal both in
animation and live action for children. Above all we make
'having fun' a priority in our pursuit of excellence!
About Technicolor
The Technicolor Animation &
Games family is home to world-leading creative and technology
professionals committed to the development, creation, management,
and delivery of animated entertainment content. Technicolor
has development offices in Los
Angeles and Paris and
maintains studios in Paris,
Montreal, Belgium, and Bangalore, creating high-quality
computer-generated animation for motion pictures, television,
direct-to-home, video games, 3D/4D location-based entertainment,
and other content platforms. Our Technicolor Animation
Productions (TAP) and Technicolor Creative Development (TCD)
groups are well-suited to produce content starring world-beloved
characters, as well as develop and produce original intellectual
properties. Technicolor partners with studios, networks, and
licensing partners to create brands and amplify established
ones.
About CPLG
CPLG (www.cplg.com) is one of the world's
leading entertainment, sport and brand licensing agencies with
offices in the UK, Benelux, Nordics, France, Germany, Italy, Spain,
Sweden, Poland, Middle
East, Greece &
Turkey and the US. Owned by DHX
Media (www.dhxmedia.com) a leader in the creation, production and
licensing of family entertainment rights, CPLG has more than
40 years of experience in the licensing industry. It provides each
of its clients with dedicated licensing and marketing industry
professionals and a fully-integrated product development, legal and
accounting service. CPLG believe that partnership is
about clarity, openness and trust, and is widely known for its
no-nonsense, straightforward approach; Expert Common Sense.
Disclaimer
This press release contains "forward-looking statements" under
applicable securities laws with respect to DHX Media including,
without limitation, statements regarding sales of The Deep
and the business strategies and operational activities of the
Company. Although the Company 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 the Company. 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 the ability to execute on distribution
and licensing arrangements and other factors discussed in materials
filed with applicable securities regulatory authorities from time
to time including matters discussed under "Risk Factors" in the
Company's most recent Annual Information Form and annual Management
Discussion and Analysis, which also form part of the Company'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 the Company 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.