E1 Entertainment Expands Kids Division with Amberwood Entertainment Deal

Amberwood grants distribution rights to first run, 240 half-hours of catalogue programming and first look at all future productions

Deal part of E1's broader strategy to grow kids division on a global level

TORONTO/LOS ANGELES/LONDON/OTTAWA, March 25 /CNW/ - Leading independent studio E1 Entertainment (E1) has signed a long-term distribution agreement with kids production company Amberwood Entertainment. Through the deal, E1 will handle worldwide distribution rights for Amberwood first-run and selected kids catalogue programming, act as the global sales agent for its animated "Rob the Robot" series and secures first-look at all future projects.

The announcement was made today by Peter Emerson, President, E1 Television International and Jonathan Wiseman, Senior Vice-President at Amberwood.

Specializing in but not limited to animation, Amberwood creates, develops, finances and produces its properties that are then licensed throughout the world. Amberwood's portfolio of titles now handled by E1 consists of more than 240 half hours of programming including well-known children's brands such as "The Secret World of Benjamin Bear" (39 x 30) which is licensed to over 120 territories and currently in production on season 4 (13 x 30); "Rob the Robot" (26 x 30) currently in production, as well as popular library titles including "Zeroman" (13 x 30), "Hoze Houndz" (78 x 30) and "Katie and Orbie" (78 x 30).

"Amberwood is one of Canada's most prestigious producers of high-quality children and family programming," said Peter Emerson, President, E1 Television. "This distribution agreement and first look arrangement compliments our overall strategy to grow our global kids business."

"Amberwood has distributed its productions to over 120 territories worldwide and we are confident that E1 can further this success" stated Jonathan Wiseman, Senior Vice President at Amberwood.

E1 Entertainment has been growing its E1 Kids division by partnering with acclaimed creative talent worldwide to bring award-winning content to life. The deal with Amberwood is in keeping with the company's strategy to aggressively grow E1 Kids, which has seen tremendous success to-date with properties such as "Peppa Pig" and "Ben and Holly's Little Kingdom" in the UK and "Majority Rules" in North America. The deal also comes on the heels of an announcement of a kids' television development deal with legendary rockers KISS.

"Backed by the success of our properties such as Peppa Pig and Ben and Holly, E1 Entertainment is rapidly becoming recognized as a leader in the production and distribution of quality kids programming around the globe," said Patrice Theroux, President, E1 Filmed Entertainment division. "This deal fulfills several key priorities for our E1 Kids business - it gives us a stronger presence in the Canadian market, creates opportunities for future Canada-UK co-productions, it brings further diversity to our kids programming library and it provides us with an ongoing relationship with an established producer of quality kids programs."

    
    About E1 Entertainment
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E1 Entertainment (AIM: ETO) is a leading independent entertainment content enterprise that acquires and exploits world-class film, television and music properties around the globe. Its four primary businesses units (E1 Television, E1 Films, E1 Music and E1 Distribution) operate in Canada, the U.S., the UK and Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, The Netherlands and Belgium, providing extensive expertise in film distribution, television and music production and distribution, kids programming, and merchandising and licensing. E1's growing content library, which currently includes more than 4,000 feature films, 2,700 hours of original television programming and 15,000 music tracks, is distributed across all media formats in more than 190 countries.

    
    About Amberwood
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Amberwood Entertainment is a Canadian enterprise focused on children's and family brands. We follow a proven and professional management process, and are artistically creative and financially innovative. The Company produces high-quality animation and live-action television properties that increasingly target Merchandising & Licensing opportunities. Founded in 1997, Amberwood Entertainment is a full service production company specializing in, but not limited to animation. Amberwood creates, develops, finances, produces, and distributes children's and family programming for the global market.

For further information: Scott MacFadyen, E1 Entertainment, Tel: [phone], [email protected]; Lisa Wookey, E1 Entertainment, Tel: [phone] x 326, [email protected]; Jonathan Wiseman, Amberwood Entertainment, Tel: [phone] x57, [email protected]