Magma DD To Partner Granada In Eastern Europe

Magma dd has signed an agreement with the recently merged Granada Ventures and Granada International to be the new entity's licensing, distribution and broadcast partner in Eastern Europe, Peter Iacono President and Managing Director of ITV Worldwide has announced.
The first deal within the new arrangement sees Magma acquiring the television rights for series one of the award-winning pre-school animation hit 'Pocoyo' to broadcast in Croatia, Serbia and Bosnia with a licensing and merchandising deal running alongside the new broadcast contract to cover Bosnia, Serbia, Herzegovina, Kosovo, Macedonia and Montenegro. The series is scheduled for September 1, 2008.
Magma will launch a range of licensing and merchandising products for Pocoyo across several categories including infant apparel, accessories (bags), jigsaw puzzles, balls, inflatables, bedding, lunch-ware and stationery. All of the products will be available from retailers and Magma's own retail outlets in Eastern Europe for Autumn/Winter 2008. In addition, Magma will be distributing the Bandai range of Pocoyo toys throughout the region, to coincide with the TV launch.
Julie Quirke at Granada Ventures commented on the deal: "We are delighted to be working with Magma across Eastern Europe. Magma's commitment to Pocoyo across TV and licensing underlines the continuing strength and popularity of our award-winning pre-school brand. Magma is extremely well-regarded by broadcasters and toy companies in the region and with Magma's many retail outlets, we have a great opportunity to maximise the potential of our brands in this important emerging market."
Dijana Milisic, Head of Licensing at Magma, commented: "We are very pleased to be working with Granada Ventures and Granada International on their many new shows and brands. We are experts in Eastern Europe and we know there will be great demand for Pocoyo products and we're sure that this initial deal will be the first of many."
Pocoyo is co-produced by Zinkia (Spain) and Granada International (UK), the 3D CGi animated series for pre-school children and their carers is currently broadcast around the world to more than 100 territories.
Magma dd handles licensing, merchandise and TV rights for a range of popular brands and have had a Disney licence in place for 15 years. Magma are also a retailer and distributor across 4 territories in Eastern Europe and Hungary (Bosnia, Croatia, Serbia, Slovenia). They have 65 toy shops across the region - the only chain in S.E. Europe.
(KMcA/NS)