ER’s Rupert Bear Scores in Germany

LONDON, February 8:
Entertainment Rights (ER) has announced that its stop-frame and 3-D
CGI-animated series Rupert Bear—Follow the Magic is already ranked as one of the highest-rated
preschool shows on the German broadcaster Super RTL, following its premiere in
early January.

Rupert
Bear—Follow the Magic is
averaging a 41.4-percent share in its regular slot. ER is also working on a
licensing and merchandising initiative for the German market, which will
include the launch of publishing, DVD, toy and apparel programs in 2009. Rupert
Bear will brand Super RTL’s
preschooler-targeted Toggo Live nationwide tour throughout 2008, with the
property to become a central attraction on www.TOGGOLINO.de from April 2008
onwards.

Produced by Cosgrove Hall
Animation Studio in the U.K., Rupert
Bear—Follow The Magic was
first broadcast on Five’s preschool block Milkshake! in November 2006 and has since sold into 107
countries.

Jane Smith, the chief
commercial and creative director of ER, commented: “Rupert Bear has universal appeal. The brand allows young
children to discover the wonders of the natural world around them, explaining
through engaging narratives and appealing character gentle learning about
natural history.”

She continued: “The series
is a perfect fit for Super RTL’s kids offer and initial ratings indicate the
show will continue to pull in big audiences throughout 2008. The longer-term
strategy is to deliver a successful licensing and merchandising program in the
German market to support the TV series mirroring our successful U.K. rollout in
2007.”

—By Irene Lew