TV-Loonland Secures Deals for Penelope

MUNICH/LONDON,
April 2: TV-Loonland has scored three new deals for the preschool series Penelope with France 5, DR TV in Denmark and
Hop! Channel in Israel.

Penelope is already an established brand in Japan
on NHK, with a full licensing and merchandising program. On the back of France
5’s premiere of the series, set for fall 2008, a full range of books from
original publisher Gallimard as well as soft toys, gifts and collectables are
slated to launch this year. Gallimard has plans for two new animated books,
bath and gift books, as well as the re-release of the collection of traditional
Penelope books and
the creation of a mini website that will tie-in with the TV launch.

The series
centers on a sweet-natured 3-year-old named Penelope, who is a blue koala with
a big curiosity for all things that are fun and filled with humor and affection.

TV-Loonland’s
managing director, Olivier Dumont, commented: “The entire TV-Loonland team is
delighted that France 5, DR TV and Hop! share our enthusiasm for Penelope and we are confident that after Japan, Penelope
will turn into the next
L&M [licensing and merchandising] success story in France and many other
countries around the world.”

—By
Kristin Brzoznowski