Aardman Scores Shaun the Sheep Deals

BRISTOL, January 18: Aardman
Animations’ new kids’ series Shaun the Sheep has notched up deals in 60 markets in Europe, Asia
and Latin America since its MIPCOM 2006 launch.

TF1 in France has acquired
the franchise across all rights including TV, home video and licensing and
merchandising. In Japan, Sony Creative Products has picked up all rights and is
currently negotiating a deal with a broadcaster in the territory. Aardman has
also signed a deal for the show to air on Disney channels in Asia, France,
Italy and Latin America. A deal was also concluded in Central and Eastern
Europe with Cartoon Network. HRT Croatia and Ceska Televize in the Czech
Republic have also acquired television rights to the show. TSR in Switzerland
is on board, as are TVB in Hong Kong and Noga Communications in Israel for its
Logi Channel. Clasikaletet has picked up the DVD rights in Israel. In
Scandinavia, Nordisk Film has acquired the home video rights. All major
Scandinavian public broadcasters, including DR, SVT, NRK and YLE, will also air
the show. The series has already been picked up by co-producer WDR in Germany
and pre-sold to ABC Australia, TVNZ New Zealand and RTBF Belgium.

The 40×7-minute
stop-motion animated series commissioned by CBBC features the star of the
Oscar-winning Wallace and Gromit short A Close Shave. It launches later this year.