Entertainment Rights Takes On Where’s Wally?

LONDON, January 22: Entertainment Rights has reached a deal
for the worldwide audiovisual, licensing and merchandising, publishing, live
events and digital rights to the worldwide publishing phenomenon Where’s
Wally?

First published in 1986, Where’s Wally? boasts more than 76 million books and collectable
artworks sold worldwide, generating sales in excess of £81 million. Published
in over 50 countries and translated into 26 languages, Where’s Wally? is known in the U.S. as Where’s Waldo?

The acquisition creates the opportunity to develop a
multimedia global content strategy for the Where’s Wally? brand, including web, software, mobile, handheld
consoles for entertainment, gaming, education, interaction and competition. ER
will create new animated and live action content with multiplatform
applications expected to launch worldwide in 2008/2009. The acquisition also
follows ER’s recently completed purchase of Classic Media.

“We are delighted to have secured the rights to the global
publishing phenomenon Where’s Wally?,”
said Jane Smith, the group commercial director at ER. “We believe that in
today’s increasingly pervasive digital environment, Where’s Wally? is a unique property which has huge potential as a
multimedia brand. This immensely popular character has yet to be fully
exploited outside publishing and with ER’s expertise in building and
reinvigorating brands, we are confident that we can build this huge publishing
sensation into a significant global brand.”