HIT Expands Turner Relationship in India

LONDON/MUMBAI, January 29:
HIT Entertainment has entered into another strategic partnership with Turner
International India, expanding a deal for TV rights to Bob the Builder and Thomas & Friends to also include licensing representation.

Cartoon Network in India
has the rights to Bob the Builder
and Thomas & Friends. As
part of the new deal with HIT, Turner, through its Cartoon Network Enterprises
division, will also manage the licensing rights in India across key categories
including apparel and accessories, stationery, toys and games.

Antonio Huab, the VP for
Asia at HIT Entertainment, commented, “India is an important and growing market
for HIT and Cartoon Network offers a perfect broadcast and merchandise
licensing partner for HIT’s world-class properties.”

Jiggy George, the executive director for Cartoon Network Enterprises in India and South
Asia, added, “Cartoon Network Enterprises has been responsible for bringing
into the country some of the greatest international properties, and has played
a pivotal role in making them successful propositions. It was with Beyblade toys in 2005 that the division first entered
third-party licensing and went on to make “Beyblading” a national sensation.”

He continued, “Preschool
is a critical segment for us both on the network and on the licensing front.
The shows are already a huge hit on our channels and given our expertise and
success with promoting products based on television series, we aim to make Thomas
& Friends and Bob The
Builder products a must-have for
Indian consumers.”

—By Mansha Daswani