NEWS
TOTAL LICENSING
BBC BOOKS ACQUIRES
ER SECURES EUROPEAN
RIGHTS TO NEW HEROES
BROADCAST DEALS FOR
NOVEL
TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED
BBC Books has been appointed by Copyright Promo-
Entertainment Rights (ER) the UK’s leading global media group
tions Licensing Group (CPLG) to publish an original
specialising in the ownership of children’s and family program-
novel based on TV ratings phenomenon Heroes and
ming, characters and brands has announced it has sealed
its Japanese time-traveling hero, Hiro.
significant broadcast agreements for the new Transformers
Heroes, an epic drama from Universal Media Stu-
Animated series (26 x 22 minute) plus a 70 minute special epi-
dios and NBC Television, has garnered both critical
sode. ER secured the worldwide television distribution rights
and popular acclaim worldwide having been sold for
(excluding North America) covering television distribution
broadcast in over 30 countries, including a first airing
across both free and pay tv platforms for the series.
in the UK on the Sc-Fi Channel before establishing
Further to the successful premiere of Transformers Animated
itself as a major show for BBC2.
in the US on Cartoon Network (highest rated kids cable pro-
This new and original novel, written with the full co-
gram in its time slot), ER has announced that the following key
operation and consultation of the show’s creators,
European TV broadcasters have been secured including Nick-
Saving Charlie will be published by BBC Books on
elodeon in the UK, Gulli (France) and Super RTL (Germany).
6
th
March 2008. The novel
ER has sold Transformers Animated to over 24 territories,
will tell the story of Japanese
with a number of other key deals in negotiation.
office worker Hiro, who,
Transformers Animated is the next generation of the glob-
through the use of his abil-
ally popular saga of the struggle between the Autobots and
ity to pierce the space-time
the Decepticons and is being developed by Cartoon Network
continuum and manipulate
Studios in Los Angeles.
time, bravely catapults him-
The bold new 2-D style that will be this new show’s trademark
self into the past to save
presents a new twist on the original “Generation 1” animated
Charlie, a small-town Texas
series that launched the Transformers phenomenon in 1984.
waitress with an extraor-
Developed for a new generation of Transformers fans, the se-
dinary memory, from being
ries will also introduce new characters alongside legendary
brutally murdered by super-
favorites such as Optimus Prime and Megatron.
powered serial killer Sylar.
Chloe van den Berg, Director of International, Entertainment
Says Martin Redfern, Edito-
Rights Plc, commented: “The recent agreements with Europe-
rial Director of BBC Books,
an broadcasters demonstrate ER’s success at securing premier
“While fans of the televi-
television platforms for the franchise around the world.”
sion series were given only
a brief glimpse into Hiro
and Charlie’s relationship
MARTIN YAFFE OPENS NEW
as it grew into love over six
GERMAN OFFICES
time-changing months, their
history is told here with the depth and insight that
Martin Yaffe International continues to expand with the open-
only a novel will allow.”
ing of its new premises in Germany. Based in Cologne, the
“One of the more memorable relationships in Sea-
1,500 square foot office includes a showroom and is in a cen-
son One was Hiro’s first love, the waitress Charlie.
tral location with excellent transport links.
We were as smitten as Hiro by that story and seized
Martin Yaffe’s account manager, Torsten Gryska, who is heading
the chance to tell the full adventure of Hiro’s six
up the operations in Germany, will be responsible for devel-
months in the past. Aury Wallington was hand picked
oping the business in German, Austrian and Swiss territories.
by the writers of the show for her brilliant voice for
The newly opened premises will enable MYI to provide faster,
these characters. The novel is a welcome addition to
more effective customer service to these regions.
the Heroes family,” said Tim Kring, creator-executive
After the successes of Bob the Builder and Fireman Sam in
producer, Heroes.
Germany, the new German operation will be looking to grow
Susan Bolsover, Category Director at CPLG who
these licenses further as well as open up opportunities with
brokered the deal with BBC Books says, “We had
other licences.
huge interest from publishers looking to pick up
Torsten Gryska, Account Manager, Germany commenting on
rights for Heroes long before even a writer for the
the opening said: “Cologne is a perfect location for the new
novel had been brought on board, which is testament
branch because it is next to a lot of business partners and also
to the massive appeal of the show. Saving Charlie will
a good starting point to reach other partners more effectively.
capitalise on the rich storylines seen in the series, ex-
We now have the ability to offer more efficient service within
tending the story beyond what viewers already know
Germany, Austria and Switzerland. The course has been set for
of the relationship between Hiro and Charlie.”
an interesting and successful future”
30
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