"Matt Hatter Chronicles" Expands In Australia And New Zealand

From Licensing.biz:

Matt Hatter Chronicles expands in Australia

Kids' animated TV show will debut in 2013 Down Under and in New Zealand.

ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) is launching Matt Hatter Chronicles in Australia and New Zealand.

This announcement follows the animated TV show's creator Platinum Films securing two free-to-air broadcast partners in Australia (Network 10) and New Zealand (TVNZ).

In Australia the 26 30-minute HD episodes, targeted at kids aged five to ten, will premiere in 2013 on Network 10's digital free-to-air channel Eleven as part of its early morning Toasted TV strand. In New Zealand, TV2 will show the series on its 2Kids weekend programming block.

ITVS GE is lining up local agents to secure licensing partners in both markets.

Key licensee partners have already been secured in the UK, with Titan, Topps and Penguin set to launch magazines, sticker albums and books during 2013.

ITVS GE will also be announcing new partners shortly, and a DVD is set to launch from ITVS GE Home Entertainment in spring 2013.

Matt Hatter Chronicles launched in the UK on Nickelodeon last year and ITV/CITV this March, attracting over two million viewers across both broadcast platforms.

The series has already been sold to Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand, Canada’s Teletoon, RTE Ireland, SABC South Africa and Al Jazeera’s Children’s Channel in the Middle East.

Trudi Hayward, Senior Vice President Global Head of Merchandise at ITVS GE, said: “We’re delighted to see Matt Hatter rounding off a great year with new programme sales in ANZ.

"The popularity of series two, the continuing success of series one and the marvellous new website further underline the massive appeal of Matt Hatter Chronicles as a boys’ action-adventure property.

"We are looking forward to making even more exciting announcements in the UK and ANZ markets for this property throughout 2013."

Tags: australia, itv, matt hatter