BBC Worldwide and multi-BAFTA award-winning UK independent Ragdoll Ltd, have awarded Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) the master toy and game license for In the Night Garden, a new landmark series for young children commissioned by the BBC and due to air in the UK in 2007.

 

In the Night Garden has been specially created to appeal to young children all around the world and has a breadth of scale that establishes a new standard for pre-school television.

 

This innovative series of 100 x 30' programmes for very young children aged 1-3 years has been devised by Anne Wood and Andrew Davenport, the creative partnership responsible for Teletubbies.

 

Under the multi-year global master toy license, Hasbro, Inc. has the rights to develop and market products across a broad range of toy categories, including: Pre-school toys, Infant & Toddler toys, Games, Jigsaw puzzles, Creative Play, Proprietary Interactive formats, and Ride-ons.

 

Hasbro's product line is expected to debut in the UK Fall 2007, with the rollout to other markets, including the US, expected to begin in 2008.

 

BBC Worldwide's Deputy Managing Director for Children's, Helen McAleer, said: "We are very excited to be working with both Ragdoll and Hasbro on this ground-breaking new brand. Following the runaway success of Teletubbies and our previous success with Hasbro, we look forward to working with them again and we believe children around the world will be as thrilled as we are about In the Night Garden."

 

Andrew Kerr, Senior Vice President, Global Licensing and Marketing, Ragdoll Ltd said: "We are delighted to introduce Hasbro as the global master toy licensee for In the Night Garden. We look forward to beginning work with BBC Worldwide and Hasbro on an innovative and creative toy range based upon this wholly imaginative and original programme."

 

"In the Night Garden is a truly enchanting property with characters that will translate beautifully to a fun and engaging product line," said Leigh Anne Cappello, Vice President of Marketing for Licensed Preschool at Hasbro, Inc.

 

"The unique and wholesome message that In the Night Garden delivers to both parents and kids fits in perfectly with our mission for Playskool."

 

In the Night Garden features a host of wonderfully silly characters living together within a happy and caring community. It is both funny and reassuring and parents and carers will welcome its capacity to relax and entertain.

 

Filmed in a real woodland, the setting is breathtaking and the programme weaves together the very latest technical innovations in live-character costume technology and CG animation to create a stunning, compelling and fully immersive experience for young viewers.

 

BBC Worldwide has cross-media rights (ex-North America), including global programme distribution, merchandising and DVD for In The Night Garden.

 

 

Note to Editors:

Ragdoll Ltd was founded by acclaimed children's television programme maker, Anne Wood, in 1984 and has produced more than 1,400 programmes aimed at the youngest viewers.

 

Ragdoll produced series for children are shown in more than 113 countries and territories around the world, and in the UK are screened by the BBC and the Independent Television Network.

 

Ragdoll and its children's programming including the phenomenally successful Teletubbies, the super-brave superhero Brum, those mischievous ragdolls Rosie and Jim, the adventures of Tots TV, the imaginative and magical Boohbah, BadJelly the Witch and Open a Door have achieved international recognition.

 

Ragdoll's latest series, Blips, premiered in the UK on CiTV from 2005. Currently Ragdoll is in production with two new commissions for BBC Television for broadcast in the UK in 2007, In the Night Garden and Tronji.

 

Ragdoll's office for the Americas in New York City is responsible for introducing and managing all of these innovative Ragdoll properties in North America.

 

For more information on Ragdoll Limited, visit website www.ragdoll.co.uk.

 

 

Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from traditional to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, TIGER, and WIZARDS OF THE COAST brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world. ©2006 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

 

 

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