RNS Number:2860S
Entertainment Rights PLC
20 November 2003



20 November 2003


                        MAJOR NEW EUROPEAN DEAL SECURED
                 NEW TV CONTRACTS CONFIRM INTERNATIONAL APPEAL OF
                                 BASIL BRUSH



Entertainment Rights, one of the UK's leading media groups specialising in the
ownership of children's and family programming, characters and brands, announced
today several new overseas television contracts which confirm the growing
international appeal of its wholly owned children's character Basil Brush. In
particular, Entertainment Rights has secured a major deal with the largest
German public broadcaster, ZDF, for Basil.



The Basil Brush Show will air on ZDF, as well as the top rating dedicated
children's digital channel KIKA, from autumn next year.  As Germany's largest
public broadcaster ZDF, with 100% penetration, will provide Basil with an entry
to Europe's largest TV audience of up to 83 million people.  Recognising Basil's
appeal to a large children's audience, both ZDF and KIKA are keen to replicate
the BBC's use of the character through a variety of media opportunities.  As in
the UK, the broadcast platforms will support consumer product roll-out of the
character.



Additional groundbreaking broadcast deals for The Basil Brush Show have also
been secured in the Far East territories of Indonesia, Singapore and Hong Kong.
Other new sales have been achieved in Canada, New Zealand, Republic of Ireland,
South Africa and The Middle East.



Since its Australian launch in September on the Number 1 children's block ABC
Kids, part of the ABC network, The Basil Brush Show has dominated the ratings in
its time slot.  Basil has consistently achieved a 41% overall audience share on
a weekly basis and an unprecedented 77% of children aged 5-12 years are tuning
in to watch the 'Fox on the Box'.  Following this success, licensed product,
video/DVD and recorded music roll-out will coincide with the launch of the
second series in Australia in March 2004.



In the UK, the first series of The Basil Brush Show was broadcast on the BBC in
September 2002 and consistently achieved ratings in excess of 40% of the
audience share amongst children aged 4-9 years.  The second series will appear
on UK screens from the 21st November on BBC1, where it will return to its
ratings winning Friday afternoon slot.



Commenting on the latest international success of Entertainment Rights'
wholly-owned character Basil Brush(R), Chief Executive Mike Heap said:



"Basil's entry into Germany demonstrates how his unique character transcends
worldwide boundaries, as children everywhere share the international language of
laughter.  His success in the UK as a major TV personality is now being
replicated around the world.  Significantly, these strategic broadcast
relationships provide the platform for a successful global consumer product
roll-out."



-Ends-



For further enquiries please contact:
Mike Heap,
Chief Executive
Ross Kester PR Executive
Entertainment Rights PLC                        Tel: 020 8762 6200


Tim Spratt / Michelle Morton
Financial Dynamics                              Tel: 020 7831 3113





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