Entertainment Rights
Encyclopedia
Entertainment Rights Plc was a global media company. Its main role was in children and family
television programming
.
The group was established in 1989 as Sleepykids. In 1999 it become entertainment rights and was focused on the creation and exploitation of major children's characters
and brand
s. On 1 April 2009 Entertainment Rights was acquired by Boomerang Media
(formed by the founders of subsidiary Classic Media) and on 11 May 2009, it was announced that the subsidiaries and offices of Entertainment Rights would be absorbed under the name, Classic Media
.
, and within a few months the company was floated on the stock exchanges. Sleepykids went on to help produce Dr. Zitbag's Transylvania Pet Shop
and Budgie the Little Helicopter
.
Between 1998 and 1999 the company expanded at a rapid rate, with acquired Siriol Productions
and merged with Richard Digance Card Co, Clipper Films Ltd, and Ridgeway Films Ltd in December 1998. During 1999 Boom Boom Ltd (the owners of Basil bush), Carrington Productions Ltd ( owner of a library of children's animation films, from Ventureworld Films Ltd) and Dr. Zitbag's Transylvania Pet Shop
were all brought as part of a lng -term plan to build a Substantial business owning intellectual property rights.
The Company was renamed to SKD Media just after these take overs but only lasted a year when the company was again renamed to Entertainment Rights
library from Hallmark Entertainment (who previously acquired them from Loreal
) At the end of 2004, it employed on average 95 people. The company reported on June 30, 2005, that its turnover was £12.4 million. Company also tried to take over chorion
but the offer was rejected.
In 2005 a management buyout took place for Siriol Productions
and was renamed Calon. The deal include all current project and some of the back catalogue, but most of the rights of previous made programmes and continued to beheld by Entertainment Rights.
On 14 December 2006, Entertainment Rights announced it would acquire US-based rival Classic Media
for $210 million (£106.9 million). The deal was completed on 11 January 2007. Before the acquisition of Classic Media by Entertainment Rights was completed, both companies announced distribution and production agreements with Genius Products
, LLC.
In December 2008 Deborah Dugan (former president of Disney Publishing Worldwide) as appointed Chief Executive Officer, which was part of a board or management changes to help sort out cash flow issues and allow the company to operate on a more stable footing. Unfortunately by January 2009 the company has cut a third of its staff ands market value collapse from £267m in March 2007 to just £5.5m. Three companies did enquire about buying the firm, This increase to six companies by start of February when the company was fined £245,000 by Financial Services Authority
for failing to inform shareholds of a potential $14 million earnings hit in a timely manner.
This resulted in the Company going in to Administration in February Within two months in April 2009 Boomerang Media
acquired all Entertainment Rights subsidiaries - ER, Big Idea and Classic Media, which finally sorted out all outstanding issues around the company. Boomerang Media
was created by the same people who owned Classic Media
until it was sold to Entertainment Rights in 2006.
Family
In human context, a family is a group of people affiliated by consanguinity, affinity, or co-residence. In most societies it is the principal institution for the socialization of children...
television programming
Children's television series
Children's television series, are commercial television programs designed for, and marketed to children, normally scheduled for broadcast during the morning and afternoon when children are awake. They can sometimes run in the early evening, for the children that go to school...
.
The group was established in 1989 as Sleepykids. In 1999 it become entertainment rights and was focused on the creation and exploitation of major children's characters
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
and brand
Brand
The American Marketing Association defines a brand as a "Name, term, design, symbol, or any other feature that identifies one seller's good or service as distinct from those of other sellers."...
s. On 1 April 2009 Entertainment Rights was acquired by Boomerang Media
Boomerang Media
Boomerang Media, L.L.C. is an American media company founded by John Engelman and Eric Ellenbogen and the private equity firm GTCR in 2008...
(formed by the founders of subsidiary Classic Media) and on 11 May 2009, it was announced that the subsidiaries and offices of Entertainment Rights would be absorbed under the name, Classic Media
Classic Media
Classic Media, LLC, is an American production company and distributor of family programming. It was founded in 2000 by former Marvel Entertainment CEO Eric Ellenbogen and former Broadway Video executive John Engelman in hopes of acquiring mismanaged classic properties and giving exposure to...
.
SleepyKids
Sleepykids was set up in 1989, by Martin and Vivien Schrager-Powell to produce Potsworth & Co. ( a Cartoon the pair created) in partnership with Hanna-BarberaHanna-Barbera
Hanna-Barbera Productions, Inc. was an American animation studio that dominated North American television animation during the second half of the 20th century...
, and within a few months the company was floated on the stock exchanges. Sleepykids went on to help produce Dr. Zitbag's Transylvania Pet Shop
Dr. Zitbag's Transylvania Pet Shop
Dr. Zitbag's Transylvania Pet Shop was an animated television series created by Tony Barnes. The show originally aired on TF1 and it was later dubbed for English audiences as well; even the show's title got a name change...
and Budgie the Little Helicopter
Budgie the Little Helicopter
Budgie the Little Helicopter is a series of children's books and animated television series relating to a fictional character 'Budgie' and his friends. The characters were based on the books by Sarah, Duchess of York , who was influenced by her flight training in the Royal Navy...
.
Between 1998 and 1999 the company expanded at a rapid rate, with acquired Siriol Productions
Siriol Productions
Calon is a Welsh animation Television production based in Cardiff, who primarily produce animation series in Welsh for S4C. The company was formerly known as Siriol Productions.- History :...
and merged with Richard Digance Card Co, Clipper Films Ltd, and Ridgeway Films Ltd in December 1998. During 1999 Boom Boom Ltd (the owners of Basil bush), Carrington Productions Ltd ( owner of a library of children's animation films, from Ventureworld Films Ltd) and Dr. Zitbag's Transylvania Pet Shop
Dr. Zitbag's Transylvania Pet Shop
Dr. Zitbag's Transylvania Pet Shop was an animated television series created by Tony Barnes. The show originally aired on TF1 and it was later dubbed for English audiences as well; even the show's title got a name change...
were all brought as part of a lng -term plan to build a Substantial business owning intellectual property rights.
The Company was renamed to SKD Media just after these take overs but only lasted a year when the company was again renamed to Entertainment Rights
Renamed to Entertainment Rights
Company went on to expand by acquire Woodland Animations in 2001 and in 2004 acquired Tell-Tale Productions along with most of the rights to FilmationFilmation
Filmation Associates was an American production company that produced animation and live action programming for television during the latter half of the 20th century. Located in Reseda, California, the animation studio was founded in 1963...
library from Hallmark Entertainment (who previously acquired them from Loreal
L'Oréal
The L'Oréal Group is the world's largest cosmetics and beauty company. With its registered office in Paris and head office in the Paris suburb of Clichy, Hauts-de-Seine, France, it has developed activities in the field of cosmetics...
) At the end of 2004, it employed on average 95 people. The company reported on June 30, 2005, that its turnover was £12.4 million. Company also tried to take over chorion
Chorion
The chorion is one of the membranes that exist during pregnancy between the developing fetus and mother. It is formed by extraembryonic mesoderm and the two layers of trophoblast and surrounds the embryo and other membranes...
but the offer was rejected.
In 2005 a management buyout took place for Siriol Productions
Siriol Productions
Calon is a Welsh animation Television production based in Cardiff, who primarily produce animation series in Welsh for S4C. The company was formerly known as Siriol Productions.- History :...
and was renamed Calon. The deal include all current project and some of the back catalogue, but most of the rights of previous made programmes and continued to beheld by Entertainment Rights.
On 14 December 2006, Entertainment Rights announced it would acquire US-based rival Classic Media
Classic Media
Classic Media, LLC, is an American production company and distributor of family programming. It was founded in 2000 by former Marvel Entertainment CEO Eric Ellenbogen and former Broadway Video executive John Engelman in hopes of acquiring mismanaged classic properties and giving exposure to...
for $210 million (£106.9 million). The deal was completed on 11 January 2007. Before the acquisition of Classic Media by Entertainment Rights was completed, both companies announced distribution and production agreements with Genius Products
Genius Products
Genius Products was an entertainment company based in Santa Monica, California, United States.On December 5, 2005, Genius Products, Inc. announced a distribution joint venture with The Weinstein Company called Genius Products, LLC, with Weinstein holding a 70% stake...
, LLC.
In December 2008 Deborah Dugan (former president of Disney Publishing Worldwide) as appointed Chief Executive Officer, which was part of a board or management changes to help sort out cash flow issues and allow the company to operate on a more stable footing. Unfortunately by January 2009 the company has cut a third of its staff ands market value collapse from £267m in March 2007 to just £5.5m. Three companies did enquire about buying the firm, This increase to six companies by start of February when the company was fined £245,000 by Financial Services Authority
Financial Services Authority
The Financial Services Authority is a quasi-judicial body responsible for the regulation of the financial services industry in the United Kingdom. Its board is appointed by the Treasury and the organisation is structured as a company limited by guarantee and owned by the UK government. Its main...
for failing to inform shareholds of a potential $14 million earnings hit in a timely manner.
This resulted in the Company going in to Administration in February Within two months in April 2009 Boomerang Media
Boomerang Media
Boomerang Media, L.L.C. is an American media company founded by John Engelman and Eric Ellenbogen and the private equity firm GTCR in 2008...
acquired all Entertainment Rights subsidiaries - ER, Big Idea and Classic Media, which finally sorted out all outstanding issues around the company. Boomerang Media
Boomerang Media
Boomerang Media, L.L.C. is an American media company founded by John Engelman and Eric Ellenbogen and the private equity firm GTCR in 2008...
was created by the same people who owned Classic Media
Classic Media
Classic Media, LLC, is an American production company and distributor of family programming. It was founded in 2000 by former Marvel Entertainment CEO Eric Ellenbogen and former Broadway Video executive John Engelman in hopes of acquiring mismanaged classic properties and giving exposure to...
until it was sold to Entertainment Rights in 2006.
Tell-Tale Productions
Tell-Tale Productions was started in 1994 by Iain Lauchlan and Will Brenton as a "writing vehicle" for their own needs, but changed when pair created and started production of The Tweenies in 1999. The company expanded to employ over 60 people. On 13 September 2004 it become a wholly owned subsidiary of Entertainment Rights at a cost of £3.1m.Productions
- The Tweenies
- Fun Song FactoryFun Song FactoryFun Song Factory is a British preschool children's show on CITV aimed at youngsters. It was one of the first songs-based shows to be filmed in front of a live audience of children , and is similar to Australian shows such as 'The Wiggles' and 'Hi-5'.It was originally created in 1994 by Will Brenton...
- BB3BBB3BBB3B is an animated UK children's television series produced by Tell Tale Productions in 2005. The entire series consists of thirteen episodes of twenty minutes each. It is shown on CBBC in the UK and ABC in Australia...
- Jim Jam and Sunny
- Boo!