DQ Entertainment PLC Co-production Agreement (5065U)

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RNS Number : 5065U

DQ Entertainment PLC

16 October 2014

Immediate Release 16 October 2014

DQ Entertainment PLC

DQ Entertainment PLC ("DQE") and Rai Com to co-produce 'Pio The Chick'

DQ Entertainment, the global entertainment production and distribution company, is pleased to announce that it will be teaming up with Italian public broadcaster Rai Com ("Rai"), to co-produce a new animated series called "Pio The Chick", based on a successful online property.

The principal terms of this deal have been agreed by both parties at the recently concluded MIPCOM in Cannes and the final agreement is expected to be signed imminently. This will be first time DQE and Rai will partner to co-produce an animated TV series and also the first time that Rai has gone into production of original content as a purely commercial venture, specifically conceived for the international market.

The series is about the adventures of the plucky little chick Pio and his friends, and will feature a strong musical element. The series is based on a catchy Brazilian children's song, created and launched by Radio Globo in Italy in 2012. The design of the show will be by renowned Italian cartoonist Giorgio Cavazzano, known for his work with Disney and Marvel in Europe. The cross-media-ready animated series will consist of 52, seven minute episodes. DQE will be doing the entire animation of the series which is expected to go into production soon and will be ready by 2016.

In 2012 "Pio The Chick" became a hit radio song and then a viral web phenomenon through a series of remixes that made it into the single charts in Italy, Germany, France, Spain, the Netherlands and various other European countries. In various forms, it has generated more than 400 million hits on Youtube to date.

"We've changed our business model," enthused Luigi De Siervo, Director Commercial, Rai Com "We wanted to create a new product that would allow us to generate revenue globally from all licensing rights, including merchandising."

Tapaas Chakravarti, Chairman and CEO, DQE, said "This deal is definitely a significant one for us as it marks the beginning of our partnership with Rai, one of the the leading broadcasters in Italy. The characters in the show are so adorable that we are confident that kids will love them.

This deal further validates DQE's capabilities in producing world class content and the trust our partners around the world have on us. "

For further information, please contact:

 
 DQ Entertainment plc                              Tel: [phone] 
  Tapaas Chakravarti - Chairman and CEO 
  Rashida Adenwala - Director Finance & Investor 
  Relations 
 Allenby Capital Limited                           Tel: [phone] 
  Jeremy Porter / Alex Price                        5656 
 Buchanan Communications                           Tel: [phone] 
  Mark Edwards/Clare Akhurst                        5000 
 

www.buchanan.uk.com

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