Entertainment Rights Share Discussion Threads

[53tom] 23/7/2008 08:17

Good buying 300,000 at 7.10p.

[53tom] 23/7/2008 08:08

Scotsman and Sun papers. Collins Stewart quote 20p target for ERT.

Times today - FULL page article!

Postman Pat plans to deliver profits from China
The boundaries of Postman Pat's delivery round are being stretched to China and beyond as Entertainment Rights attempts to revitalise its finances

Dan Sabbagh, Media Editor
China's 100 million under-fives will have the chance to cuddle Postman Pat and his black and white cat and collect the man from Greendale's best exploits on DVD after deals struck by his owner, Entertainment Rights.

The crucial licensing agreements come a fortnight after the first episodes of Pat's exploits began being shown on the national CCTV Children's channel. The hero in the red van is dubbed in Chinese, but still bears his original name.

Merchandising and DVD sales are key to profitability in the children's character business, while the function of the television programme is to make youngsters aware of the character in the first place. The licensing deals helped to lift the shares by 29 per cent, or 1.47p, to 6.47p yesterday.

China may still be developing economically, but its one-child policy is a potential boost because it means that there are a high number of adults who may be willing to buy toys for children in their family. An estimated 22 million children are born each year in the world's most populous country.


Entertainment Rights has sold the first eight series of Pat, totalling 106 episodes, to CCTV. It has yet to agree a deal with the state broadcaster and regulators for the forthcoming series, in which the postman has been promoted after more than a quarter of a century to a job that will take him away from rural Greendale to the city.

Postman Pat Special Delivery Service will air on the BBC in the autumn and has been sold to broadcasters in Australia, Italy, South Africa and Hong Kong. The amiable and now presumably fearless deliverer is given a whole range of vehicles, including helicopter and parachute, to help him to deliver the mail on time – in an approach that it is hoped will give him more international appeal.

Entertainment Rights is fighting to regain credibility after the company was hit hard by a profits warning last year at a time when its debts had risen to £108 million after the purchase of Classic Media, the American company that owns Lassie and Caspar the Friendly Ghost.

Nick Phillips, the new chief executive, wants to sell off some of the company's smaller or underused properties to cut debt and focus on its bigger acts, whose ranks also include Basil Brush. Mr Phillips said: "We remain committed to internationalising our key brands, which have consistently proven to have significant global appeal."

No figures relating to the new agreements were released yesterday, but Collins Stewart, the house broker, said that it was optimistic that the hoped-for Chinese revenues could produce upgrades to profit forecasts in the next few years.

[ry4nj] 22/7/2008 15:07

humphbumph

explaining his new problem.

[svendid] 22/7/2008 13:08

Artisan 38% highest so far...
Cav Emptr

[53tom] 22/7/2008 12:18

ERT shows at 6.6p on iii market winners with a 25% rise.
ERT own site price is 6.6p
Barclays site shows 6.6p
But its all academic unless it stays up and even continues to rise over next days.
heres hoping

[apeksa] 22/7/2008 12:11

5.5p is the correct price if you go off the last AT - though I don't know why the UT trade at 6p doesn't count.

[53tom] 22/7/2008 12:07

Strange that ADVFN so often does not show the correct price on its day charts.
ADVFN shows 5.5p everyone else shows 6.6p.

[rochford6] 22/7/2008 12:07

Well the buying pattern today certainly makes it look like something is coming. just need it a wee bit higher for me to breakeven

[53tom] 22/7/2008 12:04

Crikey its up 1.33p at 6.6p.
It will be interesting to see what is driving the price so quickly, can it really just be the RNS.
Perhaps there is a big buy in the background OR perhaps there is some bid approach in the background again with someone hoping to pick ert up sub 10p. Who know.
Anyway nice to see rise.

[rochford6] 22/7/2008 11:40

Just been into auction, came out of auction at 6p bid, chart will change next time we get an AT trade

[fesuvious] 22/7/2008 11:37

Bid price up at 6p, share price 5.5p, hows that work? Is something going on? Can anyone enlighten me?

[fesuvious] 22/7/2008 10:37

Nice movement today. currently at 5.45. Surely under valued a bit.......

[rochford6] 22/7/2008 07:26

better than we used to get

[53tom] 22/7/2008 07:20

Yes but they issue the RNS 2 weeks AFTER the programmes have started to air on China television!
What kind of communication is that?

[rochford6] 22/7/2008 06:12

At least they have issued an RNS about it this time, looks like comunications are going to improve

[rochford6] 22/7/2008 05:52

2008-07-21


Entertainment Rights Secures Broadcast Deals for Postman Pat

LONDON, July 21: Entertainment Rights (ER) has completed a raft of international deals for Postman Pat-Special Delivery Service, alongside the Chinese launch of the original Postman Pat series.



Postman Pat-Special Delivery Service will air on CBeebies this fall. Newly signed deals for the second series in the Postman Pat franchise include ABC in Australia, DRTV in Denmark, TV4 in Sweden, RAI Sat in Italy, MNET in South Africa, MBC in the Middle East, ATV in Hong Kong and True Vision in Thailand. SF Norge in the Nordic region and Lusamondo in Portugal have become DVD partners for their respective territories.



In this new BBC commission, unveiled at MIPTV, Postman Pat has been promoted to head of special delivery service and outfitted with new vehicles, locations and supporting characters.



Additionally, China Central Television (CCTV) started airing on July 7 the 106 episodes it acquired of the original preschool series Postman Pat.



DVD distributor YiZhouRen will serve as CCTV's DVD partner for the brand in Chinese-speaking territories. CCTV's advertising agency U Young is acting as ER's exclusive licensing agent for the region. ER is currently in discussions with two major publishing partners to be finalized in the third quarter of 2008, with consumer products set to roll out in 2009.



Chloe van den Berg, the executive director of international for ER, said: "We are incredibly excited about Postman Pat's launch on CCTV. This leading broadcast platform offers excellent exposure for the brand and is testament to Postman Pat's global appeal. We look forward to building the Postman Pat brand with YiZhouRen and U Young in this key territory. Brand new Postman Pat SDS is also continuing to receive significant interest from international broadcasters and has now been sold to over 110 territories worldwide. The show is set to premiere on CBeebies in the autumn and is anticipated to bring in strong ratings for the channel. A new Postman Pat SDS DVD will hit shops later in the year, followed by a nationwide toy launch at retail in early 2009."

[rochford6] 21/7/2008 18:28

Pete - i can't explain it, i am just waiting for a holdings announcement, must be due one soon

[petepostman] 21/7/2008 17:42

Funny old thing the stock market, out of 940 000 shares traded today, 900 000 were buys and the share price goes up 0.3p..! Can anyone explain this to me? Someone is buying a lot of shares at a very low price..!

[hotips] 21/7/2008 16:13

Granted - but a deal with a high profile prestigious company like Steiff will help bring other licensees into the frame, and if they continue with such a prominent advertising programme, this will also aid the profile of Rupert.

[rochford6] 21/7/2008 13:54

problem is there is only 3000 of these bears available worldwide at £150 each, not going to break any records is it

[hotips] 21/7/2008 13:52

Not only is this Rupert/Steiff deal prestigous, but it will be lucrative too in that it is presumably a typical licensing deal whereby ER will get an advance payment and royalties for each bear sold. I am assuming that this deal is for multi-territories because Steiff has a worldwide distribution network, so potentially the bear will be sold in many countries to tie in with the TV exposure. Steiff toys are very sought after by collectors, so this bear should go places!

[highnote] 20/7/2008 19:22

Another piece of news from the weekend press.

On the backpage of the Daily Mail Weekend Magazine there is a full page advert for a historical edition of Rupert Bear, handmade by Steiff master craftsmen who are the makers of the world's most valuable bears.

Rupert is 12ins high and comes with the famous Steiff button in his ear, his red knitted jumper and yellow check trousers and scarf and real leather shoes are Steiff originals.

To quote from the advert - 'One of the world's most famous bears - now re-created by the inventor of the teddy bear.' The full page colour picture shows he looks like the original Rupert. The cost - £175

In the small print Rupert Bear copyright is credited to Entertainment Rights Distribution Ltd and Express Newspapers.

Quite a prestigous link for ERT to be recognised by Steiff. As you say, it would be nice to see an announcement first rather than having to find out in the press.