Bright Things plc
10 May 2004
Bright Things PLC
Agreement with BBC Worldwide
10 May 2004
An agreement between games company Bright Things and BBC Worldwide heralds
development of leading children's character brands for a new early learning
platform.
Some of the world's leading character properties, including Teletubbies,
Tweenies, Fimbles and Balamory, are to be brought to life on a new educational
'interactive DVD' platform, following a deal announced today by Bright Things
and BBC Worldwide, the commercial consumer arm of the BBC.
The deal brings together BBC Worldwide's established children's portfolio with
Bright Things' innovative technology, developed specially for the educational
pre-school market.
BBC Worldwide will grant Bright Things a first option to license the publishing
rights for the Bright Things platform in all new BBC children's properties to
which BBC Worldwide has the relevant rights. BBC Worldwide and Bright Things
will work to ensure all products are developed within BBC editorial policy and
fair trading guidelines, ensuring appropriate controls are maintained over BBC
intellectual property.
In addition, BBC Worldwide will provide a dedicated development team from its
award-winning multimedia business to help develop products based on the
Tweenies, Teletubbies, Fimbles, Bill & Ben, Andy Pandy, Little Robots and
Balamory for the innovative new format.
Bright Things Publishing Director Matthew Tims said, 'Through this arrangement
we will be able to bring some of the most loved and trusted children's brands to
our platform. We're delighted at the prospect - and thrilled to be working so
closely with BBC Worldwide. This is the first deal Bright Things has announced,
and I look forward to adding to our list of content providers over the coming
months.'
BBC Worldwide's Director of Global Marketing and Brand Development Mark Young,
said: 'This kind of licensing agreement allows us to make the most of our
exceptional portfolio of children's brands while supporting the development of
an exciting new format.'
For further information please contact:
Bright Things PLC
Dominic Wheatley, CEO 07976 295071
Matthew Tims, Publishing Director 07976 740397
Jonathan Glass / Mark Antelme, Brunswick 020 7404 5959
BBC Worldwide
Jennie Allen/Andrew Widger, Communications 020 8433 1311 or
andrew.widger@bbc.co.uk
NOTES FOR CORRESPONDENTS
About the Bright Things technology
The technology is a completely new interactive DVD device that uses the
household DVD and television to display TV quality graphics and provides an
input device that young children can easily use and understand, and learn with.
The pre-school educational games platform is set for worldwide launch in 2005.
About Bright Things
Bright Things was founded in 2002 by ex-Eidos executives Dominic Wheatley and
John Kavanagh. The company's technology team in San Jose California has created
and patented a pioneering low-cost games platform for use by pre-school
children. Bright Things recently raised £4.5M capital from a flotation on The
Alternative Investment Market.
About BBC Worldwide
BBC Worldwide Limited is the commercial consumer arm, and a wholly owned
subsidiary, of the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC). The company was
formed in 1994 to develop a co-ordinated approach to the BBC's commercial
activities: television, publishing, product licensing, internet and interactive.
BBC Worldwide exists to maximise the value of the BBC's programme and publishing
assets for the benefit of the licence payer, and re-invest in public service
programming. Turnover in the last financial year (2002-2003) was £640 million
and £123 million was returned to the BBC.
About the agreement
This master licence to Bright Things in respect of BBC children's properties is
for a fixed duration. Each licence for individual character properties is
subject to its own individual terms.
Bright Things has granted consideration of cash and 333,333 ordinary shares in
Bright Things to BBC Worldwide. In addition, Bright Things has granted BBC
Worldwide a two year option to acquire a further 1.5 million ordinary shares at
£2 per share.
Application has been made for the additional ordinary shares in Bright Things to
be admitted to AIM.
This licence is not a substantial transaction under the AIM rules.
This information is provided by RNS
The company news service from the London Stock Exchange
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