Beyblade

3-2-1 ... Let It Rip!!!!' With the World's Hottest-Selling Toy ... Beyblade.

Spinning Sensation Spirals to New Heights With Extreme Licensing Programs

(*) Launch of second season with 51 new episodes

(*) No. 1 TV series for boys on ABC Family

(*) Massive global promotions with Burger King, Frito Lay and Kellogg's Brands

TORONTO and NEW YORK, June 10 - One of the hottest-selling toys in the world, Beyblade, spins into Licensing Show 2003 from d-rights, Inc. and Corus Entertainment's Nelvana. The No. 1 TV series for boys 6-11 and 9-14 on ABC Family, Beyblade is set to whirl into season two with 51 new episodes of "Beyblade VFORCE". The new season will be supported by massive global promotions, a worldwide licensing program, national Beyblade Battle Association (BBA) tournaments and an exciting and innovative product line from Hasbro, Inc.

"Retailers are spinning with the success of Beyblade," said Sid Kaufman, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Licensing and Merchandising for Nelvana. "As a result of this success Beyblade is driving record performance for our business. In addition, we have been able to partner with some of the world's most successful companies -- including Hasbro, Atari, Burger King Corporation, Frito Lay, Kellogg's, Sony Music and others. With 51 new episodes on the way, we want retailers to know that we are committed to this property for the long term and the potential is enormous."

"The global appeal of Beyblade combined with the contributions of the regional partners reflect the ongoing commitment of the brand to deliver a satisfying experience to the Beyblade fan," says Kaji Tsuyoshi, Vice President of International Division, d-rights.

With well over five million Beyblade tops sold to date in the U.S. alone, Hasbro's line will continue to expand internationally with high-performance spinning tops, launchers and stadiums that kids can build, customize and collect. Tied to the launch of "Beyblade VFORCE", Hasbro will extend their line with a new series of remote control tops, launchers, magnetic tops and stadiums that will take spinning top battles to a whole new level of challenge. From d-rights, Inc. through Corus Entertainment's Nelvana, merchandising agent for the Beyblade brand, Hasbro is the master toy licensee in the U.S. and various other countries.

"We are thrilled with the Beyblade brand's momentum around the world," said Greg Leeds, General Manager of Boys Toys for Hasbro. "Kids everywhere are collecting and competing with their customized tops and they'll be even more excited about the new remote control and magnetic versions we'll bring them this year."

One of the hottest toys of 2002, Beyblade is an extreme sports experience featuring ultra-cool tools for competitive "tournaments" in which every fan can become an active competitor. Beyblade requires strategy to build and customize battle equipment in pursuit of becoming the world Beyblade champion.

In the U.S., Nelvana, in partnership with Hasbro, has launched the BBA (Beyblade Battle Association), the counterpart to Japan's wildly successful Beyblade live events. The BBA provides competitive play on three levels including: kid-driven grassroots play, "Rip Zone" nationwide retail-based events spinning out this summer at Toys "R" Us stores and "Blader Jam" national tournaments are in the works for this fall. Additional BBA events have also begun to roll out across Canada, Europe, Australia and Latin America.

Licensed by d-rights to Nelvana, Beyblade is an enormously popular and edgy Japanese anime cartoon series about a young teen who learns to harness the power of his ancestors to perfect his technique in the sport of Beyblade. Together with an international team of heroes, they embark on a globetrotting quest to battle their way to the World Championships.

Nelvana's expertise in developing integrated licensing programs that ensure a property's long-term success is evident in the hugely successful rollout of Beyblade worldwide. Massive global promotions are ripping throughout the world with Burger King Corporation, Frito Lay and Kellogg's, providing fans with combined premiums of almost one billion. In the U.S. alone, the BURGER KING(R) promotion includes millions of themed premiums at more than 8,000 restaurants, and globally the BURGER KING(R) program includes an on-line component, sweepstakes and in-store events tying in licensees, retailers and broadcasters.

With more than 50 licensees in Europe and 20 in Latin America Beyblade covers all major categories, including entertainment, apparel, home decor, stationery and publishing. Two recently finalized deals include an exclusive deal with Atari, Inc. for a Beyblade video game based on the hit series, with plans to bring Beyblade to console systems later in 2003. In addition, Sony Wonder Canada, the children and family division of Sony Music Entertainment, recently signed an exclusive five-year video, DVD and global soundtrack licensing agreement for the release of programming from the TV series, along with music from the show and original songs created specifically for upcoming shows and soundtracks.

Other licensing programs in the U.S. for fall 2003 include: Pioneer (home video and DVD), Fast Forward (backpacks), JEM (apparel), S. Goldberg (footwear) and Wormser Company (sleepwear).

Corus Entertainment is a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is Canada's market leader in both specialty TV and Radio. Corus also owns Nelvana Limited, one of the world's largest international producers and distributors of children's programming products. The company's other interests include music, television broadcasting and advertising services. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto (CJR.B) and New York (CJR) Exchanges. Corus' Web site can be found at www.corusentertainment.com.

d-rights is a 100% owned subsidiary of Mitsubishi Corporation handling entertainment content for a variety of media and currently focusing on production and licensing of animation. Mitsubishi Corporation is the world biggest general trading company, whose turnover is US $110 billion and net profit is US $0.8 billion. d-rights is the company that produced and own the animated series Beyblade and is taking care of all licensing related to the property, Beyblade.

Hasbro is a worldwide leader in children's and family leisure time entertainment products and services, including the design, manufacture and marketing of games and toys ranging from tradition to high-tech. Both internationally and in the U.S., its Playskool, Tonka, Milton Bradley, Parker Brothers, Tiger and Wizards of the Coast brands and products provide the highest quality and most recognizable play experiences in the world. http://www.hasbro.com/beyblade.