What's With Andy?

Fox Kids Europe Launches Pan-European Licensing Activities For What's With Andy? Top-rating animated series offers wide range of licensing possibilities - Music deals and promotions being staged in Germany.

June 6, 2003 - Amsterdam, The Netherlands and London, UK - Fox Kids Europe (FKE), the leading pan-European integrated children's entertainment company, today announced the launch of a wide-ranging programme of licensing activities across Europe based around the animated series What's With Andy? FKE's consumer products division represents the merchandising rights to the series in all territories in Western Europe and the property is particularly well suited to promotions, retail activities, publishing, joke kits and stationery.

The 26-episode animated series is aimed at 4-10 year-olds. Full of gags and pranks and with a rich cast of characters, it highlights children's ingenuity at being mischievous and centres on the adventures of 'jokester par-excellence' Andy Larkin. Andy is on a mission to master his craft, whether he's skipping school by pretending to be dead, or passing the time kidnapping garden gnomes, but he's essentially good-hearted and knows the difference between right and wrong. A second 26-episode series of What's With Andy? is currently in production and a third series is being considered.

What's With Andy? is currently on air in France (on TF1), Germany (Super RTL), and Fox Kids channels in the UK, France and Greece. It has achieved notable ratings successes, particularly in France (40% market share, source: Mediametrie) and Germany (36% market share, source: GGmedia). There are also plans to launch What's With Andy? on free-to-air channels in The Netherlands (Fox Kids), Italy (Mediatrade), Spain (Antena 3), Portugal (SIC) and Ireland (RTE). The series will soon launch on Fox Kids channels in Central & Eastern Europe.

In Germany a What's With Andy? music track will feature on Super RTL's compilation album 'TOGGO 4', to be released by Sony; other music deals are under discussion, together with several major What's With Andy? promotions. The series received a special 'All Fool's Day' (April 1, 2003) re-launch on Super RTL, and scored 60% of the vote in Super RTL's cartoon election poll in Autumn 2002, out-performing other popular series.

Ian Downes, Managing Director, Active Licensing Europe says: "With its quirky, original humour and storylines, What's With Andy? is a very attractive property with a broad appeal, which lends itself perfectly to a wide range of merchandising activities. It is also a very strong property for promotions, particularly those looking to add a humourous spin to their activities. There is considerable interest from licensors and the series has already scored impressive ratings, especially in France and Germany, which bodes well for its launch on several more channels across Europe."

About Fox Kids Europe N.V.:

Fox Kids Europe N.V. (FKE) is the leading pan-European integrated children's entertainment company with localised television channels, programme distribution and consumer products businesses. FKE's business lines are driven by a localised approach and its ownership of one of the largest and most recognised libraries of children's programming in the world, which includes approximately 6,300 episodes. FKE is listed on Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange.

Channels

FKE produces and broadcasts television channels for children aged 2-14. The content of each is tailored specifically to the local audience in each market, taking into account viewing habits, popularity of programmes, parental sensitivities and cultural trends. Fox Kids channels are currently broadcasting via cable and satellite to 57 countries, reaching more than 33 million households in 17 languages. FKE's main markets include the UK, the Netherlands, France, Germany, the Nordic Region, Spain, Poland, Romania, Turkey, Russia, Israel and Italy.

FKE also offers interactive TV games channels, 'Fox Kids Play', in France and Israel and operates 17 localised websites for the Netherlands, the UK, Germany, France, Israel, Spain, Sweden, Denmark, Romania, Norway, Italy, Poland, Russia, Turkey, Hungary, Czech Republic and Slovakia.

Programme Distribution

FKE owns one of the largest libraries of children's programming in Europe. Programming from its library is distributed to more than 120 different terrestrial, cable and satellite channels in over 50 markets across Europe and the Middle East. This library includes major global programming franchises such as Power Rangers, Spiderman, X-Men, Inspector Gadget and Goosebumps. The rights for most of the titles in the FKE library cover all markets in Europe and the Middle East and include many forms of media. The FKE library is serviced by Buena Vista International Television.

Consumer Products

FKE's consumer product activities include toys, merchandising, retail projects and home videos sold in 30 European countries. FKE is present in the UK, France, Germany, Israel, Italy, Russia, Spain and Benelux and also retains third party agents in other European markets. FKE's consumer product properties are sourced from the FKE library and include properties such as Power Rangers and Gadget and the Gadgetinis as well as third party agreements for properties such as Digimon, Medabots and Totally Spies.