Rubbadubbers

Here Come The Rubbadubbers™! Making A Splash On Nick Jr.® In September, Hit Entertainment's New Animated Series Will Open A World Of Imagination For Young Children As They Enjoy Bathtime Fun.

DALLAS/NEW YORK, June 9, 2003 - In early September, Rubbadubbers, a high-spirited new animated series which turns an everyday bathroom into a world of imagination and fantastic adventure, will premiere on Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. preschool programming block. Using the bath as a launch pad into a world of imaginary play, Rubbadubbers inspires children to believe they can be anything they want to be. Produced by HIT Entertainment's HOT Animation Studios, makers of HIT's global phenomenon, Bob the Builder™, Rubbadubbers debuted on the BBC in January 2003, where it has garnered consistently strong ratings.

Following a high-profile, multi-platform tune-in campaign in fall '03 that will drive viewership and build overall consumer awareness, HIT and its licensing partners will orchestrate a retail launch that includes staggered product introductions throughout spring, summer and fall '04. The roll-out strategy will see core categories (such as video, toy and domestics) selectively introduced in spring, followed by publishing and bedding in summer, and broader distribution - including additional categories and extensions - in fall.

The master toy licensee for Rubbadubbers™ is Hasbro, which will launch its line including bath toys, playsets and plush in 2004. In addition, HIT Entertainment is announcing agreements with the following category partners: Simon & Schuster and Scholastic (publishing); Dan River (bedding); Jay Franco (bath towels/bath d�cor); and Wormser (sleepwear).

"We are thrilled to be partnering once again with Nick Jr.® on the broadcast launch of our newest production, Rubbadubbers," said Charlie Caminada, chief operating officer of HIT Entertainment. "It's a delightful series that breaks ground by establishing a world of imagination and adventure set in a bath environment, and we're convinced that both parents and children will embrace the concept and the characters."

"We're looking forward to working with a group of blue chip partners including Hasbro, Simon & Schuster, Scholastic, Dan River, Jay Franco, Wormser and the others who will be coming on board for this exciting consumer products launch next year," said David Jacobs, senior vice president of HIT Entertainment's brand business group. "An inspiring show for children, Rubbadubbers offers myriad possibilities for fun, imaginative toys, videos, books and other items that will establish the brand as owning the bathtime experience."

One big splash of imagination after another, each Rubbadubbers story whisks the characters from an ordinary bathroom into a fantastic world of creative adventure. By using the bath as a launch pad into a world of imaginary play, Rubbadubbers inspires children to believe they can be anything they want to be. The loveable bath toys who make up the ensemble cast include Tubb™ the frog, the "leader of the bath"; Finbar™, the wind-up toy shark; Sploshy™, the starfish-shaped sponge; Terence, the crocodile-shaped bubble bath bottle; Winona, the squeaky toy whale; Reg, the battery-operated robot; and Amelia, the flying submarine.

Established in 1989, HIT Entertainment PLC is a fully integrated global studio, with divisions in the UK, U.S., Canada, Germany and Japan, including broadcast production and distribution, video and audio sales, consumer products licensing, and marketing. A world leader in quality family entertainment, the company controls all rights for such acclaimed children's properties as Angelina Ballerina™, Barney®, Bob the Builder™, Kipper™, Pingu™ and Thomas & Friends™. In the U.S. and Canada, HIT Entertainment also distributes the popular preschool property, The Wiggles®.