press information
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press information
press information HUNTIK with successful launch on RTL II Germany and announcement of 26 new espisodes The animated TV series HUNTIK, which is distributed by m4e AG Germany, makes a successful debut on RTL II, while Big Bocca Productions and Rainbow S.p.A. announce the production of a secound season of 26 epsiodes. Gruenwald, 24. March 2009: On Monday, 16. March 2009, the animated TV series HUNTIK, which is distributed by Gruenwald based brand management and media company m4e AG, had a successful launch on RTL II. The action adventures series, produced by Big Bocca Productions and the Italian hit animation studio Rainbow S.p.A., reached a market share of 8.2%* at general audience, aged 14-49 years, ranking clearly above the broadcaster’s average rating. In the target group for boys 6-13 years, HUNTIK reached 60,000 viewers with a market share of 28.7% at the first broadcast, averaging 21% in its first week. In the course of its international success, Big Bocca Productions and Rainbow S.p.A. announced the production of a second season of HUNTIK. After the series was likewise successfully launched in Italy at Rai Due, in the US at CW4Kids and in the UK at Jetix, the production of 26 new episodes received greenlight. The broadcast of season 2 is planned for end of 2010. Since Thursday, 19. March, the series is also available on DVD in Germany. Volume 1 with the first 6 episodes of season 1 was released by m4e Home Entertainment and features bonus materials like the HUNTIK Music Maker by Magix, for producing own HUNTIK songs on PC, or an animated tutorial for the HUNTIK trading card game, which was released on 20. March 2009. The series HUNTIK is an original action adventure property, created and directed by Iginio Straffi, the author of the Winx Club, and co-produced through a partnership between Big Bocca Productions, the leading content creator & animation studio Rainbow S.p.A. and the brand 1 von 3 press information management and media company m4e AG. Magic, mystery, mythology and adventure come together in HUNTIK, a fantastic new adventure property for kids (focus on boys) aged 8-16 years. “The great success of HUNTIK especially in Italy and in the US drove us to conceive and realize the second season. The new episodes of HUNTIK will explore new territories all around the world, travelling through the continents. Our world is so rich of wonderful and mysterious legends belonging to the most important traditions and cultures that we cannot really stop telling our sons through this ambitious animation series”, says Iginio Straffi, owner of Rainbow S.p.A. and creator of the world famous animation series of Winx Club. “After HUNTIK caught a great deal of international attention before its international broadcast debut due to being honoured with several international prizes, we are extremely happy that the series now comes up to the high expectations. Through the production start of season 2 we will be able to continue with brand development on a long term basis”, concludes Hans Ulrich Stoef, CEO of m4e AG. Gruenwald, 24. March 2009 m4e AG – Executive Board * Base: All TV households of Germany (integrated TV panel GER + EU) Source: AGF/GfK PC#TV; Description: RTL II media research Links: www.m4e.de www.huntik.de www.pokito.de/huntik About m4e AG: m4e AG is a brand management and media company that is according to its company credo „made for entertainment“ specialized on the development and utilization of high-value brands and intellectual property rights (IP-rights). At a later stage, these rights are given to manufacturers of the various products. m4e participates with royalties on the sale of these products. Every manufacturer has to guarantee a minimum turnover in advance in order to obtain a licence agreement through m4e. m4e’s business areas are TV-production, licensing, home entertainment, merchandising, publishing, interactive & new media. International distribution of TV- and new media rights as well as home entertainment outside the German speaking territories is performed by the independent Dutch subsidiary Telescreen. Another business area is the production of textiles and accessories through the subsidiary company Tex-Ass GmbH. From the development of an idea up to the finalised product, m4e is able to offer a one-stop-shop combining all these activities. This differentiates m4e distinctly from its competitors. The licence Portfolio consists of high-value brands and intellectual property rights for the areas of sports, entertainment/characters and brands/personalities. The following licensing- & merchandising rights belong to the m4e portfolio: 2 von 3 press information Sports: DFB – German Football Association / the German Football National Teams, DFB-mascot „Paule“, NHL. Entertainment/Characters: Dinosaur King, Dragon Booster, Frog & Friends, Hero: 108, Huntik, Kamen Rider, Monster Allergy, Lunar Jim, Storm Hawks, Winx Club, Winx Club – the movie. Brands/Personalities: Bad Alice, The Dog, The Dome, Isi, Jeanette Biedermann, Selina Shirin Müller. In addition to this, m4e AG acts in the area of media co-operations for TV broadcasters such as RTLII / Pokito. About HUNTIK: HUNTIK is an exciting new kids action/adventure animated series. Centered on magic, mystery and mythology, the new Huntik animated series features a group of so-called Seekers as they explore exotic locations such as Egypt, Prague, and the Amazon in missions to save humanity from the darkest of forces. Synopsis: A teen boy named Lok Lambert makes a chance discovery of two strange treasures once belonging to his missing father: A journal and a powerful Amulet! But suddenly he is attacked by ruthless scoundrels who are determined to seize the journal. When all hope is lost, the Amulet awakens Lok’s own Seeker powers, allowing him to escape certain capture. Wanting above all else to find his long lost father Lok finally discovers the Huntik Foundation - a team whose members are united by the desire to do good – and he joines them. They call themselves “Seekers” and with the help of magic spirits, the socalled Titans, they fight against the evil “Organization” to get control over creatures that could destroy the Earth. And step by step they come closer to discovering the secret behind the disappearance of Lok’s father. C o n ta c t m4e AG Public Relations m4e AG Investor Relations Josef Hofer Alpenveilchenstr. 4 82031 Gruewald Germany Susan Hoffmeister Alpenveilchenstr.4 82031 Gruenwald Germany T +49-89-210195-55 F +49-89-210195-99 E-mail hofer@m4e.de T +49-89-210195-0 F +49-89-210195-99 E-mail ir@m4e.de 3 von 3