DHX Media (NASDAQ: DHXM; TSX: DHX.B, DHX.A), Technicolor (Euronext Paris: TCH; OTCQX: TCLRY), an underlying rights holder in THE DEEP, and A Stark Production announce the greenlight of production for season two of THE DEEP, with commitments for the new season of 13 half-hour episodes from current partners Australia's ABC, Germany's Super RTL, Canada's Family CHRGD and Netflix in the U.S.
Additionally, CPLG, a DHX Media company and one of the world's leading licensing agencies, has been appointed as multi-territory licensing agent for the brand, including North America, EMEA (excluding Germany) and Latin America.
Based on the Aurealis Award-winning graphic novel series created by multi-award-winning best-selling comic book author and playwright Tom Taylor (Earth 2, Superior Iron Man, Batman: Legends of the Dark Knight, Injustice: Gods Among Us, Star Wars: Blood Ties), illustrated by James Brouwer (Justice League Beyond), and published by Gestalt Comics, The Deep has delivered strong family appeal for broadcast partners.
In the UK, according to BARB ratings, The Deep on CBBC was the UK's #3 ranked children's television series across all channels for the week ending September 7; and was the top-viewed animated series targeted to kids in the six to eleven year-old age range for the weeks ending March 20, March 27, July 17 and September 4. The Deep is currently airing on
ABC ME in Australia; on Finland's YLE; Sweden's SVT; Norway's NRK; Singapore's Okto; and Portugal's Panda; with upcoming launches on Ketnet in Belgium and Minika in Turkey.
"We are delighted that The Deep has resonated so strongly with the audiences of each of our broadcast partners since its roll out last November," commented Alison Warner, VP, IP Sales, Acquisitions and Co-Productions at Technicolor. "The impressive performance of this imaginative adventure series and its ability to engage viewers of all ages is driving a plethora of opportunities for licensing, merchandise and retail partners and we are thrilled to have CPLG on board to strategize, facilitate and maximize the property's potentially extensive licensing program."
Ken Faier, SVP and General Manager, DHX Studios, added, "One of the best indicators of success in this business is commitment to a second season from broadcast platforms, so we are very happy to have major international channels on board for more of The Deep. This, together with CPLG's considerable licensing and merchandising expertise on-hand to steer consumer products potential, means we are building strong foundations for further success."
"We're thrilled to be moving forward with the second season of The Deep and to have CPLG join us on this incredible journey," added Avrill Stark, CEO of A Stark Production. "It's clear that the series has connected with its target audiences around the world and it is testimony to the strong commitment from our global partners, who have all contributed greatly to its success. With season two, we're looking forward to engaging children further, both on and off screen, in the amazing world of The Deep."
"We are extremely excited to utilize our extensive experience and relationships in key markets around the world in developing compelling opportunities for The Deep," added Steve Manners, EVP for CPLG. "We look forward to collaborating with broadcast partners in building the brand's presence in the respective markets around the world, maximizing consumer recognition of the brand to broaden the licensee base and driving marketing opportunities across all retail platforms."
The Deep follows the adventures of the Nekton family - a brilliant team of underwater explorers. With state-of-the-art technology and an unquenchable thirst for discovery, the Nektons explore the mysterious depths of the ocean, where most of our world lies unexplored and unexplained. While others look up to the stars, this family knows that an infinite number of things shine brightly in the darkness below. The deep is a place where leviathans swim through sunken cities, where pirates lurk amidst floating black markets, and where a mysterious group of Guardians hide long lost secrets. Taylor serves as co-creator and lead writer of the series and Brouwer serves as co-creator and art director.
Technicolor, as the underlying rights holder to The Deep, has oversight of the brand's licensing extensions. The co-production partners are Australia-based A Stark Production (scripts, design and music) and Canada-based DHX Media (animation, voices and post-production), with distribution handled by DHX Media.
Image courtesy of DHX Media
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