gretel
17 Oct 2016
"Excellent" Girl on the Train box office Girl on the Train is still number one in the UK (impressively holding off Dan Brown's Inferno) - now up to an "excellent" $16.6m already. And The BFG and Supersonic continue to do well:[link]
janebolacha
17 Oct 2016
US interest in cheap UK media companies? Remarks from John Malone of Liberty Global, owner of 10% stake in ITV:[link] -- Liberty Global Plc Chairman John Malone said sterling’s plunge could prompt a wave of takeovers by U.S. companies of their U.K. counterparts.The pound has lost about 18 percent in value since Britain voted to leave the European Union and is the worst performer this year among a basket of major currencies. Last week’s slide leaves the currency down about 6 percent versus the dollar in October.“Some U.K. companies really look cheap to a U.S. dollar investor,” said Malone, 75, in a phone interview. “I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lot of M&A activity by U.S. private equity or corporates when they think that the pound has kind of bottomed.”Malone said he and his team “pay a lot of attention” to the fallout from the referendum. Companies in some industries may be so affected by the possibility of a “cliff-edge Brexit” that they are considering reducing investments, CBI Director General Carolyn Fairbairn said last week.“As long as you are not over levered or over-committed, if things get cheap for a while that’s an opportunity to increase your investment if you believe it will balance out,” said Malone, who is worth $7.9 billion according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.Earnings at Liberty’s Virgin Media cable company in the U.K. “are being badly hurt right now by the weak pound,” he said. “On the other hand, since Virgin Media is levered and owes a bunch of pounds, in dollar terms our debt is coming down by about 25 or 30 percent.”Bloomberg
gretel
14 Oct 2016
Multiple new TV deals Multiple new TV deals for yet another ETO character (this for a slightly older age group):[link] Inks Multiple TV Deals for ‘Winston Steinburger’Mercedes Milligan Oct 11th, 2016Entertainment One (eOne) has secured sales for its new 2D animated comedy series Winston Steinburger and Sir Dudley Ding Dong (52 x 11) in multiple territories, assuring the show will hit TV screens in the UK, Poland, the Middle East and North Africa beginning this fall.The show will this year begin airing on POP in the UK in October and on Teletoon in Poland in December, with MBC Group debuting the show in MENA in September 2017. eOne is in advanced discussions with broadcasters in additional territories, including France, with details coming soon.Already on board for Winston Steinburger are co-production partners ABC3 (Australia) and Teletoon (Canada), plus Clan TVE (Spain) and BIGGS (Portugal). The series recently launched in Australia and will roll out in additional territories through autumn.Winston Steinburger and Sir Dudley Ding Dong, aimed at kids 6-12, follows the hilarious hijinks of thrill-seeking space kid named Winston Steinburger, his feline best friend, Sir Dudley, and an uptight alien, Hampton. Exploring the galaxy in a homemade space cruiser, the three astronomical amigos square off against bubbling planets, bad-breathed space-bandits, and their worst nemesis: Pam the Destroyer, a manic tween with an itchy trigger finger and a mega crush on Winston.eOne developed the series in collaboration with award-winning animation studio Sticky Pictures."
gretel
12 Oct 2016
Re: Gril on the Train a big hit As well as Girl on the Train, the BFG is now over £30m in the UK alone - plus ETO also have the Oasis Supersonic film, which has also don well.This should be a bumper year for the Film division compared to last year:"EONEThe Girl On The Train has derailed Bridget Jones’s Baby’s chances of a fourth week as the UK’s number one.eOne’s adaptation arrived in top spot thanks to a terrific $8.6m (£6.96m) debut, including $2.2m (£1.78m) in previews, from its 612 sites. It’s worth noting that its Fri-Sun tally of $6.4m (£5.17m) would have also seen it land top spot.The result means the film is already director Tate Taylor’s best-ever UK result, and is ahead of Gone Girl’s $5.1m (£4.1m) debut, including $641,000 (£516,509) in previews, from 549 sites. However, that film was a higher certificate at 18.Gone Girl went on a lengthy run to reach $27.8m (£22.4m) at the UK box office, and The Girl On The Train will be hoping for a similarly sustained run.Also for eOne, The BFG marched past the £30m mark with a $85,000 (£68,835) weekend taking it to $36.9m (£30.05m).Supersonic added $49,000 (£39,810) from 60 sites on its second weekend for $728,000 (£592,174) to date."www.screendaily.com/news/the-girl-on-the-train-arrives-in-top-spot-at-uk-box-office/5110215.article?blocktitle=LATEST-UK-BOX-OFFICE-NEWS&contentID=40073
gretel
11 Oct 2016
Gril on the Train a big hit ETO are very happy with Girl on the Train's weekend opening, with £6.9m already - the entire film's budget was only $45m, so with $24m banked in the US's opening weekend too this looks like being a hit:[link] "Entertainment One Celebrates Tate Taylor’s The Girl On The Train as it Pulls into the UK Box Office at Number OneEntertainment One (eOne) is delighted to announce that THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN is number 1 at the UK box office grossing £6.9 million over its opening weekend including previews.This is a higher UK opening than the 3 biggest North American October releases of recent years: GRAVITY, THE MARTIAN and GONE GIRL.THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN also marks the biggest eOne opening for a non-sequel.Alex Hamilton, Managing Director Film EMEA says “This is a spectacular start! To beat such big movies on our opening weekend shows we’re travelling in very exalted company - audiences in the UK and Ireland have clearly embraced the film, and The Girl on the Train film adaptation looks set to replicate the runaway success of its great source material.""
janebolacha
09 Oct 2016
This could be big for Amblin. [link]
janebolacha
08 Oct 2016
Overdue move to slim down music business. Long overdue, imo:[link]
gretel
07 Oct 2016
Peppa to launch in South Korea ETO are launching Peppa in South Korea on TV and for product licensing - another 50m people set to succumb to Peppa:[link] Pig Launching in South Korea 22 hours agoLONDON: Entertainment One’s (eOne) preschool show Peppa Pig is debuting on South Korean animation channel CJ Tooniverse this month, coupled with the launch of a licensing program for the brand in the country. In addition to the October 10 launch on CJ Tooniverse, eOne is prepping a consumer products program for the brand, appointing Gideon as the master toy partner in South Korea. The company will distribute Character Options’ toy line, set to debut at retail this month. Additionally, eOne appointed YeaRim-I as publishing partner for the brand. YeaRim-I recently launched a bilingual series of Peppa Pig storybooks, with more slated to launch in the fourth quarter of the year. Peppa Pig merchandise is now available across Southeast Asia, including in Singapore, Thailand and the Philippines, as well as in several regions across China such as Hong Kong and Taiwan. eOne is gearing up for its first Peppa Pig brand conference in Asia, which will be hosted at the CJ E&M building on October 12 to network with potential licensees and trade partners. Dorothy Chan, the recently appointed head of Asia at Entertainment One Family, said, “We are delighted to be taking our first steps into the Korean market with Peppa Pig. Asia is a key strategic focus in the international expansion of Peppa Pig and by partnering with best-in-class broadcasters and licensing partners we are building a strong foundation for future growth.”"
felloffa
04 Oct 2016
New FP and NP I have no idea what these are all about! Can anyone enlighten me?
gretel
04 Oct 2016
Big push for Peppa, PJ Masks etc Entertainment One will be unveiling a raft of opportunities for the hit preschool property, PJ Masks that shot to global fame having hit TV screens around the world earlier this year.[link]
janebolacha
04 Oct 2016
Re: Huge prospects for Peppa in China The richest man in China has ambitions to beat Disney and to do it through theme parks.How better than through buying the company that has Peppa Pig, viewed already 6bn times in China, and also PJ Masks, ideal for theme parks.[link]
gretel
02 Oct 2016
Huge prospects for Peppa in China Nice coverage in the Mail with brief comment from the CFO:[link] Pig's been watched 6 billion times in China: Porcine superstar drives growth at Entertainment OnePublished: 21:56, 30 September 2016Takeover target Entertainment One saw the value of its library of TV shows and films increase by 50 per cent as it predicted booming sales of its latest children's series.The firm, which fended off a bid from ITV last month, saw the value of its collection rise from $1billion to $1.5billion. Growth in the value was largely driven by the success of Peppa Pig, with Entertainment One this year upping its stake in the show by 35 per cent to 85 per cent.And it revealed the programme has become a hit in China, with Peppa watched 6bn times since it began airing a year ago. The firm also predicted increased profits from new hits such as PJ Masks, which features six children who turn into superheroes while dressed in their pyjamas. The company hopes the show could one day be as big as Peppa Pig, according to chief financial officer Giles Willits. He said: 'It's doing well and it's a great show. And we are getting great support from the channels that support us. Is it another Peppa Pig? Who knows.'The first series of PJ Masks is on Disney Junior while a second has been ordered for 2018."
Donatron
30 Sep 2016
Updated Edison Research Note Good update today. There's a bit of analysis in the below.[link] the library is now worth $1.5bn, with current FX rates that is £1,154m. Divide that by the 429.3m shares in issue and just the library is worth £2.69 per share. With everything else as well, we should really be closer to £3.
gretel
30 Sep 2016
Good H1 trading update A very encouraging update today. The core divisions are all thriving once more, and the content library is up 50% to $1.5 billion![link] consensus 19p EPS this year and 23p EPS next year, the current 214p share price is simply far too low.Interesting that the m/cap is now £911m whilst the content library alone is worth over £1.1 billion....Very positive outlook for H2 as well - always scope for an upgrade now that we know ETO should be at least in line.Hopefully a decent rise is in store from here.
gretel
29 Sep 2016
PJ Masks growing fast in the USA PJ Masks set to take over the USA for Christmas with more products - this really could be Peppa Mark 2 (and Peppa is an "evergreen" licence to print money as one generation replaces another):[link] "eOne Suits Up with More U.S. Partners for TeamTO’s ‘PJ Masks’Expansive new range of consumer products across multiple categories set to debut in the U.S. beginning Fall 2016. AWN Staff Editor | Wednesday, September 28, 2016 at 2:24pm NEW YORK -- Entertainment One is expanding its consumer products offerings for its newest hit series, PJ Masks, which airs on Disney Channel and Disney Junior the Channel in the U.S. Among the many new licensees developing products is Happy Threads as apparel partner. Happy Threads joins master toy licensee Just Play and master publishing partner Simon & Schuster Children’s Publishing in supporting the popular brand. The new PJ Masks products will make their U.S. retail debut beginning this fall.“PJ Masks has been a huge hit with kids and families throughout the country and we’re very excited to expand our merchandise program with such a wide range of offerings across multiple categories,” remarked Joan Grasso, VP licensing -- North America, eOne Family. “Our newest partners will create a host of imaginative products that will enable PJ Masks fans to fully immerse themselves in all the fun and adventure of the action-packed series.”Happy Threads will develop a full range of fashions featuring the trio of pajama-sporting preschool superheroes -- Catboy, Gekko and Owlette. Other newly-named soft lines licensees for PJ Masks include:•Accessory Innovations (backpacks, lunch totes, wallets and assorted bags)•AME (sleepwear)•Disguise (Halloween costumes and holiday-themed accessories) In addition, eOne also has secured new partners for toys, arts & crafts, party goods, and more, including:•Amscan (party goods, paper and plastic tableware and decorations)•Crayola (coloring and activity products)•Cra-Z-Art (arts & crafts activity sets and accessories)•Jakks Pacific (ride-ons, wagons, inflatable environments, outdoor seasonal and kid’s furniture)•Phoenix International (electronic sound books)•Skyhigh International (back-to-school stationery sets, writing and activity sets) PJ Masks became an instant hit with TV viewers nationwide upon its U.S. premiere in September 2015. Its first episode attracted 1.6 million unique viewers across its Disney Channel and Disney Junior the Channel premieres. The initial episode of the series delivered an average audience share of 29% among children ages 2-5, and secured a top five slot for preschool programming during its first week on air. Year to date, over 50% of all adults 18-49 watch PJ Masks with kids ages 2-8. On average each quarter, PJ Masks reaches more than 40 million total viewers across the U.S., including nearly 12 million kids ages 2-5 and more than 16 million adults ages 18-49. Year to date PJ Masks ranks among the Top 10 preschool series in total viewers (1.6 million) and among kids ages 2-5."
