Popular Global Children's Series Is Anchor Bay Entertainment's Newest Acquisition

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Anchor Bay Entertainment announced today it has acquired U.S. distribution rights to Ludorum's Chuggington™, the modern CGI-animated, train-centric series that has sped full steam ahead since its U.S. debut in January.  Chuggington – which airs six days a week on Playhouse Disney, Disney Channel's learning-focused programming block for preschoolers – teaches young children valuable social readiness lessons as they follow the humorous adventures of  three 'trainees' learning to 'ride the rails' of life.

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Anchor Bay Entertainment will begin distributing Chuggington DVDs in early 2011 via brick and mortar and online retailers.

"Chuggington teaches and charms – it's full of color and adventure," said Anchor Bay Entertainment President Bill Clark, who made today's announcement.  "We are delighted to add it to our repertoire of children's entertainment properties."

"We are excited to become a part of the Anchor Bay Entertainment family," commented Maureen Taxter, SVP U.S. consumer products, Ludorum.  "The partnership is a great fit, especially since we've seen the demand for DVDs increasing on the brand's social media sites and via e-mails from parents.  Fans are specifically looking for Chuggington media that kids can watch in the car, take to a friend's house or enjoy when one episode a day isn't enough."

Anchor Bay Entertainment's Vice President, Julie Cartwright added that "Parents will welcome Chuggington as something that both they and their children enjoy watching."

Chuggington is on track to becoming a hit in the U.S. and is already a number one preschool show in the U.K., Australia, Germany, Canada, France, Japan and other countries around the world.  Broadcast in 175 territories worldwide, Chuggington follows the fast-paced and humorous adventures of three young 'trainees' – Wilson, Brewster and Koko – as they learn about life in the train yard and the world beyond.  On their quests to become proper 'chuggers,' the characters interact with other trains who teach them important social-emotional lessons about friendship, honesty and more.

The deal for Chuggington was negotiated by Bill Clark and Julie Cartwright for Anchor Bay Entertainment.

About Anchor Bay Entertainment

Anchor Bay Entertainment is the home entertainment division of Starz Media, LLC. It includes the Anchor Bay Films and Manga Entertainment brands. It distributes feature films, children's entertainment, fitness, TV series, documentaries, anime and other filmed entertainment on DVD and Blu-ray formats. It is the exclusive distributor in the U.S. of the theatrical titles from Overture Films. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, Anchor Bay Entertainment has offices in Troy, MI, as well as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Starz Media (www.starzmedia.com) is a controlled subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation attributed to the Liberty Capital Group.

About Ludorum PLC

Ludorum is a global IP company dedicated to developing, acquiring and marketing quality entertainment properties for television, interactive and new media.  Ludorum is the creator of Chuggington^™, a CGI-animated television series for preschoolers that has launched in over 175 countries around the globe including the U.S. on Disney Channel's Playhouse Disney, January, 2010.  Ludorum was formed in 2006 and has offices in London, Chicago and New York.  For more information about Ludorum, please visit: www.ludorum.com.

SOURCE Anchor Bay Entertainment

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RELATED LINKS
http://www.starzglobal.com
http://www.ludorum.com