Barcelona, February 10, 2014: Planeta Junior and DreamWorks Animation (Nasdaq: DWA) have agreed to an extensive multi-year television output agreement across Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece and Turkey. Effective today, the TV output deal includes more than 1100 programming half-hours and provides a supply of high-quality animated series to Planeta Junior’s various business areas from the studio responsible for the Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda and How to Train Your Dragon franchises.
This wide-ranging agreement signed between DreamWorks Animation, the world’s largest animation studio, and Planeta Junior, a leading European company in the production, distribution and licensing of animated series (such as Maya the Bee, Heidi 3D, Sesame Street), includes new television series inspired by DreamWorks’ franchises and future films, including the hit show Turbo FAST.
The deal encompasses series in production under the studio’s previously announced agreement with Netflix as well as the DreamWorks Classics library, representing some of the most popular animation produced in the last 50 years with such titles as George of the Jungle and Casper the Friendly Ghost.  Planeta Junior ( headquartered in Barcelona) is part of Grupo Planeta and Gruppo DeAgostini, which are leading European media groups with holdings in top TV  channels  including Antena 3, NeoxKidz, DeAKids and Super!,  as well as in publishing and education companies throughout Europe.
The agreement further appoints Planeta Junior as DreamWorks Animation’s licensing agent for consumer products throughout the above mentioned territories as well as in Central and Eastern European countries for both feature films and new TV properties. Existing agents will remain in place for the next 18 months on How to Train Your Dragon 2 movie and TV series 1 and 2. This continues the Studio’s international expansion in the areas of licensing and merchandise.
Michael Bannett, CEO of Planeta DeAgostini, parent company of Planeta Junior, comments: “We are very excited to work with DreamWorks Animation and establish their properties as the leaders in our markets. The DreamWorks portfolio is currently the best in the world and this breakthrough deal represents one of the largest commitments ever made by our company in TV content and licensing.”
Eric Ellenbogen, Co-Head of DreamWorks Classics, who lead the transaction for the Studio added: “We’re really pleased to enter into this agreement with Planeta Junior, assuring that audiences across Spain, Italy and the Mediterranean will enjoy our characters for years to come.  This and other recent international output agreements secure some of the world’s leading telecast platforms for DreamWorks Animation’s TV production slate and its extensive program library.”
Ignacio Segura, Planeta Junior’s General Manager, added: “It is our aim to collaborate with leading licensors and producers, and the DreamWorks portfolio boasts some of the most beloved and recognized properties in the world today. We’re extremely enthusiastic about this collaboration, which will undoubtedly lead to great opportunities for Diego Ibáñez and his team and consolidate our leading position throughout the territories in which Planeta Junior operates.”
DreamWorks Animation’s Head of International Consumer Products Jonathan Baker adds, “This exciting new alliance with Planeta Junior represents a significant franchise building opportunity as DreamWorks extends its vision as a global entertainment brand.  From a consumer products standpoint, we will be taking DreamWorks Animation licensing programs to new heights, offering families and audiences unparalleled levels of merchandise for our most beloved characters and franchises.”
DreamWorks Animation
DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc. creates high-quality entertainment, including CG animated feature films, television specials and series and live entertainment properties, meant for audiences around the world. The Company has world-class creative talent, a strong and experienced management team and advanced filmmaking technology and techniques. DreamWorks Animation has been named one of the “100 Best Companies to Work For” by FORTUNE® Magazine for five consecutive years. In 2013, DreamWorks Animation ranks #12 on the list.  All of DreamWorks Animation’s feature films are produced in 3D. The Company has theatrically released a total of 28 animated feature films, including the franchise properties of Shrek, Madagascar, Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon, Puss In Boots and The Croods.
Planeta DeAgostini
Planeta DeAgostini is a holding company founded by Grupo Planeta (Spain) and Gruppo DeAgostini (Italy), both leading publishing and communication groups in their operating territories. Planeta DeAgostini concentrates its business in audiovisual contents exploitation ( DeAPlaneta, Planeta Junior ), partworks and education ( CEAC, EAE, UIV).
Planeta Junior. Management of children contents in all formats.
Planeta Junior is a leading company in Europe in the sphere of children’s and young people’s leisure. Its activity focuses on the production of animated series, as well as the exploitation of contents rights for television, licensing and publications. Planeta Junior operates in different countries through its subsidiaries in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy, Greece, Turkey and Eastern Europe.
While producing and distributing these contents on television and managing licenses of top new brands, its catalogue features as well the greatest European children’s classics.
As part of the strategy of renewal of this catalogue of classics, Planeta Junior is producing three new animated series in 3D of Maya the Bee, Vicky the Viking and Heidi. Planeta Junior is also committed in the production of new properties such as Egyxos, a new boys’ action series where a human boy with the immense power of the last Pharaoh will live an adventure between two worlds.
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Encarni González – egonzalez@1990mcs.com –  Tel: 0034 93 362 08 40