APC Kids Kickstarts KID-E-CATS Global Licensing Programme with New product launches from Leading Children’s Publisher Egmont in 2019

Leading children’s publisher Egmont has picked up the publishing rights to the property for the Central and Eastern Europe region and will launch a new range of story books, picture books, colouring activity books, sticker books and novelty books across the region in 2019.

This is the start of APC Kids’ licensing and merchandising roll out for KID-E-CATS outside Russia together with TV series brand owner CTC media.

APC Kids, the children’s entertainment distribution company of boutique financier and distributor About Premium Content (APC), has signed its first European licensing deals for its global children’s hit animated series KID-E-CATS.

Leading children’s publisher Egmont has picked up the publishing rights to the property for the Central and Eastern Europe region and will launch a new range of story books, picture books, colouring activity books, sticker books and novelty books across the region in 2019.

This is the start of APC Kids’ licensing and merchandising roll out for KID-E-CATS outside Russia together with TV series brand owner CTC media. Further partnerships across all consumer products categories and brand promotion to be announced imminently.

Pawel Kanik, Publishing Director at Egmont Polska says “When I first saw KID-E-CATS I thought that it would be great to be involved. It suits our profile perfectly and I know that it has already been a huge success in Russia. Now that our collaboration with APC Kids is confirmed I am more than happy to launch the publishing programme in Q1 2019. I am sure that kids will love our books as much as they love the TV series.”

Lionel Marty, Managing Director of APC Kids adds “KID-E-CATS has been a huge success both in Russia and globally with more than 150 territories already on board, so taking our first steps into publishing and licensing is the natural progression for the property. Egmont is the leading children’s publisher and the perfect partner to roll out a new book range across Central and Eastern Europe.”

Ksenia Gordienko, Head of Licensing & Merchandising, CTC Media comments “We are happy to start our international licensing program for the brand with such a respected partner as Egmont. Publishing is one of the key categories for KID-E-CATS and we are looking forward to successfully working together with our partners.”

Based on an original ratings-winning Russian series produced by CTC Media and Studio Metrafilms, this international version of the show is brought to life by APC Kids, which brought on board Nigel Pickard as Executive Producer, as well as Ceri Barnes (Floogals, Postman Pat, Casper's Scare School, Guess with Jess) as Story Editor.

Continuing as one of the best preschool shows in Russia with 5.9% average ratings (Kids 4-6) on Carousel in 1HY2018 and 1 million subscribers on YouTube totalling 800 mln views to date, KID-E-CATS tells the story of three kittens: Cookie, Pudding and their kid sister Candy who are forever ready to jump into action with endless enthusiasm and energy. Their imagination knows no bounds, and these kitties are capable of the most absurdly funny problem-solving suggestions. Through life’s little lessons, they learn to look before they leap - well sometimes!

Please find KID-E-CATS at BLE at stand F47.

About APC Kids
APC Kids is the children’s entertainment arm of boutique financier and distributor About Premium Content (APC). Headed by Lionel Marty, the kids’ specialist has a growing portfolio of high profile children’s and family properties including animated series KID-E-CATS, Roger, Fox & Hare, The Memories of Nanette and Zoli & Pokey.

About CTC Media
CTC Media manages five television channels in Russia (CTC, Domashny, Che, CTC Love and CTC Kids) as well as an international version of Peretz channel and Channel 31 in Kazakhstan. The international version of CTC channel is available in the CIS countries, the Baltic and other European states, North America, Georgia, Israel, UAE, Mongolia, and Australia. CTC Media also owns several digital entertainment media assets including videomore.ru, ctc.ru, domashniy.ru, chetv.ru, ctclove.ru, ctckids.ru and Caramba TV. CTC media is brand owner of KID-E-CATS.