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The UK is second only to the US as an exporter of TV programming hours

MENU Overall sales

of UK television formats rose by

25 per cent in 2009 to £119m

ADD SOME PEPPA

UK cartoon series Peppa Pig is enjoying success after securing a three-year broadcast agreement with US children’s TV network, Nickelodeon. Shown in the UK since 2004, Peppa Pig is broadcast in more than 180 countries. It has a catalogue of 156 episodes, with an additional 52 commissioned for delivery over the next two years. UK merchandise sales alone were worth more than £200m in 2010. Peppa Pig made its US premiere

in February and the show’s potential merchandising sales are estimated at £1bn a year. Darren Throop, CEO of licensing company Entertainment One, said: “We are confi dent that Peppa will be as popular in the US as she is in the UK and look forward to growing the franchise around the world.” www.astleybakerdavies.com

ANIMATION NATION One burgeoning area of expertise in the UK television industry is animation. There are distinct and successful centres of animation production excellence throughout the country, including Bristol, Cardiff, Dundee, London and Manchester, all possessing an abundance of highly qualifi ed, nurtured and innovative talent. The UK is particularly acclaimed

for pre-school storytelling and design animation. Examples include award- winning cut-out multimedia animation series Charlie and Lola (Tiger Aspect Productions) and Shaun the Sheep (Aardman Animations), both of which enjoy global commercial success.

It also has an international reputation

in short fi lm animation. Major successes include the Oscar-winningWallace & Gromit series (Aardman Animations). Dave Sproxton, co-founder and executive chairman of Aardman Animations, says: “The UK’s animation skill base has grown massively and is now recognised across the world as being fi rst class and award winning. Where once there was only a cottage industry with a small number of companies producing work for television, there is now an industry employing thousands, producing work for large- scale feature fi lms, television series and television commercials which are seen across the world.”

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For more information contact Judith Rooney, screen project manager at UK Trade & Investment, on 020 7215 8115 or email judith.rooney@ukti.gsi.gov.uk

WINNING FORMAT

UK independent TV distributor ALL3MEDIA International has grown its global business over the last two years. The company, which won the Queen’s Export Award in 2009, licenses UK programmes to more than 1,000 broadcasters across the globe. Major successes includeMidsomer Murders, broadcast in more than 225 countries. Rachel Glaister, head of press and marketing at ALL3MEDIA International, says: “Buyers expect us to have the best of British drama, quality award- winning factual programmes, as well as successful and innovative entertainment shows.”www.all3 mediainternational.com

VOLUME UK television

content sales have increased fourfold over the past

decade to more than £2bn

INFO

International sales of UK TV programmes

and associated activities generated some

£1.3bn in 2009, up nine per cent on 2008