Aardman inks deal with China’s U-Young Media

August 25, 2010 by Wendy Goldman Getzler

Bristol, UK-based Aardman Rights has signed an exclusive all-rights deal with Beijing-based U’Young Media for two of its children’s properties in China.

The deal includes the first two seasons of Shaun the Sheep (80 x seven minutes) and seasons one through three of Timmy Time (78 x 10 minutes). Timmy Time‘s third series is currently in production.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV-Children launched Shaun the Sheep in early August in a primetime children’s slot. Under the deal, U’young will manage DVD, toy and publishing for both series, which is expected to launch from spring 2011.

Timmy Time now reaches 130 territories worldwide and has showed strong ratings on CBeebies in the UK. The series has rolled out worldwide since its UK launch last April and is due to debut in the US on Playhouse Disney on September 13.