Primetime Peppa Pig and films put Entertainment One on track
POPULAR children’s cartoon Peppa Pig going primetime in the US and a series of box office hits helped drive group revenues at Entertainment One 15 per cent higher in the 10 months to the end of January.
The group, which distributes films and television series in the UK, US, Canada and several other countries, said the increase meant full year earnings were on track to meet expectations.
The firm, which bought movie distributor Alliance Films for £142m at the end of last year, said film revenues were up 24 per cent year-on-year, with Alliance contributing nine per cent of this.
The Group released 159 movies in the period, compared to 125 in the year ago period, with successful titles including Django Unchained – starring Leonardo DiCaprio – and the Twilight Saga; Breaking Dawn Part 2, helping to boost box office receipts 56 per cent year-on-year.
Television revenues were up 30 per cent year-on-year helped by its popular Peppa Pig series securing the prime 6pm timeslot on Nick Jr channel in the US, and its continuing success in the UK.