Immediate Media Co to launch Rastamouse magazine

Immediate Media Co is to launch Rastamouse magazine, a lively children’s title aimed at pre-schoolers, based on the popular CBeebies TV programme of the same name.

Following a deal with rights-owner DHX Media, Rastamouse and his crime-busting mouse reggae band, The Easy Crew, will feature in a new four-weekly title aimed at pre-school boys and girls from the age of four years upwards. The first issue will go on sale in early summer.

Reflecting the slightly ‘tongue in cheek’ humour that runs through the programme, Rastamouse magazine will also have a strong appeal to an older audience and parents. The new title is the only pre-school magazine that encourages children to investigate and solve a mystery.

The magazine will encourage children to learn about respect, understanding and to foster self-confidence, through learning important detective skills whilst helping Rastamouse to solve a mystery.

With stories, reward charts, stickers and incentives to make a bad ‘ting good, the magazine will contain activities for children to cut out and make. The editorial will be relaxed, chilled and very positive, helping children to feel they are part of the crime-fighting, mystery-solving team.

Pauline Cooke, Pre-school Publisher at Immediate Media Co, said: “Rastamouse magazine is a very exciting addition to our pre-school magazine portfolio. It’s a really original programme, from its storylines to its look and feel. We’ve thoroughly enjoyed creating this magazine and we’re sure it will add something different to the market, that children will love.”

Angeles Blanco, Director of Licensing at DHX Media said: “Rastamouse’s unique brand of charm continues to attract new fans and partners to the property. The launch of Immediate Media Co’s standalone Rastamouse title will complement the products in the market and bring more Mouseland mysteries and an extra helping of Easy Crew entertainment and activities to fans of the country’s foremost skate-boarding musical mouse.”

Rastamouse magazine will be priced at £2.50 and will be available at all major retailers and independents around the UK this summer.

END
Notes to editors:
For more information, please contact:
Toby Hicks, Immediate Media Press Office
0208 433 3807 or email Toby.hicks@immediate.co.uk

1. Rastamouse, based on the critically acclaimed books by Genevieve Webster and Michael De Souza, launched on CBeebies in January 2011 and has since engaged a following of preschoolers and parents alike. The series features Rastamouse, Scratchy and Zoomer of Da Easy Crew, the mystery-solving, reggae-playing band who always make a bad ting good and live by their motto “redemption, not retribution.”

2. Immediate Media Co was formed on 1 November 2011 following the merger of BBC Magazines, Origin Publishing and Magicalia. With an exciting mix of market-leading brands, great talent and technology expertise, the company combines a strong publishing heritage with digital platforms and entrepreneurial flair. Its wholly-owned brands include Radio Times, olive, Homes & Antiques and highly successful specialist titles including Perfect Wedding and Junior. It publishes Top Gear, Good Food, EasyCook and Lonely Planet magazine on behalf of BBC Worldwide and a number of other titles, including BBC History, Gardeners’ World, Focus and the CBeebies portfolio, under licence. The company also publishes leading digital brands such as MadeForMums.com, loveyourhair.com and visordown.com. With 750 staff in London and Bristol, Immediate Media Co has over 1 million subscribers, a brand reach of 11 million UK consumers and revenues of £150m per annum. It is owned by Exponent Private Equity.

3. DHX Media: DHX Media, together with its subsidiary, W!LDBRAIN Entertainment, is a leading international family entertainment rights creation and management company with three-award-winning production facilities, worldwide distribution and a global consumer products business. As one of the world’s foremost producers of animation, W!LDBRAIN Entertainment boasts an exceptional slate of programming, including Yo Gabba Gabba! (Nick Jr.), The Ricky Gervais Show (HBO), Higglytown Heroes (Disney), Bubble Guppies (Nick Jr.), Oki’s Oasis (Disney), The Hard Times of RJ Berger (MTV), Peanuts “Happiness is a Warm Blanket, Charlie Brown” (FOX) and Team Smithereen (Disney XD). DHX Media has produced over 40 original television series, including world-recognized series such as Franny’s Feet, Animal Mechanicals, Kid vs. Kat, Angela Anaconda and Martha Speaks, and maintains a library of over 2,500 half-hours of animation and live-action programming. The company’s global licensing group oversees a diverse merchandising portfolio for proven properties, including the hit U.K. series Rastamouse. DHX WILDBRAIN has offices in Toronto, Halifax, Vancouver, Los Angeles and London. DHX Media is listed on the TSX (Toronto Stock Exchange). www.dhxmedia.com.