• NBCU’s Sprout available in 58m homes in US, Treehouse in 6.2m homes in Canada
ABC Commercial has signed new broadcast agreements with Sprout, the US preschool destination within NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment’s Universal Kids network, and Corus Entertainment’s Canadian cable network Treehouse, for a range of new television content from The Wiggles.
The separate, multiyear licence agreements give each partner the broadcast rights to a collection of content from The Wiggles’ television catalogue, including both seasons of their hit TV series Ready, Steady, Wiggle! and the rights to the premiere of the group’s upcoming series Wiggle Wiggle Wiggle.
Sprout and Treehouse will also have exclusive rights to countless studio-recorded specials from The Wiggles’ extensive back-catalogue, including The Wiggles Meet the Orchestra, Taking Off!, Rock and Roll Preschool, Apples & Bananas and more, totalling over 60 hours of content across each network.
“Emma, Lachy, Simon and Anthony are all excited to bring The Wiggles music, stories and characters to a wider audience across North America,” said Paul Field, managing director of The Wiggles. “Our new agreements with Sprout and Treehouse ensure we are well positioned to continue entertaining preschoolers and their parents across North America for years to come.”
“ABC Commercial is excited to partner with Sprout and Corus Entertainment,” said Robert Patterson, director of ABC Commercial. “North American audiences have always been incredibly supportive of The Wiggles and it’s our pleasure to be bringing those fans more of the group’s acclaimed content.”
Since attaining the global licensing rights to The Wiggles’ complete catalogue of music and television in September last year, ABC Commercial has been actively negotiating with both local and international partners to deliver The Wiggles’ content across the world.
In addition to signing new broadcast agreements with Sprout and Corus Entertainment, ABC Commercial has also agreed to a new partnership with US-based Australian music distributor MGM to distribute The Wiggles’ music digitally and on CD throughout the US and Canada.