Egmont begins TV push with DHX

Children’s publisher Egmont UK will co-create content for TV and digital platforms as part of a new international creative drive, and has partnered with Canadian firm DHX Media on its first project.

Working closely with TV consultant and ex-Jim Henson Television Group president Angus Fletcher, Egmont will seek to form creative partnerships with children’s entertainment companies to create content that works across all platforms.

The first of these will be with DHX, the TV producer-distributor that is buying fellow Canadian firm Cookie Jar. The pair has unveiled their first copro, titled Shipwrecked.

”These are creative and commercial partnerships with expertise at their heart. What makes them different is that together with our editorial teams, authors and illustrators we’ll be co-developing ideas from scratch with our partners, which can work across all media including publishing, TV, digital, merchandising and more,” said Rob McMenemy, senior VP of Egmont’s English language and Central Europe unit.

Egmont is the latest children’s book publisher to step into the multiplatform content creation space. In July, rival Penguin upped its director of media and entertainment Eric Huang to a new role that sees him hunt for acquisitions and IP as part of a similar content creation push.

“There’s a wealth of talent and experience across children’s entertainment and joining forces with other experts to co-develop original concepts is a natural next step and an exciting new direction,” said McMenemy.

The DHX deal will see the companies share rights to all their formats. Shipwrecked is described as “Gossip Girl meets Lost.” Egmont author Siobhan Curham and editor Ali Dougal are working with DHX’s VP of development Stephanie Betts to create a TV and book series.

“Our partnership with Egmont is the perfect fit for our business, bringing together complementary reach and expertise to develop multiplatform brands with global appeal,” said DHX president and chief operating officer Steven DeNure. “We anticipate great things and look forward to working with Angus and the Egmont team in bringing new creative ideas to fruition.”