Entertainment Rights sells 100 hours Down Under

UK distributor Entertainment Rights is enjoying sales success after shifting over 100 hours of programming to Australian terrestrial and satellite broadcasters.

Deals include ABC and Nickelodeon pick-ups the stop-frame show Merlin the Magical Puppy (26×26'), Ethelbert the Tiger, the live-action BBC/RTE co-production Custer's Last Stand-Up (13×30') and Titch (39×10'), produced by Hutchins Films.

ABC also took Preston Pig, airing in spring 2002, while Nickelodeon also picked up My Parents Are Aliens. The deals were sewn together by Entertainment Rights' sales director Chloe van den Berg, who described Australia as {an extremely competitive market.{

The distributor has also seen a Seven Network pick-up for its cgi feature Barbie in the Nutcracker.

{We are now actively exploring co-production opportunities in Australia,{ said an Entertainment Rights spokeswoman. Fred Gaffney International has also been appointed as the Australian licensing agent for Merlin the Magical Puppy and ER's Love Hearts fashion range.