Yo Gabba Gabba! grabbed by RDF Rights

RDF Rights (RDFR) has acquired US preschool series Yo Gabba Gabba! (below) for worldwide distribution in a deal with its San Francisco-based makers W!ldbrain and The Magic Store.

RDFR has also bagged international TV and DVD rights as well as being appointed as global licensing and merchandising representative. The deal continues RDF Media Group’s expanding strategy in the children’s space following the appointment of Nigel Pickard as its director of kids and family last year.

RDFR will handle sales of all free television rights outside North America and all pay television sales and home video/DVD rights outside of the US, UK, Ireland and Italy, where deals are in advanced negotiation.

RDFR will also manage licensing and merchandising rights for Yo Gabba Gabba! in categories such as apparel, home furnishings, music and publishing rights outside North America. The deal was brokered for RDFR by Angus Fletcher of Snow River Media.

The RDFR deal follows news of W!ldbrain and The Magic Store’s broadcast deal with Nick Jr in the US. It will premiere in fall 2007.

Production of the show begins in April. It is designed to highlight simple life lessons for preschoolers and stars Host DJ Lance Rock (Lance Robertson), with animated puppet segments. Puppet characters include Muno the Cyclops, Foofa the pink flower bubble, Brobee the green little one, Toodee the blue cat-dragon and Plex the robot. Preschoolers are encouraged to play and dance along when they hear the magic words Yo Gabba Gabba!

“Yo Gabba Gabba! is a wonderfully creative and innovative new preschool series that will resonate with young, and not so young, audiences around the world,” said Nigel Pickard, director of family entertainment at RDF. “Our association with Yo Gabba Gabba! launches RDF Family Entertainment into the global kids market and we couldn’t be more delighted to be working with W!ldbrain and The Magic Store.”