FLW
has granted international publisher, Dorling Kindersley,
the pan-territory rights to produce and distribute
a Planet Cook cookbook, sticker book and Funfax
in the UK, Germany and Australia. The 48-page branded
cookbook will feature step-by-step guides to preparing
selected recipes that have featured on the TV show.
The products are scheduled to go on shelf from summer
2006
In a separate deal, leading annuals publisher, Pedigree
Books, has been granted the rights to produce and
distribute a 64-page hardback annual in the UK and
Australia. The Planet Cook Annual, which will be distributed
in Australia by ABC Publishing, is expected to hit
shops in summer 2006.
Targetted
at children aged 6-10 years, Planet Cook is
a live-action cookery adventure show for children
where mealtime disappointments are a thing of the
past. Set on a tropical island, each episode sees
Captain Cook guide three young Cook Cadets as they
create a meal against the clock. Each recipe is inspired
by the natural world - from leaf-eating dinosaurs
to volcanoes - which gives Captain Cook the inspiration
to create delicious dishes like 'Erupting Volcano
Surprise'. All recipes have been analysed by independent,
qualified nutritionists to fit within the context
of a balanced, healthy diet.
FLW
VP Licensing UK Dom Wheeler said, "These pan-territory
publishing deals are yet another great example of
how the Planet Cook brand can extend across multiple
touch-points and these volumes will be a great fit
with our existing range of products. Dorling Kindersley
and Pedigree are both well-established leaders in
the publishing field with tremendous distribution
at retail and we are delighted to have them on board."
Planet
Cook continues to be a key priority for FLW. FLW says
that it will continue to extend the brand further
across key categories including additional publishing,
cookware, gifting, interactive and food to complement
the Heinz Planet Cook range and first Planet Cook
DVD release (Universal Pictures)which launched at
retail last week. Branded cookware and bakeware (Trudeau-Euromark)
will be available at retail from November.
Earlier
this month, FremantleMedia had announced tape sales
to TVB, in Hong Kong and Kids Central in Singapore.
Both broadcasters acquired 52 x 20' episodes of the
UK version of Planet Cook which is produced by format
owner and creator, Platinum Films. 52 episodes of
the UK show have also been sold to ABC in Australia
and Fremantle Home Entertainment has granted DVD and
VHS rights to ABC to complement the launch of the
show on the channel this month. Planet Cook also has
a first class broadcast platform in the UK and public
broadcaster, ZDF, has produced a local series for
Germany.