Chorion PLC 10 January 2005 10 January 2005 Chorion secures Japanese contract for Noddy Chorion is pleased to announce that it has secured an agreement for the distribution of a Noddy TV series in Japan, the world's second largest toy market. A distribution agreement between Chorion and OLC/Rights Entertainment Japan (ORE), the Tokyo-based intellectual property rights subsidiary of theme park owner Oriental Land Co. Ltd, will see Chorion's 100 x 10 minute CGI-animated series, "Make Way for Noddy", debut in Japan on no fewer than three major television networks, starting in the second half of 2005. As part of the agreement, Chorion has also awarded ORE publishing, video and licensing rights for the Noddy brand in Japan, making possible the comprehensive rollout of Noddy books, toys and home entertainment products into a market in which there are more than six million children under the age of five1, the brand's core demographic. Noddy's new broadcasting partners are: • Kids Station, one of the most widely distributed and highest rating cable and satellite channels in Japan (a joint venture channel owned by Mitsui, Tokyo Broadcasting System and the Sumitomo Corporation/Liberty Media entity Jupiter Programming Company) and with an audience of six million viewers; • BS Fuji, the satellite television network of major commercial broadcaster Fuji Television Network (flagship of Japan's largest media conglomerate, the Fujisankei Communications Group); and • Megaport Broadcasting, a national digital interactive television network (owned by a consortium including Japanese newspaper Mainichi Shimbun and publisher Kadokawa Shoten) Today's announcement represents a major step in the global expansion of the Noddy brand and its licensing prospects. Japan is the largest toy market in the world after the United States. According to research agency Euromonitor, the value of the toys and games market in Japan is Y1022 billion (approx. US$9.7 billion), of which traditional toys and games account for annual sales worth Y527 billion (approx. US$5 billion). Within the next 12 months "Make Way for Noddy" will be seen in three of the world's biggest markets: the United States, mainland China and Japan. The series is already one of the UK's biggest television exports and is broadcast in approximately 115 territories. In the UK, "Make Way for Noddy", which made its debut in 2002, is the most popular television programme for its target audience of children aged three to five. Welcoming Noddy's expansion into Japan, Chorion chief executive Nicholas James said: "Taking Noddy to Japan represents a landmark achievement for Chorion and the Noddy brand. The recent sales in major territories such as Japan, the US and mainland China, underline the character's international appeal and the major licensing prospects for the brand. "We are especially delighted to work with such a prestigious partner in OLC/ Rights Entertainment Japan which has secured airtime on prestigious television networks in Japan." Japan is also one of the biggest markets for another Chorion brand: crime author Agatha Christie. Publisher Hayakawa has begun distributing new editions of all Christie titles and first animated television series based on Christie's works - created expressly for Japan - recently aired on general entertainment network, NHK1. Commenting on recent trading ahead of the company's close period, Mr James said, "The signing of this very important deal with one of the strongest players in the Japanese market together with the significant broadcasting success, on ITV, of the four new Miss Marple TV films throughout December, brings to a close a very positive year for Chorion. We have seen good growth across our entire portfolio and trading is in line with market expectations. We look forward to a very positive 2005." - ends - For further information please call: Tim Allan or Andrew Sholl Portland, for Chorion 020 7404 5344 andrew.sholl@portlandpr.co.uk About Chorion Chorion (LSE: COR) is the UK's leading owner and manager of classic literary-based brands. Its foremost properties include Enid Blyton's Noddy, Roger Hargreaves' Mr. Men and Little Miss series, Agatha Christie's Hercule Poirot and Miss Marple and Georges Simenon's Inspector Maigret. Visit www.chorion.co.uk. About OLC/Rights Entertainment Japan (ORE) OLC/Rights Entertainment (Japan) Inc. was established in 2003 to fulfil the aim of strategically expanding the intellectual property rights business as a fully owned subsidiary of Oriental Land Co., Ltd. (OLC, the parent company also operates Japan's Disney theme park). About Noddy "Make Way for Noddy" is a colourful CGI-animated pre-school series centring on the adventures of the little wooden boy with a nodding head and his Toyland friends. It is based on the classic books by the UK's biggest-selling children's author Enid Blyton. More than 200 million Noddy books have been sold worldwide in 40 languages since the character was first created in 1949. "Make Way for Noddy" made its debut on UK broadcaster Five in 2002. It has grown to become the most watched pre-school TV series for kids aged 3-5 in the UK and is one of the top-three rated pre-school programmes in France. The programme has since been translated into more than a dozen languages and is seen 115 markets around the world. 1 Source: Unicef/United Nations Population Division (http://www.unicef.org/ infobycountry/japan_statistics.html This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange