More Peppa Pig episodes on the way, says Entertainment One

Entertainment One announced the start of production on a new series of Peppa Pig on Friday.

The FTSE 250 firm said the show's award-winning animation studio, Astley Baker Davies, would be producing the new series which would bring the total number of Peppa Pig episodes to 381.

It said the 117 new episodes are scheduled to launch on air globally from Spring 2019 and secure a pipeline of Peppa Pig content over the following four years.

Supporting the current and future roll-out of new episodes across broadcasters around the world, Entertainment One said it also signed a number of new licensing partners.

DTC, a toy partner in Brazil, launched a new line of toys which will debut at retail from August 2017.

In Russia, licensing accelerated at a “significant” pace and the licensing programme now had 40 partners signed across the toy, games and confectionery categories.

Peppa Pig merchandise also recently entered new markets across the Nordic region where the Character Options master toy line was being distributed by Top Toy and is currently enjoying strong retail sales.

Entertainment One said Peppa Pig continues to be one of the leading preschool properties in the UK, Australia, the US, Spain, Italy, France, Latin America and Southeast Asia.

In China, Peppa Pig generated more than 24.5 billion views on multiple SVOD platforms since the brand was first launched two years ago, providing “strong” consumer traction for the licensing and merchandising programme roll out of the brand this year, the board explained.

“Peppa Pig's global appeal continues apace as we bring new content to audiences across the world,” said eOne CEO Darren Throop.

“With a new series in the pipeline, best-in-class partners and strong marketing and experiential initiatives in each territory, we continue to nurture the long term success of this global preschool phenomenon.”