FilmRise, a New York-based film and television studio, has signed a global exclusivity distribution deal with the famed musical group The Wiggles.
At today’s MIPCOM conference, Senior Vice President of Acquisitions and Co-Productions at FilmRise, Max Einhorn, was joined by Luke Field, The Wiggle’s general manager, to announce the partnership.
“We couldn’t be more delighted with the timing of this deal, coinciding with the release of the new Wiggles documentary, Hot Potato: The Story of The Wiggle,” Field said. “It is the perfect opportunity for children to enjoy the original, bellowed programs. We are incredibly excited about our partnership with FilmRise, as we know that we now have a robust distribution arm and a talented marketing team supporting us every step of the way.”
The deal includes more than 80 hours of classic Wiggles, a TV series hosted by Greg, Anthony, Murray, and Jeff geared towards children 2 to 5 that ran from 1998 to 2012. Fans can watch all their favorite episodes, catch hour-long specials, and sing along to classic Wiggles songs like “Fruit Salad, Yummy, Yummy,” “Hot Potato,” and “Do The Monkey,” to name a few. The contract includes digital media, digital linear, television, and ancillary rights on free ad-supported and AVOD platforms.
“We are truly excited about this deal since we understand the immense impact of this iconic intellectual property,” said Katherine Weinstein, acquisitions manager of FilmRise. “It brings us great joy to know we are sharing The Wiggles’ enchanting world with children across various territories through diverse forms of home entertainment. What’s even more exciting is the knowledge that they have not ceased their performances and creative endeavors, ensuring that fans can continue to sing along to both the timeless and fresh Wiggles songs.”
The Wiggles have been top performers for pre-schoolers for three decades and show no signs of slowing down, still selling out concerts. The group still performs concerts focused on educating alongside entertainment and has sold over 30 million albums and DVDs, and 8 million books around the world. The Wiggles keep racking up the views, hitting a milestone with one billion music streams and 3 billion YouTube views.
Their upcoming documentary is scheduled for its Prime Video debut on October 14, giving audiences a behind-the-scenes look into the legacy of the Wiggles.