Pre-school show now aired in almost every country on the planet
Kids TV character Peppa Pig has brought home the bacon for her owners, after becoming a $1billion a year global hit.
That’s how much Entertainment One estimates the pre-school show will make this year from TV rights and spin-off merchandise.
The £640million haul has rocketed from £100m in 2009, with the firm clinching nearly 200 new broadcasting and licensing deals for Peppa Pig in the past six months alone.
Peppa Pig, an animated show about her family and friends, is aired in more than 170 countries worldwide.
Darren Throop, Entertainment One’s boss, said the only countries it wasn't screened was where there was political unrest.
Peppa is fast making it big in the cut throat US market, with the Nick Jr channel airing episodes seven days a week.
Plans are in place to begin selling Peppa toys in US branches of Toys R Us and Walmart early next year.
Mr Throop said a reason the show was a hit in the States was that it kept the British voice overs.
“They love the Queen’s English – the accent,” he said.
The company has also been rolling the show out to Brazil, Russia and the Far East.
It said: "We believe Peppa Pig has the potential to be the most loved pre-school property in the world."
A Piggy Pig World has already opened at Paultons Park, a theme park in Hampshire, and Mr Throop said it was in talks to extend the idea abroad.
Entertainment One snapped up the licensing rights to Peppa through the takeover of another firm for £60m in 2007.
Peppa’s booming sales helped the company double profits to £2.4m in the six months to the end of September, despite sales dipping 10% to £330m. And it is banking on Peppa after yesterday revealing plans to double in size over the next five years.
