Thunderbird Distribution acquires global media and consumer products rights to new preschool series BeddyByes

The JAM Media-produced series has been commissioned by BBC Children’s and Education and is set for a spring 2025 launch

Thunderbird Entertainment Group Inc. (TSXV:TBRD, OTC:THBRF) (“Thunderbird” or the “Company”) is pleased to announce that Thunderbird Distribution, a division of the Company, has acquired global media (excluding the UK, Ireland, Denmark, Finland and Sweden) and consumer products rights to new preschool series BeddyByes. The CG-animated series is produced by Ireland’s JAM Media and is an original production for BBC Children’s and Education that will debut on CBeebies and BBC iPlayer in spring 2025. Additionally, Ireland’s RTE is on-board as a co-producer and Nordic pubcasters DR (Denmark), YLE (Finland) and SVT (Sweden) have prebought the series.

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Thunderbird has acquired global media and consumer products rights to new preschool series BeddyByes from Ireland's JAM Media, which will debut on CBeebies in spring 2025. (Photo: Business Wire)

BeddyByes (52 x 11 minutes) is a visually rich and uniquely tactile CG-animated series designed to help toddlers and young preschoolers get ready for sleep by taking them on a gentle, undulating journey to bedtime. Viewers will follow central characters MeMo and BaBa through the routine of a young child’s day, from playtime and mealtime to bathtime and bedtime, as they encounter a host of fantastical beings that encourage good nutrition, mindfulness, and creativity, winding down towards sleep.

“There has been a real gap in the market for a series designed to help young children and their parents navigate the journey towards bedtime, and BeddyByes will fill it beautifully,” said Richard Goldsmith, Thunderbird President of Global Distribution & Consumer Products. “It is exactly the kind of exceptional commercial property produced by an extraordinary producer that we’re continually on the lookout for as we build our third-party business. We believe toddlers and young preschoolers will be drawn to the incredibly huggable world of BeddyByes created by JAM. We can’t wait to share it with international platforms and other potential partners.”

“We are so pleased that Thunderbird Distribution will be introducing BeddyByes to global platform buyers, along with potential consumer products partners through Thunderbird Brands,” said John Rice, JAM Media CEO. “JAM co-founder Alan Shannon and I, both had toddlers at the same time a few years back, and that sparked the idea for this series. We saw a real need for content that would provide toddlers and young preschoolers with a calming and soothing experience that would help them happily drift off to sleep. And now, with Thunderbird on-board, kids around the world will get a chance to meet and fall in love with MeMo and BaBa and their friends.”

BeddyByes is produced by UK and Irish-based JAM Media with offices in Belfast and Dublin. Executive producers and creators are John Rice and Alan Shannon, with Beth Gardiner serving as the Commissioning Editor for CBeebies and Suzanne Kelly, Head of Children’s & Young People’s Content at RTE, representing the broadcaster.

Thunderbird Distribution will be previewing BeddyByes to buyers at MIPCOM, taking place October 21 – 24 in Cannes, France.

ABOUT THUNDERBIRD ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

Thunderbird Entertainment Group is a global award-winning, full-service multiplatform production, distribution and rights management company, headquartered in Vancouver, with additional offices in Los Angeles and Ottawa. Thunderbird creates award-winning scripted, unscripted, and animated programming for the world’s leading digital platforms, as well as Canadian and international broadcasters. The Company develops, produces, and distributes animated, factual, and scripted content through its various content arms, including Thunderbird Kids and Family (Atomic Cartoons), Thunderbird Unscripted (Great Pacific Media) and Thunderbird Scripted. Productions under the Thunderbird umbrella include The Last Kids on Earth, Molly of Denali, Highway Thru Hell, Kim’s Convenience, Reginald the Vampire and Boot Camp. Thunderbird Distribution and Thunderbird Brands manage global media and consumer products rights, respectively, for the Company and select third parties. Thunderbird is on Facebook, X, and Instagram at @tbirdent. For more information, visit: www.thunderbird.tv.

ABOUT JAM MEDIA

JAM Media (www.jammedia.com), with operations in both Ireland and the United Kingdom, is one of the leading creators and producers of multi-award winning animated and live-action content for the children’s and preschool audience. JAM prides itself on delivering high quality, innovative, story-driven brands across multiple platforms based around engaging characters with humour at its heart. The company was founded in 2002 by animator friends John Rice, Alan Shannon and Mark Cumberton.

Neither the TSX Venture Exchange (“TSX-V”) nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX-V) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release, which has been prepared by management.

Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Information

This news release includes statements containing “forward-looking information” for purposes of applicable securities laws (“forward-looking statements”). Forward-looking statements are indicated by the use of words such as “anticipate”, “continue”, “estimate”, “expect”, “forecast”, “may”, “will”, “plan”, “project”, “should”, “believe”, “intend”, or similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this document include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to plans to continue building out Thunderbird Distribution’s operations with third-party titles and original series, anticipated launch date of BeddyByes, and the performance, results and outcomes related to BeddyByes.

Forward-looking statements are necessarily based on a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause actual results and future events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors include, but are not limited to: general business, economic and social uncertainties; legislative, environmental and other judicial, regulatory, political and competitive developments; product capability and acceptance; and other factors set out in the “Risks and Uncertainty” section of the Company’s management discussion and analysis for the period ended March 31, 2024. and technology changes. The foregoing is not an exhaustive list. Additional risks and uncertainties not presently known to Thunderbird or that management believes to be less significant may also adversely affect the Company and the assumptions and estimates relied upon in connection with making the forward-looking statements contemplated herein.

The forward-looking statements or information contained in this news release represent the Company’s views as of the date hereof and as such information should not be relied upon as representing our views as of any date subsequent to the date of this news release. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless so required by applicable securities laws.

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