Geneva, 18 March 2003 - The European Broadcasting Union today announced that it has chosen Pitt & Kantrop as its next-generation animation series. The new cartoon created by Millimages, a leading animation company in France, is planned for launch in autumn 2004.

Pitt & Kantrop is a coproduction between the EBU and Millimages, co-financed by the following EBU Members: ARD (Germany); BBC (UK); France 2, France 3; RAI (Italy), RTBF, VRT (Belgium); RTVE (Spain); SRG-SSR idée suisse (Switzerland).

Wolfgang Wegmann (ARD), Theresa Plummer-Andrews (BBC) and Babette Vimenet (France 3) are the executive producers of the series, while the international distribution rights, including TV rights, video production and merchandising will be handled by Millimages Licenses, Millimages UK and Millimages USA.

"We are confident that the series Pitt & Kantrop will be another success for the EBU and its Members in providing quality European programming to children across Europe," said Philippe Jacot, head of the EBU Coproduction Unit.

Roch Lener, CEO Millimages is delighted to start the production of Pitt & Kantrop with the EBU. "The distribution of the series will be coordinated in different European territories and this will be an extraordinary opportunity for its promotion and merchandising," he said.

The authors of Pitt & Kantrop are Isabeau Merle and Fethi Nedjari. Aimed at children aged from 6 to 12 years, the series of 26 episodes x 26 minutes stars Pitt, a 13-year-old boy, and his faithful winged pet, Kantrop (the last pterodactyl of his species).

The series is an off-beat modern comedy set in prehistoric times, which recounts the adventures of Pitt, whose relentless efforts to bring progress to his tribe, the Pitticus, defy their long-established ways of living.

French company Millimages, one of Europe's leading animation production companies, is internationally recognized for the quality and creativity of its programmes. Their animated productions are aired by major broadcasters in Europe. The Millimages catalogue includes over 128 hours of programmes.

The Geneva-based EBU is the largest professional association of national broadcasters in the world. It serves 71 active Members in 52 countries of Europe, North Africa and the Middle East and 45 associate Members in 28 countries around the world. Working on behalf of its Members, the EBU negotiates broadcasting rights for major sports events, operates the Eurovision and Euroradio networks, organizes programme exchanges, stimulates and coordinates coproductions, and provides a full range of other operational, commercial, technical, legal and strategic services.

For all further information:
Nadja Burkhardt
Project Manager
Tel: +41 (0)22 717 2886
burkhardt@ebu.ch

Aline Bussat Ingwersen
Media Officer
Tel: +41 (0)22 717 2038
ingwersen@ebu.ch

MILLIMAGES: 
Laurence Corre
Tel: +33 (0)1 49 29 56 17
l.corre@millimages.com