Today, the German brand management and media company m4e and Dutch production-, distribution- and licensing firm Telescreen jointly announce the aqcuisition of Telescreen by m4e.

Gruenwald based m4e has aquired 100% of Telescreen, who holds offices in Hilversum, the Netherlands. With the acquisition of Telescreen – internationally renowned for its specialisation in kids & family branded entertainment content - m4e has acquired a company with strong reputation and lifelong experience in the production, co-production, distribution and licensing & merchandising of well-known kids animation programmes. Via this transaction, m4e extends its presence in Europe and continues to pursue its growth strategy.

Founded in 1983, Telescreen celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. The company has always pursued the concept of producing and distributing high quality properties for the children’s entertainment market, paying off in many successful, well-known TV-shows including “Miffy”, “Lizzie McGuire”, Alfred J. Kwak”, “Moomin”, “Hans Christian Andersen, The Fairytaler” and the newly produced series “Frog & Friends”. Along the lines of m4e, Telescreen has a very successful licensing and merchandising business representing third parties in the Benelux market, amongst which “Teletubbies”, “Roary the Racingcar”, “Shaun the Sheep”, “Little Princess”, “Dibo the Giftdragon” and “Skunk Fu”.

Telescreen will remain fully responsible for all properties represented under its independent role. In addition, Telescreen will become the international distribution outlet for m4e’s own productions, co-productions and acquisitions in the future. Via this transaction m4e adds the international experience and knowledge in distibution of the Telescreen team to the offering and can accordingly expand its third party business and distribute properties outside its home territories Germany, Austria and Switzerland.

“We are extremely excited about the possibility of working with the Telescreen team lead by Theo van der Schaaf and Sjoerd Raemakers”, says Hans Ulrich Stoef – CEO of m4e AG. “With this important step forward we are now in the position to offer all relevant services out of one hand, starting from the development to production and international distribution, up to licensing & merchandising and producing merchandise via our apparel and accessory company Tex-Ass. Certainly we are becoming a more international player. Soon we will announce a comprehensive line-up of new projects for production and distribution, which will be the boilerplate of our business focus for the upcoming years”.

“We are highly thrilled and embrace this opportunity with open arms”, comment Telescreen’s directors Theo van der Schaaf – General Manager and Sjoerd Raemakers – Director of Commercial Affairs. “Under the wings of m4e, a solid and well experienced firm with matching ambitions in the kids entertainment business, Telescreen’s international presence can be enlarged and we can jointly face an expansive growth in the field of productions and worldwide exploitation of children’s programming”.