Postman Pat owner delivers record profits

Postman Pat owner Entertainment Rights today said the loveable postie’s march across the globe had helped it to another year of record profits.

The group, which also owns the rights to Basil Brush and Little Red Tractor, said operating profits soared 134% to £7.5m (€10.8m) in 2005 while turnover increased 21% to £30.7m (€44.2m).

The Greendale resident who became Postebote Pat in Germany earlier this month is now on air in the five largest pre-school markets – the USA, Japan, UK, Germany and France – and in over 100 countries worldwide.

Entertainment Rights said it hopes to repeat this success with Rupert Bear, which it acquired from the Express Newspapers in October. An animated series is in production and is expected to be seen on Channel Five in Autumn this year.

The group also announced a new BBC commission for its pre-school show Guess With Jess, including a worldwide toy deal with Mattel’s Fisher Price.

Chairman Rod Bransgrove said the strategic mix between wholly-owned brands and third-party alliances had provided a well-balanced business.

“In this digital age, quality content is the vital ingredient to success and, as a market leader possessing one of the strongest portfolios of children’s content, ER is well-positioned to take advantage of these tremendous opportunities,” he said.