SMC Entertainment Group's Lisa Streff To Spearhead Licensing & Merchandising Programs for Both Series at New York's Toy Fair & Las Vegas' Magic

ZDF Enterprises GmbH (ZDFE) is pleased to announce that SMC Entertainment Group Inc. (SMC) has been appointed to spearhead all licensing, merchandising and promotional activity for two of its most popular teen series, H20 Just Add Water and Dance Academy, throughout North America, for a five year term. The announcement was made today by Lisa Streff, SVP Licensing, SMC, and Oliver Grundel (Project Manager Merchandising), ZDF Enterprises.

"We are very excited to be working with ZDF Enterprises to build targeted licensing programs for both of these exciting tween/teen properties," commented Lisa Streff, SVP Licensing, SMC. "As the number one series on Teen Nick, H20 Just Add Water already has a huge fan base in North America, and when Dance Academy launches on Teen Nick later this month, we're anticipating a similar audience response. We're eager to talk to manufacturers and licensees at both Toy Fair and Magic, and look forward to developing great partnerships for both series in the U.S. market."

"After seeing the passion that SMC brought to The Jungle Book's licensing program, we are confident that we can also entrust them with our teen series' brands," said ZDFE's Oliver Grundel. "With SMC and Lisa Streff spearheading our licensing, merchandising and promotional programs, we know every opportunity that is right for the brands will be exploited."

Dance Academy, an exhilarating and high-energy teen drama series, will premiere on Teen Nick February 20, supported by a dedicated marketing campaign featuring promotional spots and trailers. The series is produced by Werner Films Productions and was co-created by Joanna Werner and Samantha Strauss, who also serves as head writer on the series. Dance Academy is a coming-of-age series that follows small-town girl Tara Webster (Xenia Goodwin) on her journey to pursue a career as a professional ballet dancer at the fictitious and highly competitive National Academy of Dance. The series, a hit for Australia's ABC3, airs on ZDF in Germany and has already been sold to YLE Finland, TG4 Ireland, Cartoon Network Latin America, NRK Norway, Disney in Portugal and Spain, RTI-Mediaset Italy, Canal+ France, SF Switzerland, NPO Netherlands, and to Vitaya Belgium and South Korea.

SMC will develop relationships with licensees and promotional partners for the Dance Academy brand targeting tween/teen girls 8-14 years old in categories such as Dancewear, Apparel, Accessories, Publishing, Gaming, Back-to-School, HBA, Room Décor and others. The Company plans to launch at retail Spring 2013.

H20 Just Add Water is created and produced by Australian BAFTA award-winner Jonathan M. Shiff. The charming series about three teenage girls facing everyday teen problems with an added twist: they're mermaids with powers over water. The series was ranked as the #1 series on TeenNick with teens 12-17 and girls 12-17; and tweens 9 -14 and tween girls 9-14. Currently in its third season, H20 Just Add Water's ratings have grown by triple digits in just the past year. Licensed to more than 140 international territories, all new episodes began airing in the U.S. in January 2012. H20 Just Add Water stars Cariba Heine, Phoebe Tonkin and Indiana Evans.

SMC will initially build H20 Just Add Water's licensing and merchandising program to include Swimwear, Apparel, Accessories, Publishing, Gaming/Apps, Stationery, Room Décor, Novelties and HBA, with further expansion into other categories in the second tier. Merchandise is targeted for retail Spring 2013.