Press Release
New York, NY (3/26/98) -
Daily Variety announced today that the Pokemon animated series received
the best WB numbers yet among kids 2-11, and ranked as the week's top
rated kids show.
The WB network's overall Saturday
AM lineup averaged a best-ever 3.3/15 share in the key kids demo on March
20th, according to Nielsen fringe ratings data released Thursday.
According to Variety, the animated
phenomenon which is produced and distributed by 4Kids Productions, a
division of 4Kids Entertainment (NASDAQ: KIDE), Pokemon has lifted the
Kids' WB Network, "A 'Pokemon'-powered Kids' WB continues to set
ratings records, last week outscoring all three broadcast network kidvid
players for the first time." The article also stated that Pokemon has
had an enormous effect on the overall ratings for Kids' WB, "Ratings
for Kids' WB have soared since 'Pokemon' bowed on the net last month, with
last week's seg ranking as the top-rated program ever for Kids' WB among
kids 2-11."
Brad Turell, Senior Vice President
of Publicity and Talent Relations for the Kids' WB Network commented on
the power of Pokemon on the network, "The dynamic duo of Pokemon and
Batman Beyond has propelled Kids' WB from No.3 to No.1 for the first time
ever. Network television is all about breakout hits. Clearly, Pokemon is
one of the biggest hits in the history of children's television."
The series was originally produced
by Shogakukan Productions in Japan, where it is the No. 1 rated children's
show and a cultural phenomenon. 4Kids Productions successfully adapted the
series for the United States, incorporating all new music, voices and
scripting to transform the striking "anime-style" animation into
a smash hit for American audiences. Al Kahn, Chairman and CEO of 4Kids
Entertainment expressed his excitement about the series' ratings,
"We're thrilled with the numbers. These ratings validate our belief
that kids are the same around the world."
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