UK kids OTT service captures The Gruffalo

Hopster, the UK streaming service for kids, has acquired exclusive rights to the animated one-offs The Gruffalo and The Gruffalo’s Child.

The preschool shows have been added to the Hopster line-up today, marking the premium OTT debut for both.

Hopster will offer existing and new subscribers a personalised letter andGruffalo stationery set during as part of a promotional campaign. The films are produced and distributed by Magic Light Pictures.

Hopster has also struck a distribution deal with Hit Entertainment. The agreement gives it Hit shows including Thomas & Friends, Bob the Builder, Pingu and Angelina Ballerina. It will take 1,200 episodes of Hit content in total.

About 100,000 customers have downloaded the Hopster app so far. The service is aimed at kids aged two-to-six and has series and games.

It has programming agreements with distributors including Entertainment One, DHX, Nelvana and Millimages and show including 64 Zoo Lane, Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom and Little Bear.

The iPad version of Hopster, which is advertising-free, costs £3.99 (US$6.73) per month.