Hat Trick brings comedy clips to mobiles

Clips from Father Ted will be the first product to launch on Orange UK and Vodafone in the UK and Ireland.  i-Rights has licensed the rights to sell clips on mobile phones, wallpapers and ringtones. 

Paul Cohen, head of legal & business affairs at Hat Trick, said: “It has become clear over recent months that this is an area of increasing importance to Independent Producers.” 

i-Rights was founded in November 2004 by ex-Granada Interactive Head Justin Judd and Phil Fearnley, formerly Commercial Director of BBC Technology. 

Fearnley said: “i-Rights is a business based on understanding and realising the value of intellectual property across all potential distribution networks and devices.  We’re delighted to be working with indie pioneers Hat Trick and leading the way in generating revenue from the opportunities created by digital technology.” 

The company has secured a video clips deal with Eddie Izzard on mobile phones, which is running on 3, O2, T-Mobile and Vodafone, and is also working with Fast Show creators Paul Whitehouse and Charlie Higson to deliver a set of ringtones and mobile content using Fast Show characters including Ted and Ralph, Ken and Kenneth and Sir Rowley Birkin.