“Sleepydog is an ideas business operating in the media sector. We have a history of creating disruption and breaking down barriers by identifying gaps and challenging traditional thinking. Our products, tools and methodologies all help monetise new ideas in existing markets.” Toby Moores, CEO.

The Sleepydog story

In 2004 we secured the world’s first blanket music licence for video games, and in partnership with Sony Computer Entertainment Europe (SCEE) we co-created Buzz! The Music Quiz a new concept in social gaming for the PlayStation 2.

Buzz! The Music Quiz went on to become Sony’s fastest-selling original game to reach $100m in world-wide sales. Four years, six sequels and one BAFTA® Award later, Buzz! is now an established and critically-acclaimed franchise available throughout Europe, Australasia and America.

Prior to Buzz! we spent eight successful years licensing IP to the mobile telecoms sector most notably in mobile security and top-up cards. We also produced a range of multimedia content for global mobile phone operators and distributors including: O2 and Mob.tv.

Our work in emerging mobile technology continues, and in 2008 we released LifeCast, a mobile blogging and journal application for the iPhone which achieved 50,000 downloads in its first 6 months after release.

We are currently working in partnership with a number of TV production companies across the world to develop innovative new programming for international television markets. In 2009 our first show, Weird & Wonderful Hotels was successfully sold to multiple territories and began broadcasting in spring 2010.

In case you’ve not already seen it, National Geographic Australia have put together this fantastic new trailer for the show!

Weird & Wonderful Hotels is being broadcast throughout April and May on the Nat Geo Adventure channel, so be sure to check your local TV listings!

Early risers in Australia were treated to a preview of Weird & Wonderful Hotels, when we featured on Channel 9’s morning show, Kerri-Anne.

The segment included clips from our visits to the Null Stern Hotel, Marqués de Riscal, The Tea Factory, Hostel Celica and Tongabezi Lodge.

For those of you not from Down Under, you can watch the clip from Kerri-Anne’s show here.

Weird & Wonderful Hotels is being broadcast throughout April and May on the Nat Geo Adventure channel.

Fantastic news! National Geographic Channels International (NGCI) has today announced the acquisition of Weird & Wonderful Hotels!

The series will air in April 2010 on NGCI’s Nat Geo Adventure channel, which is available in more than 40 countries around the world including: Italy, Singapore, Hong Kong, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Latin America, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, Australia, Israel, Africa and the Middle East.

Each episode showcases the world’s most unique and peculiar lodging experiences, and uncovers the inspiration behind these one-of-a-kind destinations. Accommodations range from the delightfully rustic to the outright bizarre!

“Weird and Wonderful Hotels is full of quirky charm as it offers an exclusive tour of the world’s most unusual spots to rest your head along with luxurious retreats and eco-friendly lodges. The series is a natural fit for the Nat Geo Adventure audience,” said Carlyn Staudt, Senior Vice President of Global Acquisitions for National Geographic Channel.

Weird & Wonderful Hotels is the first television series by UK media company Sleepydog Ltd and has been made in conjunction with Chief Productions.

With season one of Weird & Wonderful Hotels now complete, we couldn’t wait to share this sneak preview of the show with you!

We’ll be posting full details of where and when you’ll be able to watch the full series in the near future, so watch this space!

Viva Las Vegas! Weird & Wonderful Hotels it’s heading to Sin City to attend NATPE, a three day annual conference which attracts TV execs from more than 70 countries worldwide.

The event runs from 25-27 January 2010, and is being held at the palatial Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.

Our distributor, The Fremantle Corporation will be there to promote Weird & Wonderful Hotels, so be sure to visit them in Suite 6914 at THE Hotel at Mandalay Bay to grab a copy of our latest promotional brochure and pilot DVD.

For more information about NATPE and details of how you can attend, visit www.natpemarket.com.

Big thanks to everyone at Mainframe Manchester and The King’s Arms for the fantastic visuals, and Chris Lewis and Mark Hilton for the toe-tapping theme music!

The art direction and design of Weird & Wonderful Hotels is the work of The King’s Arms, a UK-based agency with a diverse range of clients, including: The New York Bagel Co, The Sun, Ringspun, and Frosty Jack’s.

About The King’s Arms

The Kings Arms is a creative collective based in Manchester.

In the old days, you’d call us an advertising agency, but the world has gone mad. We are writers, art directors, designers, project managers, strategists, producers and directors.

Whatever the brief, we’ll get the right team together to crack it with you. There are no big overheads, no big egos and no big lunches to pay for. Well, maybe the odd lunch.

For more information, please visit www.thekingsarmscreative.com

Contact The King’s Arms

The King’s Arms
1st floor Lloyds House
22 Lloyd street
Manchester M2 5WA
Tel: 0161 832 6110
Email: paul@thekingsarmscreative.com

Weird & Wonderful Hotels has been made in conjunction with Chief Productions, a UK-based production company with a rich background in advertising, film, music and television.

About Chief

Historically, Chief’s main focus has been on making high quality TV commercials for the advertising industry. And it still is. Only it’s now more than that. It’s about making Internet content. Making games, making records, films, TV programmes and making pop groups famous.

Making stuff is at the essence of everything we do. It is our passion.

Chief has gone back to its roots as a TV content producer. We began life producing network shows for the BBC before developing our TV commercial production arm. Now we’re at it again, developing formats for UK broadcasters, ad funders and international distributors.

We are an extremely industrious group of people with a diverse skill set. And we reckon we can make just about anything.

On our website you’ll find more information on the people and projects that make Chief a unique and original production company. If you have a project or innovation of any kind that you want to discuss, please get in touch. We’d love to make it happen for you.

For more information, please visit www.chiefproductions.co.uk

Contact Chief

With season one of Weird & Wonderful Hotels in the can, we’ve given our website a brand new look!

A massive thank you to everyone at The King’s Arms who have been beavering away to create a brilliantly unique sense of style.

We think it’s a fantastic showcase for the humour and fun which is integral to our show, and we hope you like it too!