Plug-in Media
Plug-In Media is a BAFTA-winning Brighton-based digital production studio that creates cross-platform games, apps, websites, VR/AR, and animated TV content for the preschool and children's audience (3-7 year olds), combining original IP such as the Tee and Mo franchise with commissioned work for BBC, Nickelodeon, Sesame Workshop, and other major broadcasters.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2003
- HeadquartersBrighton, United Kingdom
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2B and B2C
- OfferingServices
What Plug-in Media does
Plug-In Media Limited is a Brighton-based, BAFTA-winning (5 wins) digital production studio founded in 2003, specializing in cross-platform entertainment and educational content for the preschool and children's audience (primarily 3-7 year olds, with some reach to 4-12 year olds). The company operates from a single headquarters at St Augustine's Centre in Brighton with an 11-50 person team of designers, animators, developers, and production staff. Its output spans games, apps, websites, educational content, virtual reality, augmented reality, short-form video, and broadcast animation delivered across iOS, Android, web, and broadcast distribution channels.
The studio's product set is organized around a blended model: (i) work-for-hire production services for tier-1 broadcasters and entertainment companies including BBC (CBeebies, CBBC, BBC Bitesize), Nickelodeon/Nick Jr., Sesame Workshop, Turner Broadcasting, Entertainment One, Scholastic, TwoFour54, and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe; and (ii) original IP development led by the Tee and Mo preschool franchise, which has evolved from CBeebies web games into a 70-episode 2D animated TV series (50 episodes plus a 20-episode Season 2 co-produced with Flix Facilities), an app portfolio, songs available on Spotify/Apple/Amazon, and direct-to-consumer merchandise. Additional original IPs in development or co-production include Supertato (with BBC Studios and Tencent Video), Video Cat (with Sesame Workshop), Sketchy Racer (AR racing game), and The Unpettables (live-animated YouTube sitcom). The studio has developed proprietary webcam-based motion-detection technology used for children's interactive experiences in Tree Fu Tom, ZingZillas, and Sportacus Hero Training.
Plug-In Media monetizes through four revenue streams: professional services fees for commissioned client projects, broadcast licensing and royalty income from Tee and Mo across 20+ international networks, direct-to-consumer merchandise sales through the Tee and Mo Store (pajamas, T-shirts, birthday cards), and app store transaction economics where titles have reached No.1 in 98 territories. Strategic partnerships span co-production (Blue Zoo regional hub in Brighton, Flix Facilities, Sesame Workshop), distribution (Sensical OTT via Common Sense Media, Immediate Media for magazine licensing, Tonies for smart-speaker licensing), and consumer-products development (Val Fry as licensing consultant). The company is privately held, founder-led by Managing Director Juliet Tzabar and Creative Director Dominic Minns, with no disclosed external investors or funding rounds.
Plug-in Media firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Plug-in Media
- Legal name
- Plug-In Media Limited
- Website
- https://pluginmedia.net
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2003
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Plug-In Media is a BAFTA-winning Brighton-based digital production studio that creates cross-platform games, apps, websites, VR/AR, and animated TV content for the preschool and children's audience (3-7 year olds), combining original IP such as the Tee and Mo franchise with commissioned work for BBC, Nickelodeon, Sesame Workshop, and other major broadcasters.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Plug-in Media industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Children's Digital Content Production
- NAICS
- Motion Picture and Video Industries (5121), Broadcasting and Content Providers (516)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Allied To Motion Picture Production (7819)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Graphics, Branding & Character Generation (CG) (MPAHAKAF)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Edutainment & Learning-Through-Play Channels (MPABAKAE)
Keywords
Where Plug-in Media is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Brighton
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Plug-in Media business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B and B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Technology or R&D, Operations, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Work-for-hire Services: Creating outstandingly executed, award-winning digital service work. Delivers apps, games, learning materials, and animation to clients across the world. Clients include BBC, Nickelodeon, Turner Broadcasting, Sesame Workshop, and others.
- Original IP Licensing: Developing and producing original children's IPs with digital-first approach. Tee and Mo brand generates revenue through broadcast licensing (airing on CBeebies and 20+ broadcast networks worldwide), consumer products licensing (magazines, toys, smart speakers), and digital distribution.
- Direct-to-Consumer Products: Direct-to-consumer merchandise sales through Tee and Mo Store including pajamas, T-shirts, birthday cards, with new products in development including stationery and paper goods.
- App Releases and Digital Content: App releases for major networks have reached No1 in 98 different territories. Digital content distributed through app stores and streaming platforms.
Go-to-market motion3 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels7 records
Plug-in Media product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Plug-in Media is a BAFTA-winning digital production studio that creates interactive entertainment and linear TV content for children and families audiences. The company operates a blended business model combining original IP development (notably the Tee and Mo franchise) with work-for-hire digital production services for major broadcasters and entertainment networks including BBC, Nickelodeon, Sesame Workshop, and Turner Broadcasting.
Product overview
Plug-In Media is a multi-BAFTA winning digital production company combining original IP development with client services for the children and families audience. The company operates a blended business model producing both interactive entertainment (games, apps, websites, VR/AR experiences) and linear TV content (animated series, music videos, broadcast animation) across multiple platforms. The core original IP is Tee and Mo, a CBeebies co-viewing brand spanning a 50-episode TV series (with 20-episode Season 2), multiple games and apps, music videos, and merchandise. Client services include projects for BBC (CBeebies, CBBC, Bitesize), Nickelodeon (Nick Jr.), Sesame Workshop, Turner Broadcasting, and others. The company has developed proprietary motion detection and webcam technology for children's interactive experiences. Other original IPs in development include Video Cat (with Sesame Workshop), Sketchy Racer (AR mobile game), and The Unpettables (live-animated sitcom).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Tee and Mo: Original preschool IP featuring a monkey duo, developed from web games to 50-episode TV series with songs, apps, and merchandise
- Tee and Mo Store
Products and services
- Tee and Mo A multi-award-winning original children's IP/franchise featuring a monkey duo, Tee and Mo. Originally launched as digital-first content (web games, animated music videos), it expanded into a 50-episode CBeebies TV series, companion apps, YouTube content with 285M+ views, and consumer merchandise. Licensed to broadcasters in 20+ countries and consumer product licensees.
- Digital Production Services Work-for-hire digital production services delivering games, apps, websites, educational content, virtual reality, augmented reality, short-form video, and broadcast animation for global clients. Includes interactive entertainment development and animation services for major broadcasters and entertainment companies.
- Tee and Mo Store Direct-to-consumer e-commerce store selling Tee and Mo branded merchandise including pajamas, T-shirts, and birthday cards. Plans to expand into stationery, toys, and paper goods.
- Supertato Animated comedy series for CBeebies based on the bestselling book series by Sue Hendra and Paul Linnet about a potato superhero battling Evil Pea. Co-produced with BBC Studios and Tencent Video.
- Video Cat Original IP animated comedy in co-production with Sesame Workshop targeting 8-10 year olds, featuring the world's most famous cat YouTuber.
- The Unpettables World's first live-animated improvised sitcom for YouTube, featuring a real-time animated format. Part of Plug-in Media's slate of new original IPs being developed.
Quantifiable outcome
- 285 million+ combined YouTube views for Tee and Mo content
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Plug-in Media
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Plug-in Media technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed Yes
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature4 records
Plug-in Media partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Blue ZoocoreStrategic partnership to build a regional animation and interactive hub in central Brighton. The two studios have collaborated on multiple projects including ZingZillas, Olive the Ostrich, Numberblocks, and Tree Fu Tom. The partnership aims to widen opportunities for animation professionals in the South of England, launching with 2 different animation projects.
- Hope Works InitiativeminorInitiative from children's broadcasters and media companies focusing on using media to help children feel positive. Plug-in Media managed the Hope Works website build. Partners include Disney EMEA, ABC, Hop, Blue Zoo, Sixteen South.
- Flix FacilitiescoreCo-production partner for Tee and Mo second series. 20 brand new 7-minute episodes produced and animated in the UK and Isle of Man by Plug-in Media and Flix Facilities.
- Immediate MediaminorTee and Mo licensee for magazine publishing products.
- ToniesminorTee and Mo licensee for kids' smart speaker system products.
- Val Fry (Consultant)minorConsumer products consultant exploring toys and publishing licensing opportunities for Tee and Mo.
- DubitminorResearch partner for children's media consumption trends. Dubit's research presented at Bologna Book Fair panel alongside Plug-in Media.
- The UnpettablesminorOriginal IP project - world's first live-animated improvised sitcom for YouTube. Part of the slate of new IPs being developed.
- Sesame WorkshopcoreVideo Cat in co-production with Sesame Workshop - animated comedy for 8-10 year olds about world's most famous cat YouTuber. Multiple previous projects including Super Grover 2.0, Elmo apps, and art tools.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Plug-in Media competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Tonies: Germany-based children's audio platform with screen-free smart speaker hardware and Tonies content marketplace. Existing Tee and Mo licensee (strategic partner) and adjacent emerging player in children's interactive content distribution; comparable as a platform pursuing co-viewing and edutainment monetization.
Broad incumbents
- Sesame Workshop: US-based nonprofit producing Sesame Street and related children's educational content globally. Major client of Plug-in Media (Elmo apps, Super Grover, Video Cat co-production) and represents a large incumbent whose commissioning decisions directly impact Plug-in's services revenue stream.
- Aardman Animations: Bristol-based independent animation studio behind Wallace & Gromit, Shaun the Sheep, and Morph. Represents a much larger UK animation incumbent with global IP licensing, feature film capability, and established consumer products revenue, but operates in adjacent categories that compete for the same talent pool and broadcaster attention.
- WildBrain: Canadian publicly-traded children's entertainment and animation company owning Teletubbies, Strawberry Shortcake, Inspector Gadget, and managing extensive content libraries. Represents a much larger incumbent with global distribution, YouTube network management, and consumer products scale that Plug-in Media competes against for IP licensing deals.
- Tiger Aspect Kids & Family: Division of Endemol Shine producing premium children's content including Charlie and Lola, Mr. Bean, and Horrible Histories. Comparable as a UK-based producer of high-end preschool and children's IP with broadcaster commissions, but operating at meaningfully larger scale as part of an international production group.
Direct peers
- A Productions: Bristol-based animation studio producing original children's IP (Peppa Pig co-developer origins, ongoing commissioned content for CBeebies and international broadcasters). Closely comparable in size, preschool content focus, and CBeebies ecosystem positioning to Plug-in Media.
- Blue Zoo Animation Studio: London/Brighton-based animation studio producing original children's IP (Numberblocks, Q Pootle 5) and commissioned content for broadcasters. Direct strategic partner of Plug-in Media via the Brighton animation hub partnership; shares comparable BAFTA-winning credentials (combined 10 BAFTAs), size, and preschool content focus.
- Lupus Films: London-based independent animation studio behind The Snowman and Snowdog, Ethel & Ernest, and preschool commissions for BBC. Directly comparable as a UK independent studio producing premium animated content with multi-platform distribution across broadcast, retail, and digital.
- Darrall Macqueen: London-based independent production company with significant children's division producing shows for CBBC, CBeebies, and ITV. Directly comparable as a UK indie producing preschool and children's content for the same broadcaster commissioning ecosystem that drives Plug-in Media's services revenue.
- Hoho Entertainment: London-based children's entertainment producer and rights owner of original preschool IP including Cloudbabies and Digby Dragon. Comparable as a UK independent studio with a blended model of original IP ownership and broadcaster commission work targeted at preschool audiences.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Plug-in Media social profiles
Digital presencePlug-in Media financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Plug-in Media leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles2 records
Plug-in Media funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Plug-in Media M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Plug-in Media
What does Plug-in Media do?
Plug-in Media is a BAFTA-winning digital production studio that creates interactive entertainment and linear TV content for children and families audiences. The company operates a blended business model combining original IP development (notably the Tee and Mo franchise) with work-for-hire digital production services for major broadcasters and entertainment networks including BBC, Nickelodeon, Sesame Workshop, and Turner Broadcasting.
Is Plug-in Media a public or private company?
Plug-in Media is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Plug-in Media founded?
Plug-in Media was founded in 2003. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Plug-in Media based?
Plug-in Media is headquartered in Brighton, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Plug-in Media make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Work-for-hire Services are the primary driver. The others are original IP Licensing, direct-to-Consumer Products and app Releases and Digital Content.
Who are Plug-in Media's main competitors?
Tonies is listed as an emerging player. Broad incumbents are Sesame Workshop, Aardman Animations, WildBrain and Tiger Aspect Kids & Family. Direct peers are A Productions, Blue Zoo Animation Studio, Lupus Films, Darrall Macqueen and Hoho Entertainment.
Does Plug-in Media have an API?
No public API is recorded for Plug-in Media.
What industry is Plug-in Media in?
Plug-in Media's product category is Children's Digital Content Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAHAKAF, Graphics, Branding & Character Generation (CG), with a secondary code of MPABAKAE, Edutainment & Learning-Through-Play Channels. Its NAICS code is 5121 and its SIC code is 7812.