Entertainment One is dampening press speculation that its popular Peppa Pig pre-school series is nearing its final episodes.

The Canadian producer, which co-owns the Peppa Pig franchise with animation studio Astley Baker Davies, issued a statement in which it insists content for the preschool series is being developed beyond the fifth and sixth season, to bring the total number of episodes to over 200.

The market reassurance follows Phil Davies, who created Peppa Pig along with Neville Astley of animation studio Astley Baker Davies, telling the Daily Telegraph newspaper during a online video interview: “We’re just in the middle of the final episodes of Peppa that will ever be made.”

Co-creator Astley in the British newspaper account appears to suggest the series could carry on beyond 2012.

Entertainment One was quick to pour water on an early end for Peppa Pig.

“Commissioned by Channel 5 and Nickelodeon in the UK, series five and six of the phenomenally popular children’s TV show are currently in production and ensure broadcast up to end of 2013,” the producer said Monday.

The Toronto-based company added that initial US ratings for Peppa Pig “have been positive” since the stateside debut in February.

The bright future for Peppa Pig includes working with Astley Baker Davies to “explore the future opportunities that the property presents,” Entertainment One said.