Scholastic Media’s ‘Astroblast’ Aims for the Stars at MIPJunior

New York, NY -- On the heels of its successful U.S. launch on the 24-hour Sprout network, Scholastic Media’s space-themed Astroblast! animated series for preschoolers continues to shoot for the stars. The all-new series -- a co-production of Scholastic Media and Sprout that airs daily on the network and also will be broadcast on the NBC Kids morning block beginning Saturday, October 4 – is poised for international success in markets around the globe. Astroblast!, which made its U.S. debut on July 12 to an enthusiastic audience, strong ratings and favorable reviews, will be showcased to the international broadcast community at MIPJunior 2014, Scholastic Media Stand P-1.H83.

“Astroblast! is an interplanetary animated series comprised of clever storylines for kids ages 2-6 with relatable characters and lots of humor, all built on a pro-social platform that playfully touches upon and positively reinforces universal themes of fair play, teamwork, good manners, healthy choices, and more,” said Deborah A. Forte, President of Scholastic Media and Executive Producer of the new series. “Our talented team translated Bob Kolar’s award-winning Scholastic books into a colorful and engaging TV show. We’re thrilled to present Astroblast! to international broadcasters at this year’s MIPJunior.”

Astroblast! is Scholastic Media’s newest animated show since the launch of WordGirl, which earned its third Emmy Award in 2013 for “Outstanding Writing in Animation.” The unique new space-themed series follows the zany adventures of a crew of animals -- Comet, Halley, Sputnik, Radar and Jet -- who run the Astroblast Space Station, the coolest hangout in the galaxy, all under the watchful eye of Sal the Octopus. Every episode offers rich, humorous stories to help impart simple, age-appropriate messages about friendship, self-awareness and like many of Scholastic’s series, Astroblast! is a natural choice for co-viewing and shared experiences among kids and parents everywhere. 

The preschool show launched in the U.S. with a comprehensive marketing campaign that helped kids connect with the multiplatform property beyond the TV screen. Further fueling Astroblast! excitement are the brand’s dedicated websites, engaging digital games and a fun-filled app, “Astroblast Rocket Rush,” all of which will strongly position Astroblast! for growth in international markets. At Licensing Expo 2014 in June, Scholastic Media unveiled its licensing initiative for national and mass-market retailers and bookstores that will include a range of products to support the TV show and Scholastic books. Current book titles include “Astroblast! Code Blue,” and “Astroblast! Moon Stone Mystery.”

Source: Scholastic Media