Building on the phenomenal success of Teletoon Retro, Teletoon Canada will launch a French language version of the classic cartoon channel this September. The launch will see the total number of Canadian homes receiving Teletoon Retro grow to more than 5.8 million.
Natalie Gee has been appointed to the role of Creative Director, Global Networks Asia Pacific, an international division of NBC Universal. The announcement was made today by Raymund Miranda, Managing Director, Global Networks Asia Pacific, to whom she will report. The new appointment is effective immediately.
In this newly-created role, based in Singapore, Gee will play a key role in NBC Universal’s strategy to launch new channels across the Asia Pacific region over the coming months as well as managing the creative requirements of the existing Global Networks channels.
KidsCo, the joint venture channel owned by leading media companies NBC Universal, DIC Ent. and Corus Ent., has launched in Hong Kong following the securing of a major broadcast agreement with Hong Kong's PCCW Now TV.
EM.Entertainment has agreed a perennial licensing contract within the pay TV sector with MTV3, Finland's biggest commercial channel.
The exclusive program package for the Finnish market encompasses cartoon classic MAYA THE BEE, as well as other programs from the EM.Entertainment library including DRAGON HUNTERS, THE BUSY WORLD OF RICHARD and F.T.P.D.: FAIRY TALE POLICE DEPARTMENT. The shows will be broadcast on children’s channel Sub Juniori. The pay TV channel was launched by MTV3 in November2006.
Channel Frederator, the largest Internet cartoon network in the world and one of the founding networks of Next New Networks, today announced the nominations for its second annual Channel Frederator Awards.
The voting pages go live today at: www.channelfrederator.com. Winners will be honored at an awards party in New York City that will air online June 10, 2008.
Disney and ESPN Media Networks Latin America announced the launch of their new Playhouse Disney Channel in Latin America, with programming especially designed for preschoolers, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Playhouse Disney Channel joins existing Disney Channel and Jetix cable channels, present in 19 countries in the region, to provide entertainment for the entire family.
As of June 1, 2008, Playhouse Disney Channel will be offered in the basic subscription package offered by Cablevision, Multicanal and Teledigital.
Announcements for three Disney Channel original movies, a third season of HANNAH MONTANA and second seasons of WIZARDS OF WAVERLY PLACE and PHINEAS AND FERB were among the highlights at Disney Channel's upfront presentation Wednesday.
Themed "The Next Big Thing," the advertiser meeting was held at New York's Legacy Recording Studios.
KidsCo, the joint venture channel owned by leading media companies, NBC Universal, DIC Ent. and Corus Ent., has secured a major broadcast agreement with leading African platform operator, Gateway Broadcast Services.
The channel made its debut in sub-Saharan African territories including Kenya, Uganda, Tanzania, Rwanda, Zambia, Ghana, Ethiopia, Botswana, Namibia, Gambia, Sierra Leone, Malawi and Zimbabwe on April 2.
In the lead-up to the 2008 edition of the MIP TV festival, Spanish production company Neptuno Films has announced Disney Channel Latin America has acquired the cable TV rights for their new pre-school series ZOO MIX (104 x 3'), an entertaining exploration of the world of animals.
This acquisition enables Disney Channel Latin America to offer their youngest viewers a high-quality series that will familiarize children with different animal species.
BabyFirst, the fastest-growing global TV channel for babies, toddlers and their parents, debuted its 24/7 commercial-free programming service on Hong Kong Cable, on March 31, 2008 at 6:00 a.m.
Glenn Kopelson, Executive Vice President of Distribution for BabyFirst, said, "Recognized by operators worldwide as a most comprehensive and parent-friendly commercial-free child development channel, BabyFirst is on the fast track to rapid global expansion, having launched in such important international markets in Europe, Latin America and Asia."
The UK's edgiest indie, Channel X, and the enfant terrible of French production companies Moi j'aime la television (I love television) are to launch a new joint venture - Nice One Studio - at MIP TV 2008.
Created by Channel X's Alan Marke and Jim Reid and Moi j'aime la television's Phil Ox, Nice One's aim is to produce long running scripted series -- both live action and animation -- for the 15 to 34 year old audience.
Hallmark Channel has acquired the rights to 99 family-friendly movies from Disney-ABC Domestic Television, some of the greatest family films of all time. The deal was announced by Michelle Vicary, Senior Vice President, Acquisitions and Scheduling.
U.K.'s Channel 4 announced that it has commissioned award-winning studio Aardman Animations and leading indie Lupus Films to develop a new online site devoted to animation.
The website, 4mations, will provide a lively new home for animators to view and vote on the latest and greatest animation, upload videos and games for cash prizes, get commissioned to create new work and view classics from the Channel 4 archive.
Russian adult cartoon channel 2X2 has come under fire for the second time in two weeks for airing cartoons that allegedly promote homosexuality, violence and religious intolerance, VARIETY reports.
Both Christian and Muslim groups have urged the Moscow-based channel to close.
A Protestant church umbrella group called the Consultative Council of the Heads of the Protestant Church in Russia led the protests.
The groups want top Russian prosecutor Yury Chaika to intervene.
BabyFirst has expanded its Asian presence by adding Taiwan to its growing international roster.
The channel is a 24/7 commercial-free educational and child development channel for babies, toddlers and their parents.
Partnering with BabyFirst in Taiwan is Chunghwa, the country's top IPTV provider.
Making the announcement of the latest international sign-on for the channel was Glenn Kopelson, Executive Vice President of Distribution for BabyFirst.
KidsCo, the joint venture channel owned by leading media companies NBC Universal, DIC Entertainment and Corus Entertainment goes on air in the Philippines, South Korea, Singapore and Palau on March 20.
The announcement follows the securing of carriage deals with various platform operators in Asia, including SingTel's mio TV in Singapore, the Philippines' Sky Cable, Palau's PNCC and Korea's HanaTV at the end of this month.
KidsCo has also signed a deal with the Philippines' Cable Boss to act as their distributor in that market.
Leading interactive agency, animation studio and content creator Hatchling Studios has announced that Mark Samber, formerly Managing Director of Wunderkind Studios, has joined the company as president. Samber will oversee all aspects of the company, from client acquisition and retention to internal operations and client strategy, allowing Hatchling founder, CEO and Chief Creative Officer Marc Dole to focus exclusively on driving the company's creative services.
Former BBC executive Wayne Dunsford has been appointed general manager of preschool channel JimJam, C21 MEDIA reports.
Dunsford has a longtime association with JimJam and was instrumental in establishing the joint venture between Hit Ent. and Chellomedia. In the role of general manager, he'll be responsible for supervising the partnership, as well as coordinating the channel's business activities and worldwide distribution.
NBC Universal Global Networks today unveiled an integrated organizational structure, following the acquisition of Sparrowhawk Media in October. The organization has been realigned over the past weeks in order to support the growth of NBCU's globally recognized channel brands - Sci Fi, 13th Street, Universal Channel, Studio Universal, the international Hallmark channels, Diva TV, Movies 24 and a stake in KidsCo.
Preschool TV channel JimJam is launching its first feed across Central Europe, adding a further 1.4 million subscribers. Adding to the existing channel reach on Sky Italia children's package, the channel is set to exceed six million television households by early 2008.
The new launches mark the ambitious roll-out plans of owners Chellomedia, the European content division of Liberty Global, Inc. and HIT Ent. Together, HIT and Chellomedia's subsidiary, Chello Zone, will continue to launch and distribute the channel internationally throughout 2008.
Children's TV and online entertainment service qubo announced today that it will broaden its programming lineup next month and will unveil robust new content on qubo.com to further promote literacy, positive values and the possibilities of a child's imagination.
Disney Channel Worldwide's Global Original Programming Division today announced deals to develop two new children's television shows in the U.K. with production companies Coolabi and Blue-Zoo Productions. The deals are the first to be announced by Disney Channel's London-based Global Original Programming hub, established in April 2007 to drive forward the investment in and development of live action and animation outside of North America, for both European and global distribution.
The Australian government has promised the Australian Broadcasting Corporation US$74 million to create a dedicated ad-free digital children's channel that will air locally made content, reports C21 MEDIA. The station, which may be called ABC3 or ABC Kids, will be available 15 hours a day and will show programs for children up to 17 years of age. Half of the funding will be for commissioning new content and half will be used for licensing existing programs.
BabyFirstTV, the 24/7 commercial-free educational and child development channel for babies, toddlers and their parents, has entered Central America and the Caribbean through carriage agreements with CTV Telecom (Panama) and Columbus Communications Trinidad. CTV will take the feed in Spanish, while Columbus will offer it in English. The distribution of the Spanish feed augments distribution which is also utilized by operators in the U.S.
Sony Pictures Television International (SPTI) is launching two new channels in Africa -- the general entertainment channel Sony Entertainment Television (SET), and Animax, the anime channel, in November on MultiChoice's digital pay-TV satellite platform DStv.
Launching under the tagline "100% Entertainment," SET features a mix of programming genres for the 15-49 age group. Currently seen in 100 countries, reaching more than 70 million households and broadcast in three languages, SET makes its debut in Africa on November 2.
