ITV

Category: Kids

  • Mickey Mouse hooks Spider-Man for $4 bn

    MUMBAI: In one of those rare acquisitions at the time of global economic woes, Walt Disney has announced it is buying the comic publishing giant Marvel Entertainment in a $4 billion deal that will add characters like Spider-man, Iron Man and the X Men into the Mickey Mouse family.

    Marvel‘s characters have been turned into several blockbuster movies in the last few years. Disney hopes to combine these strong global brand characters with its “creative skills, global entertainment properties, and a business structure that maximises the value of creative properties across multiple platforms and territories.”Disney will have access to 5,000 Marvel characters, several of whom were co-created by the comic book legend Stan Lee, which will help it to extend its appeal to young men who appreciate Marvel‘s superheroes. Disney‘s franchises like ‘Hannah Montana‘ and the Jonas Brothers have won young women audiences.

    “We believe that adding Marvel to Disney`s unique portfolio of brands provides significant opportunities for long-term growth and value creation,” said Disney president Robert Iger.


    As per the deal, Marvel shareholders will receive $30 per share in cash, plus 0.745 Disney shares for every Marvel share they own. The transaction will be subject to approval by Marvel‘s shareholders.


    Commenting on the deal Marvel CEO Ike Perlmutter said, “Disney is the perfect home for Marvel`s fantastic library of characters given its proven ability to expand content creation and licensing businesses. This is an unparalleled opportunity for Marvel to build upon its vibrant brand and character properties by accessing Disney‘s tremendous global organisation and infrastructure around the world.”

  • Nickelodeon premieres Cosgrove’s new music video Raining Sunshine

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon has premiered the music video for Raining Sunshine, the new song performed by Miranda Cosgrove for Sony Pictures Animation‘s upcoming 3-D animated feature Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs during the Emmy-nominated series iCarly.The song, Raining Sunshine, is currently available for purchase on iTunes as a single, and will also be included on the soundtrack album



    to the motion picture, together with original score composed by Mark Mothersbaugh, on both iTunes and Amazon on 15 September.Columbia Pictures‘ and Sony Pictures Animation‘s Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is inspired by the children‘s book. The film focuses on a town where food falls from the sky like rain.
    Bill Hader (star of Saturday Night Live and Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian fame) will voice Flint Lockwood, a young inventor who dreams of creating something that will improve everyone‘s life. Anna Faris (The House Bunny) takes on the role of Sam Sparks, a weathergirl covering the phenomenon who hides her intelligence behind a perky exterior. James Caan plays Tim Lockwood, Flint‘s technophobic father. Andy Samberg plays Brent, the town bully who has plagued Flint since childhood. Bruce Campbell plays Mayor Shelbourne, who figures out that Flint‘s invention can put the town, and more importantly himself, on the map. Mr T plays the by-the-rules town cop Earl Devereaux. Neil Patrick Harris rounds out the cast as the voice of Steve, Flint‘s monkey.
    Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs is written for the screen and directed by Christopher Miller and Phil Lord, based upon the bestselling children‘s book written by Judi Barrett and illustrated by Ron Barrett. The film is produced by Pam Marsden.

  • Hungama topples Nick to become No. 1 in HSM

    MUMBAI: After stability at the top for four months, there is disruption again. Hungama TV, the kids channel acquired by Disney, has knocked out Nick from the top spot in the Hindi speaking market (HSM).

    According to the latest Tam data (C&S 4-14, HSM), the ‘mad‘ comedy channel has added eight points to pocket 119 GRPs for the week ended 22 August. Nick, on the other hand, has tumbled 15 points to end the week with 99 GRPs.


    Ever since late April, Nick has been sitting at the top in the Hindi belt after dislodging market leader Cartoon Network, barring one week (ended 10 May) when Hungama TV raced ahead.


    Hungama, which was dislodged from its leadership position by Cartoon Network in August 2008, has ended with a channel share of 26 per cent for the week ended 22 August. Nick has lost two grades to enjoy a channel share of 21 per cent.


    So what has helped Hungama rebound in the HSM space?


    “A strong positioning effort around the mad fun spirit,” says Walt Disney Television International India senior vice president and managing director Antoine Villeneuve. “This has been supported by a lot of on-air initiatives like for instance the introduction of the programming bands which are extremely popular with kids (Fun Gas, Trouble Soda and Dum Powder), by the presence of Hungama stars (Shin Chan, Doraemon and Kiteretsu) and bolstered with a programming grid which follows the kids habits and tastes.”


    So does Hungama‘s win in the HSM market pose a threat to Nick‘s position at the top?


    Counters Nick India SVP and GM Nina Elavia Jaipuria, “Not really. We are more of a proactive than a reactive channel. The kids‘ space is getting dynamic by the day and with new leaders, it only gives rise to more healthy competition. Today viewers are king and it is a challenge for us to create and maintain space in their minds.”


    Cartoon Network, the All-India market leader, is now at the third spot in the HSM space, commanding a share of 93 GRPs for the week. The channel, however, continues to maintain an average channel share of 20 per cent.


    Interestingly, in the All-India market, Cartoon Network is sharing its leadership position with Hungama with a GRP of 87 and a channel share of 22 for the week ended 22 August.


    But Turner is not disturbed at what it calls aberrations. Explains Turner International India VP and deputy general manager – entertainment networks Suth Asia Monica Tata, “Turner‘s long term vision and strategy for India has paid rich dividends making Cartoon Network and Pogo the most viewed and loved brands amongst kids in India. Not only kids, but parents too give the highest endorsement to these two networks as their choice networks for kids (per new generations 2008). Besides, we also enjoy the lion‘s share of the advertising pie. Increased competition has not outstayed us from our leadership position in the last 13 years and that‘s a merit / result of our focus on the long-term rather than short-term measures and gains and a proof that we know and service our consumers best amongst all.”

  • Teletubbies confirm a reunion dance tour

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster BBC has announced that The Teletubbies are to reunite for a comeback dance tour after a break of almost a decade, joining the growing number of groups to reform.













    The fun-loving fab four, Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po, will embark on an 11-day tour of the UK in September, kicking off in London on 10 September, 2009.



    Interest in the Teletubbies, with sales of over 33 million videos and DVDs, has never disappeared.


    Since their formation in 1997, the charismatic four have appeared in over 365 television episodes, and have been seen in over 120 countries and won numerous international awards including two Baftas.


    The Teletubbies have still to decide exactly which dances to perform, but the BBC says that they promise plenty of interaction, laughter and entertainment. Although they have enjoyed a more relaxed schedule over the last few years, they are reportedly very happy to leave Teletubbyland for a short time to go on the road – albeit that they will be travelling with plenty of Tubby Custard and Tubby toast.


    Their new material has been made available to download from iTunes and other digital stores from 24 August. It will be followed by the re-release of their album on 7 September which will feature bonus remixes.


    BBC Children‘s DVD Ready Steady Dance is also released on 7 September, and will feature children‘s favourite dances and exercises, as well as a music video



    to ‘Follow My Leader‘ which sees the Teletubbies brought to life in animation for the very first time.


  • CN to telecast 2nd season of ‘Star Wars: The Clone Wars‘

    MUMBAI: Riding on the success of the first season of Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Cartoon Network is set to air the second season of the The Clone Wars with 22 full episodes.


    Cartoon Network will kick-start the season season with a special one-hour show on 2 October at 8 pm.


    Star Wars: The Clone Wars is one of the preeminent animated series on television, combining the expansive scope of the Star Wars saga with exciting weekly adventures.

  • CBBC gets children cooking with ‘Junior MasterChef’

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster BBC‘s kids entertainment channel CBBC has commissioned a new series of Junior MasterChef, following the success of the adult version of the cookery talent contest.

    The channel is finalising on contestants to take part in the challenge. The series will be broadcast later this year.Based on the MasterChef format and the junior version seen on Children In Need, Junior MasterChef will give some of Britain‘s best young cooks the chance to become the ‘Junior MasterChef‘ 2010.


    The competition aims to find and encourage talented young cooks who have a flair for making exceptional food from scratch.


    As part of the contest, in each level, children will be challenged to cook a two-course meal (main and pudding) in just one hour. The 13-part series will have eight heats, two quarter-finals, two semis and a final cook-off with the remaining three children.


    The competitors will be aged between nine and 12 year-olds who have real passion, enthusiasm and potential.


    BBC Children‘s controller Richard Deverell says, “It‘s wonderful to announce this new series following the success of the special ‘Children in Need‘ episode.”


    “We hope to inspire children round the country to get cooking in what promises to be an aspirational, fun and enjoyable cooking competition,” he adds.

  • Nick plans local content expansion

    MUMBAI: Little Krishna has put kids TV Nick on the hunt for local content. The Viacom18 channel, which had left the chase for such content to rival networks, is now in talks with various production houses to source animated programming that would widen its audience base.













    Says Nick India SVP and GM Nina Elavia Jaipuria, “Although our primary audience target remains to be the 4-9 and 10-14-year-olds, Little Krishna helped increase a lot of co-viewing among young parents. By expanding our local content, we are expecting the co-viewing pattern to get a further push.”


    Little Krishna, acquired from Big Animation for the South Asian territory, has been performing consistently with an average TVR of over 1.




    Nick, however, is not looking at mythological content alone. “We are looking at content that has a strong narrative, storytelling power and good production value. This is because a kid‘s attention span is very limited and you have to engage them within the first ten seconds,” Jaipuria explains.


    The local content acquisition will also further extend Nick‘s licensing and merchandising opportunities.


    “We have acquired the licensing and merchandising rights for Little Krishna. We will be launching consumer products based on the character by the last quarter of this year,” avers Jaipuria.


    Late April this year, Nick edged out market leader Cartoon Network to rule for the first time in the Hindi speaking markets (HSM). The channel now is looking at creating more sticky content to entrench its leadership position.


    Multinational kids channels have turned to local content to strengthen their position in India. Turner International India runs approximately 35 local shows on Pogo and Cartoon Network together. These include Chhota Bheem and FAQs on Pogo and a series of Krishna movies on Cartoon Network.Says Turner International India VP and deputy general manager – entertainment networks – South Asia Monica Tata, “As a great believer in the Indian storytelling heritage, Turner has successively contributed to keeping India‘s treasure trove of stories alive with animation through its leading kids‘ channels, Cartoon Network and Pogo. We were the first to acquire Indian animation and first to promote home grown series such that kids‘ enjoy them as they do a Tom & Jerry and Ben10.”
    Disney Channel has also been playing on local content. Apart from the popular Kya Mast Hai Life, it has already produced three long-format shows – Vickey Aur Vetaal, Dhoom Machao Dhoom and Agadam, Bagadam, Tigadam, which have reached their season-ends. It is also running locally-acquired content such as Shararat and Son Pari on the channel.

  • Pogo to air ‘Ravan’ on 30 August

    MUMBAI: DQ Entertainment (“DQE”) and Turner International announce exclusive Premiere of Ravan on POGO













    Turner International‘s kids entertainment channel Pogo is set to telecast Ravan, an animation feature created and produced by DQ Entertainment (DQE), a Hyderabad-based animation, gaming and entertainment company.




    The 70-minute animated television feature will be telecast on 30 August at 12 noon with a repeat broadcast at 6 pm.


    Says Turner International India director – programming Krishna Desai, “We are delighted to bring yet another memorable Indian character to the TV screens in a fun and dramatic avatar like never before. To watch Ravan‘s childhood in an animated feature will be an amazing and enjoyable treat for our viewers.”


    The feature is based on the story of Dashanan, a daitya son with super natural powers who was named as Ravan. A great scholar, he shares a very special and strong relationship with his siblings. The TV special features various escapades of the siblings during their childhood.

  • Nick, Sterling Publishers launch Dora & SpongeBob storybooks

    MUMBAI: Nick has partnered with Sterling Publishers to launch story books based on Dora and SpongeBob SquarePants.

    Priced at Rs 55, the storybook titles include Class Confusion, Bubble Blowers Beware, Dora loves Boots and The Birthday Dance Party. The range is available in large format stores like Landmark, Crossword, Granth, Odyssey, Oxford and Depot across India.


    Says Viacom Media VP consumer products Sandeep Dahiya, “Story books form an inherent part of kids‘ daily routine. We‘re glad to partner with Sterling Publishers to extend the presence of our most popular characters into this category.”


    “We‘re sure these books will keep children occupied beyond their TV time,” adds Sterling Publishers director and head children‘s book division Gaurav Ghai.

  • Disney Channel to premiere Wizards of Waverly Place – the movie












    MUMBAI: Disney Channel is set to premiere Wizards of Waverly Place – the movie, on 28 August.

    The movie, based on the tween television series, will be telecast at 8 pm.



    The film stars Selena Gomez as Alex Russo, David Henrie as Justin Russo, Jake T Austin as Max Russo, David Deluise as Jerry Russo and Maria Canals-Barrera as Theresa Russo.