MUMBAI: Cartoon Network‘s Foster‘s Home for Imaginary Friends will conclude with a series finale on 3 May.Beginning 1 pm, the channel will broadcast seven favourite episodes. The final five brand-new episodes start at 4.30 pm and the series finale Goodbye to Bloo will be shown at 6.30 pm.
The series was created by Craig McCracken and premiered on 13 August 2004. Till date 78 half-hour episodes and three feature-length specials have been produced.
MUMBAI: DHX Media has announced six new international sales of its live-action youth series The Latest Buzz.
Season three of the series has been picked up by Turner Broadcasting for Boomerang in the UK, seasons one and two were taken by Cartoon Network in Scandinavia and season two was picked by Cartoon Network in Germany.
Other international broadcasters to air the series include Cartoon Network Latin America, Digiturk, Ireland‘s RTE, ABC (Australia), Canada‘s VRAK.TV and the Disney Channels in France, Italy and India.
The series was created by Craig McCracken and premiered on 13 August 2004. Till date 78 half-hour episodes and three feature-length specials have been produced.
MUMBAI: US broadcaster Fox has announced that music group Jonas Brothers will host the Teen Choice 2009 awards. The show airs on 10 August.The Grammy-nominated artistes will also perform during the 11th annual special that celebrates the year‘s hottest teen icons in film, television, music, sports and fashion.
The coolest stars, best films and hottest TV shows of 2008-2009 will receive Teen Choice Award Surfboards in categories such as Choice Breakout TV Show, Choice Reality/Variety Show, Choice Breakout Artist, Choice Male Hottie and Choice Female Athlete. The first round of nominees, additional performers and presenters will be announced soon.
MUMBAI: Breakthrough Entertainment has licensed the children‘s animated series Jimmy Two-Shoes to Cartoon Network (CN) in Asia and Australia. CN has acquired 26 half-hour episodes.
“CN Asia has expressed a strong interest for Jimmy from the beginning. We‘re happy to be working with them and feel they will provide great home for the series,” says Breakthrough Entertainment sales executive Craig McGillivray.The broadcast line-up for Jimmy Two-Shoes includes Teletoon in Canada, Jetix US, Jetix Europe and Nickelodeon Latin America.
MUMBAI: Cartoon Network and Pogo will telecast nine animated movies under the segments, ‘Cartoon Network popcorn: may all mighty’ and ‘May movie magic’ every Sunday at 12 pm.
The line-up of movies includes Ghatothkach, Prahlad, Siva, Dashavatar and My Friend Ganesha II for Cartoon Network while Pogo will air Hanuman, Return of Hanuman, Ravan Mahayodhya and Veer Yodhya Prithviraj Chauhan. Says Turner International India vice president and deputy general manager – Entertainment Networks, South Asia Monica Tata, “As the resident kids’ expert we recognise that summer forms an important viewing period for our discerning viewers. As their favourite and most watched channels, it’s our conscious endeavour to timely fulfil their entertainment needs. Last year, our research revealed that kids enjoy ‘long format’ and thus we strengthened our movie line-up. This summer, we present them familiar tales in their favourite genre, Indian animation across Cartoon Network and Pogo. We are positive and hopeful that kids and parents will once again appreciate our programming mix.” Additionally, Cartoon Network will telecast new action-adventure Pogo will telecast new season of M.A.D. with M.A.D. Make It Easy, Stuart Little Series and Hagemaru.
shows such as Blue Dragon, Battle B-Daman and series II of Naruto apart from regular shows like Tom & Jerry, Ben 10, Spiderman
, Popeye, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Samsher Sikander Chuddie Buddie and Shaggy and Scooby-Doo.
MUMBAI: Viacom18‘s kids entertainment channel Nick has edged out market leader Cartoon Network (CN) to enjoy life at the top for the first time across the Hindi speaking market (HSM).
According to the latest Tam data (C&S 4-14, HSM), Nick has climbed 31 points up the GRP (gross rating points) ladder over week ended 11 April to pocket 148 GRPs in the week ended 18 April. The channel‘s market share in the Hindi belt has also gone up by 4 points over week 15 to capture 24 per cent of the genre pie.
CN has slipped from 139 GRPs to 126 GRPs, a tumble of 13 points which allowed it to be dethroned. Sibling channel Pogo also shed 14 GRPs to stay in the third place with 121 GRPs for the week ended 18 April.
Table below shows the channel share of the kids channels.
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Source: Tam data for HSM, CS 4-14 years |
The table below indicates the GRPs garnered by the kids channels.
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Source: Tam data for HSM, CS 4-14 years |
CN, however, continues to hold fort in the all-India market with 132 GRPs, despite dipping by nine points from the earlier week. CN‘s channel share also dropped to 24 per cent (from 27 per cent for week ended 11 April).
Nick has improved its ratings over the earlier week, but remains in the third spot with 111 GRPs (from 90).
The table below reveals the channel share of the kids channels on a national scale.
All India, CS 4-14 years
The table below points out the GRPs the kids channels garnered on a national scale.
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All India, CS 4-14 years |
So what helped Nick see this rise across the HSM space?
According to Nick India VP and GM Nina Elavia Jaipuria, the push came from the new episodes of Ninja Hattaori along with the channel‘s flagship properties Dora The Explorer, Chibi Maruko Chan, Mighty Cat Masked Niyander and Perman.
While Ninja, Nick‘s top rated show, saw a fall in its peak TVR to attract 1.98 peak TVR in week 16 (2.03 in week 15), Dora, Mighty Cat and Perman captured peak TVRs of 1.42 (0.88), 1.11 (0.93) and 1.03 (0.91) respectively. Chibi, meanwhile, made it to the channel‘s top five list with a peak TVR of 1.09 for the week ended 18 April.
Nick also claims that while its reach has increased to 33 per cent this week, the time spent on the channel has grown from 116 minutes to 144 minutes.”Sticky content supported by extensive marketing campaign beyond the television space over the past 12-18 months has also helped the channel expand its viewership,” says Jaipuria.
“We had created a touch and feel factor for the Nick brands through various on-ground initiatives and merchandise products. We tangiblised the brand through various activations across schools and cities that helped Nick grow its presence in the kids market,” she explains.
So does Nick‘s win in the HSM market pose a threat to CN‘s position at the top?
Says Turner International India deputy general manager and vice president– entertainment South Asia Monica Tata, “We have a long-term view for the country and we have a definite vision for both Cartoon Network and Pogo. Importantly, we have always led from the top and not shifted or changed our strategies in reaction to competition. Our vision is to be a major kids‘ lifestyle brand in the next few years. And we have been working very hard to move aggressively and rapidly towards that vision. We are extending the brands across various platforms to ensure that we reach out to kids at every possible access point. We are very much in line with our strategy for the country and look forward to another exciting year.”
What is next on the agenda for Nick? Besides trying to sustain its new-found position in the Hindi speaking market, the drive will be to push the channel‘s presence in the southern region. Avers Nina, “We are still to mark our presence in the southern market which we are planning to enter by the end of this year. Once that happens, we hope to perform better on a national scale too.”
NEW DELHI: MTV Networks International has elevated Nina Hahn to senior vice president – international production and devepoment for Nickelodeon.
Prior to this, Hahn was VP of international production and development at Nickelodeon International.Hahn will be based in London and will continue to report to Nickelodeon International executive vice-president Steve Grieder.
In her new capacity, She will be responsible for adding made-for-TV movies to her current global development and production remit.
MUMBAI: Zapak Games, the merchandise and distribution arm of Zapak Digital Entertainment, has announced the launch of a new range of ‘The Battle of Brawlers‘ toys.
These toys are based on the Japanese anime television series – Bakugan.The 2009 Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards programme, hosted by The Toy Industry Association (TIA), has awarded Bakugan Battle Brawlers as the toy of the year.
Internationally these toys are available from $5- to 24. In India it costs between Rs 399 – 599.
Zapak COO Rohit Sharma said, “We at Zapak believe in providing our customers with the best products available. The Battle of Brawlers is an absolute rage in the international markets and we are offering these world-class products to our Indian audience at drop-down prices. We will continue to offer the best available licensing and merchandising products to our audience regularly.”
MUMBAI: Canada‘s 9 Story Entertainment announced a three-pronged new broadcast sales for their teen-targeted outdoor survival series, Survive This. The channels include Cartoon Network‘s Boomerang Channel Latin America, YLE in Finland and Teleview in the Middle East.
“The challenges these teens face make for some of the most compelling television
for kids and adults alike resulting in an authentic co-viewing entertainment experience. This show has already made a strong impact on young Canadians who‘ve seen the first episodes on YTV and we are thrilled that these new and valued broadcast partners on Survive This are equally excited about sharing this programme with their audience,”
said 9 Story Entertainment EVP business development Natalie Osborne.
Created and produced by 9 Story Entertainment and wilderness survival expert Les Stroud, Survive This features eight participants between the age of 14 and 17 chosen for their unique personalities and readiness for adventure who are challenged to push their limits, overcome their fears and develop life long survival skills throughout each half-hour episode in the 13-part series.
“The anticipation of seeing the outcome of each challenge is something that easily translates globally and we are looking forward to audience reaction in every region of the globe,” said Osborne.
MUMBAI: Kids entertainment channel Nick has joined hands with theatre producer-director Raell Padamsees‘ ACE (Academy for Creative Expression) Productions to roll out the ‘Reach for the Stars‘ initiative.
As part of the summer initiative, starting 2 May onwards Nick will organize creative workshops by Raell Padamsee for kids between the age of 4 -13 years. |
Says Nick India GM & senior VP Nina Elavia Jaipuria, “Nick strongly believes in making kids reach their maximum creative potential in a fun filled and non stressful environment. Nick‘s partnership with Raell Padamsee‘s ACE Productions will not only be entertaining but also enriching for kids.”Once the workshop comes to an end, every child participant will get participation certificate ACE Productions which aims to promote young talent. The workshops will include speech, drama, mime, song and dance and will be performance oriented.
Adds Raell Padamsee, “With our association, I‘m hoping we give more kids a platform to unleash their true creative selves. The workshop, like every year, promises to add values & creativity to the minds & hearts of the kids participating.”