ITV

Category: Kids

  • Walt Disney to bring Panda for Chinese kids

    MUMBAI: The Walt Disney Studios, together with Chinese filmmakers Castle Hero Pictures and Ying Dong Media, have joined forces to create a movie tentatively titled Touch of the Panda. The film, shot at Sichuan in China, features giant pandas.Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures China helped develop the project during the pre production and filming stages creatively with Castle Hero Pictures and Ying Dong Media, and will handle marketing and distribution around the world.


    The film revolves around a panda cub separated from his mother and eventually rescued by a young orphaned boy. As the boy struggles to protect the cub from people he believes would hurt it, the two form a strong bond even as the boy realizes that the best thing he can ever do for the cub is to help him find its way home.


    Child actor Daichi Harashima portrays the boy in the film directed by Yu Zhong.


    The project began production around the Chinese New Year and recently completed principal photography. It is now in post production and will be released theatrically in 2009. The film represents a follow up for the Walt Disney Studios in China after The Magic Gourd which was released in 2007.



  • Nancy Kanter is Playhouse Disney Worldwide senior VP

    MUMBAI: US kids broadcaster Disney has announced that Nancy Kanter has been promoted to Playhouse Disney Worldwide senior VP and will have responsibility for the Playhouse Disney creative content on a global basis.


    Kanter has been with Disney since 2001, most recently as Playhouse Disney US senior VP, programming. The announcement was made by Disney Channels Worldwide president, entertainment Gary Marsh to whom Kanter reports.In her new role, Kanter will continue to oversee the development and production of all long and short-form programming, encompassing live action and animated series, and will add the responsibility of unifying all programming, marketing and brand management teams on the creative vision for Playhouse Disney, ensuring cohesiveness between programming and promotion and all extensions of the brand.


    Marsh said, “Nancy‘s dedication to learning-focused stories for preschoolers helped drive unprecedented success for our Playhouse Disney programming. As we increase our programming development around the world, this promotion recognizes her valued contribution to creative excellence and will ensure a consistent vision for all Playhouse Disney content.”


    Kanter is responsible for supervising the development of Playhouse Disney‘s most successful original series thus far, including Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, My Friends Tigger and Pooh and Handy Manny; the new series Bunnytown and upcoming Imagination Movers.



  • Turok, Touchstone’s sci-fi shooter game releases in India

    MUMBAI: Turok, the epic, sci-fi first person shooter, is now available in India for Windows-based PC.Developed by Propaganda Games and optimized for PC by Aspyr Studios, the game gives PC players the opportunity to experience the engaging, story-driven single-player experience and multiplayer modes for up to 16 players.


    “Fans of Windows-based PC games have been excited about the opportunity to experience Turok on their favorite platform, We are confident that Turok delivers a unique gameplay experience that will make their wait worthwhile,” said Touchstone senior vice president global marketing Craig Releya.


    Turok is set on a dark, mysterious planet in the future. Players take on the role of Joseph Turok, a former black ops commando, now part of an elite special forces squad, known as Whiskey Company, which is on a mission to take down a war criminal? Turok‘s former mentor, Roland Kane.


    Set on a planet inhabited by Kane and his Mendel-Gruman Corporation soldiers, Turok must use his elite military training to elude Kane‘s well-trained army and the ravenous, unpredictable dinosaurs, huge insects and other massive creatures that populate the environment.


    The PC version, which enables both the mouse and keyboard or a game controller, has a suggested retail price of Rs 699. The Game is released in India by Excel Interactive.


    Developed by Propaganda Games, Touchstone‘s development studio in Vancouver, British Columbia, Turok is rated M for Mature by the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB). The game is available in all leading stores across India.

  • Shah Rukh Khan is the “Kewlest Dad” at Nick’s Daddy Cool contest

    MUMBAI: Nick has announced Shah Rukh Khan as the “Kewlest Dad” of its Daddy Cool contest.In a recent survey conducted amongst kids by Nick as part of the Father’s day special promotion, ShahRukh has topped the charts.


    Kids had to choose their favourite celebrity dad from Shahrukh Khan, Saif Ali Khan, Akshay Kumar and Hrithik Roshan.



    According to an official release, around 6000 kids from across India voted for their favorite celebrity dads. Shah Rukh Khan recieved 42.5 per cent votes. Tailing him at second position is Akshay Kumar, with 28.4 per cent of kids’ votes. Hrithik Roshan with 21.7 per cent votes is number three and Saif Ali Khan got 7.3 per cent votes.

  • Disney-ABC renews content deal with South African broadcaster

    MUMBAI: Disney-ABC International Television has renewed its volume agreement for content with the South African Broadcasting Corp.


    The deal includes live-action dramas including Desperate Housewives, Disney Channel‘s Hannah Montana and library title My Wife and Kids, which will be aired on the channel.



    Also included in the agreement is a selection of hit movies from the portfolios of Walt Disney Pictures, Disney/Pixar, Touchstone Pictures and Miramax Films. Titles include The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and the Disney/Pixar hit Finding Nemo.


    Selected titles will air in a new monthly Wonderful World of Disney time slot, which will showcase family movies.

  • Disney’s Camp Rock to air on Disney Channel US

    MUMBAI: Disney Channel’s original movie Camp Rock will make its television debut on 20 June at 8 pm (ET/PT) on Disney Channel.


    Camp Rock will also be showcased on several other channels and platforms.


    The movie, directed by Matthew Diamond, has been co-written by Regina Hicks (Girlfriends), Karin Gist (Disney Channel‘s Jump In!), Julie Brown (Medusa Dare to be Truthful) and Paul Brown.



    Disney Channels Worldwide president Rich Ross said, “We‘re thrilled to give Camp Rock the premiere it deserves at the Ziegfeld Theatre and to showcase the great talent of our cast and creative team. Millions of kids connect with our original movies every night, and Camp Rock is one that no doubt will follow in that tradition.”


    The global premiere schedule is as follows:


    *Tuesday, 17 June – Camp Rock on-demand preview begins on Disney Channel on Demand, a video-on-demand service available to Cablevision iO Digital Cable, Time Warner and Verizon FiOS TV customers.


    *Friday, 20 June (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) – Camp Rock premieres on Disney Channel U.S. with an audio simulcast on Radio Disney and a video simulcast on Sprint. The movie will also premiere on Family Channel in Canada, VRAK.TV in Quebec and MobiTV devices.


    *Saturday, 21 June (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) – Premiere on the ABC Television Network.


    *Sunday, 22 June (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) – Premiere on ABC Family.


    *Monday, 23 June (8:00 p.m., ET/PT) – Premiere on Disney.com in DXD.


    *July – Premiere on Disney Channels Latin America (dates to be announced).


    *Tuesday, 19 August – Walt Disney Studios Home Entertainment releases Camp Rock on DVD, with exclusive bonus features, in the U.S. and Latin America. It releases around the world beginning in November.


    *August – Premiere on Disney Channel Japan (dates to be announced).


    *September – Premiere on Disney Channels UK, India, Southeast Asia, Korea, Taiwan, Spain, Portugal, Germany, France, Italy, Australia and New Zealand (dates to be announced).


    *October — Premiere on Disney Channels Scandinavia (dates to be announced)


    Camp Rock is the story of a talented yet unsure teen who yearns to share her songs with the world. It is also the story of a tempestuous young superstar who has lost his passion for music and is sent packing by his band mates. Together, at a camp (for aspiring young music artists), they learn to believe in themselves and to value the freedom to be “who they really want to be.”

  • Reebok targets kids with Reebok Juniors – Made to Play

    MUMBAI: Sports footwear brand Reebok has launched its communication Made to Play which is targetted towards kids between 4-14 years of age.


    With this promotion, Reebok aims at marking its entry into the growing kids market by setting up exclusive Reebok Juniors stores. The company has already set up seven such stores in Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Hyderabad and Calcutta.



    Reebok says that kids are a true epitome of its brand values of being real, innovative, authentic, courageous, and innovation. They are free spirits and have a fearless attitude which inspires the brand.


    With this promotion Reebok introduces its sports gear for the young champs which includes an entire apparel and footwear collection for both girls and boys.


    Sports equipments also form a part of the overall offering The apparel boasts of strong collections like Sweets, Pulse, Dance style for girls and Voltron, Metro mobility, Edge for boys. It would also introduce an entire new footwear line which caters to various sports like Football, Cricket, Basketball etc.


    Reebok India executive director marketing and product Shamim Sajid said, “Reebok’s Made To Play is a promotion which highlights a kids constant desire for action. We are all aware that kids have sports on their mind most of the time, aspiring to be a leading sport star. Thus, Reebok aims to support such kids in bringing them closer to their dreams.


    “Through this initiative we take a step ahead by introducing an entire sports gear range of both apparel and footwear for these young champs.”


    As an introductory offer, Reebok would offer a return gift of Rs 500 on purchase of Reebok merchandise worth Rs 1000. This promotion spans major metros across the country.


    The promotion will include a mix of conventional media – print and OOH. The promotion aims to make Reebok the brand for kids. With increased online usage in the country and a rising engagement of consumers with internet, Reebok is tapping into this medium through various innovations, engaging the consumer further and initiating a strong hold in the digital space.


    Reebok has organised online contests on the theme for Made To Play on gaming sites like Zapak. It has also tapped mediums like LCD screens in food joints and malls in order to reach out to a maximum number of kids.

  • NVCP realigns senior management team

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) in the US has realigned its senior management team as part of the division‘s global expansion plans.


    The reshuffling of the team, along with the roles and responsibilities, took place with an aim to provide strategic focus on “maximising the position of MTVN‘s (MTV Networks) portfolio of brands in key markets, customized consumer product offerings and continued global expansion.”


    The new management roles include:



    • Indra Suharjono, formerly NVCP Asia senior VP, has been elevated as senior VP and MD for licensing operations in Asia and the Middle East. Indra will also oversee NVCP‘s global publishing business.

    • Jean Philippe Randisi, formerly NVCP Europe senior VP and MD, has been promoted to the same role for Europe, Canada and Latin America.

    • Manuel Torres, formerly NVCP Latin America senior VP, will now oversee NVCP‘s global toy, interactive and consumer electronics business as senior VP toys, interactive and
      consumer electronics.

    • Sherice Torres, formerly senior VP of hard goods, is shifting to oversee NVCP‘s global music and home entertainment business as the new senior vice president of Global Entertainment.

    • Hal Snik, soft goods senior vice president, will now direct all of NVCP‘s US licensing businesses.

    The senior management team also includes Jim Davey, senior VP of worldwide marketing and retail development, and Gary Bonilla, senior VP of creative strategy.


    The announcement was made by NVCP president Leigh Anne Brodsky, to whom the team will report.



    Brodsky said, “I am incredibly pleased to have this level of dedicated talent and leadership, shaping the next phase of our growth. NVCP is strongly positioned to tap into MTVN‘s multi-platform global presence to extend integral partnerships, create the safest and most innovative products and deepen our connection with consumers, no matter where they are.”


    Indra, Jean Philippe, Manuel and the entire NVCP division understands what it takes to create successful long-term partnerships and at the same time, build value around our properties. Their extensive knowledge of the licensing nuances of international markets is requisite in today‘s industry and will continue our global momentum,” Brodsky added.


    The NVCP senior management team will align all consumer product activities to drive new business initiatives, share best practices in operations, product development, and distribution around NVCP‘s portfolio of properties. These include their franchises like Dora the Explorer, Go!, Diego Go, SpongeBob SquarePants and South Park.


    The group will work with MTV‘s brands and business units. NVCP will also actively “pursue opportunities” to grow their partners across categories as healthy foods, interactive, music and gaming.

  • Disney.com to stream free movies

    MUMBAI: Disney has planned to stream full-length movies on its website as a part of its “Wonderful World of Disney” series on ABC. The film will be streamed in the month of August.


    The films will first be shown on ABC‘s Wonderful World of Disney on Saturday nights. The films will then be available on www.Disney.com the next day and will stay on the site for a week.



    The movies that will be made available include ‘Finding Nemo‘, ‘Monsters Inc.‘, ‘Haunted Mansion‘, ‘Confessions of a Teenage Drama Queen‘, ‘Princess Diaries 2‘, ‘Freaky Friday‘ and ‘Peter Pan‘. The decision to stream movies for free is part of the company‘s online strategy.


    At present Disney Channel streams episodes of its series online for free. Disney.com will also stream Disney Channel‘s original movie ‘Camp Rock‘ on 23 June for a 24-hour window after its 20 June TV premiere and subsequent airings – 21 June on ABC and June 22 on ABC Family.


    Fox, Universal, Lionsgate and MGM have all previously placed titles on the NBC Universal/News Corp. owned site Hulu.

  • Nick to kick off new contest for kids

    MUMBAI: Nick has announced another on-air initative called “Only Masti and no Paatshaala” which kick starts on 11 June and will continue till 31 June.


    To participate in this fun-filled “Only Masti and no Paatshaala” contest kids need to tune into Nick from 5 pm-6 pm on weekdays and complete the riddle of the day by choosing the correct answer from the options mentioned. Lucky winners with the right answer can win Nick goodies like Nick T-shits, caps and loads of other Nick goodies.



    Kids can send their replies by calling or sending SMS. They can also send in their replies through the Nick website.



    “We at Nick always give the kids what they want and have a line up of cool shows and contests to constantly entertain kids. “Only Masti and no Paatshaala” promises to keep the fun, masti and damaal going as kids get back to school life”, says Nick India VP and GM Nina Elavia Jaipuria.