ITV

Category: Kids

  • WDIG and Shanda to bring Disney content to China’s online game market













    MUMBAI: Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) and Shanda Interactive Entertainment have entered into an agreement to bring Disney‘s branded entertainment content to China‘s online game industry via Shanda‘s online game operating platform. The agreement with Shanda marks Disney‘s entrance into China‘s online game market.


    The agreement calls for Shanda to develop, distribute and operate an online casual game based on the magical worlds of Disney and featuring some of Disney‘s most popular animated characters.

    The game, which will be developed for a broader demographic than traditional online games, as well as China‘s burgeoning segment of female online gamers, will be available in China for open beta in the spring of 2007.


    “The market for online games in China is large and growing, and it was important for us to find the right partner. We‘re pleased to have found that in Shanda. Disney‘s rich content library, combined with Shanda‘s capabilities as a leading online game operator, will bring a new, unique and fun experience for the online game consumer. We actively look to bring more of our content to the online interactive entertainment market in China,” said WDIG executive vice president and managing director, international Mark Handler.


    “The Disney brand and its lineup of animated characters are already popular in China, and through this agreement we bring this well-known content to China‘s online game community in the form of an exciting new casual game. We remain firmly committed to providing our users with new and compelling entertainment content that will keep their online experience fresh and enjoyable, and we believe the addition of Disney‘s wholesome content will further broaden our user demographic, thus making a significant contribution to the implementation of our home strategy. We look forward to a successful collaboration with the Walt Disney Internet Group and are excited about bringing Disney‘s content to China‘s online game community,” said Shanda chairman and CEO Tianqiao Chen.


    “China is a priority for the entire company, and this announcement is part of our strategy to expand our presence here. We have a huge competitive advantage, thanks to the strength of the Disney brand, which is embraced and sought-after around the world. The combination of Shanda‘s strong capability in developing and operating online games with Disney‘s expertise in providing compelling content breaks new ground in China, as this will be yet another way for consumers to interact with and experience the magic of Disney,” said The Walt Disney Company (China) managing director Stanley Cheung.

  • Disney Publishing Worldwide names Hampton as president













    MUMBAI: R Russell Hampton Jr., has been named president of Disney Publishing Worldwide (DPW). The announcement was made by Disney Consumer Products chairman Andy Mooney.


    Hampton will be replacing Deborah Dugan who announced her resignation earlier this week. In this capacity, he will be responsible for overseeing DPW‘s various book imprints and magazines around the world. Based in New York City, he will report to Mooney.

    Mooney said, “Russell is taking over Disney Publishing at a time when its reputation for creating exciting new entertainment is flourishing. His leadership in turning Baby Einstein from a small video company to a significant multi-media infant developmental brand is well suited to overseeing DPW‘s positive momentum.”


    Hampton was named executive vice president of DCP‘s global Home and Infant business in 2005 in addition to being general manager of The Baby Einstein Company, which he held since 2001 when The Walt Disney Company (TWDC) bought it.


    “I‘m honored to be given the responsibility of overseeing a division of The Walt Disney Company, which has such a rich history of extending and creating great stories for families around the globe,” said Hampton.


    Disney Publishing Worldwide celebrates its 75th year in 2006 and is the largest publisher of children‘s books and magazines in the world, selling 160 million books in 2005 and publishing 222 million magazine copies. DPW also publishes Family Fun magazine and the new Wondertime magazine for adults.


    “The Disney treasure chest of characters and stories is much fuller today thanks to Deb‘s oversight. The comic book series W.I.T.C.H. that has sold over 20 million copies and became a TV series and the creation of the Disney Fairies franchise are just two examples of Deb‘s legacy at Disney Publishing,” said Mooney.


    Previously, Hampton served as vice president of strategic planning and corporate development for TWDC. He joined TWDC in 1996 as manager of strategic planning.


    Before joining Disney, Hampton was vice president of J.P. Morgan & Co. in New York.

  • Benoit Runel appointed MD of BKN New Media













    MUMBAI: Global animation company BKN International AG, involved in distribution and marketing of animated children‘s television programmes and related consumer products, has appointed Benoit Runel as managing director of the company‘s largest operating subsidiary, BKN New Media Ltd in Great Britain.


    Runel will oversee all sales and marketing for the company in the UK, Germany, Benelux, Scandinavia, North America and emerging markets such as Eastern Europe, Africa and the Middle East.

    He is further charged with overseeing all development and pre-production activities in the London – based studio as well as with securing and managing all co-productions with international partners.


    With over 16 years experience in the television and children industry, Runel joins BKN from Jetix Europe where, as part of the senior management team he oversaw all programming and related on-air strategies for the group‘s 12 channels. He brought content and new Intellectual Properties to Jetix Europe and US through a number of successful co-productions and acquisition deals.


    Prior to joining Jetix, Runel served seven years at TF1, the French free-TV giant where he built a library of 2000 hours of kids‘ programming.


    “We are really pleased to have the contributions of such a talented individual as Benoit. His track record in children‘s programming acquisitions, productions and sales both at Jetix Europe and TF1 in France over 15 years makes him a perfect candidate to lead this division,” said BKN group chief executive officer Allen Bohbot.


    “BKN is in a very exciting development stage. The products including Legend of the Dragon, Dork Hunters from Outer Space, Zorro: Generation Z and the new classic collection including Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves, A Christmas Carol and Robin Hood, to name a few, for direct-to-DVD release are really strong and I look forward to expanding on these activities. This is a very exciting opportunity for me,” added Runel.

  • Pogo comes alive with new original programming

    MUMBAI: Turner Entertainment Networks Asia‘s (Tena) kids‘ channel Pogo, created specifically for the Indian market, has more original programming up its sleeves this year. Game shows, sitcoms, documentaries and fiction shows is what‘s on the kiddies‘ channel‘s agenda for 2006-07.


    What‘s more, Pogo is now garnering a lot of interest from international markets as well. In April this year, Turner‘s Latin American kids channel Boomerang was re-launched with the Pogo branding. While the name of the channel remains the same, a lot of elements in terms of promos and on-air look were borrowed from Pogo.


    Coming back to new original programming; taking a cue from the popularity of shows M.A.D (Music Art Dance), Bam! Bam! Bam! Gir Pade Hum, Prime Pogo and Pogo Amazing Kids Awards (2004 and 2005), the channel is now set to launch a new half hour comedy show called It‘s Alive! from 21 May. The 13-episodes show, which has been produced in-house, will air Sundays at 11 am and will star Prime Pogo stars Niall and Chinu.


    What‘s more, Galli Galli Sim Sim, the Indian version of Sesame Street, is also slated to launch around mid-August and is likely to air from Monday to Fridays. The third edition of Pogo Amazing Kids Awards is also on the cards this year. Apart from this, a new season of M.A.D. coupled with a summer special of the same is also in the pipeline.


    “Pogo itself is an original production and we are constantly looking at innovative, smart and fun ideas that will back up the Pogo brand. The success of our original productions on Pogo has inspired us to do more such shows,” says Tena vice president creative and original content Orion Ross.


    Plans for the annual Pogo Amazing Kids Awards are also big this time round. The channel plans to film ‘amazing‘ kids across the country and develop a 13-week series around the same, which will lead up to the grand finale. “This time on the Pogo Amazing Kids Awards the emphasis is going to be on the kids themselves. Sixty kids across 10 categories will be profiled. We will be finding out their stories and air them every week and towards the last two weeks before the awards, the series will be aired every night,” informs Ross.


    Viewers will also be asked to vote for their favourite ‘amazing‘ kid via SMS. The winner in each category will be chosen on the basis of the votes as well as the jury for the awards. Ross says, “The aim is to build ways for viewers to be more involved in the process.”


    TURNER OPEN TO PRODUCE / COMMISSION INDIAN ANIMATION IDEAS


    Until now, Turner‘s strategy has been to acquire original animation series from Indian studios and air them on their channels. Some of them are – Akbar & Birbal, The Legend of Buddha, Son of Aladdin, Tenali Rama and Ramayana – The Legend of Prince Ram.


    Now the network is planning on something big and a first of sorts. “We are open to hearing animation script ideas from individuals as well as studios in India and then develop the series for Cartoon Network and Pogo. They could be series, feature films or pre-school shows,” says Ross.


    Ross is in charge of overseeing the overall strategy for Tena‘s two existing teams – the Hong Kong based Creative Services as well as the India based Original Productions. One of Ross‘ mandate at Tena is to set up and manage a new Asia Pacific animation development structure in India, which will focus on new Indian animation projects.


    The network will decide whether to produce the new series in-house or commission it to Indian studios. Tena will be funding the production for the series.


    “The approach is creative driven. We are looking for the big idea in Indian animation. We are open to talking to people who have a distinct creative vision. The aim is to find the next William Hanna and Joseph Barbera, Chuck Jones or Craig McCracken,” says Ross.


    However, whether the series will be solely for the Indian market or will be aired in the international markets as well is a decision the network will take at a much later stage. Ross‘ 12-member team will look to set the ball rolling in this direction.


    This surely could be music to the ears of aspiring animators in India… provided they have the Big Idea!

  • PBS and Discovery Education partner to distribute PBS programs to schools

    MUMBAI: PBS and Discovery Education have inked a major multi-year media partnership through which PBS has licensed hundreds of hours from its most acclaimed series and specials for distribution to schools through Discovery Education‘s digital learning services.


    PBS titles to be made available via Discovery Education include The Civil War and other Ken Burns documentaries; Freedom: A History of US; the complete CyberChase series; and selected episodes from Nova, American Experience, Frontline and others.


    A number of local PBS stations already partner with Discovery Education in delivering its flagship video-on-demand service and united streaming as part of their portfolio of local education offerings.


    “For both PBS and our local stations, this new partnership represents an important opportunity to bring PBS content to a growing audience of educators. PBS is entering into a number of new, non-exclusive licensing relationships to broaden the reach of our award-winning education resources, and we are pleased that the first of these new partnerships is with Discovery Education,” said PBS president and CEO Paula Kerger.


    Beginning this fall, schools nationwide will have the opportunity to receive the PBS library as a supplement to united streaming. As with all content delivered through united streaming, the PBS programs will be correlated to state curriculum standards, chaptered into content-specific video clips and offered for teachers to stream or download for instructional use.


    “This expansion of Discovery Education‘s relationship with PBS underscores the alignments of our values and missions. We‘re delighted that this arrangement will give teachers and students the opportunity to access these high-quality titles — on-demand — through our award-winning platform,” said Discovery Education president Steve Sidel.

  • Paul Yanover appointed MD and EVP of Disney Online

    MUMBAI: Walt Disney Parks and Resorts Online (WDPRO) head Paul Yanover has been named executive vice president and managing director of Disney Online (DOL).


    DOL is the business unit of the Walt Disney Internet Group (WDIG) that produces the top entertainment destination for kids and families on the internet. The appointment was announced today by WDIG president Steve Wadsworth and is effective immediately.


    He will be succeeded at WDPRO by Edward Kummer, who previously served as vice president of creative development and production for that business.


    “Paul has been a driving force in digital media within our company for more than a decade, most recently with our Parks and Resorts group, building its website portfolio into a substantial e-commerce business. I‘ve worked closely with him for the past three years and know he brings a strong vision that will take our business to the next level during this time of great opportunity for Disney Online, when more and more consumers are turning to the Internet as a key source of entertainment,” said Wadsworth.
    In his new capacity, Yanover will assume responsibility for all of DOL‘s strategic, creative, technical and marketing initiatives surrounding the presence of the Disney brand on the internet, including flagship site www.disney.com, which will undergo a major redesign and strategic development initiative over the next several years; DOL‘s acclaimed suite of premium broadband products including online games; a large portfolio of divisional Web sites for The Walt Disney Company (TWDC); and Web sites www.familyfun.com, www.go.com and www.movies.com.


    Yanover will succeed Ken Goldstein, who is leaving Disney to pursue another opportunity. “Ken has made great contributions to WDIG over the past eight years. We wish him well in his next venture,” said Wadsworth.


    Yanover was responsible for developing and launching Virtual Magic Kingdom, Disney‘s online multi-player adventure game that allows Disney fans to experience the magic of Disney Theme Parks from their own home.

  • Cartoon Network’s Beyblade Championship in Mumbai sees more than 1500 kids participate













    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network‘s Hojaye Shuru Beyblade Championship that was held in Mumbai on 14 May saw a participation from more than 1500 kids.








    Tarun Shenoy (right) spins his Beyblade to emerge Mumbai winner


    Tarun Shenoy from Podar International School, Santacruz won the title of the Mumbai champion, while Prathamesh Mistry of St. Thomas School, Goregaon was the runner up of the championship.


    Tarun took home a Beybalde medal along with a digital camera and Prathamesh received a BMX cycle. Besides Tarun and Prathamesh, Kartikeya Upasane and Manas Pawar were the lucky ones to reach the final four to win Magnadomes.


    The final four were judged on their ability to spin the Beyblade and assemble the same. Beyblade goodies were distributed amongst all those who participated.


    Tarun will be flown to New Delhi on 21 May to compete with the Delhi champion for the title of National Beyblade Champion. The final winner will receive a Beyblade trophy and a personal computer, while the runner up will take home a Sony Play Station2.

  • Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products appoints Brian Offutt as SVP entertainment products













    MUMBAI: Brian Offutt, the former head of Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products‘ (NVCP) Los Angeles office, has relocated to New York to oversee the NVCP home entertainment, publishing, and record business. The announcement was made by NVCP president, Leigh Anne Brodsky, to whom he will continue to report.


    Offutt replaces Stephen Youngwood, who last month became executive vice president, digital media, at Nickelodeon.



    In his new role as senior vice president, entertainment products, Offutt has been charged with managing the home video/DVD, publishing and music businesses for Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Noggin, and The N, as well as the home video/DVD, book publishing and videogame businesses for Comedy Central, Spike TV and TV Land and the book publishing business for Paramount — all networks and the movie studio within the Viacom family that are handled for licensing and merchandising by NVCP.


    Specifically, he will oversee a staff that manages relationships with Paramount Home Entertainment that distributes all NVCP home videos; Nick Records, which has been in partnership with Sony BMG Strategic Marketing Group since 2004; and the publishing group, with partners including Simon & Schuster and Random House.


    “Brian Offutt has been an integral part of Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products for the past year, setting up our licensing and merchandising team within Paramount Pictures and bringing to market such successful product as the Godfather videogame. He brings to his new position a keen understanding of both the entertainment and merchandising businesses to further develop our content-driven businesses,” said Brodsky.


    Before joining NVCP in January 2005, Offutt was chief operating officer of Broadway Video Entertainment, a leading independent television and film production company founded by Lorne Michaels. In that position, he was directly responsible for the company‘s post-production business unit, whose clients included CBS Sports, Showtime and MTV Networks.


    Prior to Broadway Video, Offutt was president and COO of Interdimensions, an online technology and interactive solutions company. He also served as senior vice president of Golden Books, an executive recruiter at Spencer Stuart and an investment banking analyst at JP Morgan.


    Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products manages the third largest licensing business in the world and such properties as SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer. The department handles the merchandising for Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, Comedy Central, MTVN International, and Spike TV.

  • ‘Nick News’ with Linda Ellerbee turns 15

    ‘Nick News’ with Linda Ellerbee turns 15

    MUMBAI: The Emmy, duPont and Peabody award-winning Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, the longest-running and most-watched kids’ news show in television history, celebrates 15 years on Nickelodeon in May 2006.

    Informed by a philosophy that ignorance is not bliss, that kids deserve and need information about the world and events that shape it, Nick News has covered major world events and other issues that affect kids in a way that no show on television ever has, earning the respect of parents, educators and, most important, kids.

    To celebrate this milestone, Nickelodeon will air Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow – Celebrating 15 Years of Nick News on 28 May.

    The half-hour, commercial free special is a retrospective of 15 of Nick News’ most compelling stories over the last decade and a half, and a fast-forward to meet some of the players and see what their life is like today, when they’re grownups. It shows how Nick News — and kids-have never shied away from talking, in no-nonsense language, about the crucial issues of our time-war, AIDS, terrorism, natural disasters, gay parenting, homelessness, racism, genocide-and how kids have responded by working to change their world for the better.

    “No other show gives kids the opportunity to speak their minds on important issues quite like Nick News. Nick News and Linda Ellerbee present stories about issues in a manner that empowers kids and enables them to take action. The show provides a great way for kids to initiate a dialogue with their parents. Nickelodeon is proud that for the past 15 years, we have been able to offer our audience a unique outlet like Nick News to help them do that,” said Nickelodeon Television president and MTVN Kids and Family Group head Cyma Zarghami.

    “I am the luckiest journalist in television. We tried to teach kids about life. Instead, they taught me what life is all about. I look forward to my continuing education on Nick News,” said Nick News host and executive producer Ellerbee.

    A sneak peek of Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow – Celebrating 15 Years of Nick News will be broadcast on TurboNick, Nickelodeon’s broadband video service on Nick.com, two weeks before the on-air special.

  • ‘Nick News’ with Linda Ellerbee turns 15













    MUMBAI: The Emmy, duPont and Peabody award-winning Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, the longest-running and most-watched kids‘ news show in television history, celebrates 15 years on Nickelodeon in May 2006.


    Informed by a philosophy that ignorance is not bliss, that kids deserve and need information about the world and events that shape it, Nick News has covered major world events and other issues that affect kids in a way that no show on television ever has, earning the respect of parents, educators and, most important, kids.



    To celebrate this milestone, Nickelodeon will air Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow – Celebrating 15 Years of Nick News on 28 May.


    The half-hour, commercial free special is a retrospective of 15 of Nick News‘ most compelling stories over the last decade and a half, and a fast-forward to meet some of the players and see what their life is like today, when they‘re grownups. It shows how Nick News — and kids-have never shied away from talking, in no-nonsense language, about the crucial issues of our time-war, AIDS, terrorism, natural disasters, gay parenting, homelessness, racism, genocide-and how kids have responded by working to change their world for the better.


    “No other show gives kids the opportunity to speak their minds on important issues quite like Nick News. Nick News and Linda Ellerbee present stories about issues in a manner that empowers kids and enables them to take action. The show provides a great way for kids to initiate a dialogue with their parents. Nickelodeon is proud that for the past 15 years, we have been able to offer our audience a unique outlet like Nick News to help them do that,” said Nickelodeon Television president and MTVN Kids and Family Group head Cyma Zarghami.


    “I am the luckiest journalist in television. We tried to teach kids about life. Instead, they taught me what life is all about. I look forward to my continuing education on Nick News,” said Nick News host and executive producer Ellerbee.


    A sneak peek of Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow – Celebrating 15 Years of Nick News will be broadcast on TurboNick, Nickelodeon‘s broadband video service on Nick.com, two weeks before the on-air special.