ITV

Category: Kids

  • 2-14 age-group is highly under-indexed, avers Sony Yay! business head Leena Lele Dutta

    Leena Lele Dutta had been hired in 2007 to establish the content distribution and licensing division of Sony Pictures Television in India in 2007 and expand the footprint thereafter into the south Asian markets. It’s been more than nine years Dutta has been a part of growing Sony family.  Currently, Dutta is heading the Sony Pictures Network India’s CEO N P Singh’s brainchild new kids channel — Sony Yay! In conversation with Indiantelevision.com’s Sonam Saini, Dutta shared her experience of shifting from B2B to B2C.

    Excerpts:

    You have been with Sony Pictures Television for over nine years. How has been the shift from content distribution arm to heading a kids channel? What are the challenges you are facing?

    My earlier role with SPE back in 2007 was to set up the content distribution arm for India and that included licensing of various Hollywood movies the studio produced and acquire across its four main studios. Not only the movie piece but also the television shows which are actually produced there and syndicated here in the network.

    The first year was invested in establishing the content arm and figuring out the role because, prior to that, I was a hardcore ad sales person. This is was the new channel but, in seven years, the market has also evolved.

    Being the country manager, I was responsible for monetisation of the existing content, and here it is the other way round. Here, it is the health of the overall business, here it is more of a B2C business. Here your clients are 2-14-year-old kids who are there across the length and breadth of the country. A kids channel was the missing link in the network.

    It is a mindset evolution. What made is easier is the transition within the Sony family. The kids channel, NP’s (N.P Singh) brainchild, wanted to get somebody on board, and here I am.

    Where did you see scope for a kids channel?

    A lot of scope existed in the space. With our four desi shows, we are very confident of making a mark. More similar shows are coming in October, and being the only channel that caters 100 per cent desi content, we will definitely have a well-known presence by the end of first year for Sony Yay!.

    We also want Sony Yay!, as the brand name stands for happiness, to spread happiness and contentment among the kids.

    The same thing will reflect in our marketing strategies. We will have lots of mall activities, theme park activities which resonate with Yay! We will also have CSR activity which will give Yay! moments to kids. These measures will co-exist with our content offering.  We would be pursuing school contract programme after summer breaks.

    How big is the kids genre in India market?

    The category is the third largest after Hindi general entertainment channels and Hindi movies channels. Accordig to the new BARC system, the 2-14 age group (*) is phenomenally huge. The biggest challenge this category has right now is that it’s highly under-indexed. 

    A lot of advertisers are looking to invest in the kids category — to focus on the 2-14 age-group. However, they are completely discounting the parents who are watching the content as well. In the coming months, we hope to engage with parents more in consuming our channel and not only expand the category. We also have significant play in the area where it is seen more seriously than just a kids channel.

    What will Sony Yay!’s strategy going forward?

    The strategy is very clear, we wanted to be the most preferred brand among the kids. We want people to know what Sony Yay! stands for.  Our partnership with Tiger Shroff has worked tremendously well. We have got a huge response from the kids and their mothers. The launch campaign has been talked about.

    Our colleagues in the industry have observed quite a movement in this category. Whatever we are doing including our content and marketing initiatives, we are here for the long haul. From day one, a lot of investment and efforts have been put into the new channel to make a mark and shake the category.

    At the press conference, you had mentioned that the IPs remain with the channel. Is there a chance that you might sell/licence rights to OTT players?

    Those are the primary revenue models we will consider. We will also consider the licensing and merchandising model as well. That’s the benefit of owning the IPs, and not sharing. There is a strategy of monetisation going ahead with the characters, but we are not going to roll it out in the immediate future.

    What are challenges you faced while distributing the channel?

    Luckily, our distribution team has been phenomenal as we stand today we are present in almost 90 per cent of all digital homes. We have been fairly well distributed — in fact, some major MSOs are willing to carry us in top five of the kids genre, which helped boost our ranking.

     

    (* Sony has helped rectify the BARC India category figures to GRP 582)  

     

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  • Rebranded ‘Universal Kids’ coming in Sept, new progs will cover 6-11 yr olds

    MUMBAI: NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Lifestyle Networks President Frances Berwick announced today that Sprout, its preschool network, is rebranding to become Universal Kids. Universal Kids will continue to be the premier source for preschool programming as it expands its content to include DreamWorks Animation Television series, unscripted entertainment, live action scripted originals and proven international hits, extending its audience to 2-11 year olds.

    Universal Kids – which will go live on 9 September, 2017 – will be a destination for kids and family programming, including titles from DreamWorks Animation Television. The collaboration kicks off with the launches of two Emmy® Award-winning series All Hail King Julien and DreamWorks Dragons: Riders of Berk, based on the popular “How To Train Your Dragon” franchise.

    The Universal Kids lineup will be anchored by the debut of Top Chef Junior, produced by Magical Elves, the Emmy Award-winning team behind Bravo’s Top Chef. Top Chef Junior will launch in October 2017, with 12 young chefs competing for the coveted junior title.

    Sprout will live as a trusted preschool destination on the Universal Kids channel and will continue to add high quality original programming to its slate. July 2017 will mark the launch of Kody Kapow, which joins top rated series Floogals, Dot., Nina’s World, and Noddy Toyland Detective from DreamWorks Animation Television. Sprout will air fifteen hours of preschool programming daily from 3am-6pm, with Universal Kids programmed from 6pm for older kids and families.

    “We see enormous potential to grow our audience in this space and create the Universal Kids platform for families to experience together,” said Berwick. “NBCUniversal is invested in the kids and family business, and the company believes in working together – we will benefit from promotion across our portfolio of networks and across the company through support that is unparalleled in the industry.”

    “The launch of a channel that represents the world of NBCUniversal family brands with great TV content at its center makes tremendous sense for our business,” said Universal Kids general manager Deirdre Brennan. “Just as children grow, Sprout is growing into Universal Kids – and we will reflect all that is universal about being a kid through connection, storytelling and entertainment. A place that reflects their life and passions.”

    Also part of the Universal Kids programming mix are award-winning international hit series, including Nowhere Boys from NBCUniversal, a fantasy-adventure that follows four teenagers who get lost in a forest and discover – when they return home – that they are stuck in a world where they never existed; Little Lunch, a comedy series from the Australian Children’s Television Foundation that takes place during lunch, where kids tackle the big issues; and The Next Step, a single-camera tween drama from Boat Rocker Studios that follows the lives of a group of elite dancers. In addition, Universal Kids will premiere Hank Zipzer from DHX Media. Based on the bestselling series of novels by Henry Winkler, the series focuses on the misadventures of Hank Zipzer, a 12 year old dyslexic schoolboy. The books are based on Winkler’s own childhood experiences.

  • Super Bheem’s super surprise this Sunday on Pogo

    MUMBAI: Super Bheem, a weekly TV series on Pogo, is coming with a twist for the kids this Sunday, 30 April, 2017. Pogo and Green Gold Animation wanted to keep the time of the telecast a secret for the kids to create a surprise for them.

    After the good ratings and popularity among the kids for the episodic TV series on Super Bheem, Pogo and Green Gold Animation have come up with this larger than life episode. The title of the episode is “Kirmada Ki Wapsi” who is dubbed as the ultimate adversary of Super Bheem. Super Bheem fights the extraordinarily powerful Kirmada who is on a spree, taking over the planets one by one wiping down civilizations. Super Bheem thwarts his evil intentions of becoming the most powerful person in the whole universe. For the first time, Kirmada and Super Bheem are coming together on television.

    Talking about the episode, Rajiv Chilaka, the founder of Green Gold Animation and the creator of Chhota Bheem stated, “As everyone is gearing up for the long weekend, Pogo and we are all set to add excitement quotient to the daily routine of our young fans. Every Sunday there has been a new episode for the Super Bheem lovers, but this Sunday there will be a power-packed surprise just for the kids where they have to find out the timing of their favorite show. This Sunday, the kids would be surprised to see the comeback of the main villain who is coming on TV for the first time with Super Bheem.”

    The series kicked off with brand new “Super Bheem” episodes and a new story every weekend. It quickly found itself catapulted to the top of the list in the kids’ segment. Bheem never ceases to surprise kids and holding onto their attention, Green Gold Animation is planning to bring more fresh stories for their young fans.

    So on this long weekend, hold on your breath to see how Super Bheem and his gang sweep you off your feet while he fights Kirmada, tune in, this Sunday, 30 April 2017.

  • Sony to shift Animax channel to SonyLiv

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Network India’s first kids channel Animax will go off air soon. The network, which launched the channel in 2004, had been targeting the 13-35 age-group, and niche anime lovers.

    The channel was operated and broadcast from Singapore by Animax Asia and distributed by Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) India. It is also the only channel to simulcast anime in India and Japan.

    The network will close the channel but the content will be available on its OTT platform SonyLiv.

    Sony Pictures Network India CEO N P Singh said, “Animax has been around for a long period of time. Anime is popular with a very small segment of the audience. We will take away Animax, and instead will give them the opportunity to view Anime on SonyLiv.”

    The network has announced the launch of its much-awaited kid’s entertainment channel, Sony Yay! that will go live on 18 April 2017. Promising to be the ‘Destination for Unlimited Happiness’ for kids, the channel has roped in the young cinestar, Tiger Shroff, who has become a phenomenon with kids across the country, as its brand ambassador.

  • iRealties-Apson present ‘Sheikh Chilli’ on Discovery, Shoojit leads next project

    MUMBAI: Not long ago, iRealities Entertainment made history with the blockbuster 3D animated movie “Chaar Sahibzaade” with heart-touching story-telling. They are now set to recreate the same magic with cutting edge animation in partnership with Apson Entertainment to bring you ‘Sheikh Chilli and Friendz’ to be aired on Discovery Kids.

    iRealities has been successful in bringing two powerful forces of rich multimedia content and technology together to deliver several successful projects.

    The new series is loosely based on ‘Sheikh Chilli’s the comic legend from Lotpot, the comic magazine from Mayapuri Group. Sheikh ‘Chilli and Friendz’ is about a kind-hearted simpleton Sheikh Chilli and his adventures with his friends. It all begins one day when Sheikh Chilli stumbles upon a Genie. It is that day when life changes and becomes full of adventures for him and his friends.

    There are several primary characters in the film like Sheikh Chilli, the talking donkey, genie, witch and her talking broom and many more. The characters are based in the modern world and are well equipped with technology so that kids of this generation can connect to it. The script has been worked and reworked by some eminent writers and filmmakers of the film industry.

    iRealities CEO Prasad Ajgaonkar says, “Today’s kids are very different from the way you and I grew up. They are far more inquisitive and challenge the norms. They are independent young individuals that demand to be entertained and enjoy newness all the time. We have worked very cautiously and precisely, to shape up and create each character and make it likeable and relatable to this new generation. There is absolutely no compromise in terms of quality. We have used hair, fur and minute texturing to bring out the feel of each character in a strong way so that the whole look is quite distinct then the usual content being broadcast on TV.”

    Earlier, iRealities had created an animation movie of the same name that had been released in Hindi and Tamil. The company had executed the entire project right from scripting, character design, animation production to post production and final creation of the film.

    iRealities is currently working on three animated feature films to be released in 2017. One of the projects is the animated film Durga – The Epic. The company is also collaborating to produce another animation film with reputed director Shoojit Sircar at the directorial helm.

    iRealities must be one of the few companies that has technology strength, creative strength, animation and content strength under one roof.

  • Sony YAY! kids channel to be lead by Leena Lele Dutta

    MUMBAI: Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) has announced Leena Lele Dutta as Business Head for their upcoming channel in the kids’ entertainment space. As reported by www.indiantelevision.com a week ago, With over two decades of experience in the media and entertainment industry, Leena will be spearheading the new channel and will be responsible for developing content and driving the channel’s reach and connect with its relevant target audience.

    The new kids channel from SPN will be called, Sony YAY!

    Leena brings a deep understanding of the entertainment industry with her experience across different portfolios. Prior to joining SPN, she was the Executive Director – Distribution at Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and was responsible for structuring and developing the contentdistribution and licensing division of SPT in India and South Asia.

    Leena has also worked with Ten Sports India Ltd, Channel 9 (Nine Broadcasting Media) and MTVIndia amongst other reputed companies, besides having worked in Sales with SPN (then SET India) from 1995-1999.

    Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) CEO NP Singh said, “The Kids genre is a new territory for us and has immense potential to grow. With an impressive track record and in-depth understanding of the entertainment industry, we are confident that Leena will play a pivotal role in establishing the business. Under her able leadership, we intend to solidify a significant presence as an outstanding brand in the kids’ entertainment space”.

    SPN Kids Genre business head Leena Lele Dutta said, “There is a lot to explore in the kids’ entertainment genre. We wish to create a brand that caters to the entertainment needs of Indian kids at the same time giving them experiences that leave lasting impressions on them. We also want to give parents, especially working mothers like me, the confidence to let kids consume our differentiated content in an environment that elevates their happiness.”

    “YAY! being the quintessential expression of joy and euphoria, has always been synonymous with happiness and excitement; Thus, the name, Sony YAY!”

  • Cartoon Network increases content across platforms

    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network has announced a holistic slate of content for the 2017-18 upfront season that will provide something new to fans every day, across a wide spectrum of platforms.

    As one of the most immersive brands in Turner’s portfolio, Cartoon will deliver even greater content experiences that drive engagement across all screens and connects to the way their fans are consuming. Today, Cartoon announced a new slate of content including six new series and seven returning hits, as well as more than 20 original mobile and console games.

    Long acknowledged for being in the forefront of bringing together premium content, fan experiences and technology, Cartoon’s success extends beyond television screens into the digital and mobile space with a growing and diverse multiplatform portfolio.

    o   Cartoon has amassed a robust digital and mobile portfolio of 44 apps, approaching nearly 150 million worldwide downloads.

    o   A roster of more than 400 free-to-play online games with the Game Creator franchise, generating more than 2 billion global game plays life to date.

    o   Cartoon’s Emmy winning flagship app will get an expansion to Chromecast later this year and at least nine more games being added to its slate, plus two integrated game consoles.

    “As kids’ viewing habits have evolved, Cartoon Network has always been there with them,” said Cartoon Network-Adult Swim-Boomerang  president Christina Miller. “From their first experience with a Kids network website and video app; to their first series VR game; and most recently, their firstapp to use ACR, we are keeping our sole focus on them as they inspire us to reimagine television.”

    “Cartoon Network has cracked the code on how a leading media brand can engage with fans through true total consumption,” said Turner ad sales president Donna Speciale. “Whether it’s VOD or gaming, or everything in between, plurals are connecting with this brand globally in ways most media brands haven’t yet experienced. That presents an incredibly powerful opportunity for our advertising partners this Upfront.”

    New Series

    · Apple & Onion – Being new and naïve to the ways of the “big city of sophisticated food” doesn’t stop the wide-eyed enthusiasm of the lovable buddies Apple and Onion who are destined to find their way and make lots of friends on their incredible adventure of life. The friendship comedy is created by George Gendi (The Amazing World of Gumball).

    · Craig of the Creek – At the Creek, the rules of the outside world don’t apply in this kid utopia of untamed wilderness where Craig and his two best friends have ventured and tribes of children reign over tree forts and dirt bike ramps. The adventure series is created by Matt Burnett and Ben Levin, formerly from Steven Universe.

    · Summer Camp Island – Having completed a momentous and critically acclaimed run at this year’s most notable festivals including the Sundance Film Festival and SXSW, this wildly imaginative animated series, based on the original Cartoon Network short, will continue unfolding the mysteries that Oscar and his best friend Hedgehog encounter at a magical summer camp. The series hails from creator Julia Pott (Adventure Time).

    · OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes – Cartoon Network powers up a world of original heroes across the TV and gaming landscape together with the green light of this action-packed comedy followed by the console and PC game jointly developed with indie video game studio Capybara games.  The knockout series is inspired by creator Ian Jones-Quartey’s childhood and follows the heroic feats of K.O., an endlessly optimistic boy attempting to level up to be the best he can be in a dynamic universe of heroes, friends and challenging foes. The series builds on OK K.O.! Lakewood Plaza Turbo, the network’s first original standalone mobile game and was developed from a pilot that was part of Cartoon Network’s Emmy Award-winning shorts program.

    · Ben 10 –The newest show coming out of the highly successful franchise has launched multiple animated series, and numerous animated and live-action movies. Playmates Toys serves as the worldwide master toy partner for the new Ben 10 with a full line of toys based on the show that will include a range of figures, play sets, and role-play items set to launch at retail globally this fall. The wild adventures begin debuting Monday, April 10 and will introduce fun loving, 10-year-old, Ben Tennyson, his cousin Gwen, and Grandpa Max, as they traverse the country during summer vacation. Once Ben finds the Omnitrix, a mysterious watch that transforms him into 10 different heroic aliens, a world of extraterrestrial superpowers opens to him, which kids of all ages will admire. Ben 10 is created by and executive produced by Man of Action Entertainment.

    · Cloudy with A Chance of Meatballs– The mouth-watering animated comedy series premiered earlier this month and is based on Sony Pictures Animation’s highly successful 2009 global feature Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs and subsequent, Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2. The TV series is produced in association with DHX Media, Sony Pictures Animation and Corus Entertainment.

    Returning Series

    · We Bare Bears– The BAFTA Award-winning series created by Daniel Chong stacks up a third and hilarious season. In the newest season, Grizzly (Eric Edelstein), Panda (Bobby Moynihan) and Ice Bear (Demetri Martin) meet up with favorite friends and frenemies voiced by Patton Oswalt, Charlyne Yi, Jason Lee, Ellie Kemper and Cameron Esposito. The adorable baby bears add more hijinks and commotion to the delight of fans. Festive holiday specials and new guest appearances by comedian Ron Funches and notable voice actor John DiMaggio round out the season as the Bears continue their comedic adventures around the Bay Area and beyond.

    · The Powerpuff Girls – The Emmy nominated series is back and kicking off a second season featuring all-new characters and specials, plus action-packed battles between the superhero sisters and fan-favorite villains HIM and Mojo Jojo. The newly reimagined series is executive produced by Nick Jennings and co-executive produced by Bob Boyle, and will continue to further Cartoon Network’s commitment to STEAM education with two additional themed episodes this season. The wildly successful online Powerpuff Yourself avatar maker, which reached over 12 million fans at its launch, has now been updated so even more fans can see themselves as a real Townsville superhero. The original series was created by Craig McCracken.

    · Mighty Magiswords –Recently picked up for a second season,Mighty Magiswords will expand on Prohyas and Vambre’s epic adventures as they embark on more hilarious quests in pursuit of the latest and greatest Magiswords to add to their coveted collections. Created by Kyle A. Carrozza, Mighty Magiswords is comprised of a rich hub of more than 500 pieces of original content including interactive shorts, narrative vlogs and a multitude of immersive digital games and apps.

    · Adventure Time – The Emmy and Peabody Award-winning show is back with an eight-part miniseries of epic proportions later this year. Fans will be just as surprised as Finn to discover what happened to the kingdoms of Ooo while he was away at sea. This next miniseries comes fresh off the heels of Adventure Time: Islands. The series is created by Pendleton Ward and executive produced by Adam Muto.

    · Steven Universe–Friendships are tested as the saga continues in this Emmy-nominated series, created by Rebecca Sugar. The show returns with new adventurous story arcs and specials, in which fans will meet more Gems, spend time with the Diamonds and gain insight into the ever-mysterious Gem Homeworld while the series’ titular hero Steven Universe will grow as a leader. Steven Universe is lauded for having a voice of inclusion, and was recently nominated for its first GLAAD Media Award in the Outstanding Comedy Series category.

    · Teen Titans Go! –Season four of the hit series continues and get ready for the show’s 200th episode as Robin, Starfire, Raven, Beast Boy and Cyborg prepare to save the world in a special, two-part episode. Audiences are also in for an egg-ceptional treat in a spring special featuring the mythical Tooth Fairy who tries to take over the holiday from the Easter Bunny. Series is produced by Warner Bros. Animation.

    · The Amazing World of Gumball –This BAFTA and Emmy Award-winning series from Cartoon Network Studios EMEA conjures up a new Halloween special and continues warm-hearted adventures including an episode with live-action puppets with the energetic and fearless blue cat – Gumball – andhis idiosyncratic family, the Wattersons.

    Mobile – Console Games – Apps

    · The Powerpuff Girls Lego Dimensions – Lego Dimensions, the Lego toy and videogame hybrid, is adding The Powerpuff Girls to its roster with a new Team Pack and Fun Pack. The Team Pack features Blossom and Bubbles minifigures, and the Fun Pack completes the team with Buttercup. Both packs give access to the Townsville Hub area where players can fly around Townsville and see sights like Pokey Oaks elementary, City Hall, Rainbow Land, the Pickle Museum and of course the girls’ home base complete with Professor Utonium’s lab.

    · Steven Universe: Save The Light –Developed with renowned hit maker Grumpy face Studios, this is a new console game with an original story crafted by Steven Universe series creator Rebecca Sugar. The RPG console game is a sequel to the 2015 hit mobile title,Attack the Light and is expected to launch this summer.

    OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes –This action brawler console and PC game with RPG elements is set in the outrageous world of the upcoming animated series OK K.O.! Let’s Be Heroes created by Ian Jones-Quartey. It is developed by award-winning Capybara Games and arrives later this fall.

    · Ben 10: Up to Speed – Ben 10: Up to Speed is a runner that follows Ben Tennyson as he goes on the best summer vacation ever with his Grandpa Max and cousin Gwen. He discovers an alien artifact called the Omnitrix that allows him to transform into powerful alien heroes. Playing as Ben and his various alien alter egos, gamers will save the world by stopping evildoers, from giant robots to menacing magic users.

    · Glitch Fixers-The Powerpuff Girls – Bubbles, Blossom and Buttercup continue to save the day in the latest Cartoon Network mobile game, Glitch Fixers. Based on the popular episode “Viral Spiral,” Glitch Fixers is a turn-based puzzler that takes gamers on a wild digital ride. Using virtual command blocks, Bubbles is tasked with helping Blossom and Buttercup escape the internet and defeat the evil Amoeba Boys through the power of coding.

    · Surely You Quest – As part of a connected hub that includes the linear series Mighty Magiswords, the newest mobile game links to another integrated app MagiMobile, to give fans access to their Magiswords and allow them to expand their collections. Gamers can use the swords they previously earned in MagiMobile for gameplay in Surely You Quest, and the more fans watch and engage with MagiMobile, the more options they will have for battles in the game.

  • Super Bheem to be weekly show from 2 April

    MUMBAI: After the success of the television films on Super Bheem, Green Gold Animation & Pogo are gearing up to present Super Bheem in a weekly episodic format every Sunday, starting, 2 April 2017. The makers of Chhota Bheem, Green Gold Animation has come up with an upscale 3D-off shoot avatar to their star character ‘Chhota Bheem’ titled as ‘Super Bheem’. It shows Bheem and his friends in a freshly churned 3D animation format, now as a weekly TV series on the titular character- ‘Super Bheem’.

    The title of the first episode will be ‘Grah Sona’, where Super Bheem and his gang save the Grah Sona planet from evil Chumbak Dada. As Super Bheem goes weekly, the first episode will see the introduction of yet another menacing villain, Chumbak Dada. Chumbak Dada is after the planet’s gold and he is controlling all the golids, including King Goliad with his golden robots and making them dig up gold nuggets, which he plans to carry in his rocket.The duration of each episode will be eleven minutes. The weekly episodes will showcase a new story line, well balanced with repeats, just so that the young fans don’t miss out on their Super Bheem feast.

    Super Bheem- The character was launched on 1st May on Bheem’s Birthday through a special promotional song where Bheem is seen in a new get up, flaunting breeches and a belted cape of maroon and saffron colour scheme, singing along with his friends in Dholakpur and cutting his Birthday cake.

    Talking about the format, Green Gold Animation founder and the creator of Chhota Bheem Rajiv Chilaka stated, “The success of Super Bheem TV movies gave us the impetus to expand the content and serve our young audiences much more frequently. Super Bheem is an offshoot of our star character Chhota Bheem, hence there has been raised expectation right at the outset. Green Gold Animatiom is committed to providing innovative and holistic entertainment content, hence expansion of Super Bheem is an effort in the same direction.”

    With the series of Super Bheem, Green Gold firms up its relationship with Pogo who are happy to take the Bheem franchise to the next level.

  • Keshet & Ananey bring teen & kids series to India

    NEW DELHI: Global production and distribution powerhouse Keshet International (KI) and Ananey Communications Group have partnered to bring teens’, tweens’ and kids’ series to the global market in KI’s first foray into the genre.

    Alongside its subsidiary Nutz Productions, Ananey Cmmunications Group – which represents the Viacom brands Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., MTV and Comedy Central in Israel – has created some of Israel’s biggest kids TV hits airing on Nickelodeon. These include the award-winning daily live-action teen drama The Greenhouse, an English language version of which entitled Greenhouse Academy, has become the first Israeli original commissioned by NETFLIX.

    Greenhouse Academy is produced by Nutz productions for the global streaming platform and is due to launch later this year, KI will hold worldwide second-window distribution rights.

    Among other series launching in Cannes internationally as part of the new wide-ranging, long-term relationship between KI and Israel’s largest multichannel group are two daily live-action teen dramas, The Hood and the fantastical suspense series Spell Keepers as well as the kids’ comedy Bed & Biscuit.

    Keshet International CEO Alon Shtruzman said, “We are incredibly fortunate and honored to be partnering with one of the most reputable and outstanding providers of kids’ content in the business. We look forward to doing great things together in the future, as KI expands and diversifies into the business of kid’s distribution and production.”

    Ananey Communications Group Co-CEO, Orly Atlas-Katz, said, “We are thrilled to be partnering with KI and together raising further global exposure and awareness in the international market to our award winning kids and teens content”.

    THE GREENHOUSE: After losing their mother in a spaceship crash, a brother and sister arrive at an elite boarding school for gifted future leaders: The Greenhouse (22 x 175). They join two competing houses within the school. Soon, mysterious developments draw the rival houses into a secret investigation that exposes a destructive plot. Only by joining forces can they save the world from a disaster. As they fight against evil, the heroes of The Greenhouse also cope with typical teen struggles such as love, friendship, competition and betrayal.

    SPELL KEEPERS Spell Keepers (22 x 50) is an exciting, mysterious and fantastical suspense series focusing on two strong and determined girl heroines – Kirki and Layla, each of whom have set out to perform their crucial roles in the world. As they strive to save humanity, they must choose between their own personal happiness and fulfilling their destinies, while facing an inevitable collision between good and evil.

    THE HOOD In the middle of a rich town lies The Hood (22 x 100), a dingy cluster of low-income housing where modest, blue-collar families live. One such family is the David’s. Dad Ben is a widower who struggles to support his five kids but after a string of failed businesses Ben is on the verge bankruptcy, and possibly prison. Making things even worse is the mayor, who is constantly trying to get rid of The Hood altogether. The Hood is a daily drama that skillfully combines edgy class struggles with suspenseful action and big doses of fun.

    BED & BISCUIT Bed & Biscuit is a sitcom for kids, which takes place in a family-run boarding kennel for dogs in a small village in Israel. Moti is a mediocre lawyer who has had enough of the big city and wants to live a simpler life and spend more time with his only daughter Sarah. The energetic father and smart and funny daughter make the move into the country and run their family business – a dog kennel. In their new place they meet some wonderful friends such as Claudia, the voluptuous dog groomer, her son Royo, a young, charismatic, high tempered boy and a goofy girl named TomTom, and experience an insane rivalry with Jacky, the annoying neighbour.

  • Nickelodeon seeks to inspire kids ‘Together For Good’

    NEW DELHI: In a day for the young with both Doordarshan and Colors announcing new programmes, kid’s entertainment channel Nickelodeon is starting the second edition of the India leg of the global Nickelodeon pro socio campaign “Together for Good”.

    Nickelodeon, which claims to have conceptualized this behaviourial change by empowering kids to be future change agents of society will in this season change habits and behaviour of individuals by imparting the importance of cleanliness and hygiene in all spheres of life – be it in private or public spaces and do good together.

    Through its innovative campaign “Don’t’ Be a Champu, Be The Change” this season of Together For Good is all set to drive home this message in a fun and quirky manner that will appeal to kids.

    Through the character Champu, who has a distinct disregard for cleanliness in public spaces and does not care about personal hygiene, the campaign calls out to the kids ‘Don’t be like Champu, Be the Change’. The endeavour is to send across the message on the importance of cleanliness in a unique tongue in cheek manner with the objective of awakening the conscience of the wrong-doers.

    Viacom 18 Business Head of Kids Cluster Nina Jaipuria said, “We at Nickelodeon believe that children are the change agents of society. Through the Together For Good campaign we want to inculcate good habits of cleanliness and hygiene in a fun manner that kids can relate to.” She further added, “With the influence that children have on their parents and families, we hope to extend this positive change towards the society not only amongst the kids but also amongst adults.”

    Together For Good will see a series of creatives featuring Champu across the Nickelodeon franchise. The campaign will be extended on the digital and social media platforms through a series of fun toon tips, posts asking kids to not be a Champu and take the cleanliness pledge, fun interactive Facebook post “Champu Ko Karo Change”, a #DontBeChampu contest where children are urged to clean their surroundings, take a before and after picture and share on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

    Upping the engagement in the initiative will be an exclusive on-ground association with BMC towards a Chakachak Mumbai. This will involve the Nicktoons visiting high traffic railway stations to directly interact with the public and dissuade them from littering. They will also be seen in a conscience awakening act giving flowers to the delinquents instead of punishing them. “Together For Good” with all its fun and entertainment and lots of life lessons is all set to inspire kids towards positive action.