Category: Kids

MUMBAI: Kids channels gear up for more action down south this year, hoping to tap into a market that accounts for one-fourth of the total kids TV viewing in India.
Disney, which already has two of its channels (Disney XD and Disney Channel) talking in Tamil and Telugu, recently localised Hungama TV in these two markets.

Says Walt Disney Television International India associate director marketing Venugopal Iyengar, “Showcasing content that is locally relevant to our viewers is a priority for Disney multiplex of channels whether it is through our content, languaging or the channel environments.”

Nick, the only kids channel to stay out of this play zone, is also readying for a launch in the southern market later in the year.

So what is propelling kids broadcasters to speak in the southern language? 
 
Says Turner International India vice president and deputy general manager – entertainment networks, South Asia Monica Tata, “South India comprises a substantial viewing of the all India universe. In 2010 (first 2 weeks only, Tam‘s expanded Universe estimation), South comprised 27 per cent of All India kids Universe (42.7 mn Kids All India). By the sheer size of the market, there is immense scope of expansion for revenue and viewership.”

Elaborating Tata‘s statement, Madison Media Group CEO Punitha Arumugam notes that treading the south zone will help kids channels not just garner national but also attract regional revenues.

“The entry of new players in the South zone will actually help the genre to grow with each grabbing a share of its own pie. However, the share of revenues will not grow much but, instead, only get dispersed,” she opines.

MUMBAI: Starting 20 January, Videotron digital TV subscribers in Quebec will have access to the English-language Playhouse Disney multiplex channel.

Playhouse Disney‘s lineup includes Mickey Mouse Clubhouse, Handy Manny, Special Agent Oso, Imagination Movers, Wow! Wow! Wubzy, Strawberry Shortcake, The Secret World of Benjamin Bear and Franny‘s Feet. The commercial-free channel aims to offer programming that is development-based, educational and engage for younger viewers.  
 
“We are thrilled to join forces with Videotron to deliver Quebec viewers the finest educational entertainment in Canada,” said Family Channel and Playhouse Disney VP and general manager Joe Tedesco.

“Playhouse Disney Canada has a truly unique program offering that parents trust and young people love. We are delighted that more Quebec viewers will have the opportunity to join in the fun and experience the magic of Disney for younger audiences,” he added.

MUMBAI: Hyderabad-based animation and gaming art company DQ Entertainment has stitched a broadcasting agreement with Israel-based Noga Communications, an independent television content producer & broadcaster, for The Jungle Book.
DQE claims that Noga‘s multiplexes of channels, The Children Channel, Channel 8 and Logi Channel have a large share of the entertainment market in Israel. And thus, under this partnership, DQE aims to receive significant importance for future licensing, merchandising and publishing opportunities in Israel. 
 
Meanwhile, NBC Universal has acquired the home video distribution rights of The Jungle Book for major territories including UK, France, French speaking Europe, Australia, NZ and Japan.

Said DQE Group chairman & CEO Tapaas Chakravarti, “Our collaboration with Israel‘s Noga Communications is yet another affirmation of the quality of the Jungle book, a home grown TV series written in UK and Paris and produced in India. This production continues to generate world-wide interest and now boasts the participation of a number of marquee broadcasters and distributors.”

Additionally, DQE is expected to soon announce further strategic broadcasting, distribution and licensing deals for 52 episodes 3D-HD animated series in North America.
 

MUMBAI: Nickelodeon is launching Team Umizoomi, a preschool series focusing on mathematics, from 25 January.
The first day of its launch will see two back-to-back episodes at 11:30 am. 
 
The 20-episode, half-hour series combines action-adventure missions with an interactive math curriculum designed to help kids develop self-confidence in their math abilities and appreciate the many ways in which mathematics shapes their world.

“Math surrounds us everywhere we go, which is why we wanted to create a fun, adventure-filled, interactive series that engages preschoolers and encourages them to practice and refine their mathematical thinking skills,” said Family Group and Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids president animation Brown Johnson.

Team Umizoomi includes interactive math games and catchy pop songs that provide kids with takeaway tools to help them learn and use math in their daily lives.
 

MUMBAI: Kids entertainment channel Cartoon Network is now ready to take audiences for long hilarious visits to the comical world of Tom & Jerry everyday.
The channel will screen the series from Monday to Thursday and will be aired from 6:00 – 7:30 pm.
 
Said Turner International India director programming South Asia Krishna Desai, “Tom & Jerry need no introduction. This perfectly matched darling duo has been a timeless hit for generations. Their love-hate relationship has proven to be both durable and irresistible, taking a place in the hearts of young and adults alike. Cartoon Network is all about comedy and adventure and Tom & Jerry embodies this perfectly. We invite viewers of all ages to sit back and get ready for an hour of laughter with the lovable Tom & Jerry in Chooha Billi Chor Police.”

MUMBAI: Kids entertainment channel Nick is set to participate in the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon for the third consecutive year in a bid to promote its “Let‘s Just Play” campaign.
Nick will partake in the dream run to focus its initiative towards two NGO‘s – Committed Communities Development Trust (CCDT) and Childline. CCDT, a voluntary & secular trust, helps provide marginalized communities with social relevance through comprehensive programmes while Childline is a 24-hour, free, emergency phone service for street children who are in need of aid and assistance.
 
Said Nick India general manager & senior vice president Nina Elavia Jaipuria, “At Nick, our philosophy is to make sure that each child is happy and physically active. Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob Square Pants have an iconic influence on kids and have formed bonds that are beyond compare. Thus, there running the Marathon will surely inspire kids to lead physically active lives.”
 

MUMBAI: In order to create hype around the Indian Premier League (IPL), Max has launched an initiative – Extraaa Innings T20 junior. 
 
Extraaa Innings is Max‘s wraparound show. For IPL 3.0 it is looking to add a distinctive new dimension by launching a nationwide hunt for eight junior DLF IPL extraaa innings T20 hosts starting this January.

A nine-city hunt will be conducted across Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Ahmedabad and Jaipur for children between 7–14 years of age, starting 16 January till 7 February. The auditions will be judged by Extraaa innings hosts such as Gaurav Kapoor and Samir Kochhar.

Extraaa innings T20 Junior will engage in activation across 50 towns and over 1200 schools through School Contact Programs, radio contests and IVRS modules (call 5052525). Registration forms will be distributed in every school and Max will run a contest wherein the teachers will select 30 students per school based on the criteria shared with them. These kids will be given special ‘School representative passes‘ and will be invited directly to the audition in their city representing their school. The selection will be based on the confidence level, communication skills, on-screen presence and passion of the competing kids for DLF IPL.
 
    In line with the channel’s pioneering efforts to maximise the entertainment quotient of cricket related programming, the extraaa innings T20 Juniors will get an opportunity to express their views and interact with their home team players, guests and expert panel on-air for the entire DLF IPL 2010 season. The little masters will add extraaa zing to the acclaimed panel of extraaa innings T20, as they match the seasoned presenters ball-to-ball and game-to-game, with their perspective and views in the biggest cricketing event on television.
Max VP marketing Gaurav Seth says, “Cricket is not just a game; it brings people together. Indian viewers are seeking much more than cricket – a total ‘cricketainment’ experience today. With extraaa innings T20, we have pioneered an innovative mix of cricket and entertainment, to completely revolutionise what viewers expect from wrap-around programming. By introducing extraaa innings T20 Juniors, MAX has once again marked a turning point in the way cricket programming is telecast not only in India, but worldwide.”

The hunt for the little masters of cricket gab will see a buzz being created with special promotions across print, radio, TV, school activation and IVRS mediums. The radio will see customised contests, where the winning kids will walk away with passes to beat the queue and audition faster, much like the winners of the school contact programme.

MUMBAI: 4Kids Entertainment has appointed new licensing agents for several of its properties across Asia, including Click! Licensing Asia, taking on representation for the American Kennel Club in China, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines.

Click! Licensing Asia will also represent Jim Henson Designs in Hong Kong, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia and the Philippines. 
 
While Impact Licensing & Marketing will represent Jim Henson Designs in Taiwan, Empire International Merchandising Corporation will be representing The Artlist Collection‘s The Dog/The Cat/The Pig photographic properties in the Philippines.

Said 4Kids Entertainment executive VP of licensing and marketing Roz Nowicki, “These agencies will be our eyes and ears on the ground in these important Asian countries. We anticipate that they will enable us to sign additional licensees throughout the region for these three popular brands.”

MUMBAI: Following a licensing deal between BBC Worldwide and publisher PT Media Griya Harmony, part of MRA Printed Media, children‘s magazine ‘Charlie and Lola‘ has launched in Indonesia. The first edition of the magazine went on sale on 8 January for $2.5. 
 
Charlie and Lola magazine is an interactive arts and crafts magazine for 4-8-year-old children with big imaginations. It is based on the books by Lauren Child and the popular children‘s BBC TV series, produced by Tiger Aspect – available in Indonesia on CBeebies Channel on Channel 41 on Indovision cable.

Charlie and Lola Magazine Indonesia will be edited by Aksara Sophiaan and will contain 20 per cent local content and 80 per cent UK content. The initial print run of the magazine will be 70,000.

MPA Printed Media division head Indriati Wiranto said, “We believe that Charlie and Lola magazine will achieve a good market in Indonesia and will be able to compete with the similar magazines in this segment.”

BBC Magazines head of international development James Hewes says, “Charlie and Lola is a delightful brand and we are very pleased to have licensed this magazine to MRA Printed Media Division, where we are confident it will do well in this growing market.”

Charlie and Lola Magazine launched in the UK in May 2007 and is also published under licence in Singapore and Spain.
 

MUMBAI: Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) has partnered with the toy/collectible Bif Bang Pow! to launch a new line of The Venture Bros toys that will include articulated action figures, bobble heads and vehicles.
The launch will see a series of 7-inch scale resin bobble heads, which are expected to launch in 2010 spring and this will be followed by action figures in the summer of 2010.
 
The fully-articulated figures will include Dr Venture, The Monarch, Brock Samson, Hank and Dean Venture, amongst others.

Said CNE senior vice president Christina Miller, “With their distinct style and love for the series, the team at Bif Bang Pow! has created an impressive line that will excite our fans and meet their discerning tastes.”