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Tag: Cartoon Network

  • Cartoon Network US to develop Massively Multiplayer Online Game with Grigon Entertainment

    Cartoon Network US to develop Massively Multiplayer Online Game with Grigon Entertainment

    MUMBAI: US kids broadcaster Cartoon Network has announced that it is developing its first massively multi-player online game (MMOG) in a partnership with a leading MMOG developer, Seoul-based Grigon Entertainment.

    Cartoon Network New Media will debut the game in the US. This is the first-ever partnership between a US entertainment company and a Korean developer to create an MMOG for the global marketplace.

    The Cartoon Network MMOG will launch in 2008 and target the growing and sophisticated kids’ interactive gaming market. The game will be free to download, with subscription and micro-transactions available to players to enhance the gaming experience. New areas for exploration and play are planned and will be added regularly over a span of several years.

    The game brings Cartoon Network’s characters and sensibility to the online gaming realm with an “East-meets-West” creative approach. Grigon Entertainment is best known for successfully developing and launching several online games in Asia, including Seal Online, a light-hearted role-playing game (RPG) that took the online gaming world by surprise. Localized versions are available in Korea, Japan, Taiwan, China, Indonesia and Thailand.

    Cartoon Network executive VP, GM Jim Samples says, “Cartoon Network is an immersive experience for our fans, and this MMOG will allow our fans to interact with their favorite characters like never before. Not only will kids be able to play with their favorite characters like Mac and Bloo, Ben 10 and the Kids Next Door, but they will also be able to develop their own online gaming personalities and interact, virtually, with other players in a safe way.

    “This MMOG is a key part of Cartoon Network’s growth strategy, and is an important complement to our mobile, broadband and existing online business. With the MMOG, mobile content, our Web sites and, of course, our linear network, Cartoon Network is always on for kids.”

    Cartoon Network new media senior VP, GM Paul Condolora says, “Online games have been the most important driver of Cartoon Network New Media’s success over the last few years. With more than 84 million U.S. homes expected to have broadband Internet access by 2008, and Cartoon Network’s reach and creative vision, we’re excited to enter the fast-growing world of massively multiplayer online gaming.

    “In Grigon Entertainment, we have found a partner who understands how to build a successful MMOG for the casual marketplace. With our characters and creative direction, along with Grigon’s experience and technical know-how, we think Cartoon Network’s MMOG will have great success and longevity.”

    Massively multiplayer online gaming has expanded in the US in recent years, with games like World of Warcraft and EverQuest achieving large and loyal followings. Most MMOGs have been driven by high-intensity fighting and action with fantasy elements and have attracted an older, adult audience. To date, few games have targeted younger audiences. In Asia and Europe, where broadband penetration is ahead of that in the United States, MMOGs have been developed for all audiences, from kids to teens and adults.

    Cartoon Network’s games will feature a persistent and expanding world, which will allow players to develop their own characters, attributes and possessions over the course of many months and even years. Players may also meet and interact with other players online, forming virtual friendships and communities. Cartoon Network’s MMOG will be compliant with the Children’s Online Privacy and Protection Act (Coppa) and will offer a safe gaming environment for players.

  • Turner to launch Cartoon Network in Korea

    Turner to launch Cartoon Network in Korea

    MUMBAI: Turner Broadcasting System (TBS) has teamed up with South Korea’s media group JoongAng Ilbo (JAI) to launch Cartoon Network Korea.

    The agreement was signed by TBS Korea vice president Ron Lee and JoongAng Broadcasting Corporation (JBC)- a JAI media group company- president and CEO Mun-Yeon Kim.

    In keeping with the Korean broadcast regulations, the majority stake in the joint venture will be held by JAI’s JBC, with Turner holding a 49 per cent stake in the partnership. Cartoon Network Korea will be languaged in Korean.

    To debut later this year, Cartoon Network Korea will showcase the best in animation, offering both Korean and international animation. Predominantly an animation channel, it will bring together a unique mix of new as well as recognised programming to Korean kids.

    Kim said, “The launch of Cartoon Network Korea is a very significant event for us and for the Korean television industry as the launch of the Network officially kicks off. Cartoon Network Korea will combine the unique strengths of both partners, and will build on our unrivalled knowledge and expertise to create a kids’ channel that will raise the bar and set new standards of excellence in the kids’ entertainment genre. Cartoon Network Korea will offer a variety of multi-genre animation titles from its world-renowned library, and will provide more than just Japanese titles or a single style of animation genre.”

    Lee added, “To successfully operate in a highly developed market such as Korea, it is imperative to enter into an alliance with a local partner. In JoongAng Ilbo, we are partnering with an acknowledged leader in the Korean media business. The partnership is a natural extension of our long standing relationship with JAI and is further strengthened by JAI’s deep understanding of our brand philosophy. By making this strategic investment to create a unique kids’ entertainment channel in Korea, we are demonstrating our commitment to cater to the specific viewing preferences of the young Korean audience.”

    “As a leading player in the kids’ entertainment genre in Asia-Pacific, we understand that effective localisation is key for a network to resonate with the audience. Given our experience in successfully delivering specialised Cartoon Network services across the Asia-Pacific, we are confident that our compelling and diverse array of content, specially engineered for kids in Korea, will open up a whole new viewing experience for them,” said Turner Entertainment Networks Asia senior vice president and general manager Ian Diamond.

    Cartoon Network Korea will provide a diverse mix of content drawn from production companies from around the world including Japan, Korea and Cartoon Network’s own library – comprising more than 14,000 Warner Bros., MGM, Hanna-Barbera and Cartoon Network Originals series and shorts. Cartoon Network Korea will also work closely with JAI to examine opportunities for the development of animation in Korea.

  • Cartoon Network, Pogo score well with kids this summer

    Cartoon Network, Pogo score well with kids this summer

    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network and Pogo, continue to top the popularity charts among kids in the summer months. The channels claim, that according to the latest ratings of Tam (4-14 C&S, All India, 1-31 May, all days, 24 hours), Cartoon Network and Pogo, are the number one and two channels in the kids channel space with the channel share of 5.1 per cent and 4.6 per cent respectively.

    Cartoon Network and Pogo form a formidable pair of kids’ channel with combined channel share of 9.7 per cent, which is 20 per cent higher than the combined channel share of all other kids’ channels.

    As part of the summer programming line up, Pogo premiered the first three installments of the Harry Potter movies, – titles included Harry Potter & the Sorcerer’s Stone on 7 May, Harry Potter & the Chamber of Secrets on 14 May and Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban on 21 May.

    The movies received an average of 1.3 TVR (for all airings) for all India, in C&S 4-14, all SEC audience beating all competitive programming on other TV channels including all kids’ channels, national news channels and also channels in GEC and music genres at all India level.

    On the other hand, Cartoon Network continued to entertain kids’ through the summer with shows such as Tom & Jerry tales, Tom & Jerry kids, Pokemon, Franklin, Dragon Tales, Koala Brothers, Beyblade, Richie Rich, The Popeye show and Baby Looney Tunes amongst others.

    This summer the combined channel share of all kids’ channels was augmented by 27 per cent, from pre summer shares of 12.7 per cent (February to March) to summer shares of 16.1 per cent (April to May). Cartoon Network and Pogo made an individual contribution of 27 per cent and 26 per cent respectively to the development.

    Turner International India vice president advertising sales and networks India and South Asia Monica Tata said. “We are pleased that we have delivered on our promise to Indian kids in bringing them the best in world-class programming across genres, including movies such as the blockbuster Harry Potter series. This repeated, over-whelming performance of both our number one and number two kids’ channel’s – Cartoon Network and Pogo across summer, indeed, demonstrates that we truly understand the entertainment needs of Indian’s kids’ best. It is our endeavour to continually provide compelling content that is both engaging and entertaining to our loyal audience.”

  • CN gets on to DD with a branded block

    CN gets on to DD with a branded block

    NEW DELHI: Not content with ruling the kids’ space in India via satellite, Cartoon Network now wants a slice of terrestrial viewership too.

    It announced has just a new one-hour programming block, Cartoon Network Duniya, on Doordarshan National.

    Starting 8 July, the new block will air every Saturday from 10:30 am to 11:30 a.m. and will feature two of Turner’s most popular and highly successful original productions, M.A.D. (Music, Art and Dance show) and Codename: Kids Next Door.

    Cartoon Network Duniya will also showcase other popular series, including Turner’s most awaited original production, Galli Galli Sim Sim, the Indian version of globally renowned pre-school series, Sesame Street.

    “Doordarshan’s extensive reach across India will enable kids in non-C&S homes to enjoy Turner’s engaging original production that has so far been limited to C&S homes. In the preliminary stage, the highly rated M.A.D. and popular animation series, Codename: Kids Next Door will serve as the perfect introduction to new viewers,” an official statement quoted Turner International India MD Anshuman Misra as saying yesterday.

    Misra added that later in the year Galli Galli Sim Sim will further enhance the appeal by showcasing content that is both educational and entertaining in nature.

    M.A.D. is an off-the-wall, interactive journey for 8-12 years olds and their families and is filled with fun tabletop ‘makes’, dynamic performances, a bit of humour and some art stunts.

    Galli Galli Sim Sim is an initiative undertaken by globally recognised, Sesame Workshop and Indian kids’ entertainment leader, Turner India.

    The show is aimed at serving the 157 million children under the age of six in India and is committed to supporting India’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan or universal access to education.

  • CN gets on to DD with a branded block

    CN gets on to DD with a branded block

    NEW DELHI: Not content with ruling the kids’ space in India via satellite, Cartoon Network now wants a slice of terrestrial viewership too.

    On Monday, it announced a new one-hour programming block, Cartoon Network Duniya, on Doordarshan National.

    Starting 8 July, the new block will air every Saturday from 10:30 am to 11:30 am. and will feature two of Turner’s most popular and successful original productions, M.A.D. (Music, Art and Dance) and Codename: Kids Next Door.

    Cartoon Network Duniya will also showcase other popular series, including Turner’s most awaited original production, Galli Galli Sim Sim, the Indian version of globally renowned pre-school series, Sesame Street.

    “Doordarshan’s extensive reach across India will enable kids in non-C&S homes to enjoy Turner’s engaging original production that has so far been limited to C&S homes. In the preliminary stage, the highly rated M.A.D. and popular animation series, Codename: Kids Next Door will serve as the perfect introduction to new viewers,” an official statement quoted Turner International India MD Anshuman Misra as saying yesterday.

    Misra added that later in the year Galli Galli Sim Sim will further enhance the appeal by showcasing content that is both educational and entertaining in nature.

    M.A.D. is an off-the-wall, interactive journey for 8-12 years olds and their families and is filled with fun tabletop ‘makes’, dynamic performances, a bit of humour and some art stunts.

    Galli Galli Sim Sim is an initiative undertaken by globally recognised, Sesame Workshop and Indian kids’ entertainment leader, Turner India.

    The show is aimed at serving the 157 million children under the age of six in India and is committed to supporting India’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan or universal access to education.

  • Broadband gets animated as Cartoon Network hires Premium TV

    Broadband gets animated as Cartoon Network hires Premium TV

    MUMBAI: Turner Broadcasting Systems has hired digital rights company Premium TV to provide a broadband TV service in the UK for its flagship kids’ channel Cartoon Network, with the service due to launch in Q4.

    The broadband site will be Cartoon Network’s first foray into broadband content tailored to the PC, and follows hot on the heels of the recent roll out of Cartoon Network’s new look website to all European territories.

    CartoonNetwork.co.uk is gaining more hits than ever before, with over 30 million page impressions per month, and the broadband site SuperCartoonNetwork.co.uk will reinforce this success in the sector.

    Subscribers to the site will be able to watch hours of regularly updated Cartoon Network shows, such as Ben 10 and Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends. They will also be able to watch archived episodes of the cartoons on the site.

    Under the terms of the two year deal, Premium TV will provide the broadband platform for Turner which will see Super Cartoon Network broadcast within the EMEA region.

    Premium TV has a track record of handling digital rights for major sports organisations, such as FLi (Football League Interactive) and World Rally Championship (WRC). The company’s expertise in managing digital rights, coupled with its DRM technology, will enable Turner Broadcasting Systems to take advantage of the growing digital market.

  • Hungama TV ad revenues rise 30 – 40%

    Hungama TV ad revenues rise 30 – 40%

    MUMBAI: Ups and downs are a part of each and every one’s life and such is also the case with Hungama TV. While a couple of months back the channel rocketed into the second position in the kids channels’ space; Harry Potter on Pogo proved a dampener for Hungama TV and thus it plummeted to the third position yet again.

    Nevertheless, driver shows for Hungama TV have been performing well and thus managed to increase the channel’s share.

    With a positive move on the channel share front, the ad revenues of Hungama TV have also increased by 30-40 per cent. “Since the TRPs of the channel have shown a steady hike, clients have also appreciated it and are willing to pay more. All credit goes to Nilofer and her team for this,” says Hungama TV COO Zarina Mehta.

    But notwithstanding that, Mehta is confident that the channel will clamber up again riding on the success of the ratings raker Doremon and the new season of Hero, which has opened well for the channel. Add to that the hype that will be built around the channel’s talent hunt for kids – John Aur Kaun?

    The channel has also lined up big ticket movies like Baby’s Day Out and Tom Hanks starrer Big in August and September. What’s more, Doremon has been joined by another popular Japanese animation show Shin Chan, which Mehta hopes is going to be as accepted by kids as is Doremon. Shin Chan has garnered huge popularity in Europe, Latin America and the Far East. The show was launched on 19 June at 5 pm and will be aired from Monday to Friday.

    “Shin Chan, like Doremon, is one of the top three shows in the Asian region. Shin Chan’s innocence and antics form a deadly mix designed to give entire families a wonderful time. We welcome Shin Chan to the Hungama family of fabulous, memorable characters, which include Hero, Sanya, Doremon, Kochikame and YuGiOh!” says Mehta.

    Driver shows like the above mentioned Hero and Doremon coupled with the UTV show Shakalaka Boom Boom have constantly managed to push Hungama TV up on the popularity charts. Hungama TV has also rolled out a contest around Shakalaka Boom Boom called – Right here, Right now – wherein kids can participate and get to know whether they have won or not immediately, while the show is airing.

    “All they have to do is answer a question that will be flashed on the channel and SMS their replies with their name, age and phone number to us. The name of the first person who sends in the correct reply will be flashed immediately on the channel. We will be giving away Doremon and Hero merchandise and also Hungama TV bags to the winners,” says Mehta.

    The channel share of Hungama has been steadily rising, thus beating the norm where other kids’ channels’ shares have been falling barring that of Toon Disney.

    In the week beginning 21 May, Cartoon Network’s share was 30.8 per cent, which fell to 27.1 per cent in the week beginning 11 June 2006, according to Tam, in the C&S 4-14 years Hindi speaking markets. Pogo’s shares, on the other hand, fell from 26.2 per cent to 25.9 per cent in the above mentioned period.

    Hungama TV’s shares in the week beginning 21 May was 17.8 per cent and touched a high of 20.3 per cent in the week beginning 11 June in the C&S 4-14 years Hindi speaking markets. Toon Disney, which had a share of seven per cent as of 21 May, also managed to raise the bar with a channel share of 10.8 per cent in the second week of June, whereas its sibling Disney Channel lost one per cent share to settle at 11.2 per cent in the second week of June.

    While Pogo and Cartoon Network shows like Mr Bean, Tiny TV – Make Way for Noddy, Baby Looney Tunes, Toonami – Pokemon and Half Ticket Express – Dragon Tales rule the roost of the TRP front, Hungama TV shows like Doremon, Hero and Shakalaka Boom Boom topped on the GRP front.

    While Doremon managed GRPs of 47 in week 24, Hero and Shakalaka Boom Boom got GRPs of 26 and 24 respectively.

    It remains to be seen, who takes the cake in the number game, but for the time being, Mehta seems to be content with Hungama TV’s performance.

  • Zee-Turner switches off OCN Network in Mangalore

    Zee-Turner switches off OCN Network in Mangalore

    MUMBAI: Zee Turner Limited, the distribution arm of Zee Telefilms Ltd and Turner International (I) Pvt. Ltd, has finally switched off its bouquets of 26 channels on OCN Network in Mangalore due to non payment of its huge outstanding to Zee Turner and non signing of fresh agreement after expiry of earlier one.

    Zee Turner has been in negotiations with OCN for past eight months to clear its outstanding and to sign a fresh subscription agreement declaring its accurate subscriber base as the old agreement. It was found that OCN had been serving many more subscribers and households as compared to the number of subscriber households declared to Zee Turner.

    The decision to switch off the operator came in wake of fall out of negotiations and the operator’s constant abstinence from clearing its outstanding and signing the requisite agreement.

    While rest of Mangalore on CCC and ICN’s network continues to enjoy the channels of Zee Turner, close to 50,000 subscribers of OCN Network are deprived of channels like CNN, Zee Cinema, Zee TV, HBO, Cartoon Network, Pogo due to default on OCN’s part.

    Zee Turner Ltd. CEO Arun Poddar said, “We are concerned about our viewers and still trying to negotiate with OCN and have kept all our channels of communication open. We have shared an extremely healthy relationship with OCN in past and are positive of resolving the issue in an amicable manner.”

    It is to be noted that as per the regulation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (Trai), if a cable operator drops a channel or bouquet of channels from his network, he is required to reduce the price of such channel/bouquet to be charged from his customers/households. The viewers are, therefore, entitled and may ask for reduction in price from their monthly cable bill if these channels are missing due to such switch off.

  • Cartoon Network signs license deal with Mattel

    Cartoon Network signs license deal with Mattel

    MUMBAI: Cartoon Network is strengthening its licensing division Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) by entering into a a multi-year, multi-property deal with the toymaker Mattel Inc to produce toys and games based on the network’s animated titles.

    In an official statement issued, the license agreement covers original Cartoon Network properties for the 6 to 11 age group and also carries a first-look option on all newly created original series and programming.

    As per the deal, Mattel will have licensing rights to multiple toy and games categories including vehicles, action figures, playsets, role-play, board games, puzzles, and youth electronics items for the Cartoon Network brand as well as shows including Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends, The Powerpuff Girls, Camp Lazlo, Ed, Edd n Eddy, The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy, the newly launched My Gym Partner’s a Monkey and The Life & Times of Juniper Lee. Existing relationships for other original series will remain unaffected by the deal.

    Mattel has licensing deals with Viacom Inc.’s Nickelodeon and movies studios as Warner Bros. and Disney-Pixar.

    “We are pleased to be aligning the Cartoon Network brand with one of the world’s largest and most respected toy companies, setting the stage for great success in the all important toy and games category,” Turner Entertainment sales and marketing president David Levy says. “We’ve always had a very strong relationship with Mattel as an advertiser and now we are extending that into consumer products. This will enhance the brands of both companies by combining our assets as a leading entertainment company with their expertise in the global toy market.”

    In 2007, the first product lines to come to market under the agreement will be toys based on one of Cartoon Network’s most successful series, the Emmy-winning Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, created by Craig McCracken, the visionary behind The Powerpuff Girls. Products for Ed, Edd n Eddy, Camp Lazlo and The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy will also debut in 2007.

    “We’re confident that combining Cartoon Network’s strength in creating original, quality programming with Mattel’s expertise in developing innovative products will engage kids in new ways,” Mattel Brands president Neil Friedman says. “By leveraging the Cartoon Network brand as well as their original content, we’re opening up a whole new type of creative and licensing partnership.”

  • Animation industry gung-ho on proposed mandate on local content

    Animation industry gung-ho on proposed mandate on local content

    MUMBAI: Some proposals in a draft Broadcast Bill 2006, prepared by the information and broadcasting ministry for the Union Cabinet’s consideration, has evoked mixed reaction from the industry.

    The Indian animation industry is excited that the government is mulling mandating a certain percentage of programming on TV channels to be sourced from India.

    “We are absolutely delighted. The proposed bill is a surprise and will be a catalyst for growth. I would like to however add that Cartoon Network, Nick and Disney have anyways gotten interested in local content and this regulation is a bit late, “DQ Entertainment CEO & MD Tapas Chakravarti.

    He went on to add that 15 per cent is too less and that China and Japan have close to 50 per cent of local programming share on TV channels.

    Chakravarti also reveals that the development has inspired DQ to go ahead with its investment plans in Intellectual Property (IP) in India.

    “At DQ, we have taken a decision internally almost six months back for creating Intellectual Property (IP) in India. We are planning $10 million investments on our part and our French and American partners will bring in similar numbers. The idea is to create products for global market but with Indian stories. This will be something similar to what Disney did with Jungle Book,” he explained.

    As per the draft bill, TV channels on a mandatory basis would have to have 15 per cent of their total weekly programming produced locally. It’s also being proposed the share of public service/socially relevant programme content shall not be less than 10 per cent of the total programme content of a channel broadcast during every week.

    This would mean that channels like Cartoon Network, Animax, Discovery, Animal Planet and Discovery Travel and Living would have to have a prescribed percentage of content generated from India, which has been a long-standing demand of Indian animators.

    Concurring with Chakravarti is Phoebus Media CEO Rahul Bakshi. “15 per cent is too less, but is a good start and will have a multiplier effect. It gives companies like ours conviction and confidence that we are on the right track having already invested a lot in local content,” he added.

    The industry also feels that the move will give it shelter from the rain as well as boost the job scenario.

    “Such a government move will help us get more conviction to stick to original content. Thousands of jobs will be created and more animators means more animation outsourcing also,” says Green Gold Animation CEO Rajiv Chilakalapudi.

    According to Graphiti Multimedia director Munjal Shroff, the proposed regulation could help content creators look at other markets to compliment the revenues.

    “Usually there has always been a block because TV channels find it much more economical to buy animated content from markets like Mipcom at $500 to $1000 per episode rather than commissioning new shows in India. If the bill is passed and local content does become compulsory, then it will give local content creators a space to exist and once there is a minimum local market, then content creators can always look at other markets to compliment the revenues,” says Shroff.

    Color Chips CEO Sudhish Rhambotla felt that channels would either commission local content or also have the option of shifting production of some of their shows being produced elsewhere into the country, which again would be “good for the business.”

    On their part, the kids channels expressed their readiness to make changes in their programming structure if need be.

    The Walt Disney Company India managing director Rajat Jain said, “Whatever changes have to be made, will be made in our programming according to the Broadcast Bill when it is passed. At the end of the day, one has to comply with the laws of the land.”

    When queried as to what percentage of programming on Disney Channel and Toon Disney were local presently, Jain said, “It is difficult to calculate at this point in time what the percentage of local content is.”

    Hungama TV COO Zarina Mehta says her channel already plays more than 15 per cent of local content.

    “I don’t know the exact percentage of local content that we have on the channel but currently it will definitely be more that 15 per cent. If fact, we will be the only kids channel that have that much of local content,” she says.