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Tag: Malcolm Bird

  • DIC Entertainment & AOL partner to create strategic TV & online programming block

    DIC Entertainment & AOL partner to create strategic TV & online programming block

    MUMBAI: DIC Entertainment (DIC), an independent global brand management company based in the US, and AOL online kids destination, KOL, have formed a partnership to co-produce a new Saturday morning branded programming block, KOL’s Saturday Morning Secret Slumber Party on CBS, which will premiere 16 September 2006.

    DIC and KOL will also develop online and on-air co-production initiatives in conjunction with the block. DIC and KOL are also now in development on programs for the 2007 season, informs an official release.

    As per the agreement, KOL and DIC will co-produce programming for the 2006 broadcast season, including the new television series Dance Revolution. This series is inspired by Konami’s hit video game franchise Dance Dance Revolution (DDR). The new dance competition series will be hosted by Radio KOL DJ Rick Adams, who will also continue to maintain his live online radio show for kids available on KOL.

    In addition, KOL and DIC will develop a website designed to transform the programs airing on KOL’s Saturday Morning Secret Slumber Party on CBS into a comprehensive and interactive experience for kids. KOL will also offer special online programming including games, program clips, behind-the-scenes features and more to drive on-air viewership.

    Dance Revolution and the online activities will support the schedule of programming debuting this fall on the E/I compliant branded block. Other programming on the Saturday Morning line-up includes Cake, Horseland, The Animated Trollz and Madeline. 

    Additionally, KOL will create public service announcements on healthy eating, to air during the block and online utilizing KOL’s popular original animated character Princess Natasha, adds the release.

    DIC will seek initial guidance on all programming to air on the KOL’s Saturday Morning Secret Slumber Party on CBS, from children’s experts from the DIC Educational Advisory Board — a group comprised of leading media experts, educators and pediatricians created to provide information, guidance, advice and general expertise to DIC in the development of multimedia programs and projects for children.

    “With AOL’s expertise in developing online programming and our success in building brands such as ‘Princess Natasha’ and Radio KOL, appealing to millions of kids, we are confident that this landmark partnership with DIC will be a tremendous success,” says AOL Kids & Teens SVP Malcolm Bird. “Once again, AOL is leading the industry by building another initiative that taps the power of television and the online medium to ultimately grow a larger audience across both platforms.”

    “Kids today continue to expand their entertainment options beyond television, and our new partnership with KOL will provide us with a tremendous opportunity to reach kids through the launch of the new Saturday morning programming block on CBS as well as through KOL’s growing online destination,” comments DIC Entertainment chairman & CEO Andy Heyward. “We are thrilled to work with KOL to co-produce innovative programming and to create a unique cross-promotional program that will drive kids online; increase on-air viewership and provide our clients with an effective way to reach kids in a progressive safe environment.”

  • AOL launches KOL Jr. on the Web

    AOL launches KOL Jr. on the Web

    MUMBAI: Preschoolers now have their own website, with the launch of KOL Jr., AOL’s website for kids aged 2 to 5, at http://www.koljunior.com/. The site contains original cartoons, games, music, bedtime stories and other fun, interactive features designed to help parents introduce the Internet to their young children.

    The launch of KOL Jr. also marks the debut of a brand new cartoon called Pilar’s Adventures, which covers topics that engage preschoolers’ imaginations while helping them deal with everyday life experiences.

    “Parents want to be as involved as they can with their young kids while they are online,” said AOL Kids & Teens SVP Malcolm Bird, “At KOL Jr., parents and their children will have fun learning and playing together, with fresh content and activities that aren’t available anywhere else online.”

    Developed by a former teacher and current programming director for AOL, Pilar’s Adventures follows Pilar, a young horse with a wild imagination who joins her new friends in Farmer Roxy’s barnyard. Pilar and the gang — Cleg the horsefly, Hampshire the pig and Susa the owl — explore new places all while learning new and valuable life lessons.

    The animated cartoon will launch with 10 five-minute episodes. Beyond Pilar’s Adventures, young kids will also find other engaging activities on the new KOL Jr. service including:

    ” – Animal Videos – Watch videos from National Geographic and footage of dolphins swimming at the National Aquarium.

    ” – Games – Play games featuring Pilar’s Adventures’ characters, such as coloring and dot-to-dot, and educational games from AOL Learning Games.

    ” – Music – Dance along to popular tunes by the Wiggles, Strawberry Shortcake, Hi-5, Barbie Princesses and Barney.

    ” – TV – Check out kid-friendly movies and DVDs clips such as Muppets, Trollz, Chicken Little, Cinderella, Bambi, Care Bears and Scooby Doo will be available.

    ” – Toy Time – Become official Toy Time Testers. Parents and kids work together to rate toys from all the biggest toy companies.

    ” – Printables – Print out some of their favorite characters including Pilar characters, KOL Gliders, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Winx and many others.

    This launch follows the success of KOL – AOL’s highly popular service for kids aged 7 to 12, and will compliment other content already available for kids on AOL.