ITV

Tag: Neptuno Films

  • Zenith, Neptuno extend co-production deal on ‘King Arthur’s Disasters’

    Zenith, Neptuno extend co-production deal on ‘King Arthur’s Disasters’

    MUMBAI: Zenith Entertainment, London and Neptuno Films, Barcelona have renewed the animation co-production agreement to co-finance a second season of 13 half hours of King Arthur’s Disasters for transmission on CiTV in September 2006.

    The first series starts its digital run in spring 2006 on Nickelodeon UK.

    Zenith will deficit finance and retain distribution rights, excluding Spanish/Brazilian speaking territories which are reserved for Neptuno. Both companies will finance the series and Cake Entertainment Ltd will be distributing in key territories for Zenith, states an official release.

    Children’s Drama and Animation at Zenith Entertainment head Julian Scott said, “The first series was greeted with great critical and commercial success and it is exciting to be working with Neptuno again. We look forward to building on the international sales with this second season.”

    King Arthur’s Disasters follows the epic adventures of King Arthur on his various quests to satisfy Guinevere’s need for exotic presents in the vain hope that she will finally agree to marry him.

  • Disney acquires license rights for ‘Connie the Cow’

    Disney acquires license rights for ‘Connie the Cow’

    MUMBAI: The Disney Channel has acquired the television rights for Connie the Cow from TV-Loonland.

    The pay TV network has been broadcasting the series since September 2004 on its Premiere platform – a first in the history of German television.

    “With Connie the Cow we have a preschool series in our lineup that’s already been sold to many stations in Europe and elsewhere including ABC in Australia and one that consistently gets outstanding ratings,” said TV-Loonland president and CEO Peter Völkle. The sale of the German television rights to the Disney Channel was a continuation of the successful marketing behind the popular series, Völkle added.

    Disney Channel manager acquisitions Nicky Kerth said, “We are very pleased to have such a high-quality and lovingly created animated series for preschool children in our program with Connie the Cow.”

    Connie the Cow, produced by Neptuno Films, Spain, is one of the most educational and enchanting animated series for children aged four and above.

    Due to the show’s excellent ratings – including a 72 per cent market share among preschoolers (up to four years) on ABC in Australia and almost 25 per cent on ITV in the UK – Connie has now been sold to nearly every European network.

    In 2003 the cartoon series was crowned the best animated children’s series at the international festival Cartoons on the Bay.

  • 9th MIPCOM JUNIOR opens in Cannes 6 Oct

    9th MIPCOM JUNIOR opens in Cannes 6 Oct

    As it enters year 9, MIPCOM JUNIOR, the youth screenings event held in Cannes from 6 to 8 October, will open amidst a hyperactive and rapidly changing children’s content market.

    To cater to the growing number of MIPCOM JUNIOR delegates, an extra 30 screening booths will be added this year, bringing the total number of booths to 230, according to an official release.

    Last year MIPCOM JUNIOR saw 386 companies from 51 countries and 418 buyers attending. A total of 771 programmes were presented and 12,572 screenings took place.

    Kids’ programming faces new challenges. With the emergence of additional outlets – enhanced TV and the web – and children’s growing attraction to interactivity, producers are creating content suitable for a wider variety of platforms. As a result an increasing number of programmes are now launched with both broadcast and web versions. On the technology side, CGI development is offering vast creative opportunities and is driving programme production towards a new level of sophistication and eye-appeal.

    However, the basic premise for children’s prgramming stays unchanged. “Innovation and creativity are the key element if you want to create series that will be picked up by the major channels,” comments Roberto Mitrani, director of international business, Neptuno Films.

    As the competition between terrestrial, cable, and satellite channels for an unpredictable and selective young demographic gets tougher, it is essential to offer content that stands out. Producers must go all-out to crop up quality driven properties with innovative storytelling, strong characters and merchandising spin-offs that will provide broadcasters with longer-lasting brands and allow them to capture audiences.

    Andy Heyward, president and CEO, DIC Entertainment – a pioneering participant – says: ” MIPCOM JUNIOR is an indispensable event for the children’s television business, the only conference where all the children’s TV broadcasters participate. I cannot imagine launching a new property without it!”

    MIPCOM JUNIOR 2001 is a marketing event and learning forum with global sales opportunities and co-production prospects, the release states.