Austrian public broadcaster Osterreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) has secured exclusive free-TV broadcast rights within the Austrian territory from EM.Ent. GmbH for the series STAINES DOWN DRAINS (German title: FLECKGEFLUTSCHT!) and F.T.P.D. -- FAIRYTALE POLICE DEPARTMENT (German title: F.T.P.D. - DIE MÃRCHENPOLIZEI). The licensing contract encompasses rights usage for five years from Dec. 1, 2007 until Dec. 1, 2012.
Cinemax Pictures & Production Co., Intl., Inc. has signed a letter of intent for the purchase of Waggaworld Ent. International Inc., owner of the animated series WAGGAWORLD and the development, storyline, hardware and software technology associated with the project. The terms of the deal, which may include cash, shares, exchange of shares or a combination thereof. are still to be determined,
Disney Channel Worldwide's Global Original Programming Division today announced deals to develop two new children's television shows in the U.K. with production companies Coolabi and Blue-Zoo Productions. The deals are the first to be announced by Disney Channel's London-based Global Original Programming hub, established in April 2007 to drive forward the investment in and development of live action and animation outside of North America, for both European and global distribution.
Sony Computer Ent. America (SCEA) has launched PlayStation Store for the PC in North America, enabling PSP users to access games, video content and services over the Internet through a personal computer. The free service allows users to establish an account, download free content or purchase content directly from the store to their PSP without the use of PlayStation 3. Users who already have a PlayStation Network account can use their existing username and password to log in to PlayStation Store for the PC.
DECODE Enterprises has announced the sale of several series to India, Hong Kong and Thailand. The Disney Channel India has acquired CGI animation URBAN VERMIN, while Thailand's True Visions has acquired BO ON THE GO!, produced by DHX subsidiary Halifax Film, and hit preschool series FRANNY'S FEET. DECODE has also sold the first 13 episodes of SUPER WHY, a production of BLUE'S CLUES' producer Out of the Blue Enterprises and DECODE Ent., to ATV Hong Kong.
Music-based game developer Harmonix, MTV Games, and distribution partner Electronic Arts have announced the arrival of ROCK BAND SPECIAL EDITION BUNDLE for the Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 at retail stores across America.
Dartmouth, Canada-based Huminah Huminah Animation, which until now has focused primarily on service work for other studios, has brought on Jason Hickman as development director of a new division dedicated to developing long-form TV programming. Hickman has worked as a supervisor and director in animation for the past 7 years. The division's first production is I'M A DINOSAUR (52x2), an interprovincial Canadian coproduction with Montreal's Subsequence Ent.
Sony Pictures Animation's THE CHUBBCHUBBS SAVE X-MAS received the award for "Best Animation" at the Big Apple Film Festival, held this past weekend in New York. In the follow-up to the 2002 Academy Award-wining short, Meeper and the ChubbChubbs visit Earth, where the strange but lovable entourage encounters Santa Claus, voiced by Jeffrey Tambor (ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT, THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW), in their search for somewhere to call home.
Nickelodeon has unwrapped its annual lineup of holiday programming, featuring five never-before-seen episodes of Nick Jr.'s MAX & RUBY, WOW! WOW! WUBBZY!, YO GABBA GABBA! and Nickelodeon's WAYSIDE.
During "Frosty Fridays" throughout December the network will present new holiday episodes every Friday from 12:00 - 2:00 pm ET/PT that include MAX & RUBY (Dec. 7 and Dec. 28), WOW! WOW! WUBBZY! (Dec. 14) and YO GABBA GABBA! (Dec. 21). The mini-marathons will also include seasonal episodes of THE BACKYARDIGANS, DORA THE EXPLORER, GO, DIEGO, GO!, BLUE'S CLUES and THE WONDER PETS!.
Multi-platform kids' service Kabillion has launched a new kids- and pet-friendly microsite in conjunction with Crazy Pet, LLC., a U.S.-based interactive entertainment and educational licensing company that promotes pet-derived values. In addition to participating on Kabillion's VOD and broadband channels, Crazy Pets will also provide interstitial programming featuring live-action joke videos, animated shorts and tips for proper (and fun) pet care and training. The strategic partnership taps into the U.S. pet industry market, which generated an estimated $38 billion in 2006.
Two films from the National Film Board of Canada were among the winners of the 23rd International Short Film Festival Berlin. Claude Cloutier's ISABELLE AU BOIS DORMANT/SLEEPING BETTY received the prize for Best Animation, while Chris Lavisand's MADAME TUTLI-PUTLI was awarded a Special Mention in the Best Short Fiction category.
Award-winning Frankfurt-based game developer Crytek GmbH is licensing its world-famous CryENGINE 2 to Germany's Hochschule Darmstadt. Beginning in the winter semester, Crytek not only will supply the software, but also will provide students with lectures on game concepts and game design, computer animation, and engine technology -- thus helping them develop innovative concepts for new games and realize them.
Marvel Ent., Inc. announced today that it has named Segal Licensing as its new licensing representative in Canada. Segal will oversee all sales, retail, merchandising and marketing of the Marvel brand in the strategically important market.
Cake Distribution has licensed SKUNK FU! to Cartoon Network Europe for its EMEA Channels, the company announced today. CN EMEA joins the BBC, Super RTL, Canal J, France 5, RTBF, SVT, NRK, S4C, TG4 and RAISAT in blanketing the continent with the hit comedy action series.
The season that began with apologies to Jesse Jackson, ended with Abe Lincoln and featured the "Imaginationland" trilogy has earned Comedy Central's SOUTH PARK its best ratings since 1998.
Spurred on by "Imaginationland," which will be released by Comedy Central Home Ent. and Paramount Home Ent. in March 2008, the 11th season of SOUTH PARK was watched by 3.6 million total viewers (P2+), up 4% from last year's 10th anniversary season. It was also the most-watched season among total viewers since 1998.
India's CNBC TV18 and Arena Multimedia have instituted The Golden Cursor Excellence in Animation Awards, reports ANIMATION XPRESS, who will also play an integral role in the awards' administration. The awards are intended to enhance and help shape the future of the Indian animation industry as it expands in the international arena.
Writers from around the world -- including Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, English and French Canada, United Kingdom, Mexico and France -- will take part in an International Day of Solidarity on November 28 in support of their striking WGA counterparts. The action was announced at the annual International Affiliation of Writers Guilds' meeting in Montreal, Canada.
Scholastic Media, the entertainment and media division of children's publishing, education and media company Scholastic, has hired Daisy Kline as Director of Marketing & Brand Management, reporting to Leslye Schaefer, SVP, Marketing and Consumer Products. Kline will be responsible for overseeing all marketing initiatives and brand strategies for Scholastic Media properties, including CLIFFORD THE BIG RED DOG, GOOSEBUMPS, WORDGIRL, I SPY, THE MAGIC SCHOOL BUS, and DRAGON for the multimedia and consumer products arena.
Management firm The Gotham Group has signed a deal with Fox Broadcasting Co. to produce multiple pilots for prime-time animated television projects. Exploiting Gotham's prestigious client roster, the companies hope to produce the next generation of Fox animated hits to match the network's success with THE SIMPSONS and FAMILY GUY. The announcement closely follows Gotham's mega-deal with The Weinstein Co. to produce and distribute animated feature films.
Indian animation company DQ Ent. (DQE) is planning to raise $60 million with an IPO on the London Stock Exchange, C21 MEDIA reports.
The company, whose customers include the BBC, Disney, Nickelodeon and NBC Universal, was recently commissioned by the U.K.'s CBBC and France 3 to coproduce with Method Films the kids series PINKY AND PERKY. DQE has also signed a deal this year for TWISTED WHISKERS, a series being developed with Mike Young Prods. for American Greetings.
