Warner
Bros. Domestic Cable Distribution Your Source for Great
Teen Movies!
CHASING LIBERTY Starring Mandy
Moore Opens Friday, January
9th
Coming in 2004: Scooby-Doo
2: Monster's Unleashed,
New York Minute, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban,
A Cinderella Story and Yu-Gi-Oh
CYNTHIA TURNER'S CYNOPSIS
Kids! 01/06/04
Good morning. It's
Tuesday, January 6, 2004,
and this is your early morning
Kids!
briefing.
Fox Entertainment Group Chairman Sandy Grushow announced his
departure from his role as Chairman to establish a Fox based
production company to be called Phase Two. Grushow, a 20
year veteran of the company explained: “This was a very complicated
decision for me to make. I've accomplished more than I ever thought
possible as a buyer and seller of TV shows, but as I contemplated my
future over the holidays, I concluded that it was in my best interest to
exercise the ‘production’ option negotiated as part of my current
contract rather than entering into another long-term executive agreement
with the Company.” Grushow’s contract would have expired this
coming summer.
ASIFA-Hollywood, The International Animated Film Society (AKA
Association Internationale Du Film D’Animation) yesterday announced the
nominees for the 2003 Annie Awards, which will be held Feb. 7 in
California. The leader of the pack of feature animated pictures with 12
nominations is Disney/Pixar’s Finding Nemo, followed by Disney’s BROTHER
BEAR with eight. DreamWorks’ animated feature SINBAD earned four
nominations; you may recall that the picture was not submitted for Oscar
consideration. On the TV side winning the most nominations was
Nickelodeon’s My Life as Teenage Robot with five nods, followed by Fox’s
The Simpsons, and Cartoon Network’s Duck Dodgers and Samurai Jack all
with four nominations. Categories and nominees include (the full
list can be found at www.annieawards.org.
Disney/ABC TV is looking for identical twin gals 11-15 years
old to star in its previously announced TV pilot for The Parent
Trap. Open casting calls will be held this Saturday Disney
January 10 in NY, LA, Chicago and in Toronto and Vancouver.
Tollin/Robbins Productions and Touchstone are producing the project, with
Don Beck (8 Simple Rules) serving as writer.
Universal Music Group, in conjunction with adult movie prod. co.
Vivid Entertainment is talking with DirecTV to launch a channel of
uncensored music videos, called 1AM. The business model is a
subscription based channel, with ownership split largely between
Universal with Vivid, with two smaller partners - Shady Records and
Endeavor talent agency.
DIC Entertainment announced that sales of its Totally
Sabrina animated series, which includes Sabrina, The Animated Series
(65 x :30) and the new animated series Sabrina’s Secret Life (26 x :30),
has picked up by several international outlets: RTE (Ireland),
Super RTL (Germany), Mediaset (Italy), ORF (Austria), Saran (Turkey),
Alter (Greece), Forta stations (Spain), SBT (Brazil), Noga (Israel) and
Teletoon (Canada). Additionally, Sabrina’s Secret Life, (a TF1, LST
production house and DIC Entertainment co-production) has been acquired
by Minimax (Poland), TV3 (Malaysia), GMTV (UK), SSR (Switzerland),
Televisa (Mexico).
California State Assemblyperson Leland Yee (D-San Francisco)
yesterday followed up on his promise to propose legislation to place strict laws on the sales of video games carrying the Entertainment Software Ratings Board M (mature) rating to children with the introduction of drafts of his two proposed bills:
-Video Game Sales bill recommends that the warning phrase ‘harmful matter to children’ be expanded to include ‘video games that visually depict serious injury to human beings in a manner that is especially heinous, atrocious, or cruel.’
-Video Game Display bill specifies that video games rated M be displayed apart from other games, and a least five feet up from the ground and not be made available for in-store preview play. Additionally, video game retailers would be required to display the guidelines for the ESRB rating system.
Atari has signed a deal with commercial production company Ridely Scott Associates to produce an original three-minute live-action film (broken into 1m episodes) based on Atari’s upcoming video game release, DRIV3R. The short film, titled The Gauntlet, will be feature on the game’s website (www.DRIV3R.com) as well be the focus of Atari’s marketing and ad campaign for the game, which will begin later this month. The game is slated for release in March for PlayStation 2 and Xbox. Atari and RSA are also producing a series of :30 vignettes, sort of a mini trailer, for each of the one-minute film episodes. The two vignettes for the first episode will debut on the game website January 13 and 19 respectively, with Episode I premiering on the site January 23. Episodes 1 & 2 will be released in February and March respectively. As cool a concept as this plan is, you should know this game is not for kids (the game has not yet been rated). Ridely Scott Associates is owned and run by movie makers Ridely and Tony Scott.
NPD Techworld Top selling PC games for week December 14-20, 2003: The Sims: Makin' Magic Expansion Pack
Call Of Duty
Zoo Tycoon: Complete Collection The Sims Double Deluxe
Microsoft Flight Simulator 2004: Century Of Flight
The Sims: Unleashed Expansion Pack
Age Of Mythology
Backyard Basketball 2004
The Sims: Superstar Expansion Pack
Finding Nemo Source: NPD Group/NPD Techworld
NPD Techworld Top selling Home Education Software for the week December 14-20, 2003: Title (Publisher)
Dora The Explorer Animal Adventures (Atari)
Instant Immersion Spanish Deluxe (Topics Entertainment)
Adventure Workshop 1st-3rd Grade (Riverdeep Interactive)
I Spy Fantasy (Scholastic)
Adventure Workshop 4th-6th Grade (Riverdeep Interactive)
Mavis Beacon Teaches Typing 15.0 (Riverdeep Interactive)
Instant Immersion Japanese (Topics Entertainment)
Adventure Workshop Preschool-1st Grade (Riverdeep Interactive)
I Spy Treasure Hunt (Scholastic)
Instant Immersion French Deluxe (Topics Entertainment) Source: NPD Group/NPD Techworld
Playhut, creators of portable play environments for kids, has entered into the world of electronic toys with the debut of its EZ Reader electronic books. Playhut’s original preschool animated series Little Signz, will be featured in the first of the EZ Reader books. The series' characters will also be the first of Playhut’s electronic plush toy line. Additionally, Playhut announced that it’s Play ‘N Slumber line of slumber bags will feature Disney licensed characters including characters from Toy Story, Disney Princesses as well as Winnie The Pooh.
Beginning this week through February 1, Burger King kids meals will include one of five different extreme sports themed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles toys nationwide. Additionally Burger King Corporation, 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. and Mirage Licensing, Inc. have joined together to create materials (e.g. tray liners, kids meal bags, birthday party mailers, Adventures newsletters) featuring the TMNT characters to help convey the importance of daily physical activity to kids through fitness tips and to encourage kids to take the President’s Challenge and receive the Presidential Physical Fitness Award patch and Certificate. The project is part of Burger King’s partnership with the President’s Challenge, a part of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness and Sports.
Kids internet safety software company ZKid Network will launch its initial print advertising campaign targeted to parents next month with full page ads in Parenting, Parent, Child and Family Fun. Additional media outlets are also being negotiated. Jon Darmstadter, CEO/ZKid Network says, "Our advertising campaign will be edgy, racy, controversial and to some...shocking, however, we are delivering a valuable message that must be heard...The internet can be a dangerous place for children ….”
In celebration of its 20th anniversary, Papa John’s International has launched a promotion offering large specialty pizzas, with an extra topping, at regular menu prices through January 25. The promotion will be supported with print ads, that launched yesterday and TV sports that will begin airing January 7-18.
THQ Inc. expands its international operation with the appointment of Ian Curran as VP/European Publishing and Martin Good, VP/Asia-Pacific Publishing. Ian Curran, previously Managing Director, THQ UK, has been promoted to the newly created position of VP/European Publishing. In this role, Curran will oversee the company's European operations including offices in England, Germany and France. Curran joined THQ in 2000. In his new role as Vice President, Asia-Pacific Publishing, Martin Good will continue to develop THQ's opportunities across this region. Good was instrumental in the opening of the THQ Korean office this past year, he joined THQ as GM/THQ's Australia and New Zealand units in 2000.
Kids Cable Network Averages in thousands (000) for Wednesday December 31, 2003, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON: K2-11 1569; K6-11 517; TWEENS 9-14 517
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11 917; K6-11 591; TWEENS 9-14 392
DISNEY CHANNEL: K2-11 895; K6-11 616; TWEENS 9-14 566
TOON DISNEY: K2-11 141; K6-11 69; TWEENS 9-14 50
ABC FAMILY: K2-11 59; K6-11 50; TWEENS 9-14 37 Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data
Kids Cable Network Averages in thousands (000) for Thursday January 1, 2004, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON: K2-11 1403; K6-11 666; TWEENS 9-14 278
DISNEY CHANNEL: K2-11 1115; K6-11 848; TWEENS 9-14 727
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11 697; K6-11 431; TWEENS 9-14 257
TOON DISNEY: K2-11 193; K6-11 83; TWEENS 9-14 37
ABC FAMILY: K2-11 17; K6-11 15; TWEENS 9-14 33 Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data
As in previous years, this January Cynopsis: Kids! will provide its NATPE Children's Syndicated Program Guide listing of NEW SERIES coming to market in preparation for this year's conference in Las Vegas. If you have information you'd like listed for a NEW strip or weekly series, please send it to me at
(with NATPE listing in the subject line), and provide the name of the series, live action or animated (as well as style of animation), target age group, #/eps, distributor name/phone/booth or suite number, terms (cash, cash+, barter split), and frequency. Because of space, no OTOs, specials or quarterly shows are included in the listing. For new adult targeted programming, please send your information to Cynthia Turner for the Cynopsis NATPE Syndicated Program Guide at
(NATPE Listing in the subject line). Also, no specials or OTOs. Please have your information in no later than January 9, 2004. Please, NEW series only.
A MESSAGE FROM CYNOPSIS Kids!
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Answer to Yesterday's Trivia Question: Who is Princess Riva? She is the Miposian Sleep Fairy, sort of their Sandman, per Perfect Strangers. Kudos to: Gerry Bixenspan/NY; David Stern-Bard Ent/NY; Greg Janover-King World/NY; and Cynthia Kennedy-A&E/London.
Today's Trivia Question: These characters were originally voiced by Mel Blanc. They are often seen in groups, with crossed eyes, tufts of black hair atop their little heads, and trembling-with-fear expressions, before belting out that one word they all fear the most. Who are these guys? (To answer the trivia, click hereand please remember to include your name, company, city and time zone. Only the second four from each time zone will appear in tomorrow's kudos list.)
Later -- Gwen
Gwen Billings for Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis Kids!
Publisher/Editor Cynthia Turner
01/06/04 5:53am Free Subscriptions-- SubjectKids! Searchable Archivewww.Cynopsis.com Cynopsis Kids! Ad Sales 203-526-8978 Submit Press Releases to Gwen Billings at
Copyright Cynthia Turner 2003
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