Cynopsis: Kids!
04/15/08

Good morning. It's Tuesday, April 15, 2008, and this is your first early morning briefing.

The new animated series Speed Racer: The Next Generation (26x30) bows on Nicktoons Network with a 90-minute episode, The Beginning, premiere on Friday May 2, 2008 at 7p.  The debut comes just ahead of the Lionsgate's release of Speed Racer The Next Generation: The Beginning on DVD on May 6, and the release of Warner Bros. live-action Speed Racer movie on May 9.  Beginning this month, Speed Racer: The Next Generation will stream on VOD, with select video content from the series available on the Nicktoons Network video player at www.nicktoonsnetwork.com. Based on the classic animated Speed Racer series, which debuted in 1967 in the US, the new animated series is executive produced by John and Jim Rocknowski, principals of Speed Racer Enterprises Inc., and Larry Schwarz, CEO of Animation Collective.

MORE KIDS STUFF

Disney Channel launches the official website for its upcoming original TV movie, Camp Rock, at www.DisneyChannel.com this Saturday, April 19.  When the Camp Rock site goes live it will offer a range of movie related content, including exclusive content, information about the characters, music clips from soundtrack, music videos, quizzes, and games, as well as free items such screensavers, icons and iron-ons.

Elsewhere in Camp Rock land, Family Channel (Canada) will offer a sneak peek at the Camp Rock TV movie, with the debut of the music video We Rock on Monday, April 21.  The Disney Channel Original Movie makes its Canadian premiere on Family Channel on Friday, June 20, at 8p, during the network's Family Jams summer exclusives. Three additional music videos of songs from the TV movie will also make their exclusive Canadian premiere on Family: Play My Music on May 10; Start The Party on May 25; and This Is Me/Gotta Go on June 7.  The day following their TV debut on Family Channel, the music videos will be available on www.family.ca .  The Family Channel debut of the Camp Rock TV movie is day and date with the Disney Channel US premiere, where the movie will also air on ABC's The Wonderful World of Disney (June 21) and ABC Family (June 22).

The JimJam preschool channel debuts this week in the Middle East on Showtime Arabia (DTH).  JimJam will broadcast 12-hours a day across the Middle East and North Africa and will feature several characters and series dubbed in Arabic.  JimJam is a joint venture of Hit Entertainment and Chellomedia.  Showtime Arabia is owned by Gulf DTH, which in turn is a co-venture between Kuwait Projects Company Holding (KIPCO) and Viacom, Inc.

BabyFirstTV inks an exclusive distribution pact with Caribbean Cable Cooperative Limited, which will see the 24/7 commercial free baby/toddler/parent-targeted service launch in the Caribbean, the Bahamas and Bermuda.

KidsCo has launched a VOD service in South Korea under a deal with hanaTV.  Targeted to K6-10 and families, KidsCo is a joint venture between NBC Universal, Dic Entertainment and Corus Entertainment.

NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Zack Snyder (300, and the upcoming Watchman) will direct the animated adaptation of Guardians of Ga'Hoole, which will be produced by Village Roadshow and distributed by Warner Bros, according to Variety.  Based on the series of kid's books by Kathryn Lasky, and featuring a screenplay by John Orloff and John Collee, the movie is slated for release in 2009 or 2010.

Fox Animation has optioned author Bruce Zick's young-adult novel, The Anubis Tapestry: Between Twilights, again per Variety.  In addition to being an author, Zick is an animator (A Bug's Life, Finding Nemo etc) and a comic book illustrator for Marvel and Darkhorse.

The comic book title Captain Biceps (78x8) is reported being developed into an animated TV series by Futurkon, the French producer/distributor, per C21 Media.  According to the report, France 3 has already signed on to air the series.

MARKETING/LICENSING

Marvel Entertainment and HarperCollins Children's Books join in a multi-year pact to launch a kid's reading program that features Marvel's classic Spider-Man.  Under the partnership, HarperCollins Children's imprint HarperFestival will develop a Spider-Man publishing program featuring various formats for different age groups, including story books, readers and chapter books, a phonics box and a novelty publications.  The first titles will be available via mass and trade beginning fall 2008.  Previously, the two companies teamed for tie-in books for all three recent Spider-Man movies.

As part of a new 1-year agreement, Butlins Resorts has signed on with Cartoon Network Enterprises to develop and license a new interactive game show, Cartoon Network's Wheely Big Super-Toontastic Game Show.  Starting next month, the live show will take place twice a week at Butlin's three UK resorts, Skegness, Minehead and Bognor.  In addition, the agreement between the two companies covers costume character appearances and a retail presence in Butlin's onsite stores.  Characters taking part include Dexter's Laboratory's Dexter and Dee Dee, Ben 10's Fourarms and others.

STONE SOUP

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the National Governors Association (NGA) and Science Olympiad have signed on as partners with Discovery Communications for the 10th annual Discovery Education 3M 2008 Young Scientist Challenge. The competition aims to encourage and inspire US middle school kids to explore concepts of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM), and what careers in these fields might include.  This year includes the addition of student created short videos as part of the challenge.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Gary Bonilla is named SVP/Creative Strategy, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group.  Bonilla, who was most recently VP/Strategic Services, Winglatino/WWP, will primarily be responsible for managing creative development for Nickelodeon's consumer products business and developing strategies around consumer experiences among other things.  Bonilla will report to Leigh Anne Brodsky, President Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products and Russell Hicks EVP and Executive Director, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group.

Cartoon Network promotes Stacy Isenhower to SVP/Programming and Scheduling, from her previous role as VP Research, Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Adult Swim.  Isenhower, who will continue to be based in Atlanta, will oversee day-to-day scheduling and strategic positioning of all on-air content for Cartoon Network and Boomerang, and on-air promotion for Adult Swim, as well as each network's long-range promotional calendar.  She will report directly to Stuart Snyder, President and COO/Turner's Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media group.

MTVN and BETN have upped Melody Tan to SVP/Strategy and Business Operations, Content Distribution and Marketing (CDM).  Tan, who had served as VP of the group, will continue to report to Denise Dahldorf, EVP, CDM.

Shawn Lawson Cummings joins United Media as SVP/International Licensing.  Reporting to Doug Stern, President and CEO, Lawson Cummings will oversee the company's international licensing business including Japan, Asia, Europe and Latin America.  She most recently served as VP/International Licensing and Sponsorship, Major League Baseball.

RATINGS

Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Friday, April 11, 2008, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON:          K2-11 1358; K6-11 675; TWEENS 9-14 466
DISNEY CHANNEL:     K2-11   686; K6-11 422; TWEENS 9-14 326
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11   446; K6-11 265; TWEENS 9-14 186
TOON DISNEY:           K2-11   117; K6-11   68; TWEENS 9-14   35
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data

Answer to Yesterday's Trivia Question:  What is the name of the parrot who acted as mentor and advisor to Kimba the White Lion? PAULEY CRACKER     Kudos to:  David Stern-
BARD Entertainment/NY; Renee Moffitt-Vision Media Sales, Inc./Reno, NV; Matt Wayne-BET/Santa Monica, CA

Today's Trivia Question: On the classic TV series, The Adventures of Rin Tin Tin, what was Rin Tin Tin's young master's name? ( Click here with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone. Unofficial rules: Only the second four correct answers from each time zone will be mentioned; and once you've been mentioned in any of the Cynopsis editions, you can't be mentioned again that calendar week.)

Later -- Gwen
Gwen Billings for Cynopsis: Kids!
04.15.08

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