A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM DISNEY MEDIA ADVERTISING SALES AND MARKETING GROUP

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Cynopsis: Kids!

2/09/07

Good morning. It’s Friday, February 9, 2007 and this is your first early morning Kids! briefing.

NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

The Jim Henson Company is looking to headed deeper into a genre it does very well, as it picked up three fantasy based books for its film development slate and live-action projects. Jim Henson’s Creature Shop, the visual and special effects division of Henson, will develop the characters for each movie using a mix of CGI and animatronics.  All three movies will be produced by co-CEOs Lisa Henson and Brian Henson, and Jason Lust, SVP/Feature Films.  The company has picked up the movie rights to:

• The Boggart, by author Susan Cooper, is the story of Canadian family that inherits a Scottish castle including a jovial spirit, which has been playing tricks on castle residents for generations.  Developed as a live-action family film with Brian Henson is set to direct.
• The Doubtful Guest, by the inimitable Edward Gorey, is about a mysterious creature that shows up unannounced and unwelcome at a family-owned bed & breakfast, where all are perplexed by its habits.  Brad Peyton is slated to direct the movie featuring a screenplay by Matthew Huffman.
• Monster Blood Tattoo is a fantasy/adventure book trilogy, by D.M. Cornish, which includes Foundling, Lamplighter, and a third untitled novel, is set in a ‘magical Victorian realm’ and follows an orphaned boy on a dangerous quest to become an apprentice to a line of monster bounty hunters.  There is no writer or director as of now.

Remember back last fall we reported that a Donald Trump animated project was under discussion?  Yep, well now Premiere Publishing Group said yesterday that the project is moving forward with Donald Trump signing an extension of its letter of intent for development of a Trump-themed animated pilot through March 31, 2007.  Additionally, the Trump camp has tapped Animation Dimensions, a US based company that has animation studios in India, to oversee the project.

AD SALES UPFRONTS FOR THE 2007-2008 TV SEASON

The kid’s TV ad-sales upfront season got under way yesterday with Disney Channel stepping forward as the first network to go before the advertising community with its upfront presentation titled In Concert.  The phrase was both literal, the event included performances by The Cheetah Girls and Miley Cyrus (aka Hannah Montana), and figuratively as earlier this week Disney announced the meshing of its ad sales and marketing group to form the Disney Media Advertising Sales and Marketing Group, a one-stop shop for promotional opportunities and advertising spots across for all its kids channels, blocks, radio, magazines and platforms (did the see the ad at he top of this edition?).

The big news is that in addition to a second TV movie, Disney Channel’s High School Musical will head to the big screen in 2008 with Haunted High School Musical.  The first High School Musical, a Disney Channel Original Movie, debuted in January 2006 and the movie is that network dream, the gift that keeps on giving, rating with every play and success across TV, DVDs, music CDs, products and internationally.  Rehearsals on the second HSM TV movie have just started.   High School Musical 2 will feature the original cast and the return of director Kenny Ortega and is set to premiere in August 2007.

For the 2007-2008 TV season Disney will offer 10 new series, 605 new episodes and 24 new TV movies across Disney Channel and its Playhouse Disney block, ABC Kids and Toon Disney.

Disney Channel will bring back Disney Channel Games for Summer 2007, a kind of Battle of the Network Stars competing in a variety of physical and brain working events, which will feature both an opening and closing ceremonies special (30 min each) with coverage during the competition airing weekly as interstitial programming.  This year there will be an online component to allow kids at home to participate.

New series for the network include Wizards, a live-action comedy about siblings, one girl and her two brothers, as they partake in the usual family hoopla, the added twist that the three are all wizards in training and only one of them will retain their powers when they turn 19.  The series is created and executive produced by Todd Greenwald (Hannah Montana).

Slated to bow in winter 2008 is Phineas and Ferb, about two brothers who spend their summer vacation building and creating stuff in their back yard, stuff like a roller coaster, and all to the exasperation of their older tween sister.  Created, directed and executive-produced Dan Povenmire and Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, the series is a production of Disney Television Animation.  The voice cast includes Ashley Tisdale.

Disney Channel Original Movies will include: Johnny Kapahala: Back on Board, set to bow this June 2007, the movie is a sequel to the network’s movie Johnny Tsunami; Twitches Too, the sequel to the 2005 Halloween movie based on the book series T*Witches and again starring Tia and Tamera Mowry; Cheetah Girls 3; Dadnapped, about a 14-year-old girl who is engaged in a bout of sibling rivalry  only her counter part is the character created by her father and the star of his books; CGI animated movie Franklin B.C. is a fish out of water story.

Playhouse Disney: A new CG animated series, My Friends Tigger & Pooh will debut in May 2007; fall will see the premiere of the original animated series Bunny Town.

ABC Kids on ABC will launch Disney Channel’s new series Cory in the House in fall 2007

Toon Disney: will add The Replacements, and new episodes of Kim Possible and Yin Yang Yo.  Additionally, The Incredible will make its cable TV debut on the network.

MORE KIDS STUFF

Nickelodeon will launch the new flash animated series El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera with back-to-back episodes on Saturday, March 3 at 10-11a.  T he series follows 13-year-old Manny, basically an average kid who lives with his father and grandfather, except for the part where they live in a city inhabited by colorful heroes and the worst villains, and Manny has the ability to turn into El Tigre, a warrior who has a little bit of both good guy and bad guy in him.  Created by husband-wife team Jorge R. Gutierrez and Sandra Equihua, El Tigre is a comedy featuring telenovela storylines that will air regularly on Saturdays at 10:30a.

The fall 2007 line-up of Kids’ WB on The CW will include the return of four series. Warner Bros. Animation has begun production on the second seasons of Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get a Clue! and Tom and Jerry Tales.  Additionally, returning for a second season is Legion of Super Heroes, also heading back into production for a fourth season is The Batman.

Moniker changes over at Disney.  Touchstone Television, Disney-ABC Television Group’s in-house production company has become ABC Television Studio.  The name change reflects the company strategy, also announced yesterday, to focus on three core brands, Disney, ABC and ESPN.  Also shifting names is the Buena Vista Games unit that will now be known as Disney Interactive Studios.

The race for President is on; President of Bikini Bottom that is, and the front-runners are Patrick and Larry the Lobster.  Viewers will get their chance to vote on Nickelodeon during Patrick for President, a two-hour SpongeBob SquarePants marathon on; you guessed it, Presidents’ Day, Monday, February 19, 2007 from 5p.  The marathon will be followed by the premiere of three new episodes of SpongeBob, 7-8:30p.  Leading up to the event, kids can pledge support for Patrick on nick.com/prezday, where they can also get campaign updates, place their votes, create video campaign posters and share them, create mash-up with new episode.  Additionally, sneak peeks of the three new episodes will be available on TurboNick.com.

Nickelodeon Latin America has the TV rights to Breakthrough Entertainment‘s Captain Flamingo for a Spring 2007 premiere and Jimmy Two Shoes for a Fall 2007 debut. The deal covers 65 half hour episodes and two 30m multipurpose short clips for Captain Flamingo and 52 half-hour episodes for Jimmy Two Shoes.  Captain Flamingo features Milo Powell armed with his backpack of joke store novelty items saving the day with sidekick Lizbeth. Jimmy Two Shoes follows Jimmy, the closest thing Earth has to a living angel – until a technical mix-up at the “pearly gates” gives him a one-way ticket to a wacky alternative underworld run by Lucy, the CEO of Misery Incorporated.

Michel Lecourt, Warner Bros. International Television’s VP & GM of French-speaking territories, passed away yesterday after a long battle with cancer.  He was 58.  He first entered the business at 18 as both a French Independent Conservatory cinema student and an assistant to Richard Wilkes.  He rose up over four decades to build Warner Bros.’ programming and business in France, including the creation of the Warner Hour locally hosted classic animation block. Warner Bros.  International Television President, Jeffrey R. Schlesinger, said of him: “Michel was a unique individual: a French citizen with a love of the American old west and cowboy lifestyle; a European who always drove a big American car through the streets of Paris; and a true fan and expert on American cinema and animation with a special passion for the Looney Tunes. He was a valued member of our team and will be terribly missed on both a personal and a professional level.”  Lecourt is survived by his wife and two teen daughters.

MARKETING/LICENSING

Cookie Jar Entertainment has awarded iToys, Inc. as the North American master toy licensee for the preschool-targeted series The Doodlebops.  iToys plans to launch a line of Doodlebops toys this fall 2007 that will feature musical instruments including, microphones, dance mats and role play toys among others.  In addition to the iToys products, other Doodlebops consumer product lines include DVDs, music CDs, books, games, costumes, apparel and accessories and are expected to be available beginning summer 2007.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Exodus Film Group, the indie production company, has appointed Max Howard as President.  A veteran animation executive, Howard previously served as President, Warner Bros. Feature Animation and SVP, Disney Feature Animation. Set for a fall 2008 release, Exodus’ CG-animated feature film Igor is currently in production and will be distributed by The Weinstein Company.

RATINGS

Top 10 Combined Broadcast/Basic Cable shows among Kids 2-11 for the week of 1/29-2/4/2007 , 6a-6a:
K2-11                                                                    Total Delivery (000)
CBS:  Super Bowl Colts vs. Bears (2/4; 6:27-10:04p) 6966
CBS:  Super Bowl Kick-Off (2/4; 6-6:27p)                  4570
FOX:  American Idol (1/30; 8-9:01p)                         3636
CBS:  Super Bowl Post Game (2/4; 10:04-10:26p)     3280
NICK: Naked Brothers Band (2/3; 9p)                        2496
NICK: SpongeBob SquarePants (2/3; 7:30p)              2424
NICK: Fairly OddParents (2/3; 10a)                           2399
NICK: Naked Brothers Band (2/3; 8:30p)                   2356
NICK: Ned’s Declassified (2/3; 9p)                             2356
NICK: SpongeBob SquarePants (2/3; 7p)                   2322
Source: Disney from Nielsen Media Research Data
*Disney Channel is not an ad supported cable network, unlike the others in this listing.

Top 10 Combined Broadcast/Basic Cable shows among Kids 6-11 for the week of 1/29-2/4/2007 , 6a-6a:
K6-11                                                                          Total Delivery (000)
CBS:     Super Bowl Colts vs. Bears (2/4; 6:27-10:04p) 4698
CBS:     Super Bowl Kick-Off (2/4; 6-6:27p)                  2973
FOX:     American Idol (1/30; 8-9:01p)                         2364
CBS:     Super Bowl Post Game (2/4; 10:04-10:26p)      2238
NICK:    Naked Brothers Band (2/3; 9p)                        2001
NICK:    Naked Brothers Band (2/3; 8:30p)                   1864
NICK:    Ned’s Declassified (2/3; 8p)                             1706
DSNY*: Cory in the House (2/2; 8:30p)                        1689
DSNY*: Suite Life of Zack & Cody (1/29; 7:30p)            1601
NICK:    Drake & Josh (2/3; 9:30p)                               1596
Source: Disney from Nielsen Media Research Data
*Disney Channel is not an ad supported cable network, unlike the others in this listing.

Top 10 Combined Broadcast/Basic Cable shows among Tweens 9-14 for the week of 1/29-2/4/2007 , 6a-6a:
Tweens 9-14                                                            Total Delivery (000)
CBS:     Super Bowl Colts vs. Bears (2/4; 6:27-10:04p) 5821
CBS:     Super Bowl Kick-Off (2/4; 6-6:27p)                  3270
CBS:     Super Bowl Post Game (2/4; 10:04-10:26p)      3237
FOX:     American Idol (1/30; 8-9:01p)                         2743
FOX:     American Idol (1/31; 9-10p)                            2321
CBS:     Super Bowl Today (2/4; 5:30p)                        1612
DSNY*: Cory in the House (2/2; 8:30p)                        1539
FOX:     House (1/30; 9:01-10p)                                  1511
NICK:    Naked Brothers Band (2/3; 9p)                       1479
NICK:    Ned’s Declassified (2/3; 8p)                            1396
Source: Disney from Nielsen Media Research Data
*Disney Channel is not an ad supported cable network, unlike the others in this listing.

Top 10 Combined Broadcast/Basic Cable shows among Teens 12-17 for the week of 1/29-2/4/2007 , 6a-6a:
Teens 12-17                                                           Total Delivery (000)
CBS: Super Bowl Colts vs. Bears (2/4; 6:27-10:04p) 6445
CBS: Super Bowl Post Game (2/4; 10:04-10:26p)     4081
CBS: Super Bowl Kick-Off (2/4; 6-6:27p)                 3300
FOX: American Idol (1/30; 8-9:01p)                        2717
FOX: American Idol (1/31; 9-10p)                           2571
FOX: House (1/30; 9:01-10p)                                 1918
CBS: Super Bowl Today (2/4; 5:30p)                       1576
CBS: Criminal Minds (2/4; 10:26-11:27p)                1278
CBS: Super Bowl Today (2/4; 5-5:30p)                      939
VH1: I Love New York (1/29; 9-10p)                          925
Source: Disney from Nielsen Media Research Data
*Disney Channel is not an ad supported cable network, unlike the others in this listing.
**New abbreviation for Adult Swim, which airs on Cartoon Network

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Friday Fun Fact:  Cranberry growers test their product by seeing if it will bounce. No bounce, no cranberry.

Answer to Yesterday’s trivia question: To whom was Slimy the Worm a wonderful and loyal friend?  OSCAR THE GROUCH-SESAME STREET, OF COURSE!    Kudos to: Ellen Donahue-Fisher-Price/East Aurora NY; Erica Minton-WonderGroup/Cincinnati; Kirsten Ross-Tribune Entertainment/NY; Kyle Luna/Tobyhanna, PA; Misti Ray-KSTu Fox 13/Salt Lake City; Barb Throm-Creative LAB/St Louis; Jackie Smith-FUNimation Entertainment/Dallas; Jessie Wan-Radio Disney; Margaret Grace-Circus Circus/Las Vegas; Ashley Holmes-Mediacom/Burbank; William Chip Beaman-Soundelux Design Music Group/Hollywood

Today’s Trivia Question: What was the name of the pet lobster who was friends with Sigmund? (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!
2.09.07

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Cyn opsis CLASSIFIEDS – For More classifieds, visit the Cynopsis.com classifieds page here

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JOB OPENING: LSM /WCSC-TV (CBS, Charleston, SC): Energetic and creative negotiator needed to lead local team. Strong  new bus dev, training & team building skills req. Broadcast sales mgt. exp. pref. [email protected].EOE (2/16)

JOB OPENING: EVENT MARKETING MGR/Screenvision/NY: Provide strategic guidance/support in the plan’g/execution of all event-related activities,develop revenue-generating mrktng prgrms & support . Res: [email protected] (2/16)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/CNN/NY: 1+ yrs tv research/agency exp, Multi-tasker, strong analytical/problem solving skills & MS Office proficient; info www.turnerjobs.com [email protected] (2/16)

JOB OPENING: SR RSRCH PROJ MGR, TNT/TBS/COURT TV, Ad Sales/NY: Dvlp effective analyses & positioning .Exc analytic, proj mgmt & team mgmt skills req. 5+ yrs TV/media rsrch exp req; primary rsrch exp a +.  [email protected]    (2/16)

JOB OPENING: RSRCH DIR, TNT/TBS/COURT TV, Ad Sales/NY: Provide strategic sales support, create in-depth analyses & effective positioning. Primary rsrch exp,  proj mgmt, sprvsry skills req. 6+yrs exp. [email protected] (2/16)

JOB OPENING: SR RSRCH ANALYST, TNT/TBS/COURT TV, Ad Sales/NY:   Provide research support; create sales positioning. Strong analytical/writing skills req.  3+ years exp req.  Contact: [email protected] (2/16)

JOB OPENING: MKTG MANAGER/DIGITAL MEDIA/NBCU/NY: Manager will assist the Dir. to market & increase sales across NBCU properties. Mgr is responsible for creating online & integrated offerings. Apply www.nbcunicareers.com Job#576426 (2/16)

JOB OPENING: MARKETING ANALYST, DIGITAL MEDIA/NBCU/NY: Assist Marketing Mgrs & Directors in preparing, implementing, & delivering client presentations (internal & external) & recommendations. Apply www.nbcunicareers.com Job#576424 (2/16)

JOB OPENING: DIRECT RESPONSE PLANNER/AETN NY: Analysis for projections, pricing & trends.DR inventory  management. Backup AE. Strong analytical skills/advanced excel/2 yrs DR exp. Apply: www.aetn.com/careers.html (2/15)

JOB OPENING: ASSOC. WRITER-PRODUCER/AMC/NY: write, cut spots, support Sr. creatives. Must know movies. Strong writer. Promo exp., reel, avid/final cut skills all a +.  Resumes to: [email protected] (2/15)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/The Outdoor Channel/Temecula, CA: 2 yrs research exp at media co, research firm or agency. Strong analytical/comm skils, exp. with Nielsen, MRI, CMR/TNS, etc. Resume to [email protected] (2/14)

JOB OPENING: VIRAL MARKETING DIRECTOR/Current TV, SF, CA: 7+ yrs. exp.  Drive Current TV brand awareness by developing & executing viral, guerilla & college marketing efforts. www.current.tv   Email: [email protected] EOE (2/14)

JOB OPENING: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE/NYC: Media auditing firm seeks exp’d business dvlpmnt exec. Duties include mngng active new business projects & developing further new business initiatives. Send resume: [email protected] (2/14)

JOB OPENING: MEDIA RECRUITER/TTS Media/NY: Prospect media & adv profs. Support Acct team with client service & netwrkg. Self-starter to join fast-paced team! Strg comm & desire to make big $$ nec. Apply: [email protected] (2/14)

JOB OPENING: AD SALES ASSIST/TV ONE/Chicago: Entry level to provide general support to office/maintain client schedules/general stewardship. See description and apply at www.tvoneonline.com (2/13)

JOB OPENING: ENTRY LEVEL, ASST TO CR. SERV. SVP/NYC:  Work w/ TV’s 7 best network on-air promo teams.  Must be sharp, ambitious, personable writer with STRONG work ethic. Resumes to [email protected] (2/13)

JOB OPENING:  COORD, INT’L PROG OPS/ MTV/NYC/3 mth cont. Client srvc role, resp for shipping tapes etc. Skills Req: Knwldg/Passion for TV, Proj mgt exp, Strg comm skills, Pro-active, Team player, EOE/M/F/D/AAP. [email protected] (2/13)

JOB OPENING:  MANAGER, RESEARCH/BURBANK: Buena Vista TV. 3+ yrs. exp. TV research and syndication. Nielsen Galaxy Expl, WRAP Overnights/Sweeps and interpreting local station ratings exp. Visit www.disneycareers.com REQ 64815 to apply (2/13)

JOB OPENING:  RESEARCH DIRECTOR, PROGRAMMING/ HGTV/Knoxville: 8 yrs cable networks exp. Strong analytical skills & strategic thinker. Expertise: N-Power, other Nielsen and secondary tools. [email protected] # 5850-U (2/20)

JOB OPENING:  PRODUCERS /NY based Nationally Syndicated Television Show: Must have at least 5 years experience RESUMES: [email protected]. (2/13)

JOB OPENING: DIG MEDIA RESEARCH SR PROJ MGR/Turner: Supports new/existing corp dig media efforts in mobile/online/port DVR/A2M2 6+ yrs new/trad media res exp req’d, [email protected] – www.turnerjobs.com req #73778BR (2/13)

JOB OPENING:  DIG MEDIA RESEARCH PROJ MGR/Turner: Supports new/existing corp dig media efforts in mobile/online/port DVR/A2M2 4+ yrs new/trad media res exp req’d, [email protected] – www.turnerjobs.com req #73779BR (2/13)

JOB OPENING: PUBLICIST /SCHOLASTIC NYC/3yrs PR exp;strong writing, pitching, & strategic PR skills;Interest in kids’ issues incl education a+ at mission-driven Co. Apply: www.scholastic.com job #NY1838 (2/13)

JOB OPENING:  ACCT EXECUTIVE/ Cablevision  NJ locs: Interactive TV Advertising Acct Exec opportunity.  3+yrs strong sales ability some classified advertising andor realty experience a plus.  www.cablevision.jobs req# 660BR (2/10)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH COORDINATOR/Nick Jr.- Dora the Explorer/NYC: Responsible for scheduling research. Assemble and read storybooks. Organizational skills a must. Experience with children a plus. Email [email protected]             (2/10)

JOB OPENING: DIR, DIGITAL MEDIA/National Geo Channel/Washington, DC: oversee all digital product including web, vod, mobile; dvlp content; oversee site traffic; 10+ yrs in online media mktg or production; www.foxcareers.com (2/10)

JOB OPENING: RSRCH ANALYST/TV ONE Ad Sales/NYC: Compose rsrch reports using Nielsen & syndicated data. Bach deg, 1-2yrs exp and multitasking pro. Visit us at www.tvoneonline.com to apply. (2/10)

JOB OPENING: SR MANAGER, COMMUNICATIONS/Nickelodeon/NYC: 5+yrs exp TV Comm/PR/media relations, Strg written/oral comm. skills, Strng strategy exp, Strng media contacts, EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (2/10)

JOB OPENING: ART DIRECTOR/Nicktoons/NYC: 6+yrs design/art dir exp in TV/Film/Adv, Strg creative/concept skills, Strng knwldge popculture/NICK brand,  www.mtvncareers.com (2/10)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, PROGRAM PLANNING/Nicktoons/NYC: 6+yrs Program Sked exp in Cable/Broadcast TV, Strg time-mgmt/org skills, Exp in operations/research & prob-solving skills, EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (2/10)

JOB OPENING: AD SALES/MKTG DIR/VIZ Media/SF: ( www.viz.com) Min 5yrs related bus exp, manages ad sales lists, assists in development of ad sales & mktg strategy. Email resume and salary reqs NO ATTACHMENTS to [email protected] (2/10)

WINTER INTERNSHIPS – These positions are for credit only – nobody gets paid here. They are posted for free, and students work for school credit only. For more information on the specs for posting an Internship ad, email Trish at [email protected] .

WINTER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: LeadDog Marketing Group/NYC an event mktg and brand promotions agency seeks ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT INTERN to work 3 dys/wk. Strong oral and writing skills. Submit resume and cover to [email protected] (2/9)

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED —

SITUATION WANTED: COMEDIENNE with 20 + years, writer, speaker, adventurer and three time world record holder looking for television hosting position and freelance spokesperson work. contact: [email protected] (2/16)

SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCTION & OFFICE PA :   Experienced with all aspects of prod pre-post including casting, general reception, logging, and on set work.  Prev exp as AD and Scripty on numerous projects. Contact [email protected] (2/15)

SITUATION WANTED: Jon and John: Writing/Directing//Producing team with chops seek freelance projects. Pilot projects with talent attached are available. Promos, pilots, satire, guerilla shoots. Contact [email protected]  (2/13)

SITUATION WANTED: New Media Specialist, Experienced News Manager, Emmy Award seasoned Journalist & Network Producer seeks management opportunities. Bilingual, fluent in Spanish. Full time or freelance. [email protected]            (2/13)

E-mail Trish Pihonak for rates and specs for Job Openings.

Are you looking for a job? Post your Situation Wanted Ad here — Email Trish Pihonak for specs.