Cynopsis: Kids!

09/26/08

Good morning. It’s Friday, September 26, 2008, and this is your first early morning Kids briefing.

Ahoy thar Johnny!  Johnny Depp will be back as Captain Jack Sparrow in Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean 4.  But Disney has Depp re-teaming with director Tim Burton to take on the role of the Mad Hatter in Burton’s stop-motion animated adaptation of Alice in Wonderland (2010).  Depp will also play Tonto in Disney’s movie version of The Lone Ranger (2010), produced by Jerry Bruckheimer.

MORE KIDS STUFF

Disney/Pixar’s new animated short-form series Cars Toons, directed by John Lasseter and based on his animated movie Cars, will debut on Disney Channel, Toon Disney and ABC Family, from Monday, October 27.  So far the schedule looks like this:

• Toon Disney – October 27, 28 and 29 at 6:56p, 6:57p, and 6:57p respectively.
• Disney Channel – all three shorts will run throughout the day on Saturday November 1
• ABC Family – the shorts will debut beginning Tuesday, December 23 during the network’s annual 25 Days of Christmas programming event.

School is really back in as The N premieres new episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation and South of Nowhere.

• With some new underclassman in attendance the new season of Degrassi: The Next Generation debuts with an hour-long episode on Friday, October 10 at 8p.  To support the new season, the network will air Get Ready for Degrassi, a marathon which will include every single episode ever of the series as well as sneak peeks of the new season, beginning Friday October 3 at 3p through Monday, October 6 at 9a, and weekdays 3p-6p, with an all day marathon on October 10, concluding with the new episode.  I’m ready!
• Immediately following the debut of Degrassi, The N debuts the first of the final episodes of South of Nowhere, October 10 at 9p.  South of Nowhere airs regularly on Fridays at 8:30p (except the Dec. 5 episode will run at 8p), with the hour-long series finale, scheduled to bow on December 12 at 8:30p.  After the series finale, The N will feature two different 2-3 minute ‘flash forwards’ about what happens to Ashley and Spencer, the first, The Next Day, from series creator Tommy Lynch, and the second, 5-Years Later, from conceptualized by series fans.

The Jim Henson Company has completed its first broadcast deals outside the US for its new CGI animated series Sid the Science Kid.  Picking up the series are: Discovery Kids Latin America; and a trio of Canadian public broadcasters TV Ontario, SCN (Saskatchewan) and Knowledge (British Columbia).  Henson will debut the series for international broadcasters at Mipcom Junior next month.  Sid the Science Kid is produced by The Jim Henson Company and KCET/Los Angeles for PBS Kids.

PorchLight Entertainment partners with Ireland’s Caboom on the new animated series Beary Boo.  Targeted to K3-6, Beary Boo was developed by Caboom, which will produce the series, with PorchLight holding the worldwide distribution rights to the preschool property.  Designed to encourage young kids to be ecologically conscious, Beary Boo is set in the town of Greenly Woods, and follows Beary, a brown cub, who joins the Fuzzy Scouts.  Everything that Beary and his fellow Fuzzy Scouts do (from studying to playing) is informed by thinking green.

Nickelodeon UK and Canal J (France) have co-commissioned a third season of the live-action comedy Genie in the House (26×30, for a total of 78×30) from producers Moi j’aime le television/Helion Pictures.  The new episodes will be available at Mipcom through Happy Audience, which also distributes the DVD rights to the first 52 episodes of the show with sales of season one already concluded in the Middle East and Greece.  Moi j’aime la television and Helion Pictures hold the worldwide DVD and merchandising rights to the new series, which will also be available at Mipcom.

Wondering what happened to the last ship of purported pirate Captain William Kidd?  62 Blue Productions has inked a development deal with the National Geographic Channel and Indiana University’s department of Underwater Science to produce a one-hour special that will document and explore what they think is this very vessel.  The special is slated to air as part of National Geographic Channel’s Exploration Week.  Additionally, the agreement gives the channel the right of first refusal to three other historical marine archeological projects.  While this special is not specifically aimed at kids, I’d say those kids/tweens/teen that like history, pirates and/or shipwrecks (and yes they exist) will tune in.

TV-Loonland signs a multi-content pact with its long-term partner ABC TV Australia.  Under the new deal, ABC TV acquires TV-Loonland content including The Owl (52×1), the upcoming Pat & Stan (39×7), as well as Raymond (26×7), and the preschool series Penelope (54×5).  Additionally, the network picks up two new Little Princess season specials.  Madman Entertainment, a home entertainment distributor, has added Penelope to its roster in Australia, which already includes Little Princess.

Program Call: If your company is attending MIPCOM with programming, we will include a cynopsized MIPCOM international and multicultural and MIP Junior program Shopping List in Cynopsis: International and Cynopsis: Kids the week before the market. So send along only the following info for your top 5 shows: title, availability date, number of episodes, length, type (i.e., movie, series, special, etc.), genre and your terms (barter, cash, etc.). If your company is interested in being included, please send the details to [email protected] by Thursday, October 2, 2008.

MARKETING/LICENSING

National Geographic Kids Entertainment (NGKE) celebrates World Animal Day, which is set for Saturday, October 4, by partnering with six local zoos for a promotion that revolves around its animated preschool property Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies (PBS Kids!).  Fisher-Price Inc. has signed on as the lead event sponsor.  The promotion includes a photo workshop for preschoolers with National Geographic photogs, and then sends them out into the zoo ‘on assignment’ to snap pictures of animals with, wait for it, their Fisher-Price Kid-Tough digital cameras.  The event also includes premiere screenings of Mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies, a movement program offered by My Gym, art projects, and a birthday party hosted by Hefty Zoo Pals.  The schedule is: Bronx Zoo (9/27); Brookfield Zoo (9/28); Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium (10/4); Lowry Park Zoo (10/4); San Francisco Zoo (10/11); and the Dallas Zoo (10/11).

Taffy Entertainment signs further home video deals for the 3D animated series Dive Olly Dive!  Universal Pictures International Entertainment will release Dive Olly Dive on DVD will be released in the UK, Germany, Italy, Spain, Norway, Sweden, Belgium, The Netherlands, Luxembourg, Portugal, South Africa, Brazil and other select territories in 2009.  Dive Olly Dive! is a co-production of Mike Young Productions, Flying Bark Productions, KIKA, ARD (Germany), Telegael (Ireland) and GDC.

Rogar Studios unveils a new DRTV initiative, through which it will offer the new The Dittydoodle Works L.I.T.L.S. (Learning in the Lyrics System), a music-based learning product, beginning next month via DRTV and a new website Rogar is developing.  Based on the public TV series Sheira & Loli’s Dittydoodle Works, The Dittydoodle Works L.I.T.L.S. is comprised of two double-episode DVDs, a CD and 20-page activity books as well as kid reward certificates, will be released next month.

Cranium Inc., a board game unit of Hasbro, releases Cranium Family Edition a new version of its Cranium game for kids (8yrs) to grandparents.

Disneyland Resort’s Disneyland and Disney’s California Adventure parks will celebrate the annual Halloween Time beginning September 26 and running through November 2.  In addition to the annual family-targeted Halloween attractions/activities (e.g. Mickey Mouse jack-o-lantern, Haunted Mansion Holiday, Candy Corn Acres and Mickey’s Trick-or-Treat Party (additional cost)), the parks will feature an expanded version of the Happiest Haunt Tour ($59 per person/not including park admission), a three-hour tour that will be offered twice daily September 26-October 31 at 5:15p and 5:30p.  The tour is not recommended for younger kids, who by the way must be taller than 40-inches.  Information about Halloween at the Disney parks can be found at http://www.disneyland.com/halloween .

STONE SOUP

Ready or not holiday 2008 is upon us and The Toy Insider, Adventure Publishing Group’s annual holiday guide and its Hot 20 toy list section are here as well.  The Hot 20, which includes a breakdown of what a select panel believes will be the hot products in various age demos, for holiday 2008, will be published in the November issue of Redbook magazine, which hits newsstands October 16.  The Toy Insider’s Hot 20 for holiday 2007 includes: product name (toy company)

Kids 0-2 year
Elmo Live (Fisher-Price)
K’s Kids Ryan 28 Activity Center (Ohio Art)
Sit to Stand Alphabet Train (VTech)
Smart Builders Piano (Mega Brands)

Kids 3-5 years
Club Penguin Plush (Jakks Pacific)
Furreal Friends Biscuit, My Lovin’ Pup (Hasbro)
Handy Manny 2-in-1 Transforming Too Truck (Fisher-Price)
Invincible Iron Man Action Figure (Hasbro)
KidiArt Studio (VTech)
Tink’s Talking Café (CDI)

Kids 6-8 years
Air Hog Zero Gravity Micro (Spin Master)
Hannah Montana Malibu Beach House (Play Along)
Clickables Fairy Charms Starter Set (Techno Source)
Barbie iDesign Ultimate Stylist (Mattel)
ME2 (iToys)
Bakugan Battle Brawlers (Spin Master)

Kids 9+
Monopoly Here & Now: The World Edition (Hasbro)
Spy Video ATV-360 (Wild Planet)
U-Dance (Tiger Electronics)
Youth Signature Street Surfing Set (Street Surfing)

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Okay – listen up … this is big:  Chuck Bolkcom appointed President and Chief Operating Officer of Cynopsis Media LLC, effective October 1!  Yep, that’s us!  In this newly-established position at Cynopsis, Chuck will oversee the company’s strategic development of sales, marketing, product, and operations, reporting to Cynthia Turner, CEO.  Cool, huh!  Chuck makes the move to Cynopsis from Vuze Inc., a broadband video content delivery network, where he was VP/Advertising Sales.  Prior to Vuze, Chuck was at Reed Business Information as Group Publisher of the Reed Television Group, during which he led a major turn-around of both Broadcasting & Cable and Multichannel News magazines.  At PricewaterhouseCoopers, he was a Director in the PwC Entertainment, Media and Communications advisory practice. You can reach Chuck via email at [email protected], give him a shout.

ITV Global Entertainment plans to grow and extend its brands with the appointment of senior executives to lead its Commercial Brand Division, all three report to Gustavo Antonioni, Commercial Brand Director.

• Marina Lum-Kang is appointed SVP/Brand Extensions and Integrated Marketing.  Based in the LA office, Lum-Kang will oversee new business development, merchandise and licensing, related digital content, promotional activity, and product integration for the company’s brands in the US, Canada and Latin America.  Prior to this, Lum-Kang worked in entertainment merchandising and marketing international with Marvel Entertainment Group, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, Warner Bros. Theatrical Marketing, and Sony Pictures Entertainment Consumer Marketing.
• Corine Pouvreau-Miles is named Director/Promotions and New Business.  She is responsible for creating strategic promotional opportunities across the company’s key brands.  Pouvreau-Miles previously worked for Source Ltd (UK), Omnicom Group’s PPI and Equity marketing group’s Logistix Kids, and The Marketing Store Europe.
• Mara Gardner joins as Director/Product and Brand Development.  She joins ITV Global Entertainment from Resonate Media & Entertainment in New York
• Aysha Kidwai is named Director/Merchandising and Licensing.  Most recently Kidwai was Commercial Director at retail and design consultancy Watermelon.
• Monica Austin is promoted to Director/Brand Extensions and Integrated Marketing.  Austin, who had been Manager/Digital Media, will report to Lum-Kang.

The Good Stuff Company has acquired Basic Fun, Inc.  Under the deal Basic Fun joins Good Stuff Toys and Win Stuff Entertainment as the third division of the company.  Alan Dorfman, Founder and President, Basic Fun, will continue to serve as the President of the Basic Fun division.

Friday Fun Fact:  The sound of E.T. walking was made by someone squishing her hands in Jell-O.

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question: What was the name of Quick Draw McGraw’s deputy side-kick?  BABA LOOEY Kudos to: Fred Petrosino-JSBG/ NY; Brad Stern-OMSC/Woodbury, NY; Dusty Ratledge-Scripps Networks/Knoxville, TN; Joe Swaney-Cartoon Network/GA; Jim Smith-Oncor Dallas/Dallas; Marcus L. Bush-Radio Disney National Network/Chicago; Barbara Uebelacker-Patch Products, Inc./Beloit, WI; Brad Fox-Jetix/Toon Disney/Burbank; Richard Quan-Imaginary Time/San Francisco; Pat Brady-CESD/LA; Mattie Comer-CBS Television Distribution/Santa Monica

Today’s Trivia Question:  On the animated series Fairly Odd Parents, what do Timmy’s Godparent’s usually turn into when someone else enters the room?  (Email [email protected] 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!
09.26.08

Cynopsis Kids Ad Sales:
Jennifer Franko – 203-583-9796 / [email protected]
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 / [email protected]

Cynopsis website – Video Resumes, Extended Classified Ads, Archives, and the Cynopsis Daily Video

To subscribe to any Cynopsis edition(s) click here . 
To unsubscribe , click here or click the button at the end of this email.

CableU – Know Networks Better. Pitch Smarter. Click here

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

JOB OPENING: PROMO PRODUCER/V-me Media, Inc: Hispanic TV ntwrk; Create promos for TV & web. Must be creative, orgnzd & solid in all aspects of post-prod. & fluent Spanish (read & write). Res w/cover & sal req’s to: [email protected] (10/3)

JOB OPENING: CARTOON NETWORK / [adult swim] SALES PLANNER/CHI: Create sales proposals, presentations, special projects, organize research/competitive info for AEs/Mgmt.2Yrs Exp-agency exp. a plus. Apply: [email protected] EOE (10/2)

JOB OPENING: COORD AFFILIATE MKTG/Fuse/NY: Asst w/ all comm btwn content/distrib & mktg teams 1-2 yrs exp in affiliate sales or cable tv mktg w/ tv prgram Exp w/ proj mgmt & coor Rez to [email protected]. “CAM” in sub (10/2)

JOB OPENING: VP AD SALES OPERATIONS/NYC: Mng daily operational activities. Control activities of advrtsng traffic dept; dvlps systems for inventory identification, tracking & billing. 8+ yrs brdcst traffic exp. www.tvoneonline.com (10/1)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR PRICING AND PLANNING/NYC: Work with sales ops team to maximize revenue, monitor inventory & scheduling of ordered deals. 5 yrs exp cable ad sales. www.tvoneonline.com (10/1)

JOB OPENING: SALES COORD/Univision/NY: Highly motivated. Mng tasks/srvcng agencies/clients daily basis. Det. oriented/comm/PC & math skills. 1-2 Yrs Media Exp, Deal Maker exp a +, Spanish a +. EOE. Res: [email protected] (10/1)

JOB OPENING: RSRCH DIR/NAT GEO/NY: Mng daily aspects of Ad Sales Rsrch (tracks/trends & analysis) for channel. Formulate innovative concepts w/ regards to sales objectives/goals.6-8 yrs exp media ind rsrch pref’d; www.foxcareers.com (10/1)

JOB OPENING: SR MGR PROGR PUBLICITY/A&E TV/NY: Dev History PR strategies on print/electronic & internet props. Mng Public Affairs & Mktg prtnships & talent. BA & 5+ yrs TV publ cable/b’cast/news. Apply: www.aetn.com/careers.html (10/1)

JOB OPENING: AE/Fuse/NY: Sell dig media & multi-platform. Incr exst’ing clnts, gen new biz rev. Prsnt new prgmng, brand pos, mktg opps. Excl. interpers’l/org skills/MS Excel & PP. Send Rez to: [email protected] “AENY” in sub (9/30)

JOB OPENING: ACCT SERVICE REP/The CW Network/Chicago: 2+ yrs nat’l media exp a +. Provide support for Dir of Mid West Sales; Maint. accts, mng commercial inv. Exc verbal, orgnzt’l & time mngmnt skills [email protected] (9/30)

JOB OPENING: VP, RESEARCH/TLC/SS: Lead all Research efforts/functions as primary point of contact for Network to anticipate/ fulfill needs for consumer-based and marketplace information. Apply: www.discovery.com , Req#8319 (9/30)

JOB OPENING: VP, SCHED/TLC/SS: Oversee sched for prgrms; optimize ratings by leveraging prgrmng inv & premieres. Incl ad sales, prod, mktg., dev., etc. Mng ntwrk relationship w/ ad sales to optimize rev.  www.discovery.com Req#8245 (9/30)

JOB OPENING: PUBLICISTS/Telepictures Prods/LA, NY: Unit pubs for syndicated tv shows and websites. Pitch/secure stories/content. Write/distrib releases. Work w/exec/staff. 5-8yrs exp Res: [email protected] (9/30)

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR PROGRAM RESEARCH/MTV/NY: 5+ yrs Nat’l TV Research/ratings. Strong leadership sk; detail-oriented, proactive; analytical sk. Expert w/Nielsen, MRI, etc. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (9/30)

JOB OPENING:  EXEC ASST/AMC/NY: Provide direct admin/office support to busy mktg SVP. Proactive, highly organized professional needed w/3+ yrs relevant exp nec.MS Office + Ntwrk/TV exp pref. res: www.cablevision.jobs ref# 7068BR(9/27)

SUMMER/FALL INTERNSHIPS – These positions are for credit only – nobody gets paid here. These ads are always 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] .

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:PUBLIC RELATIONS/MKTG.INTERN/LA: Opportunity to work with entertainment, fashion and gourmet clients.Writing, pitching, etc. Resume to [email protected] and specify intern in subject (10/2)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: TV PROD. INTERN/PICTURE THIS, NY: Emmy Winning Production Co. Duties: Rrsch, logging, assist post, phones, runs. Exp w/ Word & Excel. Min 2-3 days/week. Local Trvl Stipend avail. [email protected] (10/1)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: PR Intern: Provides PR outreach & client strategic insights. Supports internal functions, incl. editorial placement, mktg, & admin. Focus on ethnic markets. Semester-long, unpaid. [email protected] (10/1)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: INTERNS: Bright & passionate. Neal Stevens/Stevens & Assoc., prod 5 features films in past 6 yrs. Learn ropes from A-Z. Script coverage, dvlpmnt, possible assoc of credit for movies & much more.Email: [email protected] (9/30)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:PROG. PLANNING & SCHED./Oxygen/NYC: seeks students w/ great clerical & time mgmt skills to provide admin./project support to dept. Must be familiar with Excel. Resume/Cover/Avail. to: [email protected] (9/30)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: High Noon Entertainment/LA: Major TV prod. co. seeks enthusiastic students w/ passion for reality TV development. Semester-long, unpaid, for credit internship. Send resume to [email protected] (9/30)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:  PROGRAM PLANNING/Bravo/Burbank: seeks smart, enthusiastic students w/ passion for entertainment TV. Familiarity w/Excel a must. Resume/cover letter w/availability to: [email protected] (9/27)

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: TV RESEARCH INTERN /LA/MGM TV: Work in Research dept. Opp to learn about domestic & Int’l TV distrib. Strong Comm skills, comfort with Microsoft Office tools req. Approx 12 hrs/wk. Res/cover to: [email protected]  (9/27)

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED … Interested in posting your Video Resume? Contact [email protected] for more information ….

SITUATION WANTED: MEDIA DIR w/ 10+ years in DR seeks new opp. Successful account mgr w/ proven record for client loyalty. Creative-minded. Tough. Seeks strong, innovative co. to grow clients. Green a plus. Email [email protected] (10/2)

SITUATION WANTED: Award Winning NY based Writer/Producer/Editor seeks work in promos, sales tapes, sizzles, short form etc. Own Avid with 13+ years network exp. Email: [email protected] – www.bardsleyproductions.tv (10/1)

SITUATION WANTED: REALITY CHALLENGE PRODUCER – Network & cable experience — Physical & emotional challenges  A variety of formats. Very creative, with the experience to get the job done right. [email protected] (9/30)

SITUATION WANTED:  EXEC. IN CHARGE OF PROD: Premium Cable & Ntwrk exp, Mult Emmy’s, Exec Prod, Exec in Charge, Coord Prod, Line Prod, Prod/Dir seeking sports, ent, event prod opportunities, LA/NY. E-mail: [email protected]  (9/27)

E-mail [email protected] for rates and specs for Job Openings.

Interested in posting your Video Resume? Contact [email protected] for more information ….

Are you looking for a job? Post your Situation Wanted Ad here — Email [email protected] for specs.

Cynopsis Media LLC
One Corporate Drive, Suite 724
Shelton, CT 06484
203.926.9878