Cynopsis: Kids!

04/09/09

Good morning. It’s Thursday, April 9, 2009, and this is your first early morning Kids briefing.

Coolabi, a UK-based owner/developer/manager of mostly kid-centric properties, suspended trading of its stock yesterday and confirmed that it is in the early stages of discussions for a potential takeover.  Though Coolabi didn’t specify who it was in talks with, Broadcastnow reported late in the day that it believes that Coolabi is in talks to acquire Chorion‘s crime division, which includes the estates of crime writers such as Agatha Christie, Georges Simenon and Raymond Chandler.  Coolabi’s library of licensed properties include Bagpuss, The Clangers Purple Robbie, Scarlett & Crimson, and Ivor the Engine among many others.  In addition to crime-writers, Chorion’s portfolio includes rights to kid’s properties including Mr. Men and works by Enid Blyton among others.

MORE KIDS STUFF

Tribune Media Services (TMS) and Common Sense Media enter into a partnership to make online and set-top-box program guides more helpful for parents. The joint effort will make detailed, age-based information about TV shows and movies easily accessible to parents in the US. Common Sense Media’s ratings system, which is based on kid development criteria, is designed to help parents make decisions about which movies, video games, TV shows, web sites, books and music are right for their kids. TMS will link its TV and movie databases to Common Sense Media’s library of reviews and educational resources, using TMS’ ID numbers.

Disneynature release its first movie Earth on Earth Day April 22, 2009.  Narrated by James Earl Jones, the G-rated movie follows three animal families and their lives traveling the planet Earth.  Disneynature is the first new Disney-branded label in 60 years.

More Yo Gabba Gabba! news … as RDF Kids & Family inks a deal with Channel 4 (UK) for the live-action preschool series.  Marking Yo Gabba Gabba’s UK terrestrial TV debut, Channel 4 plans to air the first season of the series (20×30) as part of its teen-targeted T4 programming block later this spring.  Yo Gabba Gabba! made its initial UK premiere on Nick Jr.  RDF Kids also represents all UK and international licensing & merchandising rights to the property.  Earlier this week Nickelodeon picked up a third season of the series, which is produced by The Magic Store and Wildbrain.

MARKETING/LICENSING

Capcom Mobile and Classic Media are bringing Where’s Waldo? games to mobile devices in North America and Europe.  The deal comes in conjunction with the 21st birthday of Where’s Waldo?  The first game in the multi-year deal will be a brain training puzzle game b0wing this May.  This year Where’s Waldo?   Fans can always look for the great traveler online at FindWaldo.com ( www.findwaldo.com ).

Bulldog Licensing inks a deal with Partner Plus to serve as its Greek sub-agent for the baby-targeted design brand, Goochicoo.  Recent Goochicoo UK license deals include Tommee Tippee (branded cutlery), Izziwotnot (bedding), Poetic Gem (apparel), and Kiss HK (wooden toys), as well as UK Greetings (greeting cards) and MV Sports and Leisure (plush toys and doll accessories.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Marilyn Bergman steps down after 15-years as President and Chairman, ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers).  She will continue to serve as an active ASCAP board member.  The ASCAP board of directors will elect her successor at their next meeting later this month.  Bergman has a long list of accomplishments during her tenure at ASCAP including the expansion of the organization, a range of major legislative victories, as well as kid/teen-focused efforts such as The ASCAP Foundation Children Will Listen Program, The ASCAP Foundation Creativity in the Classroom Program, The Donny the Downloader Experience and The Junior ASCAP Members (J.A.M.) Program.  Bergman is a songwriter herself with writing partner/husband Alan Bergman.  The duo has just completed several projects, including Steven Soderbergh’s movie, The Informant, with composer Marvin Hamlisch.  The Bergman’s have with a range of other projects in the works.

RATINGS

The website for The Electric Company ( www.pbskids.org/electriccompany ) has had 1 million visits and 5+ million video clips played on the PBS Kids Go! and The Electric Company video players since its launch in January 2009.  The Electric Company is produced by Sesame Workshop and airs on PBS Kids Go!

Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Tuesday, April 7, 2009, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON:         K2-11 1080; K6-11 476; TWEENS 9-14 293
DISNEY CHANNEL:     K2-11   910; K6-11 567; TWEENS 9-14 434
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11   483; K6-11 332; TWEENS 9-14 234
DISNEY XD:               K2-11   145; K6-11   89; TWEENS 9-14   82
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data

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Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  I’m well mannered and genteel, but I never wear pants. This doesn’t seem to be an issue for my girlfriend Petunia. Who am I?  PORKY PIG  Kudos to: Ellen Harter Wall-FamilyFun/Northampton; John May-Cartoon Network/Atlanta; Julie Stowell-Tribune Media Services/Queensbury NY; Jenn Santee-PBS KIDS Sprout/Philadelphia; Barb Throm-Enrollment Sciences, Inc./St. Louis; Brook Chalmers-Cartoon Network/Burbank; Matthew C. Bergeron-Disney ABC Cable Networks Group/Burbank; Jeannine Silberstein-LIONSGATE/Santa Monica; Betsy Bozdech-Common Sense Media/San Francisco; Claire Wilmut-BOOMSTONE ANIMATION INC./Ottawa; Judi Handelman-Xenophile Media/Toronto; Anand Roy-The Walt Disney Company/INDIA; Stephen S. Kelley-SSK Communications/Toronto

Today’s Trivia Question: What family owned Mozart the Parrot?   (Email Cynthia@cynopsis.com 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!
04.09.09

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