A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM DISNEY ABC KIDS NETWORKS

CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis: Kids!

02/02/06

Good morning. It’s Thursday, February 2, 2006 and this is your first early morning Kids! briefing.

Paramount Pictures has completed its acquisition of DreamWorks SKG for $1.6b in cash and assumption of debt. The company also says it is “well along in its process” of selling off the DreamWorks live action film library.  Under the agreement, Steven Spielberg and David Geffen of DreamWorks will remain in their respective roles as producer/director and Chairman.  Now that the bigger deal is done, DreamWorks Animation SKG will begin its new exclusive 7-year distribution deal with Paramount for the global rights to distribute DreamWorks Animation films in theatrical, home entertainment and TV markets with its next release, Over the Hedge, slated for release later this year.  Paramount will be responsible for marketing and distribution of DreamWorks Animation feature films.

EchoStar Communications‘ Dish Network has officially launched DishFamily, its family-friendly programming package.  DishFamily is comprised of 40 channels and can be purchased as a stand alone package –  as aspect that differs from most other family-friendly packages which must be purchased in combination with the basic package. The DishFamily package includes: Angel One; CCTV-1; CCTV-EF; Colours TV; Dish Home; Fine Living; Hallmark; Hallmark Movie Channel; and Kids Tunes (Muzak).

NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

Fan websites have been reporting it on and off for weeks with some certainty, but now it appears that indeed movie director Andrew Adamson has signed on to direct the Disney and Walden Media movie version of Prince Caspian, the next book in the Narnia Chronicles.  All four kids who starred in The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe will also return for the sequel.

Cartoon Network will premiere its new series My Gym Partner’s a Monkey with a sneak-peak on Monday February 20, and will then move to its regular time slot Fridays at 9p beginning February 24.  12 year old Adam Lyon is mistakenly assigned to attend Charles Darwin Middle School, where the rest of the students are animals, as in real animals.  Created by Julie McNally Cahill and Tim Cahill, My Gym Partner’s A Monkey is an original production of Cartoon Network Studios.

In other Cartoon Network news, the channel has picked up the flash animated series The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers (26 x 30 min) for air on all of the network’s feeds in Asia and Europe.  In addition Cartoon Network US and Latin America have acquired The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers to air as shorts (78 x 7 min).  The series launched last month on ITV’s Saturday morning block in the UK, and will bow on Canada’s YTV in spring 2006.  Targeted to K6-12, the series is produced by Bejuba Entertainment and its co-production partners Pesky and Studio B Productions.

When the fifth season of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles premieres on 4KidsTV in fall 2006, things will be different. The series will be titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Fast Forward and it will be set  in the year 2105.  So,that means the Turtles will have a new look, won’t have to hide in the sewers anymore, they’ll go up against new evil-doers, and a whole new level of hi-tech gadgets.  4Kids Entertainment will support the series with a licensing and marketing campaign beginning July 2006, with a new toy line including action figures and role playing products from master toy licensee Playmates Toys.

Bejuba Entertainment, a producer/distributor of kid/family programming, has acquired the US, Latin American and the Asia Pacific regions distribution rights for Monster Warriors (26 x 30 min), a mixed live-action/CGI adventure series produced by Coneybeare Stories Inc. for YTV in Canada and Jetix Europe.  Monster Warriors revolves around four teens who go up against gigantic monsters (as in B movie monsters) who attempt to destroy their city.  Monster Warriors will launch on YTV on March 18 at 1030a during its Vortex Saturday morning programming block, and on Jetix Europe this spring.  Buena Vista International Television will distribute the property outside the US, Latin America and Asian Pacific markets by.

MORE KIDS STUFF

Nickelodeon Networks celebrates Black History Month through programming on Nickelodeon, Noggin, and The N and NickJr.com.  Programming and new interstitials throughout February include:

• Nickelodeon:
  • Two new Black History Month “Nick News Burps” all month, one on Rosa Parks and the other on the Apollo Theater in Harlem.
  • A series of interstitials will feature older kids ‘sounding off’ on topics including Black History Month, pride, leadership etc.
  • For Cable in the Classroom the network offers several Nick News episodes celebrating African Americans, and related topics – Wednesday’s at 6a throughout the month. The February issue of Nickelodeon Magazine includes a tune-in messaging for the on-air interstitials
• NickJr.com:
  • The website offers a special Nick Jr. Video play list featuring Little Bill episodes and special shorts.
  • Nickjr.com for parents features themed activities like tips from experts on teaching diversity to kids, printable Black History hero cards, and book lists.
  • Nick Jr. Family Magazine features Black History Month in the February/March issue.
• Noggin: A week-long celebration including a guest appearance by Blues legend Buddy Guy on Jack’s Big Music Show. Other notable African-American musicians appearing on the series include Yolanda Adams, Guy Davis, Anne Harris, Sweet Honey In The Rock, and Jerry Lawson and The Talk Of The Town.
• The N: The 3-part encore of Miracle’s Boys on February 24 – 26 at 9p.

MoonScoop and Mike Young Productions are consolidating their distribution and licensing efforts under the Taffy Entertainment brand management banner.  The move follows MoonScoop’s recent acquisition of a majority stake in MYP.  Taffy Entertainment will be based in Europe, with the US Distribution being handled by Lionel Marty and Marie Conge for MoonScoop titles and Regis Brown for MYP.  Marketing and licensing of MoonScoop properties will be managed by Axel Dauchez with Eric Stein for MYP.  MoonScoop and MYP will continue produce kid/family animated programming separately, each under their own aegis.

Clarification:  In case you were curious, it is actually Wallace & Gromit in the Curse of the Were-Rabbit that received an Oscar nod for Best Animated Feature Film, and not the Were-Rabbi as was printed here yesterday.  However, think about it there are possibilities there.

MARKETING/LICENSING

MGM Interactive and Cheyenne Mountain Entertainment have inked a deal to develop Stargate Worlds, a Massively Multiplayer Role-Playing Game (MMO-RPG) based on the Stargate SG-1 TV series.  Cheyenne and MGM Interactive entered into a licensing agreement to develop Stargate Worlds in September 2005.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Essie Chambers has been named VP/Development, The N.  Formerly, Executive Director/Development, Noggin/The N, Chambers will continue to oversee the day to day operations of program development for The N.  In her new position, Chambers will now also oversee new talent and diversity agendas for the network.

Kathy Davidov has joined National Geographic Television & Film as VP/Series, she reports to Michael Rosenfeld EVP, NGT&F.  Davidov is overseeing the Series Production Unit as well as National Geographic Explorer series.  Most recently, she was the Executive Producer, Discovery’s TLC.

Steve Turney has been appointed Director of Sales, Twentieth Century Fox Television Distribution in Europe.  Turney will be responsible for sales of feature film and scripted TV programming to free and basic broadcasters within European territories.  Based in the company’s London office, he will report to Yoni Cohen, VP/Sales.

Answer to yesterday’s trivia question: The original name of this store was changed to Over Our Heads after the store was destroyed by a fire. What was the original name of the store?   EDNA’S EDIBLES/FACTS OF LIFE    Kudos to: Sean McNulty-HBO/NY; Mimi Borowich-Barnard College/NY; Chris Richards-ITN Networks/NY; Kathleen Cupertino-G-Whiz/NY; Gennifer Birnbach-TV Land; Meredith Bachenheim-Nielsen Media Research; Eric Covert-Disney ABC Cable Networks/Burbank; Mitzi Moskovitz-G4/LA

Today’s Trivia Question:  A classic game show  with its panel of celebrities, who would be given a sentence with a missing word.  Gene Rayburn was the host.  What game show was this? (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 Cynthia Turner’s Cynopsis Kids!
02.02.06 – 3:45a
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