A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE FROM CARTOON NETWORK

Cynopsis: Kids!

03/12/09

Good morning. It’s Thursday, March 12, 2009, and this is your first early morning Kids briefing.

A sad result of the current volatile economic times has now hit Sesame Street as the 41-year old non-profit Sesame Workshop announced it will shed one-fifth of its 355 employees. The cuts equal 67 staffers across all divisions, according to a company spokesperson. The organization, behind the Sesame Street television program, toys and community projects, said it had counted on donations from many Wall Street companies, large corporations and private foundations which have cut back on their philanthropic investments. Two big supporters included Bear Stearns and Merrill Lynch. The Sesame Workshop issued this statement: “Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit organization behind Sesame Street, is not immune to the unprecedented challenges of today’s economic environment. After careful review, we have concluded that we will have to operate with fewer resources in order to achieve our strategic priorities. Therefore, we have reluctantly decided that we must reduce our workforce by approximately 20%. As difficult as this is, we remain optimistic about our future and are more committed than ever to our mission of helping children reach their highest potential here and around the globe.”

MORE KIDS STUFF

Disney DXD is going for the green for its St. Patrick’s Day programming event, Tuesday, March 17, 7-10p.  The network will feature green characters including Incredible Hulk, She-Hulk, the Green Goblin in episodes of Spider-Man and The Incredible Hulk.

Psst keep this under your hat. San Francisco-based tween social gaming start-up SuperSecret has secured $10 million in Series A funding led by Opus Capital. The company is set to launch its flagship virtual site in the coming weeks, aimed at kids who are too old for Club Penguin but too young for the violence of World of Warcraft.

UK home entertainment label ITV Global Entertainment has secured the UK DVD rights for Big and Small  the top rating BBC Children’s series voiced by actor and comedian Lenny Henry and produced by Kindle and 3Js. The 8-episode, 90-minute DVD be released nationwide on Monday March 30, priced at £12.99.
Big Red Button Entertainment entered into a strategic partnership with Emergent Game Technologies to enhance development and distribution capabilities of BRB games.

Brandissimo! announced that kids have played over ten million games on NFLRUSH Zone, the NFL virtual games world created by Brandissimo! for the National Football League.

Whoo-hoo, Jonas Brothers fans! The pop group confirmed dates and cities for The Jonas Brothers World Tour 2009 covering stops in three continents and featuring new music from their upcoming June 15 Hollywood Records’ album release. The mop-top trio will perform in 44 cities in North America starting in Dallas on June 20 through August 31 in Ottawa. The Jonas Brothers World Tour 2009, presented by Burger King and produced by Live Nation, will also include Paris, London and Madrid in addition to dates in South America. Team Jonas fan club members in select cities, will have the first chance to buy tickets starting next Monday and CITI card holders in select cities can also purchase tickets early beginning March 18 through CITI’s PrivatePass program. Tickets for the general public go on sale March 20 and can be purchased via www.livenation.com . For more information on tour cities and exact dates as well as pre-sale ticket options, visit www.jonasbrothers.com .

Casting Call: Warner Bros. Animation and Mochi Media, in partnership with DC Comics, are asking developers to submit ideas for a new Flash game based on the Cartoon Network series Batman: The Brave and the Bold, produced by Warner Bros. Animation. The game would be developed and produced for KidsWB.com, the premium, ad-supported destination from Warner Bros. Television Group. Game developers can submit their game design ideas, mockups and game portfolios now through March 27 for evaluation by professionals at Warner Bros. Animation, Mochi Media and DC Comics. Ten finalists will be sifted out and then allowed two months to further develop their Flash game concepts and the finished games will be featured on KidsWB.com this June. All ten finalists will be awarded cash prizes with the top developer receiving $9,000 and a contract for a second game valued at $15,000. Details and rules for the promotion can be found at www.braveandtheboldcastingcall.com .

MIP TV Program Call: If your company will be attending and showcasing programming at MIP TV 2009 in Cannes, France, at the end of next month, Cynopsis will send out a special MIP TV Shopping Guide edition the Wednesday before the conference. To have your programming included, please send only the following info for your top 5 shows: title, availability date, number of episodes, length, type (i.e., movie, series, special, etc.), genre, your terms (barter, cash, etc.) and names and contact info of those attending from your company. If your company is interested in being included in this free guide, please send the details to [email protected] by Friday, March 20, 2009.

MARKETING/LICENSING

THQ Inc. will release a new family-targeted video game based on the upcoming Disney-Pixar 3D movie Up this spring.  The Up video game will be available for all major consoles and for Windows and Mac worldwide.  Development for the Up video game is being led by THQ’s Heavy Iron Studios, the same folks that developed video games based on Disney-Pixar’s Ratatouille and Wall-E.  The movie releases May 29, 2009.

Disney hopes to capitalize on the digital media boom with a new site that offers content and collectibles for all ages. Positioned as a kind of online fan club, D23, will offer a full range of entertainment content to deliver on the “ultimate Disney Fan Experience,” including news, interviews with creators and theme park executives, interactive exhibitions, celebrity appearances and advance screenings of Disney films. Much of the exclusive content, such as access to the Walt Disney Archives or the online merchandise outlet Boutique 23, is available only to D23 members who pay an annual $75 subscription fee. To help launch D23 (named after 1923, the year Walt Disney founded the company, Disney will host a D23 Expo September 10-13 at the Anaheim Convention Center. D23 is also the name of new quarterly glossy publication chock full of articles and interviews about the Disney empire.

Perhaps brick and mortar video stores are of use after all. Blockbuster is throwing a series of events around the country on Friday night at midnight to promote the release of the teen vampire flick Twilight on DVD. Fans will be encouraged to “Give A Pint, Get A Pint,” donating blood to local blood banks in exchange for a free pint of ice cream for the first 50 donors at the party. Check with your local Blockbuster outlet for details.

Through a new educational DVD set created by a mom, hip hop music motivates toddlers and preschoolers to learn everything from their ABCs and colors to animals and nutrition. It’s Hip Hop, Baby!, developed by Candi Carter, an Emmy Award-winning television producer and distributed by Rhino Entertainment Company, contains four DVDs featuring real children moving and learning to the beat of hip hop music. Titles of the four videos include: “All Your Child’s Favorites,” “Get Healthy, Get Fit,” :Things We Do Everyday,” and “Rockin’ Dance Party.” More information about the set can be found at www.itshiphopbaby.com .

BB’s Coffee & Muffins, a shopping center cafe operator with around 184 stores throughout the UK and Ireland, signed a licensing deal with Chorion surrounding the children’s television series The Mr. Men Show. Starting this April, the agreement allows BB’s to display POS material and sell a Mr. Men branded kids’ meal in addition to having giveaway branded stickers, an event tour with Mr. Men characters and other public relations activities. The Mr. Men Show, an animated sketch comedy series, will begin its second season via Five’s Milkshake! this fall.

FitzRoy Media announced new licensing agent deals in France, Brazil and The Philippines based on the UK girls’ brand Secret Wings. Sao Paulo-based BLG, Brand Licensing Group was named agent in Brazil and tapped its first licensee, Sao Domingos for Secret Wings’ branded notebooks and other stationery items. In The Philippines, Empire Int’l Merchandising Corp., signed new licensee Asian Business Paper & Printing Corp. for notebooks and other stationery items. And lastly, FitzRoy Media signed on Paris-based RMP Licensing as the agent for France, Belgium and other French-speaking territories. Soon after being appointed, RMP secured a multi-territory license with Spain-based Flexmetal, a producer of Mylar balloons for France, Italy, Spain and Portugal. 

STONE SOUP

Tween girl research company AK Tweens and tween social networking site AllyKatzz.com announced today the first ever National Tween Girl Summit, “Can’t Vote; Can Change” to be held October 2009 in Washington, D.C. The two-day summit will cover a wide range of topics important to tweens, their families, and to marketers and policy makers, including tweens’ thoughts and opinions on the environment, education, personal safety and self-image.

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EXECUTIVE MOVES

Galleon Holdings names Honglin Jia as MD/Media, Galleon China.  In her new role, Honglin is responsible for the development, production and exploitation of Galleon’s entertainment IP in China.  Most recently, she was the Greater China Territory Manager, Entertainment Rights.

RATINGS

Weekly Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported networks, Total Day and Primetime Rankings among K2-11 (000) 3/2-3/8/09 :
Total Day      (000)   Primetime       (000)
NICK~:            1201    DSNY*:             1072
DSNY*:             802    TOON:                747
TOON:              547    NOGGIN:            470
NOGGIN:          354    NAN**:               469
NAN**:            276    DXD:                  165
ADSM**:          179    NICKTOON:         144
DXD:                132    BET:                   104
NICKTOONS:       90    DISCOVERY:         84
BET:                   47    MTV:                    82
DISCOVERY:       46    ESPN:                   79
Source: Disney Research from Nielsen Media Research Data Live + SD Data
*Disney Channel is not an ad supported cable network, unlike the others in this listing.
**Denotes a network that broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24hr day.
~Nickelodeon Total Day 6a-11p

Weekly Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported networks, Total Day and Primetime Rankings among K6-11 (000) 3/2-3/8/09 :
Total Day        (000) Primetime       (000)
NICK~:               655   DSNY*:             839
DSNY*:              522   TOON:               527
TOON:                341   DXD:                 104
NAN**:              205   NICKTOON:         83
ADSM**:            121   NOGGIN:             65
DXD:                    82   DISCOVERY:        62
NOGGIN:              60   BET:                    61
NICKTOON:          50   ESPN:                  57
DISCOVERY:         33   MTV:                   49
BET:                     30   TLC:                   46
Source: Disney Research from Nielsen Media Research Data Live + SD Data
*Disney Channel is not an ad supported cable network, unlike the others in this listing.
**Denotes a network that broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24hr day.
~Nickelodeon Total Day 6a-11p

Weekly Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported Networks, Total Day and Primetime Rankings among Tweens 9-14 (000) 3/2-3/8/09 :
Total Day    (000)   Primetime      (000)
NICK~:          481     DSNY*:             702
DSNY*:         418     NAN**:             446
NAN**:         306     TOON:               390
TOON:          243     BET:                  117
ADSM**:      173     DISCOVERY:       109
DXD:              62     MTV:                 107
ESPN:             56     ESPN:                 97
MTV:              55     NICKTOON:         58
DISCOVERY:   55     DXD:                  75
BET:               53     THE N:               67
Source: Disney Research from Nielsen Media Research Data Live + SD Data
*Disney Channel is not an ad supported cable network, unlike the others in this listing.
**Denotes a network that broadcasts less than 51% of minutes in a 24hr day.
~Nickelodeon Total Day 6a-11p

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  What is Snuffleupagus’ first name?  ALOYSIUS  Kudos to: Joanna Marutollo-HarperCollins Children’s Books/NY; Ben Taylor-Hit Entertainment/NY; Kerry J. Hughes-Qubo/NY; Steve Kurtzer-Zimmerman/Ft. Lauderdale; Pat Brady-CESD/LA; Claire Wilmut-BOOMSTONE ANIMATION INC./Ottawa; Kristen McGregor-Kids’ CBC/Toronto

Today’s Trivia Question:  This is the opening narrative of what ABC show:  “This is the story of one of America’s great unsung heroes. I mean you’ve seen him but you never knew who he was. You’ve cheered for him and cried for him and women have wanted to die for him. But did he ever get any credit or the girl? No! …”   (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!
03.12.09

Cynopsis Kids Ad Sales:
Chuck Bolkcom – 646-468-6180 / [email protected]
Mark Bohn- 203-583-1224 / [email protected]
Classifieds – Trish Pihonak- 203-926-9878 / [email protected]

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

JOB OPENING: SR. COUNSEL, BUSINESS & LEGAL AFFAIRS/NY: Negotiate production, programming & talent agreements for AMC NETWORK. L.A. Contacts, JD & 8+ yrs ent law experience required / M&A exp a +.  [email protected] (3/19)

JOB OPENING: OFFICE MGR/MGM AD SALES/NY: Mng all aspects of A/R including prep of wkly & monthly accounting reports. Provide sales & admin support to dept. Back up Sales Plan & Traffic Mgrs. Apply www.MGM.jobs #6440 (3/19)

JOB OPENING: TRAFFIC MGR/MGM AD SALES/NY: Resp for proper plcemnt of commercials & copy assgnmnt. Mng prod & reconcil of logs. Liaise betw Ad Agncies, Sls, Mktg & Prog depts to gather fitting copy materials. Apply www.MGM.jobs #6441 (3/19)

JOB OPENING: DEV EXEC/VA: Join team to create and pitch new TV programs, esp character-based. Must have exp in developing factual programs and knowledge of US cable net slates and players. Apply: [email protected] (3/17)

JOB OPENING: VP MARKETING/The Sportsman Channel/Milwaukee WI: Resp for building consumer awareness while overseeing affiliate marketing, media planning & promotions. 7+ yrs exp in TV or digital media. Apply: [email protected] (3/14)

JOB OPENING: ReelzChannel/NYC/ SR TRAFFIC COORDINATOR: Daily log maintenance, prep & delivery 3+ yrs exp. TRAFFIC COORDINATOR: Ensures scheduling commercial materials are executed & trafficked. Both Apply: [email protected] (3/14)

JOB OPENING: PUBLICIST/SR PUBLICIST/MTV/NYC: 3+yrs exp. in TV PR including pitching/story placemnt, events, knwlg online press; Progrming focused; Strng writ/oral comm. skills, EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (3/13)

JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT EXECUTIVE/FISHKILL NY: Seeks AE for local ad sales.1-3 yrs ad sales exp. pref cable tv, radio, e-media adv. Valid NY DL. See full posting and apply to www.cablevision.jobs req 8247BR (3/13)

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] .

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: MARKETING/Urtak.com: user-generated public opinion site. Resp: Prdct dev, mkt expansion, corp svcs, for innovative startup. Work remotely, w/ few meetings in NYC. ~35hrs/wk. Send cv & CL to [email protected] (3/19)

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: PROGRAMMER/Urtak.com: user-generated public opinion site. Resp: prgrm’ing & user interface design for innovative startup. RubyOnRails exp. Work remotely, w/ few NYC meetings. ~35hr/wk. Send cv&CL to [email protected] (3/19)

SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY:  Doc production co. seeks exp’d, orgnzd & energetic JRS/SRS. Driven to gain exp in fast-paced envir. Pls specify “dvlpmnt” or “prod” in app. Resp. incl office, shoot, & post-prod & dvlpmnt asst. Email [email protected] (3/19)

SUMMER INTERNSHIP/CREDITS ONLY: BLOGGER /Picture Earth/NY:Writer(s) sought for EarthFromAboveUSA.com‘s blog, launching April. Relevant degree or experience required. For school credit and/or bylines.Apply: [email protected] (3/13)

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED …  There is no charge for placing your Situation Wanted ad … for more information contact Trish Pihonak at [email protected]

SITUATION WANTED: NON-FICTION PRODUCER/WRITER (STORY & FIELD).10+yrs exp. NBC, VH1, CMT, TLC, E!, Disney, CNN, etc.; reality, ent, news, talk, developmt; LA based, will travel. [email protected] (3/18)

SITUATION WANTED: PRODUCER/ ASSOC. PRODUCER (LA) Out-of-the-box thinker, creative, award- winning, all formats, all genres. Budgets, schedules, breakdowns, crewing, casting, post and more. Over 20 yrs. exp. [email protected] (3/18)

SITUATION WANTED: Top-tier agency ACCOUNT MANAGER/SUPERVISOR seeks full-time employment in LA area. If your agency needs a professional w/ multi-platform technology, entertainment or interactive experience, e-mail [email protected] (3/18)

SITUATION WANTED: SR. MARKETING/BRAND MANAGER with home video, TV, animation and indie film experience is seeking a dynamic opportunity with a Los Angeles area studio or agency. E-Mail [email protected] for a resume (3/18)

SITUATION WANTED: Award winning COMEDY WRITER/PRODUCER in L.A. Credits: WB, UPN, TBS, MTV, Discovery etc. Check out pilot, You’re Joking, Right? at www.justjokesentertainment.com Contact email: [email protected] (3/17)

SITUATION WANTED: WRITER. I’ll gladly write/re-write what you don’t want to write! Summaries; reports; proposals, human resource materials; updates; copy; web content; synopses; and more. Contact Bernie. [email protected] (3/17)

SITUATION WANTED: BRANDED ENTERTAINMENT EXPERT/TELEVISION PRODUCER seeks consulting work, long or short term. Over 15 years experience working with brands, multi-media/faceted talent. Contact: [email protected] (3/17)

SITUATION WANTED: GROW YOUR BUS/MAKE IT THRIVE/NYC: MBA w/15yrs int’l exp: turnaround & startup mgmt, strategic partnerships, negotiating, fundraising. Proj/Consult/FT. Contact: [email protected] (3/17)

SITUATION WANTED: STORY DOCTOR: Are your scripts too weak to make it to the bay? Got a rough-cut on life support? 20+ years crafting nonfic series, specials, sizzles and web content. Contact: [email protected] (LA) (3/17)

SITUATION WANTED: WRITER: Children’s writer with exp at various prod co’s & Kids’ CBC. Portfolio in educational & comedic works for kids. Exp. in development, creative consulting, editing. Freelance. Contact [email protected] (3/14)

SITUATION WANTED: 5 PRIME TIME EMMYS/ DOC. PROD, DIR., WRITER in L.A. Credits: National Geo, PBS, Discovery, History CH, TLC and MSNBC. Contact email: [email protected] (3/13)

SITUATION WANTED: MEDIA/CABLE/INTERNET ATTORNEY: Broad in-house experience in content production& distribution, operations, affiliate & ad sales. Available for project/consultant/full-time. Contact [email protected] (3/13)

SITUATION WANTED: MARKETING/PROMOTIONS/Boston: Marketing/promotions professional seeks television, web marketing, social networking focused position. Experienced in international markets. Creative + will travel. [email protected] (3/13)

E-mail [email protected] or call Trish Pihonak at 203.926.9878 for rates and specs for Job Openings.

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

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