Cynopsis: Kids!

05/29/08

Good morning. It’s Thursday, May 29, 2008, and this is your first early morning briefing.

The Walt Disney Studios inks a multi-year deal with writer/producer/actor Ahmet Zappa, Harris Katleman, former CEO of Fox TV, and Christian Beranek, a writer/editor and founder of publishing company Silent Devil, to oversee the recently established Kingdom Comics.  Kingdom Comics is a new venture that will develop graphic novels to then adapt for the big screen, while also re-imagining and breathing new life into existing live-action Disney movies as new graphic novel.  Additionally, Zappa is currently serving as executive producer on the Fraggle Rock movie with The Jim Henson Company.

Half-Pint to sing her way through life on the prairie.  Melissa Gilbert joins the cast of the musical adaptation of Little House on the Prairie, which opens this August (previews in July) at the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis, according to Variety.  Gilbert, who played Laura Ingalls Wilder on the NBC series, will play Ma in this version.  Featuring music by Rachel Portman and lyrics by Donna DiNovelli, the musical is being directed by Francesca Zambello (The Little Mermaid) from a book by Rachel Sheinkin (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee).  I’m just hopping that Nellie gets a great and humorous mean-girl song.

MORE KIDS STUFF

Nickelodeon plans to launch the recently announced new 3D CGI animated preschool TV series Olivia (26×30) during first quarter 2009.  Based on author/illustrator Ian Falconer’s Olivia books, which are published by Simon & Schuster, the books revolve around Olivia, a strong-willed young pig with unending energy.  Produced under a partnership between Nickelodeon and Chorion, Olivia is being animated by Brown Bag Films.  Simon Spotlight and Simon Scribbles, both imprints of Simon and Schuster, are developing a TV tie-in program across various formats (e.g. storybooks, novelty, coloring books) that are set to launch in late 2009.

PBS Kids Sprout introduces Summer Fun Fridays, a three hour programming block that will run Fridays 12n-3p, June 20-August 29.  The block will feature the world premiere of the preschool series Frances, from The Jim Henson Company and HIT Entertainment, on June 20 at 12n.  Based on the classic Russell Hoban books about Frances, a precocious and high-spirited badger, the series is produced using Henson Digital Puppetry Studio, a proprietary 3D animation technology that allows puppeteers to provide movement and voice in real time.  Additional summer Fun Fridays programming will include the animated series Brambly Hedge, Sesame Street’s Panwapa and Percy the Park Keeper.

For its 2008-9 season qubo will debut two series from Scholastic Media:

• Turbo Dogs – a new original 3D animated series based on the Racer Dogs book by Bob Kolar.  Targeted to young kids, Turbo Dogs focuses on the concepts of direction, distance and time, while also underlining cooperation and fair play.
• Sammy’s Story Shop – is an anthology series produced by Scholastic’s Weston Woods Studio.  With a focus on imaginative play and storytelling, Sammy’s Story Shop is comprised of a series of classic kid’s book titles such as Snowy Day, Make Way For Ducklings, Harold and the Purple Crayon and Tikki Tikki Tembo.
• qubo will also debut new episodes of several of its current series from Classic Media and Corus Entertainment.
• Meanwhile this fall the qubo Channel, a 24/7 network, will expand its programming line-up to a 12-hour block, which repeats once during the day.  New programming for the network’s schedule will be announced soon.

Disney Channel Spain will launch on free Digital Terrestrial TV (DTT) as an ad-supported channel on Tuesday, July 1, 2008.  Spain’s DTT platform will officially replace analog terrestrial TV to become the standard in 2010.  Disney Channel originally debuted on pay cable in 1998.

AddictingGames (www.addictinggames.com), a unit of Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group, and Verizon Wireless are joining to offer Qwikies to Verizon Wireless customers.  AddictingGames’ Qwikies are flash-based mini-games, including titles such as Fling the Ferret, 50 States, Flip the Bird, Escape the Locker, Fly Squasher, Whack a Mole, Jungle Gym, among other original titles.

MARKETING/LICENSING

Canada’s 9 Story Entertainment names The Licensing Shop to serve as its exclusive worldwide (excluding Germany) licensing and merchandising rep.  The Licensing Shop will showcase two K6-11 targeted animated properties, Almost Naked Animals (52×11) and Best Ed (52×11), next month at 2008 International Licensing Show.  The initial licensing and merchandising plan aims to exploit both series across product categories including social expression, novelty toys, publishing, apparel and video games.

Brandolution will attend the International Licensing Show in June where it will be looking for licensing partners for The Jim Henson Company’s new animated preschool series Sid the Science Kid (40×30).  Also produced through Henson Digital Puppetry Studio, Sid the Science Kid will premiere September 1, 2008 on PBS Kids.

Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising has granted WowWee Group Limited the worldwide rights to market the Fox Sports Robot, which is the character that appears during NFL games broadcast on Fox.  WowWee will develop and market robotic figures and electronic accessories based on the FOX Sports Robot, with the first products expected to bow in 2009.  Come to think of it, the Fox Sports Robot kind of looks like WowWee’s Robosapien.

Buena Vista Concerts and AEG Live unveil plans for the Disney Music Block Party Tour (www.disneymusicblockpartytour.com), a kid/family-targeted festival style live concert series featuring a range of artists.  Sponsored by Playskool and NAMM, the afternoon concert events will also feature variety of on-site activities, including: trying out new toys at Playskool’s Play Experience area; make their own music at NAMM’s Wanna Play? Musical instrument area; games; dance floors; and a tent where kids can watch Playhouse Disney.  The 23-date national concert tour kicks off Friday, July 25 in New Jersey. Participating artists on select dates will include They Might Be Giants, Imagination Movers, Barenaked Ladies, Dan Zanes, Ralph’s World, and Choo Choo Soul, and special guest host Raven-Symone.

Disney Book Group plans to release a behind-the-scenes book from the Jonas Brothers tour.  Published under the Disney-Hyperion Books imprint, the book is slated to publish in fall 2008.

RATINGS

Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Saturday, May 24, 2008, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON:         K2-11 1205; K6-11 803; TWEENS 9-14 620
DISNEY CHANNEL:     K2-11 1011; K6-11 662; TWEENS 9-14 507
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11   483; K6-11 332; TWEENS 9-14 292
TOON DISNEY:           K2-11   109; K6-11   64; TWEENS 9-14   36
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data

Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Sunday, May 25, 2008, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON:         K2-11 1072; K6-11 752; TWEENS 9-14 614
DISNEY CHANNEL:     K2-11   894; K6-11 617; TWEENS 9-14 486
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11   452; K6-11 326; TWEENS 9-14 237
TOON DISNEY:           K2-11   140; K6-11   70; TWEENS 9-14   43
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data

Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  On the first season of the animated series The Real Ghostbusters (1986-1991) who provided the voice of Winston Zeddmore? (Hint: He later hosted a late-night talk show) ARSENIO HALL    Kudos to:  Christopher Byrne-Byrne Communications, Inc./The Toy Guy®/NY; EJ Offurum-Tru TV/NY; Earl Dozier-Boardroom, Inc/.Stamford, CT; Kyle Luna-Animation Insider/Tobyhanna, PA; Craig Miller-Wolfmill Entertainment/LA

Today’s Trivia Question:  Nicole Julian and Mary Cherry were cheerleaders on what teen comedy-drama?  (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!
05.29.08

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