Cynopsis: Kids!

05/13/08

Good morning. It’s Tuesday, May 13, 2008, and this is your first early morning briefing.

Thirteen/WNET will serve as the presenting station for Hit Entertainment’s properties for PBS Kids (preschool shows) and PBS Kids Go (early elementary school kids), under a newly completed long-term deal between the US Public TV Station and Hit Entertainment.  Additionally, Hit and WNET will co-produce Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps, a new CGI series that introduces Angelina Ballerina as she starts at a new school for the performing arts.  Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps is slated to debut weekly on PBS Kids in fall 2009.

This week Nintendo launches its WiiWare, a new service that allows Wii owners download new games (via an internet connections) directly from a range of developers, from big name as well as indie game publishers.  Located within the Wii Shop Channel, the WiiWare service bows with six titles that can be purchased using Wii points (for the first games that means between 500-1500 points, or about $5-$15), with new games added on Mondays, the initial games for the US are: Game title (company, players, rating)

• Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: My Life as a King (Square Enix, 1 player, rated E for Everyone)
• LostWinds (Frontier Development, 1-2 players, rated E)
• Defend your Castle (XGen Studios, 1-4 players, rated E for Everyone)
• Pop (Nnooo, 1-4 players, rated E)
• V.I.P. Casino: Blackjack (High Voltage Software, Inc., 1-4 players, rated T for Teen)
• TV Show King (Gameloft, 1-4 players, rated E)

NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT

There have been endless rumors, but it seems Fraggle Rock is indeed headed to the big screen.  The Weinstein Company (TWC) is working with The Henson Company to bring Jim Henson’s Fraggle Rock to the movies, according to Variety.  Produced by Henson, from a treatment developed by Ahmet Zappa and slated be written/directed by Cory Edwards (Hoodwinked), the movie will be distributed by TWC.  The movie will be executive produced by Zappa and Brian Inerfeld.

Simon, Alvin and Theodore will return in Fox’s sequel, Alvin and the Chipmunks II, currently slated for a march 19, 2010 release, per Variety.  A co-production between Fox 2000 and New Regency, so far actor Jason Lee, who portrayed the Chipmunks’ manager Dave Seville, has not signed on.

MORE KIDS STUFF

DreamWorks Animation’s feature film Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa will be released in Imax around the world on November 7, 2008, under a newly expanded deal with Imax Corporation.  Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa will be the fifth DreamWorks Animation feature film in Imax between June 2008-May 2010.  The other four DreamWorks Animation feature films slated for release in the Imax format are, Kung Fu Panda (June 6, 2008), and the studio’s first 3-D movie titles, Monsters vs. Aliens (March 27, 2009), How to Train Your Dragon (November 2009), and Shrek Goes Fourth (May 2010).

Nickelodeon premieres the new TV movie, Polar Bears, starring The Naked Brothers Band on their first concert tour, on Friday, June 6, at 8p.  Polar Bears episode takes place during the band’s stop in New Orleans during which they witness the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina and as they explore the related climate change issues, leading the group to raise money to help prevent the extinction of polar bears.  Polar Bears also features the debut of three of the band’s newest songs.  Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment will release the movie on DVD on Tuesday, June 17, which will include four music videos.  The episode is part of the network’s effort to feature green themes in it’s programming as part its initiative The Big Green Help.

Taffy Entertainment inks a broadcast deal with Televisa for the free TV rights in Mexico for the animated series Growing Up Creepie (52×11) and The Fantastic Four (26×26).  The deal was completed in partnership with Hola Entertainment, Taffy’s agent in Latin America.

Liberation Entertainment inks a multi-territory DVD distribution pact with Jetix Consumer Products for classic Marvel Entertainment animated series.  Under the deal Liberation holds the exclusive DVD rights for Marvel’s character-based animated series, including Spider-Man, The Incredible Hulk, X-Men, The Fantastic Four, Silver Surfer and Spider Woman, across the UK and Ireland, Benelux, Germany and German-speaking Austria, Switzerland, Denmark, Norway, Sweden and Finland.  Jetix Consumer Products is the licensing arm of Jetix Europe.

Nelvana Enterprises completes additional post-MIPTV broadcast sales for several series.  The Future is Wild (26 episodes) has been acquired by to RTL2 (Germany), Luk International (Spain and Portugal), RTBF (Belgium), YLE2 (Scandinavia) and Animal Planet in Latin America; Willa’s Wild Life (26 episodes) is picked up by Discovery Kids in Latin America; furthermore Pearlie (26 episodes) and Z-Squad (26 episodes) goes to De Agostini (Italy).

MARKETING/LICENSING

Universal Studios Consumer Products Group is set to support the spring 2009 release of the feature film The Wolfman with a specialty licensing and promotions program, with a focus on the collectibles market.  The movie property will be showcased at the Licensing Show.  The new version of The Wolfman film, the original Lon Chaney, Jr. version released in 1941, stars Benicio De Toro and Anthony Hopkins and is directed by Joe Johnston (Jumanji, Jurassic Park III) and features makeup by Rick Baker.

Kids’ WB on The CW and Cookie Jar Entertainment team for a watch and win promotion to support Cookie Jar’s new online role-play game Magi-Nation: Battle for the Moonlands, which is based on the animated Magi-Nation series that airs as part of the Kids’ WB Saturday morning block at 7:30a.  Viewers who find five secret code words during Kids WB this Saturday, May 17 (7a-12p), and then enter them on www.CW4Kids.com will be entered into a drawing to win pre-paid game cards featuring in-game currency, which will allow them to enhance their online game.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Hasbro Inc. appoints Bennett Schneir to the new position of SVP and Managing Director, Motion Pictures.  Schneir, most recently VP/Creative Affairs, Robert Zemeckis’ production company ImageMovers Digital, will focus on the company’s new multi-year partnership with Universal Pictures, which includes at least four movies based on Hasbro brands.  Schneir will work in tandem with Lisa Licht, who recently joined Hasbro as its GM/Entertainment and Licensing.

iSorpresa! promotes Maria Badillo to SVP/Programming.  Badillo, who joined the network last year as VP/Programming, previously toiled for Discovery Kids Network Latin America, as well as for Univision, X-EIPN Channel 11 (Mexico City), Palmera Films, and MTV Networks Latin America, among others.

Copyright Promotions Licensing Group (CPLG) promotes two in its Product Design (PD) team.  Marianne Kittinger is upped to Head of Design/Europe, from her role as Product Development Manager, UK.  Kittinger will work on corporate branding, overseeing the PD team and process across all offices.  Taking the reins from Kittinger is Stacy Scimia, who becomes Product Development Manager, UK.  Scimia will oversee product development for both entertainment and sport in the UK office

RATINGS

Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Friday, May 9, 2008, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON:         K2-11 1176; K6-11 532; TWEENS 9-14 420
DISNEY CHANNEL:     K2-11   634; K6-11 398; TWEENS 9-14 353
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11   439; K6-11 262; TWEENS 9-14 194
TOON DISNEY:           K2-11   134; K6-11   71; TWEENS 9-14   41
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data

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Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question:  On the animated series Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks, what was the name of the farm in Ireland where Piggley, as a youngster, lived with his Mom, Dad and sister? RALOO FARM   Kudos to:  Sarah Donnell-Simon & Schuster/NY; Heather Hargrave-Breakthru Marketing/Lafayette, LA; Marc D. Grossmann-Taffy Entertainment/Woodland Hills, CA;  Pat Brady-Cunningham*Escott*Slevin*Doherty/LA

Today’s Trivia Question: What is the name of the fictional president of the United States on the Disney Channel show Cory in the House?   (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!
05.13.08

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JOB OPENING: AFFIL MKTG MGR/Versus/PHIL: Work w/ Dir, Consumer & Affil Marketing & Comcast Corporate to drive affiliate distribution & build value. Read more/apply: (60610BR) www.versus.com (5/20)

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SUMMER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: WordWorld Consumer Products (unpaid) Internship: 3days/ wk for DB setup/maintenance, product inventory, trade show prep, market research, admin support.  Send resume to: [email protected]    (5/20)

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SITUATION WANTED:  MKTG CONSULTANT: Accomplished 23 yr Advrtsng Mktg Veteran exp’d in writing Mrktg Prgrms, with Sales Promotion, Direct Mktg, Strategy Dvlpmnt.
Will consider agency & freelance assignments: Contact [email protected] (5/15)

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