Cyn opsis: Kids!
10/10/06
Good morning. It’s Tuesday, October 10, 2006 and this is your first early morning Kids! briefing.
This is MIPCOM week, so we’ll dive right in with a handful of updates from both MIPCOM and MIPCOM Jr. –
MoonScoop, the European animation producer, and Classic Media have teamed-up to produce and distribute a brand new Casper the Friendly Ghost animated series. Additionally, India’s DQ Entertainment, a 2D/3D and flash animation company, has joined as a co-production partner and the series will be developed with TF1 in France. The new Casper series will have 52 eleven minute episodes, and is set to begin production in February 2007. Distribution of the new series will be shared between the co-production partners. A newly completed CGI animated movie, Casper’s Scare School, which features a bunch of celebrity voices, is slated to premier on Cartoon Network US later this year.
Taffy Entertainment has entered into a co-production deal with Korean broadcaster EBS and France 5, for its new preschool series Lamimila (65×7′), produced by MoonScoop and Characterplan. Targeted to preschoolers, Lamimila aims to get kids to use their imagination and develop observational skills to tell their own stories. The series is expected to deliver fall 2007. Lamimila has simultaneously been developed with a range of books, sticker, activity kids, music CDs and games. Taffy Entertainment, the brand management company for animation companies MoonScoop and Mike Young Productions.
AOL’s KOL has signed deals to pick up two new properties for their respective US kids and teen online services, and AOL RED has signed one distribution deal:
- Scary Fairies from UK based Groovy Distribution LTD. Based on Martin Butler’s characters and stories, Scary Fairies follows the adventures of both good and bad fairies, all with attitude. The series, which will bow in 2007, is being introduced by KOL at MIPCOM.
- The Goober Brothers, a live-action series from New Zealand that can be seen now on KOL. Beginning in 2007, KOL will present 32 new episodes of the series, which is currentLY in its third season, as well as Goober games and downloads.
- AOL RED has signed a distribution deal with MoMedia International for a collection of Chubby Butter cartoons to the international mobile market. The plan is to make about 30 x 1-3 minute available to 100+ operators for distribution in 35+ countries. Currently available at
www.chubbybutter.com , the cartoons include Bezerkari and Gene the Boy Genie.
Dargaud Distribution has inked a deal with Japanese broadcaster TV Tokyo to acquire the TV, home video and merchandising rights to Naruto (104 x 26′) for French and Dutch-speaking territories in Europe. The series is slated to debut on Cartoon Network France on October 25 and on France 3 in 2007. Prior to this Naruto aired on Game One. Naruto is a co-production between TV Tokyo, Pierrot, the animation studio, and Shueisha, the publisher of the original manga comic-books. Dargaud Distribution’s parent company Group Dargaud publishes the Naruto comic books through its subsidiary Kana in France, where 1+ million copies of the manga was sold from January-September 2006.
When the new kid’s broadcaster Canal KITZ TV launches in Spain on November 1, 2006, it will do so with programming from Icon Animation. KITZ TV has acquired a number of animated preschool series (100+ hours of programming) from Icon Animation including Postman Pat (52×15′ + 4×30′), Hilltop Hospital (52×11′) and Boohbah (104×20′) which are represented by Icon Animation in Spain. Icon Animation, which is based in Spain, also recently acquired worldwide rights to Olympig (52×2′) from Maga Animation, the series is also part of the KITZ TV package. Other Icon Animation titles acquired by KITZ include: Lazy Lucy (52×5′); Loui (78×7′); 64 Zoo Lane (52×11′); Pablo the Little Red Fox (52×5′); The Gnoufs (52×13′); Planet Grabo (26×13′) from Millimages, and Meme & Mr Bobo (33×26′) from its own library. KITZ TV is part of Teuve’s host of themed TV channels.
The action/adventure anime series ZatchBell! (78 x 30′) has been picked up by Spanish broadcaster TVE for broadcast from October 2006. The deal was brokered by brand management group, Elastic Rights. The series already airs in Spain on pay TV channel Jetix, which has acquired an addition 26 new episodes of the series. Targeted to K7-14, ZatchBell! is produced by Toei Animation. Elastic Rights expects to announce licensing and merchandising deals in Spain for ZatchBell soon.
Mainframe Entertainment, Inc.’s live-action kid’s series, Harriet the Spy (22 x 30′), is set to premiere on Discovery Kids in the US. Protocol Entertainment serves as a producer of the series with Mainframe’s Rick Mischel and 2 Friends Entertainment’s Wendy Moss Klein and Nancy Steingard. The series is based on the original book, Harriet the Spy by author Louise Fitzhugh.
NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT
Classic Media, a US-based private owner of kids and family entertainment, and Premavision, Inc., owner of one of my fav clay characters, Gumby, have entered into a long-term joint venture. Classic Media will manage the U.S. and international television, feature film, home video, digital media and promotional rights for Gumby, Pokey and their clay friends, which includes the existing library of 223 TV episodes and the 1995 movie. It will co-license all merchandising rights with Heat Licensing. Clokey Productions will serve as producer on all future Gumby productions. Currently, the companies are developing a new direct-to-video movie, slated for release in 2008, and an all-new TV series. Several new licensing, marketing and promotional partnerships will be announced throughout the end of the year and into first-quarter 2007.
VOOM HD Networks’ Gameplay HD, a hi-def video game network, will add three new series to its programming lineup. The shows, In Play, Raw Play and the Gameplay Documentary Series, are set to roll out this fall and into 1Q 2007.
- In Play (4 x 30 min) – In Play features gameplay highlights from popular PC and Xbox 360 video games featuring 3D HD graphics. The series premieres this month and airs throughout November.
- Raw Play (8 x 120′) – The show is designed to provide viewers the over-the-shoulder view of play of a gamer, and thereby learn the right and wrong way to play the game from start-to-finish. Raw Play premieres in November with new episodes airing through the end of the year.
- Gameplay Documentary Series (4 x 60′) – This series looks into the gaming industry and the folks behind the games, including interviews with industry legends and the gaming phenomena.
MORE KIDS STUFF
Anime Network has inked new carriage deals for its subscription-based video-on-demand (SVOD) service with three MSO’s: Insight Communications and RCN systems, as well as Cogeco Cable Inc.’s Ontario. Anime Channel began its launch on Insight Communications in September with the first of a three-stage system roll-out, while RCN will debut the channel system wide this month, followed by Cogeco Cable Inc. Ontario in November.
Getting into the holiday spirit, for real, the hosts of G4’s series X-Play will choose the Scariest Game of all Time, airing Wednesday, October 25, 3p. Hosts Morgan Webb and Adam Sessler will choose the scariest game from a list of ten video game titles – none of which are for kids: (in no particular order) Fear; Fatale Frame 2; Resident Evil 4; Silent Hill; Eternal Darkness; Undying; Siren; Clock Tower; Alone in the Dark; System Shock 2. G4 is also set to premiere its new original reality series, The Block, in January 2007. The series is set in the Lake Tahoe hotel The Block, the first hotel chain that caters to all things snowboard related, which was founded by famed snowboarder Marc Frank Montoya and hotelier Liko Smith. G4’s cameras and crew will spend the winter soaking in the full snowboarding experience and lifestyle. Given the various accessories each guest room is appointed with, I’m thinking the show will feature lots of boarding, amazing stunts, and heavy duty partying.
MARKETING/LICENSING
Warner Bros. Consumer Products has appointed Thinkway Toys as the master toy licensee for the Scooby-Doo franchise. Under the deal Thinkway Toys will introduce a new line of toys based on Scooby-Doo and those meddling kids. The Thinkway line will feature action figures as well as remote controlled vehicles, plush and talking themed plush figures and a range of preschool toys. Additional toys include mini vehicles, a camera featuring Scooby-Doo scenes with talking sound effects and a flip cell phone with Scooby-Doo voice and sound effects. Thinkway will introduce the line a Toy Fair 2007 in NYC, with the products expected to be available from fall 2007.
Disney Channel has inked a pan-European deal, a first for the channel, to provide mobile content to Orange, the mobile service that will offer the kid content to customers in the UK, Belgium, Switzerland, Portugal, Poland, Holland, Romania, Slovakia and eventually in France. Disney Channel service will feature 65-120 minute programming loops including episodes of That’s So Raven, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody, Kim Possible and Disney’s Recess. Additionally, video clips of other programs such as Hannah Montana will also be available.
In other Disney mobile news, Buena Vista International Television and France Telecom-Orange have extended their existing broadband VOD movie licensing deal in France across other markets in Europe. Under the deals, Orange VOD subscribers in Spain and TPSA VOD subscribers in Poland will be able to watch Disney, Touchstone and Miramax movies including, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and its upcoming sequel The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian.
As part of its branding campaign Habbo, the teen-targeted online social network, will premiere animated music videos featuring member-created content later this month. Music videos for recording artists Jeannie Ortega’s song, Crowded (Hollywood Records) and Lady Sovereign’s music video for Gatheration (Universal Def Jam) are slated to bow mid-October and October 24 respectively. For each of the music videos feature members developed scenes featuring their own Habbo characters, which were then edited into animated videos for each of the artists. The videos featuring Habbo member created content will be played on Habbo and featured at Ortega and Sovereign’s upcoming concerts.
STONE SOUP
Weekend Box Office for kids/tweens/teens rated G, PG or PG-13, October 68, 2006:
Open Season (Sony / Columbia) PG $15.6m-2 wk total $43.8m
Employee of the Month (Lionsgate) PG-13 Opening Weekend $11.4m
The Guardian (Buena Vista) PG-13 $9.6m-2 wk total $32.3m
School for Scoundrels (MGM (Weinstein) PG-13 $3.4m-2 wk total $14.0m
Jet Li’s Fearless (Rogue Pictures) PG-13 $2.3m-3 wk total $21.8m
Gridiron Gang (Sony / Columbia) PG-13 $2.2m-4 wk total $36.6m
The Illusionist (Yari Film Group) PG-13 $1.9m-8 wk total $34.1m
Flyboys (MGM) PG-13 $1.0m-3 wk total $11.8m
Facing the Giants (IDP) PG $1.0m-2 wk total $2.7m
The Covenant (Sony/Screen Gems) PG-13 $417,436-5 wk total $23.1m
Source: Box Office Mojo
EXECUTIVE MOVES
Andrew Berman has been appointed EVP/GM, TMS Entertainment USA, INC., a producer/distributor of animation. Marking his return to TMS, Berman will be responsible for the North American operations for TMS, overseeing the sales and marketing for the animation library as well as further expanding the existing business of TMS and SEGA Corporation relating to entertainment programming. Most recently, Berman served as EVP, IDT Entertainment where he formed its international sales division (now known as Starz Media). Prior to that, he held positions in distribution at MGM and New World Pictures as well as a previous 10 year stint with TMS. TMS Entertainment, INC is an affiliate of SEGA Corporation.
RATINGS
Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Thursday, October 5, 2006, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON: K2-11 922; K6-11 424; TWEENS 9-14 308
DISNEY CHANNEL: K2-11 734; K6-11 441; TWEENS 9-14 378
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11 519; K6-11 318; TWEENS 9-14 233
TOON DISNEY: K2-11 120; K6-11 56; TWEENS 9-14 37
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data
Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Friday, October 6, 2006, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON: K2-11 1120; K6-11 531; TWEENS 9-14 386
DISNEY CHANNEL: K2-11 895; K6-11 594; TWEENS 9-14 499
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11 635; K6-11 454; TWEENS 9-14 293
TOON DISNEY: K2-11 106; K6-11 65; TWEENS 9-14 45
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data
Answer to Friday’s Trivia Question: Tiger was the dog on the Brady Bunch, but what was the cat’s name? FLUFFY WAS THE CAT, ONLY SEEN IN THE FIRST EPISODE! Kudos to: Nancy Pines-Harrison and Star/NY; David Danowski-DIC Entertainment/NY; Richard Oren-4Kids Entertainment/NY; Ali Farsun-Alcone Marketing Group/Darien CT; Kevin Schmidt-National Cable Communications/Chicago; Eric Covert-Disney ABC Cable Networks Group/Burbank; Sandra Dibble-Ice Box Advertising/Van Nuys CA; Rachel Capata -Kauff McClain & McGuire LLP; Megan Capata-Universal McCANN/LA
Today’s Trivia Question: What was the chef’s name at Camp Stalag 13? (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!
10.10.06
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JOB OPENING: WEB PRODUCER/DISNEY/North Hollywood, CA: Responsible for budgeting, scheduling, asset sourcing. Track/coordinate development of products, report progress to mgmt. TO APPLY: www.disneycareers.com search JOB ID: 35770 (10/17)
JOB OPENING: SR WEBSITE MGR, INT’L MKTG/A&E TV Networks, NY: Mng B2B & sales sites. Oversee mktg brnds online, events & community initiatives & minisites. Web Design deg; 5+yrs web exp. Mac & PC flatforms. Res: [email protected] (10/17)
JOB OPENING: EXEC. ANALYST/STRATEGIC SALES /Discovery Comm./NY: Help to limit liability on 5 DCI Nets. Maintain Acct Info in Acct. Budgeting System. Execute ad hoc reports; Proficient in Excel. Apply: www.discovery.com Req#4562 (10/17)
JOB OPENING: GLOBAL AD SALES PLANNER/SPT International Networks/Culver City: Prefer bilingual(Spanish/English) candidate. Marketing & research skills req. Apply: www.sonypicturesjobs.com under Sales & Sales Planning. EOE (10/14)
JOB OPENING: DIR, STANDARDS & PRACTICES/Discovery, MD: Ensure on-air content complies w/corp. policies; maintain S&P for DCI networks/platforms. BA & min 5 yrs mgr. exp. Ad Sales/Comm Cl. a +. Apply www.discovery.com #3909 (10/14)
JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/KUVN 23/ KSTR 49 /DALLAS: Compile & analyze Nielsen ratings data & syndicated market research info. Min 2 yrs research/ marketing/sales exp. Bilingual (Engl/ Span) is pref. [email protected] EOE (10/14)
JOB OPENING: SALES PLAN’R/Ecast/San Fran: Create presentations & media plans, steward accts, coord w/ mrktng, creative & research teams. 2yrs exp media plnn’g/buyer; Exc comm skills.. Res/Sal Req’d: Res: [email protected] (10/14)
JOB OPENING: MGR MKTG & SALES SUPPORT/DIC Entertainment/LA: 4+ yrs exp. Mktg programs, promos, events, trade advtg, presentations, sales support materials. Strong comm skills. Cons Prod exp a+. [email protected] (10/14)
JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/CBS/LA: Assist in the preparation of research studies, reports, & related analysis dealing w/ nat’l viewing trends. Please apply online: www.cbscareers.com & ref job number 1709. (10/14)
JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR ONLINE DATA STRATEGY & ANALYSIS/Current TV-SF: Stats or Mathematics, Web Analytics, Online Data Mining & Enterprise Reporting. Email resume to [email protected]. Full description at www.current.tv/jobs EOE (10/14)
JOB OPENING: PRODUCERS /Nationally syndicated TV show/Chicago: Must be able to book real people stories. Talk and/or Court TV experience a plus. Fax resume to 877-721-9191 or e-mail to [email protected] (10/13)
JOB OPENING: WRITER/ASSOCIATE PRODUCER – RADIO, MTV Tr3s/NYC: 2+yrs exp writing news, Strng knwldge Latin Pop/HipHop, Writ/Oral fluency in Eng/Spanish, Exp interviewing Musicians/Celebs EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (10/13)
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JOB OPENING: DIR. ACQ./Current TV-SF: Oversee team tasked with acquiring compelling, smart content for 18-34 demo. Strong negotiating skills, good creative sensibilities essential. Email [email protected] “Dir. Acq.” as subj. EOE (10/12)
JOB OPENING: ACCT MGR/AS&M/NY: work w/ regional acct team & key internal execs in the dev. of integrated mkting plan/mkting strategy.Capitalize on sales opprtnty & help meet aff. rev./dist. goals. Apply : www.mtvncareers.com EOE (10/12)
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JOB OPENING: DIR OF RESEARCH & ANALYTICS/Major Ad Agency/NY & LA: 5-8yrs exp. Devl’p various research analyses, POVs and white papers. Strong writing and presentation skills. Will relocate. [email protected] (10/12)
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JOB OPENING: SR. MANAGER AD SALES MARKETING/Comcast Spotlight , NY: Create, execute, fulfill and track promotional opportunities across multiple media platforms. Send resume to www.comcast.com – req #36611 (10/11)
JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, AD SALES MARKETING/Comcast Spotlight, NY: Oversee corporate marketing & brand initiatives, act as liaison w/ field. Must have cable/media marketing experience. Send resume to www.comcast.com – req #36454 (10/11)
JOB OPENING: AUTOMOTIVE MEDIA BUYER/W. Palm Beach: Dealer advertising agency seeks buyer w/ auto dealer exp. Degree & 5yrs. exp. Knwldg of NSI, ARB, MediaPro & Strata. Competitive salary/benefits. Resumes: [email protected] (10/11)
JOB OPENING: EMERGING PLATFORMS CONTENT MGR /DISNEY BURBANK: Mgr coordinates programming/scheduling of Disney TV content on platforms like broadband, itunes, mobile, SVOD; creates and implements windowing strat. www.disneycareers.com (10/11)
JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, CABLE SALES/NBC Universal/Chicago: 5+ yrs in media sales. Lead Cable Ent sales team towards revenue goals. Established client/agency relationships a plus. Apply www.nbcunicareers.com , job 545142 (10/11)
JOB OPENING: DIR, PRODUCTION FINANCE/Court TV/NY: Prod Finance exp, ideally as Dir, in similar ntwrk environment: Deal w/external prod cos., original prod’s, daytime newslike prgrmng. P’Soft & Hyperion a+. [email protected] (10/11)
JOB OPENING: CONTROLLER INDUSTRY EXP/Court TV/NY: Industry experience in similar network environment. CPA & 10+ yrs Acctg. & Fin. exp., Implementation exp. desirable. P’Soft & Hyperion. [email protected] (10/11)
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FALL INTERNSHIP/CREDITS ONLY: Music Licensing Co.(LA) seeks ASSISTANT TO OWNER, possible permanent position. Mac saavy, avid music interest, organizational skills, good phone personality. Email resumes: [email protected] (10/13)
SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED —
SITUATION WANTED: Passionate Duke grad seeks ENTERTAINMENT POSITION. Experience at LA talent agency. Excellent written/oral communication skills. Dartmouth Business Bridge alum. Wants work in Chicago. Contact Rachel at [email protected] (10/14)
SITUATION WANTED: MARKETING/SALES DIRECTOR/ATL: with over 10yrs, product, brand mkt’g and sales development. Excellent oral, written and interpersonal skills. Leadership with a hands-on approach. [email protected] (10/14)
SITUATION WANTED: MARKETING COORDINATOR/ATL: 4yrs. Exp. in mkt’g & promotions w/entertainment & media industry bkgrd. Legal & biz affairs knowledge. Team player w/negotiation, presentation & comm. skills. [email protected] (10/12)
SITUATION WANTED: AWARD-WINNING ASSOCIATE PRODUCER seeks position in live or live-to-tape environment. Strong writing and production background. [email protected] (10/7)
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