Cynopsis: Kids!
12/05/07
Good morning. It’s Wednesday, December 5, 2007, and this is your first early morning.
The Walt Disney Internet Group acquires iParenting Media (iParenting.com), which provides professional and user-generated content to its online community of new and soon-to-be parents in English and Spanish. iParenting’s content and services will be integrated into Disney’s network of family-targeted sites, which includes Family.com, FamilyFun.com and Wondertime.com. Terms of the deal were not disclosed. iParenting was founded by Chicago-based Alvin All and Elisa Ast All in 1996 during their first pregnancy. Elisa Ast All is currently iParenting’s Editor-in-Chief, as well as authoring a monthly newspaper column and serves as co-host of a weekly radio show, Points on Parenting, on Chicago’s WTMX.
NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT
BKN New Media, a unit of BKN International A.G., has inked a new US$1.9 million production deal with Italy’s Cartoon One S.r.l., under which the two will co-produce a new property titled Stone Age (52×11). Stone Age will be co-produced at BKN’s digital and HD studios in London and Barcelona and Cartoon One’s studio in Rome.
Cosgrove Hall Films has entered into a license pact with Nickelodeon UK, under which it will produce the short-form animated series Eddie Retractorhead (10×1), exclusively for Nick UK. Eddie Retractorhead is currently slated to debut on the network in 2008. The series follows the oddball adventures of Eddie, a guy who wants nothing more than to be famous. Eddie lives in an inflatable pie house with his best buddy, Blam Blob, in Area 52, a place where only the weirdest folks reside.
Kuju Entertainment, the UK-based indie game developer that operates six studios, has launched NiK NaK, a new studio that will focus on creating games specifically for K6-12 for all platforms. NiK NaK will only develop games that will carry ESRB ratings of E (Everyone) and 10+ or under (in the UK PEGI rated 7+ games or below). NiK NaK is working on its first series of games, which will be announced in early 2008.
MORE KIDS STUFF
Gaia Online, the teen-targeted online community, has inked separate license deals with Sony Pictures Television and Warner Bros. Under the deal, each month visitors to Gaia, which currently number 2.5 million/month, will have access to a mix of pay-per-view ($1.99/per viewing) and ad-supported free programming content, with the new pacts providing teens with a range of the titles via the virtual Gaia Online Cinema. Sony programming content will include movie titles such as Spider-Man, Gattaca and Ghost Rider, with TV programming set to include titles from The Minisode Network, AXN and Funnybones channels. The deal also sees Sony pictures taking a minority stake investment in Gaia. The Warner Bros. deal will include The Matrix, Risky Business, and Ace Ventura: Pet Detective. Superman 2 & 3 among others. The Gaia Online Cinema debuted earlier this year with public domain movies (e.g. Night of the Living Dead).
Chellomedia and Hit Entertainment’s new preschool-targeted channel JimJam, launches this week in Central and Eastern Europe. The two companies’ Zone Media will air it in Poland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Slovakia and Romania on cable and satellite. The channel will be dubbed in both local languages and in English. JimJam will debut in Western Europe in 2008 beyond its current airing in Italy.
PBS Kids and PBS Kids Go! celebrate the holidays throughout December (check local listings) with holiday and winter themed episodes of programs including Dragon Tales, Teletubbies, Franny’s Feet, mama Mirabelle’s Home Movies, Clifford’s Puppy Days, and Arthur among others.
Gameloft, a publisher/developer of video games for mobile phones, is set to debut its popular Brain Challenge game to the Xbox Live Arcade for the Xbox 360 in early 2008. Brian Challenge aims to boost brain activity, while also helping players develop stress-management skills via various games. And just like the modern world there are personal coaches to help players develop their cognitive function abilities (e.g. logic, math, memory and visual thinking). Additionally, Xbox Live Arcade, Brain Challenge will soon be available on iPod, Nintendo DS and PC, each game will be specially formatted and adapted to for the respective platforms. Now if they can only get the Halo characters to make their way into Brain Challenge (don’t tell my kids I made such a mother-like suggestion). Brain Challenge was initially released on mobile carrier decks in 2006, with sales reaching 1.5 million units so far, which was followed by Brain Challenge vol. 2 Stress Management.
MARKETING/LICENSING
Spider-Man Merchandising L.P. expands the merchandising program for the new animated TV series The Spectacular Spider-Man (26×30), which will bow in early 2008 on the Kids WB!, the Saturday morning block on The CW Network. New licensing deals for the Spectacular Spider-Man across various categories include: Hallmark (social expressions), AME (sleepwear/loungewear), KIDdesigns (electronics), Mad Engine (t-shirts) and Mega Brands (toys). Based on Marvel Entertainment’s popular Spider-Man super hero, The Spectacular Spider-Man is produced by Culver Entertainment, a Sony Pictures Television Company. Spider-Man Merchandising is a limited partnership between Sony Pictures Consumer Products and Marvel Entertainment.
EXECUTIVE MOVES
Russ Berrie and Co., Inc. has appointed Bruce G. Crain as CEO, President and a member of the board of directors. Crain takes over the reins from Andrew R Gatto, who has retired, but will continue to serve as a consultant with the company during the transition period. Crain joins Russ Berrie from Blyth, Inc., a home decor and gift products company where he spent the last 10 years, most recently as Group President/Wholesale Group worldwide and as SVP and a member of the office of the chairman. Crain has also served as a consultant to Russ Berrie’s board of directors for most of 2007.
RATINGS
Weekly Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported networks, Total Day and Primetime Rankings among K2-11 (000) 11/26-12/2/07 :
Total Day (000) Primetime (000)
NICK°: 1156 DSNY*: 1390
DSNY*: 871 CARTOON: 727
CARTOON: 557 NAN**: 451
NAN**: 232 TOON DIS: 170
ADSM**: 194 ESPN: 144
TOON DIS.: 128 DISCOVERY: 109
NOG/THE N: 110 NICKTOONS: 108
NICKTOONS: 74 MTV: 92
DISCOVERY: 54 TLC: 60
ESPN: 50 BET: 58
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) 11/26-12/2/07 :
Total Day (000) Primetime (000)
NICK°: 633 DSNY*: 1051
DSNY*: 565 CARTOON: 500
CARTOON: 355 NAN**: 346
NAN**: 172 TOON DIS: 93
ADSM**: 123 ESPN: 84
TOON DIS.: 73 DISCOVERY: 82
NICKTOONS: 51 NICKTOONS: 70
DISCOVERY: 41 MTV: 64
MTV: 28 BET: 34
ESPN: 27 ANIMAL PLANET: 33
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) 11/26-12/2/07 :
Total Day (000) Primetime (000)
NICK°: 466 DSNY*: 856
DSNY*: 450 CARTOON: 375
NAN**: 259 NAN**: 421
CARTOON: 239 MTV: 178
ADSM**: 164 ESPN: 117
MTV: 80 DISCOVERY: 106
DISCOVERY: 56 BET: 81
TOON DIS.: 48 COMEDY: 79
ESPN: 46 TOON DIS.: 62
COMEDY: 44 NICKTOONS: 50
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
Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Saturday, December 1, 2007, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON: K2-11 1146; K6-11 998; TWEENS 9-14 619
DISNEY CHANNEL: K2-11 1130; K6-11 663; TWEENS 9-14 515
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11 658; K6-11 429; TWEENS 9-14 315
TOON DISNEY: K2-11 202; K6-11 137; TWEENS 9-14 83
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data
Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Sunday, December 2, 2007, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON: K2-11 1355; K6-11 957; TWEENS 9-14 6979
DISNEY CHANNEL: K2-11 1033; K6-11 634; TWEENS 9-14 475
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11 685; K6-11 471; TWEENS 9-14 278
TOON DISNEY: K2-11 229; K6-11 143; TWEENS 9-14 87
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data
Answer to Yesterday’s Trivia Question: In the 80’s, this popular “gift” item (last year was its 25th Anniversary!) was advertised as “the pottery that grows”. What is it? CHIA PET (Ch-Ch-Ch- Chia!!) Kudos to: Kyle Luna-Animation Insider/Tobyhanna, PA; Sonia Mendez-WCBD-NBC2/Charleston, SC; Dave Bourla-Nickelodeon/NY; Darrity Furman-WGBH/Boston; Kevin Schmidt-National Cable Communications/Chicago; Tom Boyd-WGN/Chicago; Barb Throm-Smart Media/MO; Norma Gonzales-Market Vision/San Antonio; Bettina Sherick-20th Century Fox Intl/LA; Tammi Denbow-Fox/LA; Izzy Neis-6 Degrees Games/LA; Laura Marquez-Kids’WB on The CW/Burbank; Heather Tilert-Little Airplane Productions/London; Claire Wilmut-Boomstone Animation/Ottawa; Kristen McGregor-Toronto; Carol Leighton-KidScreen/Toronto
Today’s Trivia Question: First aired in 1966, Dr. Seuss’ classic animated TV special, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, was narrated by whom? ( 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 Cynopsis: Kids!
12.05.07
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JOB OPENING: 2 SALES PLANNERS/Galavision/NY: Generate upfront/scatter plans. Handle all aspects of ongoing deal maintenance/stewardship. Dealmaker/VCI/media experience & Spanish a plus. Apply: [email protected]. EOE (12/12)
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JOB OPENING: ART DIRECTOR/Word World, LLC/NYC: 5+ yrs exp. Branding, digital design, direct mail, print design, video packaging and special projects. Experience in children’s market a plus. Email: [email protected] (12/12)
JOB OPENING: Seeking top notch SR AE for Channel One News-NYC: Must have min. 7+ yrs consultative sales, proven Biz Dev exp; ideally in Broadcast/TV, and/or non-traditional space. see full desc and apply: www.adweek.com (12/12)
JOB OPENING: MTV Tr3s Research/NYC: /BA. 1+ yrs exp resrch/data analy for cable/brdcast. Exp w/ Nielsen (Explorer, NPower, MarketBreaks, StarTrak). Str analytic sk. Bi-ling Spanish a +. EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (12/12)
JOB OPENING: INVENTORY ANALYST /BET, NY: 1-2years experience in sales or traffic; strong analytical skills;Dealmaker,VCI, Excel experience preferred. Email resume to: [email protected] (12/11)
JOB OPENING: PROJECT MGR/HBO.com/NYC: Manage planning and execution of online projects/scope, budget & time tracking, and stakeholder mgt/3 yrs interactive exp as PM. Apply: http://www.timewarner.com/corp/careers , Req: 86605. (12/11)
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JOB OPENING: ON AIR MKTG COORD/USA NETWORK/NY: PLAN’G/SCHED’G SECONDARY EVENTS, NBCU BARTER COORDINATION. 1+ yrs exp mktg, adv, or related field. Strong database skills for content mngmnt/scheduling. Res: [email protected] (12/11)
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JOB OPENING: SALES ASST/CABLEVISION/Woodbury, NY: 2+ yrs exp in mrkt, adv or bus related field. Assist VP and Sales team. Strong Excel and Powerpoint skills. See full posting and apply to www.cablevision.jobs req 4906BR (12/8)
JOB OPENING: AD SALES OPERATIONS COORD/National Football League/Culver City, CA: Resolve client issues & work w/ Technology and Product teams to insure that all advertising meets pre-defined guidelines. Submit res to: [email protected] (12/7)
JOB OPENING: ACCOUNT DIR AFF SALES/A&E TV/NY: Manage distribution & revenue growth for all AETN products. Lead person in NY Office. BA/BS, 5 + yrs affiliate sales exp at cable or broadcast net. Apply: www.aetn.com/careers.html (12/7)
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JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/Rainbow Media/AMC/NY: 2+ yrs cable res exp. Support Corp, Sales, Affil, Prog& Mktg team w/data collection & analysis. Nielsen, MRI a +. Rez www.cablevision.jobs ref #4809BR (12/7)
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JOB OPENING: MARKETING COORD/Int’l Networks, CA: Collaborate/execute ad efforts for affiliate launches, campaigns and trade shows. Prefer 2+ yrs exp. Strong communication skills; Foreign language pref. www.comcast.com # 57147BR (12/6)
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WINTER INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: ART DESIGN 8 MKTG INTERN/Big Tent Ent, NY: exp with digital photo editing, mkt research, MS Office, Adobe Photoshop, In Design, and Illustrator; good computer skills. Email: [email protected] (12/12)
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