CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis: Kids!
05/10/06
Good morning. It’s Wednesday, May 10, 2006 and this is your first early morning Kids! briefing.
At its pre E3 briefing yesterday in LA, Nintendo announced it will release its new Wii (remember that’s pronounced “we”) gaming console in 4Q 2006. Though Nintendo didn’t reveal the price of the Wii console, the company did say it will be, “priced affordably.” The Wii Remote looks more like a TV remote is wireless and features include a centrally located built-in speaker and motion sensors, which allow gamers to manipulate games through moving the remote. Additionally, the Wii Remote can be used with either hand through by using the Nunchuk controller, a wired attachment that also has motion sensors. Nintendo will also make the Wii Classic controller available, which looks more like traditional remote, as an add on.
As for Wii game titles, Nintendo promises many games on or close to its launch, many of which will be rated for everyone. Some 27 games will be on site at E3. Wii game titles will include The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Version, Super Mario Galaxy, Wii Sports (includes a range of sports like tennis, baseball and golf), Metroid 3 Corruption, Excite Truck, WarioWare: Smooth Movies, Red Steel, Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam, Marvel: Ultimate Alliance and Call of Duty 3, Dragon Quest Swords: The Masked Queen and the Tower of Mirrors, Codename: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Crystal Bearers and Madden NFL among others.
NEW PRODUCTION & DEVELOPMENT
In a conference call after presenting the report on Disney’s second quarter results, CEO, Robert Iger announced that Disney has begun production on Toy Story 3, adding that there may be additional sequels based on Pixar films, according to a Bloomberg report. Iger offered no projected release dates for the next Toy Story movie.
CBS and DIC Entertainment, in association with Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc. have begun production on Dance Revolution (f/k/a Dance Dance Dance), a new dance competition series slated to premiere September 16, 2006 on CBS’s Saturday Morning Secret Slumber Party programming block. Based on Konami’s video game Dance Dance Revolution, the Dance Revolution series will feature teams of tweens/teens showing off their best dance moves and routines, with a winner to be chosen by a set of judges. Like the Dance Dance Revolution video game the series is designed to get kids involved in the game and dancing, and to that end will feature on-screen visuals to help illustrate certain moves and steps.
National Geographic Television & Film’s Kids’ Programming and Production unit has acquired the worldwide entertainment and merchandise licensing rights (excluding publishing) to Lottie’s World, the book series targeted to younger kids, by author/illustrator Petra Mathers. Under the deal NGT&F’s Kids’ will develop and produce animated TV, film and video projects under the title Lottie and Friends.
MORE KIDS STUFF
PBS Kids Sprout will honor parents with special Mother’s and Father’s Day programming, this month and in June respectively. Both on-air events will be hosted by Sprout’s Kevin, who also on Sprout’s series, Birthdays.
- Hooray For Mother’s Day!, a six-hour marathon of mom-themed shows airing Sunday, May 14, 12-6p. Marathon host, Kevin, will highlight some of the homemade cards for Mom sent in by kids on air. Additionally, during the block there will be an on-screen crawl featuring personal wishes for Moms.
- Papa Bear’s Day, a three-hour Berenstain Bears marathon will air Sunday, June 18, 12-3p. The block will feature a guest voiceover by Papa Bear. Similarly throughout the afternoon, Kevin will help celebrate Dads by showing off homemade cards sent in by kids and through an on-air crawl.
Nickelodeon celebrates the 15th anniversary of its program Nick News with Linda Ellerbee by airing Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow Celebrating 15 Years of Nick News on Sunday, May 28, at 8:30p. The special offers a look at 15 of the most compelling stories in the show’s archive and follows up on where the kids featured in the segments are now and what their lives are like. Stories revisited in the half-hour commercial free program include those that focused on war, AIDS, terrorism, natural disasters, gay parenting, homelessness, racism, genocide.
TOKYOPOP, the manga publisher, will launch two kid targeted publishing programs, Manga Readers for K8-12 and Manga Chapters for K6-9, this July and September 2006 respectively. Each of the new manga lines are designed to get kids reading and promote language and literacy skills.
- Manga Readers, all 96 pages, debuts this July 2006 with three titles: Alex de Campi’s Kat & Mouse, about two girls who use science and math to solve mysteries; Josh Elder’s Mail Order Ninja, which follows the adventure of a boy and his new ninja companion; and Keith Giffen and comic veteran Shannon Denton (X-Men and Spider-Man), Zapt!, the story of a 12-yr-old who juggles his job as an intergalactic policeman and his homework and chores.
- Manga Chapters will launch with titles including: The Grosse Adventures: The Good, The Bad & The Gassy, by Annie Auerbach; and Alex de Campi’s, Agent Boo: The Littlest Agent, a sci-fi series.
VH1 has introduced VH1 Games, a new online gaming destination for gamers, puzzle enthusiasts and pop culture fans at http://vh1games.vh1.com. A feature of VH1 Games is the VH1 Classic Arcade with a collection of classic games such as Spy Hunter, Joust, Defender and Rampage, available through a license from Midway that includes editorial content. In addition, VH1 Games will offer original games based on the network’s TV shows and pop cultures such as Escape the Paparazzi, Sudoku Fortunes and I Love Toys. The site will also provide gaming news and commentary through its blog, VH1 Game Break.
Guess what? Kids have enormous buying power! Okay, you knew that already. But just how much purchasing power do they have? According to 7th edition of The Kids Market in the US, a newly released report from Packaged Facts, the combined kid segments (K3-11) puts the group at upwards of 36 million strong with an estimated purchasing power last year estimated to be $18 billion. Kids with multicultural backgrounds now account for 40+% of the kid population. The researchers of the report project the kids market will continue growing over the course of the next four years, reaching $21.4 billion in disposable income 2010. Meanwhile the study found that families spend $115+ billion on kids each year in main categories including clothing, personal care items, and entertainment and about half of that going towards food. Packaged Facts estimates by 2010 families will spend $143 billion on goods for kids annually.
Taking its lead from the old adage “Mother knows best,” McDonalds has selected a group of nine women from six countries to serve one-year terms on its newly established a Global Moms Panel. The goal of the Moms Panel is the women to provide McDonald’s with their input on a range of topics including balanced, active lifestyle initiatives, restaurant communications and kid’s well-being. The panel is part of McDonald’s effort to improve its relationships with customers and better attract and serve families. Among the moms selected for the panel there are: four Olympic athletes, all moms: one full-time mom; a librarian/PTA President/mom; chef/TV host; artist/mom and childhood development expert/author/mom.
MARKETING/LICENSING
Nickelodeon has teamed-up with PlayFirst, the publisher of casual games, to launch SpongeBob SquarePants Diner Dash, a new downloadable game in the US beginning this month and internationally in near future. The game will be available on Nick Arcade, Nickelodeon’s paid downloadable game service, and through other game portals. PlayFirst’s Diner Dash is a popular on the web with 100+ million plays.
Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. has opened the doors to 2K Shanghai, its new development studio in Shanghai, China. Falling under Take-Two’s 2K label, the new studio, 2K Shanghai, is currently working on the Chinese-language version of Sid Meier’s Civilization: IV for the PC expected to be available later this summer. 2K Shanghai will develop new original properties and co-develop products with other 2K studios around the world.
EXECUTIVE MOVES
Toy Industry Foundation (TIF) and Toy Industry Association (TIA) made several changes to their senior leadership roles at TIA’s annual meeting.
- Arnie Rubin, President/CEO, Funrise Toy Corporation, has been named Chairman/Board of Trustees, TIF. As the outgoing chairman of Toy Industry Association, Rubin became eligible to chair the TIF. Rubin takes over the reigns from current Chairman Neil Friedman; also Friedman is President/Mattel Brands Division, Mattel, Inc., who will remain an active director.
- In addition, Alfred Verrecchia, President/CEO, Hasbro, Inc. has joined as Vice Chairman, Chairman Elect, TIF Board. At the beginning of this month Verrecchia was named Vice Chair of Toy Industry Association, which automatically entitles him to a seat on the TIF Board.
- Daniel Grossman has been elected Chairman/Board of Directors, TIA, succeeding Arne Rubin. Prior to this Grossman served as TIA’s Chairman Elect. Previously TIA’s Chairman Elect, Grossman is President, Wild Planet Toys.
- Other newly-elected TIA Board members, each serving two-year terms, include Jim Engle, President, Little Kids Inc.; Bryan Goldner, COO, Hasbro Inc.; Robert Pasin, Chairman, Radio Flyer; James Pressman, President, Pressman Toy, and Richard Tait, CEO, Cranium.
RATINGS
Weekly Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported networks, Total Day and Primetime Rankings among K2-11 (000) 5/1-5/7/06:
Total Day (000) Primetime (000)
NICK: 1185 DSNY*: 1276
DSNY*: 797 CARTOON: 914
NAN**: 618 NAN**: 618
CARTOON: 612 TOON DIS: 143
TOON DIS.: 115 MTV: 97
NOG/THE N: 90 DISCOVERY: 89
MTV: 68 ANIMAL PLANET: 87
ANIMAL PLANET: 54 NICKTOONS: 70
NICKTOONS: 53 ESPN: 70
DISCOVERY: 53 TLC: 56
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.
Weekly Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported networks, Total Day and Primetime Rankings among K6-11 (000) 5/1-5/7/06:
Total Day (000) Primetime (000)
NICK: 612 DSNY*: 872
NAN**: 465 CARTOON: 647
DSNY*: 461 NAN**: 465
CARTOON: 379 TOON DIS: 77
TOON DIS.: 62 MTV: 77
MTV: 55 DISCOVERY: 64
ANIMAL PLANET: 37 ANIMAL PLANET: 62
DISCOVERY: 32 ESPN: 44
NICKTOONS: 30 TLC: 42
BET: 21 NICKTOONS: 35
TLC: 21 COMEDY: 35
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.
Weekly, Top Ten Basic Cable Ad Supported Networks, Total Day and Primetime Rankings among Tweens 9-14 (000) 5/1-5/7/06:
Total Day (000) Primetime (000)
NAN**: 475 DSNY*: 701
NICK: 472 CARTOON: 476
DSNY*: 359 NAN**: 475
CARTOON: 271 MTV: 213
MTV: 154 COMEDY: 112
BET: 50 DISCOVERY: 90
COMEDY: 46 BET: 78
DISCOVERY: 42 THE N: 67
ESPN: 35 ESPN: 67
TOON DIS.: 33 TLC: 55
MTV2: 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.
Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Saturday, May 6, 2006, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON: K2-11 1263; K6-11 847; TWEENS 9-14 668
DISNEY CHANNEL: K2-11 960; K6-11 549; TWEENS 9-14 399
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11 828; K6-11 587; TWEENS 9-14 435
TOON DISNEY: K2-11 148; K6-11 67; TWEENS 9-14 33
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data
Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Sunday, May 7, 2006, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON: K2-11 1242; K6-11 833; TWEENS 9-14 700
DISNEY CHANNEL: K2-11 906; K6-11 570; TWEENS 9-14 449
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11 675; K6-11 450; TWEENS 9-14 289
TOON DISNEY: K2-11 146; K6-11 81; TWEENS 9-14 33
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data
Live + Same Day Ratings Kids Cable Network Averages (000) for Monday, May 8, 2006, 6am-11pm, ranked by K2-11:
NICKELODEON: K2-11 1105; K6-11 502; TWEENS 9-14 396
CARTOON NETWORK: K2-11 570; K6-11 329; TWEENS 9-14 232
DISNEY CHANNEL: K2-11 833; K6-11 475; TWEENS 9-14 402
TOON DISNEY: K2-11 111; K6-11 50; TWEENS 9-14 31
Source: MTVN Research from Nielsen Media Research Data
Answer to Yesterday’s trivia question: What actor, who played a cop on tv during the 70’s, went onto be a Director for Miami Vice? PAUL MICHAEL GLASER OF STARSKY AND HUTCH Kudos to: Allen Feuer-Alexandria Productions/DC; Susan Burchfield-KTVI/St Louis MO; Dean Lavine-Walt Disney TV Animation/Burbank; Karen Lavin-The WB/LA
Today’s Trivia Question: HM was the pilot of this gang and his first initials stood for Howling Mad. What show was he on? (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!
05.10.06 – 3:54a
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JOB OPENING: MEDIA PLANNER Carat USA, NY: is looking for current media planner to join team working on packaged goods account w/ haircare, skincare, & specialty brands. E-mail resume to [email protected]. Subject must be ‘AC Planner’ (5/16)
JOB OPENING: MANAGER, INTEGRATED MARKETING/Spike/NYC: 4 yrs exp.-mktg/ad agency/entert/media, Strg knwldg of Xcel/Word/PPt, Strng writ/comm skills, Strng orginz & detail, EOE/M/F/D/AAP. Apply www.mtvncareers.com (5/16)
JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/DIY- Knoxville, TN: 1-2 yrs exp in media research or marketing pref’d. Exp with Nielsen systems a +. Degree in related field req’d. Resumes: [email protected] job # 5219-U (5/16)
JOB OPENING: DIR, CONSUMER & BUSINESS INSIGHTS/Scripps Networks/NY or Knoxville, TN: 8 yrs cable netwrk primary/secondary rsch exp pref’d. Exc presentation & writing skills needed. [email protected] job # 5221-U.(5/16)
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JOB OPENING: AD SALES MKTG COORD/AETN, NY: Assist in budgetary monitoring, program updates, promo mailings, events & admin tasks. B.A./B.S. + 1 yr ad sales, mktg or promo exp. Exc computer and comm skills req. [email protected] (5/13)
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JOB OPENING: PRODUCER /WGBH: Pitch and produce a 4-7 min short w/ WGBH (PBS). Get commission, editorial support, & chance for national distribution. Apply: www.wgbh.org/producingfortv or contact [email protected]. Deadline 5/26 (5/12)
JOB OPENING: COORD, S&P/COMMERCIAL CLEARANCE, DISNEY/ABC CABLE NW/BURBANK: Review kids’ commercial spots, check daily brdcst log, work in multiple databases. Children’s TV or traffic/scheduling pref’d. Apply: www.disneycareers.com (5/11)
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SUMMER INTERNSHIPS – These positions are for credit only – nobody gets paid here. They are 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: INTERNSHIP (Derry, NH): My TV (WZMY-TV) in the Boston DMA has opening for a student looking for fun summer internship in the MRKTNG DEPT. For college credit only (unpaid). Email Alisha at [email protected] (5/13)
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