CYNTHIA TURNER’S
Cynopsis: Kids!

05/03/06

Good morning. It’s Wednesday, May 3, 2006 and this is your first early morning Kids! briefing.

Comcast has teamed up with IGN Entertainment, the online video game information provider, to launch Game Invasion, a premium gaming service, which is being offered free of charge to Comcast’s broadband customers.  Game Invasion will feature access to IGN’s gaming news, previews, cheats/codes, trailers and reviews, music, gear, and sports content.  IGN Entertainment is division of News Corp.

ABC News’ Nightline will feature a two-part series, Child’s Play: Privilege, Power and Preschool, beginning tonight and continuing with part 2 tomorrow night.  The focus is on the ultra competitive application process parents in major US cities go through just to get their kids into preschool or kindergarten.  With the private school application process often described as more difficult than getting into college, the series follows several NYC families over the seven month process.

MTV NETWORKS UPFRONT:

Like the Nickelodeon upfront presentation held two months ago, yesterday’s MTV Networks Upfront event, titled Feed The Need, delivered the message to advertisers that we live in a multiplatform world, and that MTVN’s 122 channels, 100+ websites and huge cell phone reach, are well positioned brands that can help them reach and engage consumers.  As always the annual event, which represents MTV, MTV2, VH1, Comedy Central, CMT, Logo, Nick at Nite, Spike TV, The N and TV Land, was chock full of celebrities who helped underline the MTVN message, while of course having some fun too.  Highlights included musical performances by Kanye West and The Red Hot Chili Peppers, an introduction by Jon Stewart, and a few moments of live stand-up from Jerry Seinfeld, Carlos Mencia, Stephen Colbert, and Sarah Silverman.  There were several particularly funny taped pieces, one featured Dora the Explorer asking the questions, “can you say ‘multiplatform,'” which was followed by the list of things that one needs to go on a multiplatform adventure (cell phone, iPod, PDA and a bottle of Xanax).  Other celebrities that received cheers from the audience for their brief appearances included Ludacris, Jessica Alba, Hulk Hogan, and Mr. T, the latter a huge crowd favorite, who will be starring in his own show, I Pity The Fool, on TVLand.

MTV NETWORKS Upfront programming and related highlights:

• Coming to The N, Noggin’s evening programming block targeting teens:
  • The Block (working title), a new half-hour drama series that takes place in Philadelphia.  The story is about a group of five teens growing up in suburbia.  The Block is written/directed/created and executive produced by Sri Rao, with writer/producer.  Richard Kramer (Once & Again, My So Called Life, thirtysomething) also serving as executive producer.
  • Whistler, premieres June 30 at 9p, is a 13-part mystery series surrounding the death of an Olympic Gold medalist snowboarder during the 2010 Olympic Winter GamesAn online companion series, Whistler Webisodes debuts on June 23, serving as the prequel to the 6/30 premiere of the on-air series.
  • Beyond the Break (formerly Makaha Surf) debuts June 2 at 830p, focuses on the world of competitive surfing.  Shot entirely in Hawaii, the 20-ep series focuses on four women surfers.  Beyond the Break is produced by MarVista Entertainment and Brookwell McNamara Entertainment (BME).
  • Returning series:  South of Nowhere
  • The Click is an online media player that will allow users to create their own video mashups, using existing video from The N’s programming and its other content.  The Click is slated to debut this summer.
• Jerry Seinfeld helped Spike TV introduce True Dads, a new public affairs campaign titled designed to encourage men to be actively involved in their kids’ lives.  The network will support the initiative with a PSA campaign featuring celebrity dads delivering the message, as well as teaming with local cable affiliates and grass roots organizations.  True Dads also fits nicely with Spike TV’s new tagline Get More Action.
• Beginning this July 2006, Nick at Nite will add a bunch of comedies to its lineup including Ad Different World (July), Newsradio (July) and Home Improvement (September), Designing Women (October).
• VH1 Soul, featuring R&B artists, will begin selling on-air time to advertisers in third quarter of this year.

MORE KIDS STUFF

Jetix EuropeJetix Europe has acquired the European and Middle East Pay TV rights to the animated series Captain Flamingo (52 x 11 min) from Breakthrough Animation.  Captain Flamingo will launch on all Jetix Europe Channels, with the exception of France, this fall 2006.  Additionally, Jetix Europe has picked up the TV distribution, home video and consumer product rights to Captain Flamingo, for Europe and the Middle East, with the exception of Spain and Portugal.  Buena Vista International Television will handle the Captain Flamingo TV distribution rights for Jetix Europe.  Philippine Animators Group holds TV rights for the series in Asia while Breakthrough Entertainment retains rights for all remaining global territories.  A YTV original production, Captain Flamingo is a co-production of Breakthrough Animation, Heroic Film Company, Atomic Cartoons and Philippine Animators Group (PASI Animation).

PBS this week launches learning.now, a new blog that explores how technology is changing education in the US.  The blog is designed specifically to help guide teachers in grades K-12 through the ins and outs of new technology (e.g. wikis, blogs, RSS, podcasts, social networking sites, etc).  Learning.now is hosted by writer/editor, with expertise in educational technology, and a long-time blogger Andy Carvin.

Attention all Future Astronauts (and those who wished they were): Through a Space Act Agreement, NASA’s Office of Education and Space Operations Mission Directorate will collaborate with AOL to create KOL-Expeditions NASA Earth Crew Missions, a series of live webcasts.  The first webcast airs tomorrow May 4, 10-11a as part of National Space Day at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, in Maryland.  During the hour-long webcast students will learn about training for a mission, living and working in space and will get the chance to speak with the Expedition 13 crew members aboard the International Space Station.  Radio KOL DJ Rick Adams will be part of the webcasts that can be viewed at http://www.kolexpeditions.com, a new website featuring interactive activities and educational materials or http://www.edspace.nasa.gov. Sponsored by Lockheed Martin, National Space Day began in 1997 as an educational initiative that aims to encourage students’ interest in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.

UK’s CITV has optioned a second season of the preschool CGI animated series Pocoyo from Zinkia Entertainment and Granada International.  The first season of 52 x 7 min episodes will be available from fall 2006.  Season one of Pocoyo, produced by Zinkia Entertainment/Granada International in association with Granada Kids and Cosgrove Hall, has been sold to 100+ countries worldwide including new broadcast deals for the series with KIKA (Germany); Discovery Kids (Latina America), WowWow (Japan); TVNZ, (New Zealand) and MNET (South Africa).  Pocoyo is written by Andy Yerkes (Bear In The Big Blue House).

In the Philippines ABC-5 has launched a new Nickelodeon three-hour programming block that will air twice daily, Monday-Friday (6a & 2p).  Nick shows featured in the new block include preschool series such as Blue’s Clues and Dora The Explorer, as well as shows for all kids like SpongeBob SquarePants, Chalkzone, Hey Arnold and CatDog.

MARKETING/LICENSING

Entertainment Rights PlcEntertainment Rights Plc has named Vivid Imaginations as the UK Master Toy license and Worldwide Manufacturing Rights for ER’s new pre-school television series, Jim Jam & Sunny (260 x 11 min).  The series will be broadcast in the UK on ITV1, and ITV’s new kid’s digital channel CiTV beginning fall 2006.  ER and Vivid will develop a range of preschool toys including plush and plastic toys and a selection of puzzles, games and creative play products featuring the series main characters.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products has awarded Penguin Young Readers Group the master publishing license for the upcoming movie Happy Feet, from Warner Bros. and Village Roadshow Pictures set to open wide November 17, 2006.  Under the deal, Price Stern Sloan, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers Group, will publish nine titles based on the movie film in a range of formats including storybooks, coloring books, activity books and board books.  The first group of book titles will be published in October 2006 in advance of the movie.  Additional formats are also being published in the US and UK by Dorling Kindersley, an arm of the Penguin Group.

Netflix, Inc., the online movie rental service, is packing up and heading out on the road this August with its 2006 Netflix Rolling Roadshow, a promotional tour that will screen 10 classic Hollywood movies at the US locations each helped make famous.  Screenings will feature activities based on the theme of the movie running there, and at some there will be Q&A with one or more cast members of the movie. A full tour list will be posted as of May 15 at www.netflix.com/roadshow. The Rolling Roadshow is produced by Netflix in partnership with Austin’s Alamo Drafthouse.

Warner Home Video will release Cartoon Network’s series Samurai Jack: Season Three on DVD this May 23.  The 2-disc DVD set includes all 13 episodes from the season three as well as bonus features such as behind-the-scenes segment, previously unseen artwork and a special complete Birth of Evil episode commentary by series creator Genndy Tartakovsky.

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Dave SibleyDave Sibley has been named Managing Director, MTV Networks Australia.  Sibley, who joins the company in July 2006, will head up MTV and VH1’s businesses in both the pay TV and digital media worlds throughout Australia and New Zealand.  He will also sit on the board for Nickelodeon Australia, a joint venture between MTV Networks and XYZ Entertainment.  Most recently Sibley served as SVP/GM, International Marketing Partnerships in London.  Sibley will report directly to Nigel Robbins, President/MTVN Asia-Pacific.  Robbins had been Managing Director until his promotion this past January.

THQ, Inc. has appointed Gary Rosenfeld as its SVP/Business Development.  In this job he will be responsible for ongoing management of THQ’s key licensing and development partners.  Rosenfeld will report direct to EVP/Worldwide Publishing, Kelly Flock.  Most recently Rosenfeld worked in the Business Affairs group for The Endeavor Agency, negotiating deals for talent (writers, directors, actors), and for the licensing properties.

Answer to Yesterday’s trivia question: What was the name of the island where Wonder Woman came from? THEMYSCIRA/PARADISE ISLAND   Kudos to:  Jim Mundy-JM5 Productions/NY; Chris Richards-ITN Networks/NY; Laura Lundgren-Nicktoons Network/NY; Jaclyn Mellinger-MindShare/NY; Don Tapani-Fox TV/Dallas; Michael Hawkins-PromoDoctors/Irving TX; Patty Kan-Radio Disney/Chicago; Greg Lock-Nickelodeon/Chicago; Sam Ewing-Cookie Jar Entertainment/LA; Al Ovadia-Al Ovadia and Associates/Calabasas CA

Today’s Trivia Question: Who was Gordon Shumway? (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!
05.03.06

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