Cynopsis: Kids!
10.02.13

Good morning. It’s Wednesday, October 2, 2013, and this is your first early morning briefing.

TODAY’S TOP NEWS

Saban Brands is extending its agreements with Nickelodeon and Bandai America through 2016 for the Power Rangers franchise. Nick and Saban initiated their strategic partnership when Saban re-acquired the Power Rangers brand in 2010 and re-launched the TV series with Power Rangers Samurai in 2011. The extension confirms additional seasons of original Power Rangers programming on Nickelodeon through 2016.  Additionally, Bandai will continue to act as the global master toy licensee for the Power Rangers franchise. “Our partnership with Nickelodeon has been instrumental in maintaining the popularity of the Power Rangers brand and introducing the series to a new generation of kids,” said Saban president Elie Dekel. Saban’s Power Rangers Megaforce, the 20th anniversary season, currently airs on Nickelodeon Saturdays at 1p. New Power Rangers Super Megaforce will premiere in early 2014.

Cartoon Network remains on the air for Cable One customers despite the carrier’s removal of several other Turner nets including CNN, CNN en Espanol and Boomerang–from its systems yesterday following the expiration of its contract with Turner.

TIME OUT WITH… KEITH CHAPMAN

The ink is barely dry on DreamWorks Animation’s purchase of the Chapman catalog from Classic Media, but kids animation wizard Keith Chapman has been moving on for some time now. Under new banner Keith Chapman Productions, he’s developing a preschool series with Studio Liddell called Camp Yeti, creating his first new puppet show with Sixteen South, and developing a stop-frame series called Marzi Mars about a Martian boy and his friends who have come to Earth-not to mention setting his sights on feature film. The creator of Bob the Builder and new animated series Paw Patrol, produced by Spin Master Entertainment which debuted Sept. 12 on Nickelodeon, gives CynKids the inside track on his next steps. Here’s Chapman in his own words on…

Getting in to the biz
I always loved drawing and doodling. Even in school I was caricaturing my teachers and getting sent to detention for not paying attention. I knew would be an artist at a very young age, and then I got lucky and ended up going to work for Jim Henson. That opened my eyes to different world.

The secret sauce for preschool programming
A character that kids would fall in love with. The idea is obviously important, and good values too, but kids have to find the lead character funny, entertaining, friendly, and trustworthy. When I was growing up there was a show in the U.K. called Captain Pugwash. I found it absolutely fascinating. Kids get used to what is possible on television, and they are quite sophisticated today, with very short attention spans.
 
The muse for Bob the Builder
Bob came out of seeing a digger digging up the road in London. I would make an amazing character and give him some machine mates, [but] I knew he needed a human character to become the father figure.
 
Inside scoop on Paw Patrol
I always wanted to work with Spin Master, and we were looking for a boys action-adventure show and really liked the concept of a pack of rescue dogs that we could tie in with toy lines. The pups are adorable and funny to watch together. They’re six different breeds, all highly trained by our 10-year-old boy hero. It’s great teamwork, with the dogs helping each other fulfill a mission. Because of my relationship with Nickelodeon we took it to them and they came onboard in a really big way with a proper investment.

Beyond kids entertainment
I’d love to crack an adult sitcom, an animated sitcom along the lines of Family Guy. I’m working on a couple ideas. I don’t think anyone’s done that in the U.K. Those shows always seem to be American and this is a totally different market. I’m also working on four animated family movies and one live-action movie.

PROGRAMMING PICKS

They’re back. Nickelodeon launches season two of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Saturday, Oct. 12, at 11a. Exec producers for this season are Ciro Nieli and Peter Hastings, and as anticipated, Nick alum Josh Peck rounds out the cast voicing TMNT fan-favorite Casey Jones.

Hub Network brings back Hasbro Studios’ Littlest Pet Shop for a second season Saturday, Nov. 2, with two new, back-to-back episodes “Missing Blythe” and “The Nest Hats Craze”–starting at 11a ET/ 8a PT. Prior to the season premiere, there will be a three-hour marathon of fan-favorite episodes. The premiere will be supported by brand new game Blythe’s Fab Styles at hubworld.com, where fans can trace fast-moving outlines of various wardrobe pieces.

NickMom premieres the second season of the stand-up comedy series, NickMom Night Out, on Oct. 14, at 10 p. Meanwhile, the series premiere of Nick at Nite’s Instant Mom, starring Tia Mowry-Hardrict, this Sunday was an instant hit locking in 1.3 million total viewers.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

Cynopsis Future TV Summit:
Content Innovation & Next Gen Advertising Models
October 17 |Grand Hyatt|NYC
This all-day conference bringing together expert speakers on topics including measurement, the Second Screen, the New Networks, a unique “5 People on Chairs: Meet the Millennials” guerilla Focus Group, and much more.

Sponsorship: Mike Farina (203) 218-6480 | Registration: Pete Romas (203) 899-8483

Gold: ABC Family | Silver: A+E & Rhythm | Participating: BrightLine, NCC & TruthCo. | Media: IAB

PRODUCTION NOTES

SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment is getting into the kids entertainment business in a big way. This week, the company unveils plans to begin working with PGS Entertainment to manage U.S. TV and merchandising rights for the TAT Productions’ franchise The Jungle Bunch. As part of the agreement, SeaWorld will be seeking a television distribution outlet in the states, and has also
secured exclusive family amusement park merchandising rights in the U.S. for their Busch Gardens and SeaWorld parks. SeaWorld is also developing an animated preschool program with Little Airplane Productions. “Working with Sea World is a natural fit for Little Airplane,” said Josh Selig, Little Airplane founder and president. Productions. “Both companies share a deep love and respect for animals and nature.” The news comes on the heels of recently announced series The Wildlife Docs, which premieres this Saturday on ABC affiliates, and the fall season three premiere of SeaWorld’s Sea Rescue, also on ABC.

MORE KIDS NEWS

AT&T U-Verse launched the BabyFirst network Monday as part of the U-family and U300 packages and above, reaching more than 3 million homes. The launch of BabyFirst on U-Verse brings the net’s reach to 38 million homes in the U.S.

It’s lights, camera and lots of action at Nickelodeon. The network ordered 26 eps each of two new animated series, Bad Seeds and Pig Goat Banana Cricket, and greenlighted four live-action pilots plus two digital series. The network also signed three new young actors–Noah Urrea, Jace Norman and Haley Tju–to talent deals after its recent talent showcase at L.A.’s The Groundlings Theatre. The emphasis here is on laughs. Here’s a look at what’s coming:
Animation
*Bad Seeds: A well-meaning bird and his two best forest friends push each other into endless adventures. Created, written and directed by C.H. Greenblatt (SpongeBob SquarePants, Chowder).
*Pig Goat Banana Cricket: Absurd interwoven stories about four friends and roommates were created by Dave Cooper and J. Ryan and executive produced by David Sacks (The Simpsons, Regular Show) who co-writes with J. Ryan. 
Live Action
*Twang (wt): This comedy about a family that relocates from Hollywood to run a diner in Tennessee was created and exec-produced by Andy Gordon (True Jackson, VP, Just Shoot Me).
*Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Don (wt): The madcap adventures of 13-year-old quadruplets was created and exec-produced by Matt Fleckenstein (iCarly, Victorious).
*Smart Alec (wt): A comedic look at the world of kid geniuses, written by Adam Schwartz (Fred: The Show, So Random) and exec-produced by Tommy Lynch (South of Nowhere, The Troop).
*Untitled Cheerleader Project: A comedy about a perky head cheerleader whose life in Texas takes an unexpected twist. Written by Gabriel Garza and Jonathan Butler (The Haunted Hathaways, Fan Boy & Chum Chum), who were discovered through Nickelodeon’s Diversity Fellowship program.
Digital Series
*Welcome to the Wayne: This animated comedy about two adventurers set in the lobby of the weirdest apartment building on the planet was created and written by Billy Lopez (The Wonder Pets!).
*Junior Eye: Three junior high school friends solve the myths that plague their classmates’ daily lives. Created by Will and Aaron Eisenberg, whose previous project (Eric Finley: Comment Counselor) won Ashton Kutcher’s “Dream Bigger” filmmaking competition.

Not so angry: Rovio scores a massive numbers-game win as its Angry Birds Shorts, which air on the company’s own ToonsTV digital channel, barreled past the 1 billion mark in their first seven months out. The company will launch a second season of the shorts next year, as well as a new series, Bad Piggies, and a series dedicated to Stella the pink bird. The company is also making a power play for third-party content to run on its diginet. ToonsTV will be the worldwide launch of Stan Lee’s Chakra the Invincible from POW! Entertainment and Graphic India, plus specials and series from Hasbro Studios, National Geographic Kids’ Amazing Animals; Fraggle Rock from The Jim Henson Co. and more.

DIGITAL UPDATE

Listen Up: Radio Disney is no longer the only game in town. Nickelodeon and Clear Channel are launching Nick Radio via iHeartRadio, Clear Channel’s digital radio platform. Nick Radio will feature music and guest DJ stints by Nick stars including Ariana Grande, Big Time Rush and Austin Mahone, plus Nick-branded entertainment and celebrity interviews. FX’s Free Birds, which hits theaters nationwide Nov. 1, is Nick Radio’s exclusive launch partner. Among the regular radio features: On the Set With… featuring interviews with Nickelodeon’s live-action stars from the sets of their shows; Nick Radio Top 10 Countdown; Nick Radio Dance Party; and Hangin’ With…, featuring celebrity interviews.

GAMES & APPS

Disney Publishing is rolling out its newest app, Jake’s Never Land Shapes and Patterns, based on Disney Junior’s animated series Jake and the Never Land Pirates. Designed for kids 4 and up, the app includes three leveled curriculum activities that support shape and pattern identification.

Scholastic Media is prepping the January release of Clifford Ready-to-Read for a host of LeapFrog learning tablets and videogame systems. The title is designed for kids 3-5, teaching and reinforcing letter recognition, sounds and word building. A digital version also will be available for download. The cartridge marks the eighth title Scholastic and LeapFrog have partnered on for the LeapFrog Learning library of content.

LICENSING NEWS

Snowman Enterprises Ltd appointed The Copyrights Group Limited of The Joester Loria Group as the licensing agent for its The Snowman brand, including The Snowman and The Snowdog, in the U.S. and Canada.

Global Pursuit Co. will serve as exclusive licensing agent for Dr. Seuss Enterprises across the majority of key categories for the Dr. Seuss brand throughout Asia, including India.

Norwegian kids production house CreaCon Group appointed Dublin-based 20TOO to represent its pre-school series City of Friends in the Middle East.

INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS

U.K. Channel 5’s Milkshake commissioned Toot the Tiny Tugboat, Lupus Films’ new animated series for 4-7 year olds adapted from the book Toot and Pop by Sebastien Braun. Series will premiere on the network next year… Nickelodeon France has begun airing Guess How Much I Love You-The Adventures of Little Nutbrown Hare, produced by Australia’s SLR Productions, Germany’s KIKA and Singapore’s Scrawl Studios, via a deal with 9 Story Entertainment… PGS Entertainment licensed the animated TV movie Spike 2, produced by TAT Productions, to ZDF Group’s kids channel KiKA. 

EXECUTIVE MOVES

Seven-year company veteran Andrew Smith has been promoted to SVP/Deputy Publisher/Executive Director of New Business Development at Little, Brown Books for Young Readers. In his expanded role Smith will focus on growing the licensed publishing program, expanding the digital program and developing proprietary publishing projects.

Nickelodeon UK promotes Alison Bakunowich to VP, Creative, Marketing and Communications, U.K. & Ireland. She formerly was VP of Marketing and Communications.

Turner Broadcasting is upping Cecilia Persson to the newly created role of VP, Acquisitions & Co-Productions, Kids, EMEA and International. Persson will oversee shared acquisitions for Turner Broadcasting’s international kids business, working closely with the local heads of programming and acquisitions of each of the channels and the content heads within EMEA, Latin America and Asia Pacific. She previously was VP, Acquisitions and Co-Productions, EMEA.

CYNKIDS SPOTLIGHT

This one’s definitely a treat. Hub Network just launched the “Share to Scare” charity program encouraging viewers to donate gently used costumes and other items they no longer need to Goodwill Industries. Plus, for every click on the “Scare to Share” banner on the network’s website, Hub will donate $1 to Goodwill, up to $20,000, to support Goodwill’s mission of helping people find jobs and care for their families. To support the initiative, cinema advertising company Screenvision will broadcast a month-long PSA in October in preshow before the movies in front of G, PG and PG-13 rated films.

A CYNOPSIS MESSAGE

TRIVIA

Answer to Last Week’s Trivia Question: What does Charlie Brown dress up as in “It’s The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown”? A ghost. Kudos to: Heather Floore, KDAF-TV and KIAH-TV; Jimmy Huynh, Toon Goggles, LA.
 
Today’s Trivia Question: In what city did the first SeaWorld park open? (Email [email protected] with your answer and be sure to include your name, company, city and time zone.)

BY THE NUMBERS

Top 10 Basic Cable Ratings for the week of Sept. 23-29, 2013

K2-11 Total Programming Day

K2-11 Prime (Monday – Sunday 8-11p.m.)

K2-11  (Monday-Sunday 6 a.m.-11 p.m.)

K6-11 Total Programming Day

K6-11 Prime (Monday – Sunday 8-11p.m.)

K6-11  (Monday-Sunday 6 a.m.-11 p.m.)

K9-14 Total Programming Day

K9-14 Prime (Monday – Sunday 8-11p.m.)

K9-14  (Monday-Sunday 6 a.m.-11 p.m.)

Source: Disney from Nielsen Media Research National MIT, ranked on coverage ratings

Viewing Type: Live +7 Day blended with SD

K2-11  Top 10 Programs for the week of Sept. 23-29, 2013

K6-11  Top 10 Programs for the week of Sept. 23-29, 2013

Source: Turner Research based on Total US Television Universe of 115,800,000 homes.

Weekend box office estimates for the 10 top-grossing kids/tween/teen movies rated G, PG or PG-13, provided by Rentrak for Sept. 27-29, 2013:

Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs 2 (Sony Pictures) PG  $35 million (weekend) $35 million (1-week cume)
Baggage Claim (Fox Searchlight) PG-13  $9.3 million (weekend)  $9.3 million (1-week cume)
Instructions Not Included (Lionsgate) PG-13  $3.4 million (weekend) $38.57 million (5-week cume)
Lee Daniels’ The Butler (The Weinstein Co.) PG-13 $2.4 million (weekend)  $110.28 million (7-week cume)
Battle of the Year (Sony Pictures) PG-13  $2 million (weekend)  $7.47 million (2-week cume)
Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters (20th Century Fox) PG $775,000 (weekend) $65.35 million (8-week cume)
Despicable Me (Universal) PG $774,180 (weekend) $361.76 million (13-week cume)
Planes (Disney) G  $739,000 (weekend) $87.66 million (8-week cume)
Blue Jasmine (Sony Pictures) PG-13 $708,003 (weekend) $230.77 million (10-week cume)
Wizard of Oz (Warner Bros.) G  $500,000 (weekend)  $5.02 million (2-week cume)

Cheers — Cathy
[email protected] for Cynopsis Kids!
10.02.13

Roberta Caploe: Editorial Director
Diane K Schwartz: Senior Vice President, Media Communications Group

Cynopsis Ad Sales: Mike Farina | VP Sales & Marketing | 203-218-6480
Classifieds Sales: Trish Pihonak | Director of Operations & Content | 888-702-3858

To subscribe to any Cynopsis edition(s) click here.
To unsubscribe from this edition, click here. Or for further assistance please email [email protected].

Cynopsis CLASSIFIEDS – For More classifieds, visit the Cynopsis.com classifieds page here.

JOB OPENING: DIRECTOR, AD SALES/REELZ/Chicago: Exp’d ad sales professional w/outstanding relationships to lead sales effort in Chicago. Apply: [email protected] (10/9)

JOB OPENING: RESEARCH ANALYST/FX NETWORKS/LA: Analyze ratings trajectory of FX Networks and key competitors. Service all FX Networks & partner on custom requests and ad hoc needs. 2 yrs. exp. http://bit.ly/143jbMF (10/9)

JOB OPENING: SR ANALYST AD SALES RSCH/NBC UNIVERSAL/NY: 1-3 yrs media rsrch exp, supp Sports & Olympics sales research, proficient w/research software, able to visually communicate insights. Click Here (10/9)

JOB OPENING: DIR PRGM, SERIES/Hallmark Channel/LA: Develop scripted series & current programs & oversee projects. 7+ yrs. exp. in prgmng at cable/brdcst co or prod co. Apply: www.hallmarkchannel.com/jobs (10/9)

JOB OPENING: SR TECH OPS DIR/CSI SPORTS/NY: Min 10 yrs TV Network exp. Resp. incl. overall workflow mgt, liaison to orig. facility/operator ops, tech & prod staff. Transmission/distribution exp req. Res/cvr to Rose: HERE (10/9)

JOB OPENING: FULFILLMENT SPECIALIST/A+E Networks/NY: Account mgmt. & customer service. Non-staff position. Full Info/Apply: http://www.aenetworks.com/careers (10/8)

JOB OPENING: DEVELOPMENT EXECUTIVE/PRODUCER: Established NY prodco. Develop, cast, shoot, edit sizzles. Proven hit making ability at network and/or prodco. Amazing opportunity. [email protected] (10/8)

JOB OPENING: SR PRDCR NONFCTVDVLPMNT/NYC/LA: Talented dvlpr w/general cable exp. 5 yrs dvlpmnt/prod exp pref’d. Strong kwldg of Net Mandates. Will produce tapes, cast talent, prep pitches and manage systematic development. Resumes HERE (10/8)

JOB OPENING: SALES COORDINATOR, SALES PLANNING/Fox Broadcasting Co/NYC: Commercial inventory coordinator. 1-3 years network or agency experience required. http://bit.ly/1ask5CV (10/8)

JOB OPENING: ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR, DIGITAL SALES PLANNING/Fox Broadcasting Co/NYC: 5+ yrs linear &/or digital sales planning exp req. Campaign & invent management of VOD & digital platforms, forecasting, reporting. http://bit.ly/11MJTHL (10/8)

JOB OPENING: AD SALES ASST/Sportsman Channel/WI: Provide support to Account Exes for Network Cable Commercial Spot Sales, maintain spot schedules, work with Traffic Dept. Strong Excel skills req’d. Agency/TV Sales exp helpful. Apply: www.thesportsmanchannel.com (10/5)

JOB OPENING: DIR NON-FICTION PRGM/Lifetime/NY: Develop & pilot new non-fiction programming & oversee current prods. 5+ yrs exp in prgmng at cable/brdcst co or prod co. Apply: www.aenetworks.com/career.html (10/5)

JOB OPENING: EXEC DIRECTOR/CINE/DC: Strategy, fundraising & oversight of film/TV awards & education nonprofit. 5+ years leadership exp in media, w/marketing exp pref’d. Resume to [email protected] (10/5)

JOB OPENING: DIR MKTG STRATEGY/Discovery Channel/MD: Innovator w/strategic 360 approach to ad cmpgns. Strong brand mgt/consumer mktg exp.Work w/rsrch to identify prtnrshps/manage mktg events. Exp. driving top TV brands. APPLY HERE (10/5) 

JOB OPENING: SENIOR AD SALES RESEARCH ANALYST/ESPN/NYC: 1-2 Yrs exp in media research. Candidate must have strong analytical and problem solving ability. Apply HERE (10/5)

JOB OPENING: UniRey-NY: TV AE’s, NYC-based: Needed to drive general market advertisers to new English Language network/Robert Rodriguez Net, EL REY. Min 2 yrs network/AE selling exp. Resumes to [email protected] (10/4)

JOB OPENING: PRODUCTION TEAM for Live Show, Secaucus, NJ: Veria Living is hiring: Exec. Producer, Producers, Asst. Producers, Director & Media Manager. 3-5 yrs exp. incl. live work. Resume & position sought to [email protected] (10/4)

JOB OPENING: ANCHORS for Live Show, NY Metro Area: Veria Living is seeking energetic, fun, friendly & compassionate hosts able to improvise & engage with audience. Resume, picture & show reel links to [email protected] (10/4)

EXPERT SERVICES ADS: These ads are for companies or people who offer an expertise in the field of media by way of production, voice over artistry, writing, set development, etc. For information on rates and specs for posting an Expertise Service ad email Trish at [email protected]

INTERNSHIPS – These positions are for credit only – nobody gets paid here. These ads are always 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].

FALL INTERNSHIP CREDITS ONLY: RLTV (NYC): seeks intern to support the Ad Sales and Marketing departments with research, marketing ideation, presentations and sales materials. Min 10 hrs/week. Submit resume/cover letter to: [email protected] (10/8)

SITUATION WANTED ADS, POSTED BY THOSE LOOKING TO BE HIRED… There is no charge for placing your Situation Wanted ad… for more information contact Trish Pihonak at [email protected].

Are you looking for a job? Post your Situation Wanted Ad here — Email [email protected] for specs.

Copyright Cynopsis 2013

All outgoing e-mails are scanned and sent out virus free. Copyright Cynopsis 2013