Nickelodeon Acquires The Global Broadcast Rights To Canadian Tween Comedy Series 'Grounded'; Set To Premiere In Summer 2013

From C21Media:

Nick gets Grounded

MIPTV: Nickelodeon has acquired global TV rights to a new half-hour live-action tween comedy from Canada's Breakthrough Entertainment.

Grounded, which tells the story of a pair of misbehaving teenage goddesses who are banished to Earth to work in a suburban mall, will air on Viacom-owned Nick networks worldwide.

Breakthrough’s Ira Levy, Peter Williamson and Joan Lambur are executive producing, along with Hartbreak Films’ Paula Hart. An initial 26 episodes are slated to go into production in Toronto in the summer, with a debut on Nick set for summer 2013

Viacom International Media Networks’ senior VP of global acquisitions and international programming for Nickelodeon Jules Borkent said the series “perfectly complemented” Nick’s live-action slate, which includes Victorious and iCarly.

Jesse Whittock
07-03-2012
©C21Media

Also, from The Hollywood Reporter:

MIPTV: Nickelodeon Pre-Buys 'Grounded' Tween Comedy

The live action show from Breakthrough Entertainment and Los Angeles-based Hartbreak Films will be rolled out in Spring 2013 internationally.

TORONTO – Nickelodeon has pre-bought the live action tween comedy Grounded from Canadian indie producer Breakthrough Entertainment and Paula Hart's Hartbreak Films for its worldwide network of TV channels.

Breakthrough is to produce 26 episodes of the series about two misbehaving teenage Greek Goddesses who are cast out of Mount Olympus and sent to earth to work in Uncle Gus' Pita Palace in a suburban mall.

The comedy series is executive produced by Hart of Los Angeles-based Hartbreak Films, along with Breakthrough Entertainment's Ira Levy, Peter Williamson and Joan Lambur.

Production on Grounded is set to start this summer in Toronto.

Paula Hart, the mother of Melissa Joan Hart [Nickelodeon's "Clarissa Explains It All", and "Sabrina, the Teenage Witch"], has TV credits that include Melissa and Joey and Sabrina, The Teenage Witch.

Grounded will roll out on the Nickelodeon channels worldwide from Spring 2013.

Also, below is Breakthrough Entertainment's Press Release announcing the Nickelodeon News:

Breakthrough Entertainment Gets GROUNDED With Nickelodeon

Breakthrough Licenses All-New Original Tween Live Action Half-Hour Comedy Series To Nickelodeon For 2012 Debut Worldwide

For Immediate Release:

TORONTO/LOS ANGELES (March 30, 2012) – Breakthrough Entertainment has sold worldwide television rights for the all-new original live action tween comedy half-hour series GROUNDED to Nickelodeon for broadcast on its worldwide portfolio of channels , it was announced by Joan Lambur, Executive Producer Animation, Live Action, Family and Children’s Programming for Breakthrough Entertainment. The comedy series is executive produced by Paula Hart of Hartbreak Films, along with Breakthrough Entertainment’s Ira Levy, Peter Williamson and Joan Lambur.

Produced by Breakthrough Entertainment, GROUNDED is the story of two teenaged Greek Goddesses, , who after misbehaving and destroying part of the mortal world, are cast out of Mount Olympus and grounded to earth to work in their mortal Uncle Gus’ Pita Palace in a suburban mall. There they will learn to serve mankind and enjoy teenage life along the way.

Breakthrough will produce an initial 26 episodes of the series, with production slated to begin summer 2012 in Toronto.

GROUNDED represents the newest entertainment project for executive producer Paula Hart, who has amassed a number of high-profile credits including the hit series “Melissa and Joey," and "Sabrina, The Teenage Witch" (the film, TV series and animated series).

GROUNDED will roll out on Nickelodeon channels starting Spring 2013.

“GROUNDED perfectly complements Nickelodeon’s global live action line-up which includes some of the world’s best known tween comedy series,” commented Jules Borkent, SVP of Global Acquisitions & International Programming for Nickelodeon, Viacom International Media Networks. Adding, “GROUNDED’S appealing blend of engaging characters, humor and universal teen experiences will really connect with our audiences around the word.”

“We are excited to join forces with Paula Hart for the production of GROUNDED and bring this uniquely fun comedy to Nickelodeon worldwide. The series combines all the elements that will make it a stand out series for Nick viewers around the world and Paula’s outstanding track record of success and expertise will provide invaluable as we enter production,” said Lambur.

About Breakthrough Entertainment:

Headquartered in Toronto, Breakthrough Entertainment Inc. (BEI) is a leading global producer and distributor of acclaimed primetime comedy and drama series, as well as factual entertainment, documentaries, television movies, family entertainment and children’s animation. As one of Canada’s largest television production and distribution companies, BEI has licensed programs to major broadcasters in over 200 territories. With a catalogue of over 2800 half-hours of programming, the company handles distribution as well as worldwide pre-sales, co-productions and third-party acquisitions. In addition to its dedicated program development, production and distribution divisions, Breakthrough’s digital media division ranks among one of the industry’s most respected producers of high quality digital entertainment including websites, and online, mobile, ITV and iphone games. www.breakthroughentertainment.com



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Also, from C21Media:

From Spain With Love arrives down under

MIPTV: A trio of thematic food networks is among the broadcasters to acquire culinary adventure series From Spain With Love from Canadian producer-distributor Shaftesbury Films.

XYZ Networks-owned LifeStyle Food in Australia, Food Television in New Zealand and Food Channel in Asia have picked up the 13x30’ series, along with Fox International Channels in India. The show, which has now been licensed into more than 100 territories, sees food writer Anne Sibonney exploring the culinary culture of Spain.

The news marks Shaftesbury’s latest deal here in Cannes, coming after it announced it was producing Grounded, a new live-action show for Nickelodeon channels worldwide penned by Bruce Kalish (Power Rangers).

Jesse Whittock
03-04-2012
©C21Media