Nickelodeon's Noggin Announces Get Ready To Ready Programming

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

Noggin will introduce new literacy-based programming throughout March 2007 as part of its Get Ready To Ready national literacy initiative. On Friday March 2, Noggin will debut two new Story Time interstitials and two public service announcements featuring Isaiah Washington and Cedric the Entertainer each reading a story to Noggin's hosts Moose and Zee and kids at home. Beginning Monday, March 5, the spots will rollout on the network. From Monday March 26 through Friday, March 30, the network will premiere five new episodes of the animated series Pinky Dinky Doo. Additionally, Pinky Dinky Doo audio podcasts (2x10') will be available at Noggin.com beginning March 26. The website will also feature a number of reading games and activities during March.

Nickelodeon and Nicktoons Network (US) Inks Deal For Those Scurvy Rascals

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

Nickelodeon and Nicktoons Network (US) has inked a deal with Entara Ltd, for the worldwide multiplatform rights for Those Scurvy Rascals (26x3.5'), a short-form CGI animated series. Targeted to kids and teens, Those Scurvy Rascals is slated to bow in spring 2007 on Nickelodeon channels around the world and Nicktoons Networks US. The series follows the adventures of a group of hapless pirates traveling the high seas in their unending quest for pants. Acquired by Entara last year, the series is developed by Blue-Zoo animation studio. Blue-Zoo's Those Scurvy Rascals short aired in the US as part of Nicktoons Network's Second Annual Nextoons: The Nicktoons Film Festival in 2005. ( www.thosescurvyrascals.com )

Nickelodeon's The N To Premiere The Best Years During Summer 2007

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has picked up the rights to two scripted series from Blueprint Entertainment. FME holds the worldwide distribution rights for both properties for TV (excluding North America) and DVD (excluding Canada), and will launch both projects at MIPTV this April 2007.

Targeted to teens, The Best Years (13x60') is produced by Blueprint Entertainment in association with The N and CanWest MediaWorks' Global Television. The show follows Samantha, a college freshmen, as she makes friends and "frenemies" and they all make their way through the ups and downs of college life. Created and executive produced by Aaron Martin, The Best Years is slated to premiere this summer on The N (US) and Global Television (Canada). Blueprint's John Morayniss, Noreen Halpern also serve as executive producers.

Aimed at adults, Love You To Death (13x30') will be known in the US as 'Til Death Do Us Part when it debuts on Court TV this spring 2007. The scripted drama/wry comedy series stars writer/director John Waters, and tells some bizarro tales inspired by real stories of spouses who have killed their partners. The series also debuts this spring on Global Television in Canada.

Spanish networks reach for Nicktoons Network's Skyland

From C21 Media:

Spanish networks reach for Skyland

Barcelona-based Icon Animation has set up a raft of kids programming deals across its animation library in Spain for the likes of Skyland and 64 Zoo Lane.

Catalan pubcaster TV3 has snapped up the rights to Skyland (26x26'), The Smurfs (90x26'), FireQuest (26x26'), Pablo the Little Red Fox (52x5') and Loui (78x7').

In a separate deal, Andalucian free-TV channel Canal Sur has picked up Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer (96x26'), Millimages' 64 Zoo Lane (52x11'), Fire Quest (26x26') and The Way Things Work (26x13').

In addition RTVE has picked up a further 40 episodes of Clifford The Big Red Dog following its acquisition of an initial 50 half-hours of the show and Clifford's Puppy Days last year. Icon Animation handled both Spanish sales on behalf of producer Scholastic Media and distributor TV Loonland.

Icon Animation's third-party sales catalogue includes Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer, the complete Millimages catalogue, Ragdoll's Boobah and Chorion's Noddy.

Sergi Reitg, MD at Icon Animation, said: "Our excellent relations with broadcasters in Spain and Spanish-language territories internationally mean that we are ideally placed to handle third-party distribution for companies seeking sales in these key territories.”


Jules Grant
27 Feb 2007
© C21 Media 2007