Germany's Super RTL Inks Deal With DreamWorks; Pact Includes Exclusive Access To DreamWorks Animation’s TV Series

The entertainment news website C21Media is reporting the German television industry news in the following article that the German kids and family channel Super RTL has signed a multi-year output deal with DreamWorks Animation as it prepares for the end of its existing agreement with Disney. The new pact gives Super RTL exclusive access to DreamWorks Animation's television series – often spin-offs from DreamWorks' high-profile movies – for the next five years, as well as the chance to license the series until 2020. It is currently unclear whether the deal also includes the popular animated Nickelodeon series (Nicktoons) "Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness" and "The Penguins of Madagascar", which Nickelodeon Productions co-produces with DreamWorks Animation, as both Nick shows currently air on Nickelodeon Germany (Deutschland; "The Penguins of Madagascar" as "Die Pinguine aus Madagascar"):

Super RTL links with DreamWorks

German kids and family channel Super RTL has signed a multi-year output deal with DreamWorks Animation as it prepares for the end of its existing agreement with Disney.

The new pact gives Super RTL exclusive access to DreamWorks Animation’s television series – often spin-offs from high-profile feature films – for the next five years, as well as the chance to license the series until 2020.

TV shows produced by DreamWorks include Dragons: Riders of Berk for Cartoon Network, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness for Nickelodeon and the Netflix series Turbo: Fast, based on the upcoming feature film of the same name.

Last July, the firm paid US$155m for Classic Media, a move that gave it ownership of brands such as Casper the Friendly Ghost, Lassie and Noddy. It is also getting closer to launching its own kids’ television channel in the US with Fox.

The content agreement between Super RTL and Disney, which accounts for about 30% of its schedule, is due to expire on December 31. Disney holds a 50% share in the channel but it remains unclear if it will relinquish this.

In January 2014, Disney Channel Germany, an ad-supported free-to-air rival to Super RTL, will go live with a mix of local productions, acquired content and feature films targeting children and families.

Since Disney acquired Das Vierte in September last year, Super RTL has increased its library of third-party acquisitions, partly through a deal with 9 Story Entertainment.

Nico Franks
28-05-2013
©C21Media

GENRES: Animation, Children's
SHOWS: Dragons: Riders of Berk, Turbo: FAST
COMPANIES: Disney, DreamWorks Animation, DreamWorks Classics, Super RTL
SECTIONS: C21Kids
COUNTRIES: Germany