Disney Online launches a new Clorox sponsored web series, The Possibility Shop, from The Jim Henson Company. Hosted by Courtney Watkins, The Possibility Shop offers various kid activities and projects and will update every two weeks with season and/or holiday-based content.
With Clorox as its exclusive sponsor, specifically supporting its Clorox2 Stain Fighter & Color Booster as well as its disinfecting wipes and toilet-cleaning products, The Possibility Shop features ads for these products in and around the episode.
President Obama yesterday launched the Educate to Innovate campaign, a nationwide initiative designed to encourage US kids to work hard to move to the head of the class in science, technology, engineering and math (also known as the STEM education courses) over the course of the next decade.
To support this new effort, the White House has entered into partnerships with several companies, foundations, non-profits and science and engineering societies that work to educate and motivate young people in the areas of science and math. Among the many plans, an annual science fair will be held at the White House, featuring winners from across the country.
Some partners and their efforts include:
Sesame Workshop in partnership with PNC Bank launches Sesame Street's Early STEM Literacy Initiative, a two-year and $7.5 million investment the science and math effort aimed at encouraging young kids to have positive attitudes towards nature and care for the environment.
In the new season of Sesame Street, which includes its My World is Green & Growing as part of the new 2-year initiative, 20 of the 26 episodes will focus on STEM, 13 will focus on science and seven on math. Additionally, Sesame Workshop, with PNC Bank's Grow Up Great Program, introduces a new math program for preschoolers entitled Math is Everywhere.
Time Warner Cable, in partnership with FIRST Robotics and the Coalition for Science After School, launches a campaign to connect 1+ million students to after-school STEM activities that are already available in their area. Time Warner will support this with a searchable website, connectamillionminds .com, public service announcements (PSAs), and has committed $100 million over the next five years, as well as further corporate philanthropy.
Discovery Communications launches Be the Future, a five-year campaign in partnership with universities and federal agencies to create content including PSAs for air on its 13 US networks, a commercial-free kid-targeted educational programming block on the Science Channel and other programming including its Curiosity series. Additionally, Discovery is creating interactive educational content for schools, and via a partnership with Siemens Foundation, will create STEM Connect, a resource for teachers.
National Lab Day, a grassroots effort that aims to upgrade science labs and support learning projects and support STEM teachers. The effort is a partnership with science and engineering societies with financial support from the Hidary Foundation, the MacArthur Foundation, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, and other partners.
The MacArthur Foundation, Sony Computer Entertainment America and the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) and its partners launch National STEM game design competitions. The competitions will include the 2010 Digital Media and Learning Competition, an annual effort supported by the MacArthur Foundation that advances innovative approaches to learning through games, social networks and mobile devices. One competition will be open solely to kids. Sony will participate in one segment of the competition this year, encouraging the development of new games that build on the existing video game Little Big Planet.
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! DVD
Anchor Bay Entertainment will release a new Earth-themed Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! DVD, Wubbzy Goes Green (58-minutes), Tuesday, April 6, 2010. Featuring the star of Nick Jr.'s Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! preschool series, the DVD release coincides with the 40th annual celebration of Earth Day on April 22.
Comprised of five episodes, Wubbzy Goes Green will also offer two consumer promotions with two new partners. The first (April-December 2010), offers consumers a $3 rebate (via mail) with the purchase of any two First Juice Brand 8-0z reusable and recyclable sippy top or 32-oz. multi-serve refill bottles and any Wubbzy DVD. The second, (April-June 2010), consumers will receive $3 (via mail) with the purchase a MaMa Rosa's refrigerated pizza and any Wubbzy DVD.
Comprised of five episodes, Wubbzy Goes Green will also offer two consumer promotions with two new partners. The first (April-December 2010), offers consumers a $3 rebate (via mail) with the purchase of any two First Juice Brand 8-0z reusable and recyclable sippy top or 32-oz. multi-serve refill bottles and any Wubbzy DVD. The second, (April-June 2010), consumers will receive $3 (via mail) with the purchase a MaMa Rosa's refrigerated pizza and any Wubbzy DVD.
Friday, November 20, 2009
Cookie Jar Entertainment, Marblemedia
Indie kids producer Cookie Jar Entertainment has engaged Gorilla Nation's GNKids and Teens to handle the online advertising for Jaroo.com, its new streaming video portal for kids.
Marblemedia has established a new department that will be responsible for working in tandem with broadcasters and brands to develop new and innovative Canadian programming to multiple screens. To support this movie, marblemedia names Lisa Reis as Director/Brand Integration.
Integrations will be customized and developed collaboratively on in house projects as well as special initiatives with marblemedia partners including broadcasters, brands and producers. Marblemedia is currently in talks with several partners about branded entertainment initiatives for several upcoming projects such as Just Like Mom ... and Dad a remake of the classic Canadian family game show that is currently in development, which teams-up parents and their kids in two rounds of family-related trivia plus a frenetic bake-off challenge.
An online game will allow Just Like Mom ... and Dad viewers at home to play along online. Marblemedia recently partnered with Fresh TV, creators of the tween-targeted, animated and music-centric series Stoked, which currently airs on Teletoon. Marblemedia executed Stoked's interactive component as well as sourcing, negotiating and executing cross-platform brand integration initiatives.
Marblemedia has established a new department that will be responsible for working in tandem with broadcasters and brands to develop new and innovative Canadian programming to multiple screens. To support this movie, marblemedia names Lisa Reis as Director/Brand Integration.
Integrations will be customized and developed collaboratively on in house projects as well as special initiatives with marblemedia partners including broadcasters, brands and producers. Marblemedia is currently in talks with several partners about branded entertainment initiatives for several upcoming projects such as Just Like Mom ... and Dad a remake of the classic Canadian family game show that is currently in development, which teams-up parents and their kids in two rounds of family-related trivia plus a frenetic bake-off challenge.
An online game will allow Just Like Mom ... and Dad viewers at home to play along online. Marblemedia recently partnered with Fresh TV, creators of the tween-targeted, animated and music-centric series Stoked, which currently airs on Teletoon. Marblemedia executed Stoked's interactive component as well as sourcing, negotiating and executing cross-platform brand integration initiatives.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Adult Swim
Cartoon Network's Adult Swim brand launched a new website allowing users to create their own custom DVDs made up of Adult Swim programming from shows such as Aqua Teen Hunger Force and Robot Chicken.
Fans can mix-and-match up to 110 minutes of programming for a flat rate of $20 per DVD, including shipping. Warner Bros. Archive Collection launched a similar site earlier this year.
Fans can mix-and-match up to 110 minutes of programming for a flat rate of $20 per DVD, including shipping. Warner Bros. Archive Collection launched a similar site earlier this year.
Friday, November 13, 2009
Generation gap-shmeneration gap!
Generation gap-shmeneration gap! According to a new Nickelodeon Research study, The Family GPS, the gap between generations is closing and technology and cultural attitudes are at least some of the reasons. The Family GPS study was conducted as part of an ongoing partnership with Harris Interactive that looks at the changing face and role of the family in the US.
Looking specifically at the technology and entertainment factors findings include that 82% and 77% of families are watching TV or movies together at home respectively each week.
Additionally, 41% of parents and kids are listening to the same music, which really isn't all that surprising for the most part as rock n' roll and country music, for example, have remained strongholds for the music industry for 40+ years now. Gender-wise, 56% of sons 8-21 share the same taste in movies as their dads, and 48% enjoy listening to the same music. Meanwhile 64% of daughters 8-21 share similar tastes in movies as their moms, and 44% share the same sense of fashion and clothing as mom.
On the importance of being together as a family, 83% of parents said they spend at least some time each week just hanging out and talking with their kid(s); and 86% eat dinner together at least once a week. Additionally, 51% of parents say they worry a lot about spending enough time together as a family, equal to their concern about their own or their family's health (53%) and paying their bills (51%).
Attitudinally, parents of Boys 2-21 believe the most important value to instill in a son is to be respectful of women (70%), while for daughters the top values include self-sufficiency and independent thinking (66% each). Parents have equal educational expectations for sons and daughter, however, it is a bit more important to parents of girls than those of boys that their kid gets good grades (92% vs. 86%). One of the nicest findings, to me anyhow given that the kid entertainment industry has been stressing cultural tolerance messaging for some time now, is that 88% of kids believe that it's important to learn about different cultures, and 95% of kids value the importance of respecting other cultures.
Looking specifically at the technology and entertainment factors findings include that 82% and 77% of families are watching TV or movies together at home respectively each week.
Additionally, 41% of parents and kids are listening to the same music, which really isn't all that surprising for the most part as rock n' roll and country music, for example, have remained strongholds for the music industry for 40+ years now. Gender-wise, 56% of sons 8-21 share the same taste in movies as their dads, and 48% enjoy listening to the same music. Meanwhile 64% of daughters 8-21 share similar tastes in movies as their moms, and 44% share the same sense of fashion and clothing as mom.
On the importance of being together as a family, 83% of parents said they spend at least some time each week just hanging out and talking with their kid(s); and 86% eat dinner together at least once a week. Additionally, 51% of parents say they worry a lot about spending enough time together as a family, equal to their concern about their own or their family's health (53%) and paying their bills (51%).
Attitudinally, parents of Boys 2-21 believe the most important value to instill in a son is to be respectful of women (70%), while for daughters the top values include self-sufficiency and independent thinking (66% each). Parents have equal educational expectations for sons and daughter, however, it is a bit more important to parents of girls than those of boys that their kid gets good grades (92% vs. 86%). One of the nicest findings, to me anyhow given that the kid entertainment industry has been stressing cultural tolerance messaging for some time now, is that 88% of kids believe that it's important to learn about different cultures, and 95% of kids value the importance of respecting other cultures.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Our Little Genius, Google, Bollywood Bob, Gigapix, dirtgirlworld
FOX approved a new game show, Our Little Genius from Mark Burnett in association with ZOO Productions, producers of Are You Smarter Than a 5th Grader?. The game show features real child prodigies, from 6 to 12 years old, answering increasingly difficult questions and trying to win hundreds of thousands of dollars for their families.
The caveat at play is how far the little geniuses keep going will depend on the parents who gauge how a panel of leading experts, from Ivy League professors to world-famous doctors and scientists perform with the same questions. If a child is pulled by the parent, the tiny genius can still try to answer the question to prove his/her amazing ability.
The host of Our Little Genius will be announced at an upcoming date. Families interested in participating with their little genius can send inquiries to ourlittlegenius@yahoo.com. Mark Burnett, Barry Poznick and John Stevens are executive producing.
Google began testing a new "skippable" pre-roll ad format on select YouTube advertisements yesterday, in an effort to address high abandonment rates. (This measure when viewers click off the site rather than watch a pre-roll ad.) Abandonment rates, which tested as high as 70% when in-stream ads were first launched on the site in 2007 according to the company, are affected by several factors including length of the ad and the relevance of the creative.
Nickelodeon UK caps off the 10th anniversary celebration of SpongeBob SquarePants with a new live-action two-minute film Bollywood Bob. Choreographed by Longinus Fernandes (Slumdog Millionaire), Bollywood Bob will premiere on November 14 as part of Nickelodeon UK's weekend SpongeBob marathon, SpongeBash, and then across Nickelodeon channels around the world.
The short features a Bangra/Bollywood modified version of the SpongeBob theme song, arranged by Akbar Sami and Firoze Patel. A 30-second version of the film will screen in the Vue and Cineworld movie theaters in the UK from November 13 through January 1. Nickelodeon UK produced Bollywood Bob in collaboration with Nickelodeon International and Nickelodeon India.
Essential Entertainment inks a multi-picture deal with Gigapix Studios for five kid-targeted pictures (rated G or PG) through its Recess Films, per IndieWire. The movies, most of which will be live-action and one CGI animated, will be produced by Gigapix over a period of three years. The live action movies will have budgets of $8-10 million each and the CG title will carry a budget of $20 million.
Anchor Bay Entertainment has first look rights in the US while Essential Entertainment will handle all international rights to the movies. The first movie under the agreement is The Return of Captain Kidd, which features a script by Jymn Magon (DuckTales, A Goofy Movie) and Kern Konwiser (On Hallowed Ground, Miss Evers' Boys'), with Konwiser directing.
Production on The Return of Captain Kidd is slated to begin in early 2010. Kip Konwiser, head of production at Gigapix, said information about two other live action movies and the CG animated movie will be announced in the next few weeks.
The music-centric preschool series dirtgirlworld (52x11) is set to premiere in Australia on ABC1 and ABC 2 this December 4. A mixed live action, animation with photomontage and illustrated series, dirtgirlworld was developed by mememe productions and is a co-production with Decode Entertainment.
The series recently launched on CBeebies (UK) and CBC (Canada). The dirtgirlworld rights are held by mememe production in Australia, where it has appointed Merchantwise to manage the publishing and retail licensing program. In the UK, BBC Worldwide holding the UK rights, while for the rest of the world Decode Enterprises takes all TV, home entertainment and digital rights and DXK Licensing manages licensing and merchandising.
The caveat at play is how far the little geniuses keep going will depend on the parents who gauge how a panel of leading experts, from Ivy League professors to world-famous doctors and scientists perform with the same questions. If a child is pulled by the parent, the tiny genius can still try to answer the question to prove his/her amazing ability.
The host of Our Little Genius will be announced at an upcoming date. Families interested in participating with their little genius can send inquiries to ourlittlegenius@yahoo.com. Mark Burnett, Barry Poznick and John Stevens are executive producing.
Google began testing a new "skippable" pre-roll ad format on select YouTube advertisements yesterday, in an effort to address high abandonment rates. (This measure when viewers click off the site rather than watch a pre-roll ad.) Abandonment rates, which tested as high as 70% when in-stream ads were first launched on the site in 2007 according to the company, are affected by several factors including length of the ad and the relevance of the creative.
Nickelodeon UK caps off the 10th anniversary celebration of SpongeBob SquarePants with a new live-action two-minute film Bollywood Bob. Choreographed by Longinus Fernandes (Slumdog Millionaire), Bollywood Bob will premiere on November 14 as part of Nickelodeon UK's weekend SpongeBob marathon, SpongeBash, and then across Nickelodeon channels around the world.
The short features a Bangra/Bollywood modified version of the SpongeBob theme song, arranged by Akbar Sami and Firoze Patel. A 30-second version of the film will screen in the Vue and Cineworld movie theaters in the UK from November 13 through January 1. Nickelodeon UK produced Bollywood Bob in collaboration with Nickelodeon International and Nickelodeon India.
Essential Entertainment inks a multi-picture deal with Gigapix Studios for five kid-targeted pictures (rated G or PG) through its Recess Films, per IndieWire. The movies, most of which will be live-action and one CGI animated, will be produced by Gigapix over a period of three years. The live action movies will have budgets of $8-10 million each and the CG title will carry a budget of $20 million.
Anchor Bay Entertainment has first look rights in the US while Essential Entertainment will handle all international rights to the movies. The first movie under the agreement is The Return of Captain Kidd, which features a script by Jymn Magon (DuckTales, A Goofy Movie) and Kern Konwiser (On Hallowed Ground, Miss Evers' Boys'), with Konwiser directing.
Production on The Return of Captain Kidd is slated to begin in early 2010. Kip Konwiser, head of production at Gigapix, said information about two other live action movies and the CG animated movie will be announced in the next few weeks.
The music-centric preschool series dirtgirlworld (52x11) is set to premiere in Australia on ABC1 and ABC 2 this December 4. A mixed live action, animation with photomontage and illustrated series, dirtgirlworld was developed by mememe productions and is a co-production with Decode Entertainment.
The series recently launched on CBeebies (UK) and CBC (Canada). The dirtgirlworld rights are held by mememe production in Australia, where it has appointed Merchantwise to manage the publishing and retail licensing program. In the UK, BBC Worldwide holding the UK rights, while for the rest of the world Decode Enterprises takes all TV, home entertainment and digital rights and DXK Licensing manages licensing and merchandising.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Do you know where your children are? Probably...
Nielsen reports television viewing by Americans (Persons 2+) reached a record high during the 2008-2009 TV season with an average of four hours and 49 minutes per day spent watching TV.
This total is up four minutes compared to last year and up 20% from 10 years ago. Furthermore, the average household watched an average of eight hours and 21 minutes per day, another record increase.
Primetime viewing per day was flat compared to last year though it is still at its highest level since 1991. Nielsen says the TV viewing increases may be due to more TV sets existing in homes, Americans have more channels and content to choose from and DVR usage is also on the upswing.
This total is up four minutes compared to last year and up 20% from 10 years ago. Furthermore, the average household watched an average of eight hours and 21 minutes per day, another record increase.
Primetime viewing per day was flat compared to last year though it is still at its highest level since 1991. Nielsen says the TV viewing increases may be due to more TV sets existing in homes, Americans have more channels and content to choose from and DVR usage is also on the upswing.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
75% of Students Prefer Downloading Music To Streaming
- Press Release
- Source: Comtex IT - Internet Research
- On 10:53 am EST, Tuesday November 10, 2009
NEW YORK, Nov 10 /PRNewswire/ -- A recent survey of 10,000 university students by the University of Reading, found that 75% of students download music, rather than buy in stores or pay for on music-streaming sites.
Despite the recent popularity of music-streaming sites such as Spotify, 75 percent said they wouldn't pay for a music-streaming service but would rather use sites such as iTunes to download and keep tracks on hard drives or MP3 players.
The industry is in for a shake up as more students and teenagers are looking at pricing and sites that offer songs without copy-protection technology known as digital-rights management, or DRM. This prevents customers from being able to copy music or play the MP3 music on other devices other than Apples iPods or using iTunes player.
The industry is taking note of the growing demand for cheaper downloads; one such site that has already lowered prices considerably is TunesPro.com. Launched 3 months ago, the company has reduced the cost of its tracks already, to attract the younger customers.
A spokes man for TunesPro said, "We have seen a huge surge of younger people using our site as more and more of torrents and P2P files contain viruses, so our pricing must be competitive enough for the younger students with perhaps less disposable income than professionals. We keep our prices low and concentrate of making money through volume sales. Currently we charge 19c per song and offer a further 10% when a whole album is purchased. We believe this will attract the younger users away from iTunes, which charge almost 6 times more than we do."
Recording companies pick the prices, much as they did for CDs sold in stores and online. On day one, songs including "Jai Ho" from the "Slumdog Millionaire" soundtrack, "Single Ladies" by Beyonce and "Chicken Fried" by the Zac Brown Band were bumped up to $1.29. TunesPro have made agreements with a number of record companies and have decided to keep profits on single downloads at reasonable levels. iTunes have become greedy, but things look set to backfire as more and more download site open for business and like TunesPro.com, cash in on the younger users by keeping prices low.
Contact:
Comtex IT - Internet Research
922 W. Beverly Dr.
Beverly Hills, California 90210
Dr. Richard Jones - Chief Researcher
Website: www.certifiedby.com
Media Relations info@certifiedby.com
Telephone: 818-475-2935
40th anniversary of Sesame Street
Today is the official 40th anniversary of Sesame Street that includes the debut an all new look and format for the series, which continues to air on PBS. Produced by Sesame Workshop, the new season includes the launch of a new two-year environmental curriculum-based initiative titled My World is Green and Growing.
Among the many honors the series has received, NYC has proclaimed today Sesame Street Day. Also, opening today is a photo exhibit, Sesame Street: The longest Street in the World, open today at Washington D.C.'s Union Station. Additionally, the Smithsonian's Discovery Theater will throw a birthday celebration for the series on November 15, and the Brooklyn Public Library honors Sesame Street with a three month-long exhibition of the show's memorabilia.
Among the many honors the series has received, NYC has proclaimed today Sesame Street Day. Also, opening today is a photo exhibit, Sesame Street: The longest Street in the World, open today at Washington D.C.'s Union Station. Additionally, the Smithsonian's Discovery Theater will throw a birthday celebration for the series on November 15, and the Brooklyn Public Library honors Sesame Street with a three month-long exhibition of the show's memorabilia.
Monday, November 9, 2009
Rise of the FLIP, ABC3, Mar Vista Ent.
Cisco's Flip Video division is launching a new multi-million dollar national marketing campaign this week with BIRD Design, Urgent Content and Media Storm, utilizing both everyday users and celebrities to communicate how empowering the little handheld cameras can be.
Famous Flip users including Tony Hawk, Dwayne Wade and Stevie Wonder will appear in 10-30 sec. spots with the content they shoot for personal are charitable reasons.
The spots will appear on broadcast and cable, select websites and via outdoor digital advertising platforms. From Jan- Aug. 2009 Flip captured 75% of the handheld "shoot and share" camcorder market and 26% of the HD Camcorder unit market in the US, according to the NPD Group.
MORE for the UGC thirsty brands -
Nokia is partnering with Island Def Jam Music and UMG International artist Rihanna to promote its new X6 handset, which ships with Nokia's Comes With Music unlimited streaming service.
Rihanna will perform select tracks from her new album "Rated R" in London on Nov. 16, and the show will be broadcast live at nokia.com/rihanna and streamed to Nokia handsets.
The site will also feature UGC-uploaded videos shot by attendees via their Nokia X6 phones. Nokia will make an exclusive Rihanna application and exclusive footage from her London gig available at the Ovi Store and in selected territories, as well as an exclusive window to the track, 'Wait Your Turn' from the album before its release.
ABC3, Australia's new kid-targeted digital and online channel, commissions an Australian version of the series Prank Patrol (26x30), which will be produced by activeTV. Currently in production, ABC3 will launch Prank Patrol in primetime from Q4.
Created by Canada's Apartment 11 Productions, the original Prank Patrol is a long running series on YTV (Canada) with a UK format version airing on CBBC (UK). The Australian adaptation of Prank Patrol is the first production resulting from a partnership between activeTV and MarVista Entertainment. MarVista will also handle worldwide distribution of the Australian version of the program.
Famous Flip users including Tony Hawk, Dwayne Wade and Stevie Wonder will appear in 10-30 sec. spots with the content they shoot for personal are charitable reasons.
The spots will appear on broadcast and cable, select websites and via outdoor digital advertising platforms. From Jan- Aug. 2009 Flip captured 75% of the handheld "shoot and share" camcorder market and 26% of the HD Camcorder unit market in the US, according to the NPD Group.
MORE for the UGC thirsty brands -
Nokia is partnering with Island Def Jam Music and UMG International artist Rihanna to promote its new X6 handset, which ships with Nokia's Comes With Music unlimited streaming service.
Rihanna will perform select tracks from her new album "Rated R" in London on Nov. 16, and the show will be broadcast live at nokia.com/rihanna and streamed to Nokia handsets.
The site will also feature UGC-uploaded videos shot by attendees via their Nokia X6 phones. Nokia will make an exclusive Rihanna application and exclusive footage from her London gig available at the Ovi Store and in selected territories, as well as an exclusive window to the track, 'Wait Your Turn' from the album before its release.
ABC3, Australia's new kid-targeted digital and online channel, commissions an Australian version of the series Prank Patrol (26x30), which will be produced by activeTV. Currently in production, ABC3 will launch Prank Patrol in primetime from Q4.
Created by Canada's Apartment 11 Productions, the original Prank Patrol is a long running series on YTV (Canada) with a UK format version airing on CBBC (UK). The Australian adaptation of Prank Patrol is the first production resulting from a partnership between activeTV and MarVista Entertainment. MarVista will also handle worldwide distribution of the Australian version of the program.
Thursday, November 5, 2009
The youngest development execs ever!
PBS Kids Go! and WNED-TV Buffalo/Toronto are partnering to launch the PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest, a national-local contest designed to promote the development of kid's reading skills via hands-on learning. The Writers Contest invites kids in grades K-3 across the country, to create and illustrate their own stories and submit them. Beginning on January 27, 2010, PBS stations nationwide will partners in the PBS Kids Go! Writers Contest and work with schools, public libraries and other literacy organizations to encourage kids in their communities to participate in the contest. Local winners will be entered into the national contest where a panel of noted judges will select the winners. The contest website, www.pbskids.org/read, will launch in early 2010.
Wednesday, November 4, 2009
Happy Birthday Sesame Street!
Posted by
Jack Schofield Wednesday 4 November 2009 14.44 GMT
guardian.co.uk
The Big Bird Google Doodle celebrates 40 years of Sesame Street
It's somewhat shocking to discover from a Google Doodle that Sesame Street is 40 years old. The educational show created by the Children's Television Workshop certainly has legs, as they say, and Google has chosen to highlight the ones belonging to Big Bird rather than exploit Kermit, Bert and Ernie, Elmo or other likely candidates…
Well, that's true for the US and Canada, though your local version of Google may vary. There are different logos and different characters in different countries, as The Next Web has pointed out. And in the UK, where Sesame Street (as distinct from The Muppets) has not had the same cultural impact, Google has gone with Wallace and Gromit's 20th birthday instead.
Google's Sesame Street celebration is slightly early -- it should be on 10 November, when there will be an anniversary show featuring First Lady Michelle Obama, with or without Hula Hoop. There will also be a couple of books: Sesame Street: A Celebration of Forty Years of Life on the Street, and Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street.
When I was growing up in Canada in the early 1970s*, I almost never missed Sesame Street, and while Big Bird was never the best character, I enjoyed his jousts with Mr Hooper Hooper. In the UK, however, the series was considered too fast-paced and people frowned on its use of advertising techniques. Of course, a series made for disadvantaged inner-city kids also had lots of elements unfamiliar in suburban Surrey, or even Islington. And even the most brilliant of those early episodes would not pass through the Political Correctness barrier today.
* Technically, I was doing an MA at UBC at the time, but I also did some toddler-sitting with some of Sesame Street's biggest fans.
Jack Schofield Wednesday 4 November 2009 14.44 GMT
guardian.co.uk
The Big Bird Google Doodle celebrates 40 years of Sesame Street
It's somewhat shocking to discover from a Google Doodle that Sesame Street is 40 years old. The educational show created by the Children's Television Workshop certainly has legs, as they say, and Google has chosen to highlight the ones belonging to Big Bird rather than exploit Kermit, Bert and Ernie, Elmo or other likely candidates…
Well, that's true for the US and Canada, though your local version of Google may vary. There are different logos and different characters in different countries, as The Next Web has pointed out. And in the UK, where Sesame Street (as distinct from The Muppets) has not had the same cultural impact, Google has gone with Wallace and Gromit's 20th birthday instead.
Google's Sesame Street celebration is slightly early -- it should be on 10 November, when there will be an anniversary show featuring First Lady Michelle Obama, with or without Hula Hoop. There will also be a couple of books: Sesame Street: A Celebration of Forty Years of Life on the Street, and Street Gang: The Complete History of Sesame Street.
When I was growing up in Canada in the early 1970s*, I almost never missed Sesame Street, and while Big Bird was never the best character, I enjoyed his jousts with Mr Hooper Hooper. In the UK, however, the series was considered too fast-paced and people frowned on its use of advertising techniques. Of course, a series made for disadvantaged inner-city kids also had lots of elements unfamiliar in suburban Surrey, or even Islington. And even the most brilliant of those early episodes would not pass through the Political Correctness barrier today.
* Technically, I was doing an MA at UBC at the time, but I also did some toddler-sitting with some of Sesame Street's biggest fans.
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Cookie Jar TV, jaroo.com, PBS and Disney XD
Children's entertainment producer Cookie Jar Entertainment is introducing a new ad supported premium video content destination for kids.
Jaroo.com launches in pubic beta in the U.S. and Canada this morning with about 500 full-length episodes from more than 50 of its popular shows including Inspector Gadget, The Adventures of Paddington Bear, Johnny Test, Super Mario Bros. and Zelda. Cookie Jar's digital team decided to keep the portal focused on video, so don't look for social networking, games or other interactive features.
But new shows and episodes will be added daily, with the online schedule spelling out the rotation and over 2,000 episodes planned for the site over the next 3 months. Cookie Jar is currently in talks with other kids programmers about licensing additional titles, according to Frederic Soulie, VP/Digital Media.
Sesame Workshop is awarded a grant from MetLife Foundation to promote Healthy Habits for Life with the help of the Sesame Street Muppets in India and Mexico.
The initiative will launch in India via Galli Galli Sim Sim, a multimedia educational initiative that facilitates young kids learning basic and life skills, as well as delivering health messages to kids, parents, and educators, and in Mexico via the expanded Plaza Sesamo Habitos Saludables para la Vida, a multimedia effort that provides age-appropriate, educational health messages to meet the needs of Mexican preschoolers.
The grant will enable the production of special themed episodes, public service announcements (PSAs), online content, storybooks, posters, and community events. The PSAs begin airing in Mexico this month and distribution of the outreach materials is slated for the spring of 2010. In India, PSAs will begin airing this winter, along with the launch of mobile community viewings of Galli Galli Sim Sim content and online health messages and activities.
Disney XD will launch its new short-form sports-themed series Moises Rules! (4x2.5) on Monday, December 7 at 5p. The series features Moises Arias (Hannah Montana) going up against other kids in unique sporting events such as foam tetherball and finger football. The episodes will debut Monday-Thursday, December 7 10. Additionally, new features and exclusive show content will debut Tuesday, November 10 at DisneyXD.com, viewers can send a message to Moises, play sports-themed games and download all-new wallpapers.
Jaroo.com launches in pubic beta in the U.S. and Canada this morning with about 500 full-length episodes from more than 50 of its popular shows including Inspector Gadget, The Adventures of Paddington Bear, Johnny Test, Super Mario Bros. and Zelda. Cookie Jar's digital team decided to keep the portal focused on video, so don't look for social networking, games or other interactive features.
But new shows and episodes will be added daily, with the online schedule spelling out the rotation and over 2,000 episodes planned for the site over the next 3 months. Cookie Jar is currently in talks with other kids programmers about licensing additional titles, according to Frederic Soulie, VP/Digital Media.
Sesame Workshop is awarded a grant from MetLife Foundation to promote Healthy Habits for Life with the help of the Sesame Street Muppets in India and Mexico.
The initiative will launch in India via Galli Galli Sim Sim, a multimedia educational initiative that facilitates young kids learning basic and life skills, as well as delivering health messages to kids, parents, and educators, and in Mexico via the expanded Plaza Sesamo Habitos Saludables para la Vida, a multimedia effort that provides age-appropriate, educational health messages to meet the needs of Mexican preschoolers.
The grant will enable the production of special themed episodes, public service announcements (PSAs), online content, storybooks, posters, and community events. The PSAs begin airing in Mexico this month and distribution of the outreach materials is slated for the spring of 2010. In India, PSAs will begin airing this winter, along with the launch of mobile community viewings of Galli Galli Sim Sim content and online health messages and activities.
Disney XD will launch its new short-form sports-themed series Moises Rules! (4x2.5) on Monday, December 7 at 5p. The series features Moises Arias (Hannah Montana) going up against other kids in unique sporting events such as foam tetherball and finger football. The episodes will debut Monday-Thursday, December 7 10. Additionally, new features and exclusive show content will debut Tuesday, November 10 at DisneyXD.com, viewers can send a message to Moises, play sports-themed games and download all-new wallpapers.
Monday, November 2, 2009
Disney, PBS and Nelvana
Disney Television Animation and Disney Channels Worldwide have begun production on Fish Hooks (working title), a new 2D digital and photo collage animated comedy.
The 21-episode series follows the underwater adventures of three aquatic pals that live in the same fish tank at a local pet store trying to make it through their tween/teen years and high school.
Created by kid's book illustrator Noah Z. Jones, and developed for TV by Alex Hirsch The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack) and Bill Reiss (Chowder), Fish Hooks features the voices of Kyle Massey Cory in the House), Chelsea Staub (Jonas) and Justin Roiland (The Sarah Silverman Program).
PBS Kids will premiere four new regular episodes and a holiday episode of the preschool series Super Why this month. First up is, Super Why and Hansel and Gretel: A Healthy Adventure debuting November 9 (check local listings). While Super Why regularly helps kids with their early reading and decoding skills, this new episode also focuses on making eating choices. The other new episodes and their respective premiere dates are as follows: Cinderella: The Prince's Side of the Story (November 11); The Princes and the Pauper (November 11); The Ugly Duckling: Becoming a Swan (November 12); and Super Why and The Nutcracker (November 25).
Nelvana Enterprises (Canada) inks broadcast deals with KI.KA (Germany) for two of its kid-aimed series. KI.KA picks up:
Pearlie (26 episodes), which revolves around a less than two-inch high fairy. Co-produced with Sticky Pictures, Pearlie debuts this afternoon and will air weekdays.
Jane and the Dragon (26 episodes), a CGI animated co-production with Weta Productions. Based on Martin Baynton's Jane and the Dragon books, the series debuts Wednesday, November 18 and will air weekdays.
The 21-episode series follows the underwater adventures of three aquatic pals that live in the same fish tank at a local pet store trying to make it through their tween/teen years and high school.
Created by kid's book illustrator Noah Z. Jones, and developed for TV by Alex Hirsch The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack) and Bill Reiss (Chowder), Fish Hooks features the voices of Kyle Massey Cory in the House), Chelsea Staub (Jonas) and Justin Roiland (The Sarah Silverman Program).
PBS Kids will premiere four new regular episodes and a holiday episode of the preschool series Super Why this month. First up is, Super Why and Hansel and Gretel: A Healthy Adventure debuting November 9 (check local listings). While Super Why regularly helps kids with their early reading and decoding skills, this new episode also focuses on making eating choices. The other new episodes and their respective premiere dates are as follows: Cinderella: The Prince's Side of the Story (November 11); The Princes and the Pauper (November 11); The Ugly Duckling: Becoming a Swan (November 12); and Super Why and The Nutcracker (November 25).
Nelvana Enterprises (Canada) inks broadcast deals with KI.KA (Germany) for two of its kid-aimed series. KI.KA picks up:
Pearlie (26 episodes), which revolves around a less than two-inch high fairy. Co-produced with Sticky Pictures, Pearlie debuts this afternoon and will air weekdays.
Jane and the Dragon (26 episodes), a CGI animated co-production with Weta Productions. Based on Martin Baynton's Jane and the Dragon books, the series debuts Wednesday, November 18 and will air weekdays.
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