A LOT OF KIDS NEWS WITH LOTS OF PRE-SCHOOL AND WEB

Sprout is set to launch its first, long form original series Noodle and Doodle (26x11) on Saturday, September 25 at 9a, in conjunction with the channel's fifth anniversary.

Noodle and Doodle will then air every Saturday and Sunday morning at 9a and again at 11:30a. The preschool series will air as part of the channel's live morning programming block, The Sunny Side Up Show, which is expanding to include weekends.

The Sprout produced series is hosted by Sean, co-hose of The Sunny Side Up Show, and Noodle, a puppet that enjoys working in the kitchen, and Doodle, a virtual electronic pal, and features arts, crafts and healthy cooking step-by-step activities for preschoolers and their families.

The series also includes Sean's dog Doggity, who takes viewers into an animated world where a group of cooking dogs team up to solve problems and cooking snacks in the kitchen.

The animated Doggity segments were created in conjunction with series creator John McCoy and Ka-chew!, a division of Klasky Csupo (Rugrats, Wild Thornberrys). A corresponding website for the series will debut at SproutOnline.com ( www.sproutonline.com ) after September 25.


Disney Channel will premiere the new preschool special, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Road Rally, on Tuesday, September 7, 7-7:50p. Disney Studios Home Entertainment will release the special on DVD the same day and date. A week before the premiere, August 31, the full special will be available via Disney Channel On Demand.

Meanwhile in conjunction with its TV debut, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Road Rally will be available on iTunes and Xbox Live, as well as simulcast on mobile providers Sprint TV, FloTV and MobiTV. Finally, the special will be accessible on mobile VOD for AT&T CV, Sprint TV and Verizon V Cast from September 8. Online PlayhouseDisney.com/Mickey
( www.playhousedisney.com/mickey ) will launch Clubhouse Rally Raceway.

Ameba, a Winnipeg-based and kid-targeted IPTV system, expands its programming with the addition of CCI Entertainment's classic series Nilus the Sandman, Time Blazers, as well as Monster by Mistake to its AmebaTV.com ( www.amebatv.com ) subscription portal.


Koba Entertainment is currently producing a live theatrical production of Nelvana's animated preschool series Max & Ruby, which is based on the book series of the same name by Rosemary Wells. Targeted to family audiences, the musical tour, Max & Ruby: Bunny Party, kicks off in Western Canada this fall. Featuring music and lyrics by Norman Foote, the show will make its way across Canada and then throughout the US in 2011. ( www.maxandrubyontour.com)