The Assistants

Ever wonder what it is like to be an assistant in the entertainment industry? Hmmm wait a second most of us started that way didn't we? Well, tween/teens will get a chance to find out what it's like when The N premieres its new original live-action comedy The Assistants (13x30) on July 10, with two back-to-back episodes 8:30p-9:30p. The Assistants will air regularly Friday nights at 8:30p, following new episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation. The Assistants comes from creators/writers/producers/show runners Will McRobb and Chris Viscardi, who also serve as executive producers on the series with The Tom Lynch Company (South of Nowhere, Secret World of Alex Mack among others and the upcoming The Troop). The series revolves around four showbiz assistants toiling for a big-time producer as they try to make it in Hollywood as a filmmaker, writer, actor and producer. McRobb and Viscardi have worked together for 15+ years including as the creators of The Adventures of Pete and Pete and KaBlam!, moving on to serve screenwriters of Alvin and the Chipmunks, the Tale of Despereaux, Snow Day and Angus, Thongs and Perfect Snogging and the upcoming Big Brave Brian and Measle and the Wrathmonk. Content Films holds the international distribution rights to the series.

How Teens Use Media

The Nielsen Company's insights officially releases its new study, How Teens Use Media, later today at the 2009 What Teens Want conference in NY.  Traditionally viewed as fickle and quick to jump to new technology and away from anything old, the report finds that while Teens are involved in new technology but they haven't given up on media like TV, newspapers and advertising.  Spend any time with a teen and you'll know they are totally adaptable and easily downloading this and that trying out anything and everything at the same time they are texting/IMing (cell phone, computer), listing to music (various devices), surfing the net (on computers and cell phones), playing video games (handheld, consoles, cell phones), and are watching shows/movies/video on a range of devices and locations ... including on a TV.  The Nielsen study underlines that teens aren't just engaged in the new, in fact Teens are watching TV than ever, up by +6% over the past five years in the US.  That is good news for TV folks indeed. Further findings from the study include:
Teens spend less time browsing than adults: Teens spend 11 hours and 32 minutes per month online versus the average of 29 hours and 15 minutes.
Teens spend 35% less time watching online video than adults 25-34, but recall ads better when watching TV shows online than they do on TV.
US teens watch less TV per day than in most other metered countries.
Teens read newspapers, listen to the radio and Teens who recall TV ads are 44% more likely to say they liked the ad.
US Teens' favorite TV shows, top websites and genre preferences across media are mostly the same as their parents, with American Idol being the top show in 2008 and Google the top website.
In the US, nearly half of online Teens 1217 visited MySpace and Facebook in May 2009 (45% and 44%, respectively). All said, Teens 1217 accounted for 28% of MySpace's page views and 12% of Facebook's during the month.

ABC3

Australia's ABC TV will launch its new free-to-air kid/tween channel, ABC3, before Christmas 2009. Targeted to K6-15, with a core demographic of K8-12, ABC3 is designed to be multi-platform experience and world and will air daily 6a-9p.  ABC3 will offer programming content across genres both on-air and online (the website will also feature games, video and social interactivity.  ABC TV has launched Me On 3, a national search for hosts for the new channel - applications are due by July 17.  The end of the year will also see ABC TV shifts its daytime schedule on ABC2 to become a preschool programming block, ABCforKids, weekdays from 9a-6p and weekends from 6a-6p.  ABC1 will continue to offer programming kids including a selection of ABC3 and ABCforKids content in both morning and afternoon slots.  Focusing on Australian projects the ABC3 programming lineup will include a range of new projects:
After School Care, a comedy pilot, which is part of the Kids360 project - a joint initiative between ABC3, Film Victoria and the Australian Children's Television Foundation.

West Coast Kids - Western Australian producers will be invited to submit their proposals for a 13-part, character driven comedy series.  This is a joint project with Screen West and the Australian Children's Television Foundation.

Dead Normal (13 eps) - a drama series that follows the adventures of three beautiful, strong-willed teen sisters, who happen to be ghosts.  The series is a co-production between Burberry Productions and Coolabi.

News and Current Affairs - Produced by ABC TV's Behind the News team.
Extreme Sports and Culture - a show that explores the world of art, music and fashion centered on extreme sports.
Dance Academy (26 eps) - Six teen dancers have one year to prove they've got what it takes after winning a place at the National Academy of Dance.  A co-production between ABC3 and Werner Film Productions.

My Place  (13 eps) - an historical drama revolving around kids who live in one house in South Sydney over 130 years. Based on the book by Nadia Wheatley and Donna Rawlins, the series is a co-production of ABC3 and Little Leaf Pictures.

CJ the DJ (52 eps) - the animated series follows CJ a spirited 13-year-old disc jockey, which will also feature an online DJ component. The series is an ABC3 and Kapow Pictures co-production.

Cake Entertainment makes its move into live-action production with its new mixed live-action/CG hybrid series pilot Cartoon Gene (26x30), which is a co-production with Galakids and Teletoon Canada.  The tween-targeted project revolves around Gene an average teen boy who happens to have cartoon DNA, the result of a computer generated action game star Mom and a computer geek dad.  Like all adolescents puberty changes Gene, but in his case it's a bit more animated with various cartoon-like reactions.  Cake will also distribute the series internationally.  Cartoon Gene is created by Louis Fournier and Natalie Dumoulin and directed by Adam Weissman (iCarly, Drake & Josh, Zoey 101).  In other news, Cake recently acquired the worldwide distribution rights to the live-action Irish series Aifric (26x30) from Telegael and live-action/comedy Dead Normal (working title).

The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop

Can video games be good for kids?  According to a report from The Joan Ganz Cooney Center at Sesame Workshop an investment in research-based digital games can improve kid's health and learning.  The report Game Changer: Investing in Digital Play to Advance Children's Learning and Health provides recommendations for a new framework to use games to help kids learn healthy behaviors, skills like reading and math, as well as critical thinking, global learning and programming design.  The report outlines 30+ examples of learning and health games and research projects.  It includes a list of federally funded game R&D projects in which the Department of Defense, National Institutes of Health and the Department of Education have invested.  The report is supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Pioneer Portfolio, and was unveiled at the Woodrow Wilson Center in Washington, D.C.

a look at the numbers

Top 10 Combined Broadcast/Basic Cable shows among Kids 6-11 for the week of 6/8-6/14/09 , 6a-6a:
K6-11                                                 Total Delivery (000)
DSNY*:      Hannah Montana (6/14; 7:30p)                   1481
NICK:        iCarly (6/13; 8p)                                        1356
CARTOON: Total Drama Action (6/11; 9p)                     1347
DSNY*:     The Parent Trap (6/11; 8-10:20p)                1340
NICK:       Penguins of Madagascar (6/13; 10a)             1321
DSNY*:     Jonas (6/14; 8:30p)                                    1312
DSNY*:     Sonny With A Chance (6/14; 8p)                  1270
NICK:       SpongeBob SquarePants (6/13; 9:30a)         1254
NICK:       True Jackson, VP (6/13; 8:30p)                    1252
NICK:       Naked Brothers Band (6/13; 9p)                   1250
Source: Disney from Nielsen Media Research Data
*Disney Channel is not an ad supported cable network, unlike the others in this listing.
Source: Disney from Nielsen Media Research Data
*Disney Channel is not an ad supported cable network, unlike the others in this listing.

Lunch Lady, Muppets and more

Amy Poehler will star in Universal's big screen adaptation of author/illustrator Jarrett Krosoczka's forthcoming graphic novel series Lunch Lady, per THR.  Poehler will also exec produce the movie with Gotham Group's Ellen Goldsmith-Vein producing.  Published by Knopf Books for Young Readers, the graphic novel series debuts this summer with two titles, Lunch Lady and the League of Librarians and Lunch Lady and the Cyborg Substitute, with another set for release in December 2009 and more for summer 2010.

The Muppets from Sesame Street will be featured on the 29th annual A Capitol Fourth in Washington DC to celebrate America's 233rd birthday.  PBS will broadcast the event live from the West Lawn of the United States Capitol on Saturday, July 4, 8-9:30p (check local listings) and it will be simulcast via America Forces Radio and Television Network, and can be heard on NPR Member stations.  A Capitol Fourth will be hosted by actor Jimmy Smits and feature opening and closing performances by Barry Manilow with the National Symphony Orchestra, and performances by Aretha Franklin, Natasha Bedingfield, the cast of Jersey Boys, Michael Feinstein and pianist Andrew von Oeyen.  The event is a co-production of Jerry Colbert of Capital Concerts and WETA, Washington, D.C.

Disney Channel UK re-commissions Prism Entertainment to produce a second season of the live-action short-form series Life Bites, per Broadcast Now.  The new episodes (26x5) of the tween/teen-targeted the comedy bows on the network in the UK next month.

LeapFrog: Let's Go To School, LeapFrog's first DVD in four years, is set for release from Lionsgate Home Entertainment on August 18, 2009.  Targeted to K3-6 the back-to-school DVD features five sing-along songs, an interactive alphabet book, and a sneak peek at Math Adventure to the Moon.  Lionsgate will support the LeapFrog: Let's Go To School title with a mom-aimed TV, online and print marketing campaign, including through LeapFrog's email newsletter and on LeapFrog.com.

Annecy 2009 France Television

At Annecy 2009 France Television unveiled plans to launch a daily tween/teen-targeted afternoon animation programming block this fall 2009 on digital channel France 4, per C21 Media.  France Television's, which programs to kids on France 4, France 3 (morning) and France 5 (midday), new plan is to focus its energies on three different types of animated programming, edutainment, comics or kid's book adaptations, and short-form programming.  France Television commissioned edutainment series includes: Commander Clark from Go-N; Art Investigation from Normaal Animation; Gaston (78x7), based on the Gaston Lagaffe everyday life comic strip by Andre Franquin; The Little Prince based on Antoine de Saint Exupery's work and produced by Method Films; a new season of Marsupilmai from Samka; Les Dalton  a spin-off series of Lucky Luke from Xilam; and Moonscoop's new season of Titeuf.  The company also plans to experiment with new hybrid programming.

ZulaWorld.com

The creators of the CGI series The Zula Patrol have teamed with IBM to develop and launch ZulaWorld.com (www.zulaworld.com). Targeted to K6+/parents/teachers, the virtual world, like the series, encourages kids to be curious about science and discovery and use their critical thinking skills.  The site features create your own avatars and a range of games and activities where users can fly their own spaceship, discover how things work and problem solve in teams.  The basic levels of games on ZulaWorld.com are available for free, with a subscript service that offers additional levels also available ($5.99/month, $29.99/6 months, $49.99/year). The Zula Patrol airs as part of the qubo Saturday programming block on NBC and on public TV stations weekdays and weekends (check local listings).

Raymond

TV-Loonland and Gulli TV commission two more seasons of the K7-10 targeted animated comedy Raymond.  Produced by Paris-based Everybody on Deck, the newly ordered 52x7 episodes of Raymond will bring the total to 78 episodes.  The most recent broadcast deals for the series include those with Cartoon Network Japan, TV4 (Sweden) and International Francophone Channel TV5 Monde, which acquired the broadcast rights for air in Europe, North Africa, the Orient, Asia, the US, Latin America and the Caribbean.

The Defenders

Actor Masi Oka (Hiro on Heroes) has sold his family adventure movie project, The Defenders, to DreamWorks, per THR.  The movie will be produced by the Star Trek and Transformers movie writers Alex Kurtzman and Roberto Orci, whose Kurtzman/Orci Productions is based at DreamWorks.  Gary Whitta (The Book of Eli) has signed on to pen the script with D.J. Caruso (Disturbia, Jack the Giant Killer) in negotiations to direct the movie.  The Defenders is based on Oka's concept, "what would happen if you had to live up to the person you created in the virtual world?"  The movie revolves around a group of teens from around the world that are simultaneously playing a multiplayer video game, their real identities protected behind their avatars, who are forced to join together in an adventure in the real world.

Lots and lots and lots of crossover promotion

Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato will serve as on-air hosts for the premiere weekend (Friday-Sunday, June 26-28) of their new Disney Channel Original Movie, Princess Protection Program (June 26 at 8p).  The new TV movie premiere will simulcast on Sprint TV and MobiTV, and will feature sneak peeks of a new music video, a new one-hour episode of Hannah Montana, a crossover episode of three series entitled Wizards on Deck with Hannah Montana, and a behind the scenes look at Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie, with a new episode of Wizards of Waverly Place bowing right after the movie that night.  The following night (June 27, 8p) during an encore of the Princess production Program, the network will offer a Princess Password program where viewers who count the number of times the word "princess" is said in the movie can enter that number online to unlock new episodes of Wizards of Waverly Place and Sonny With A Chance.  A preview of Disney's upcoming animated movie The Princess and the Frog will be featured during the Sunday play of the movie (7p), with a new episode of Jonas following the movie.  Finally, The Princess Protection Program Royal B.F.F. Extended Edition will be available on Disney DVD, including an exclusive music video, a behind-the-scenes look at the movie, and a B.F.F. necklace set, from June 30.

Monster Safari, Sid the Science Kid

The Jim Henson Co. is set to produce a stop-motion animated feature film titled Monster Safari, which is based on a short film from stop-motion animation studio Screen Novelties, THR.  Monster Safari will be penned by the writing team of Craig Zobel and Matt Chapman, with Screen Novelties' Mark Caballero, Chris Finnegan and Seamus Walsh producing the stop-motion animation.  The movie revolves around two bumbling cryptozoologists trying to save the Earth's monsters from a ruthless hunter.

NCircle Entertainment will launch the animated series Sid the Science Kid on DVD this summer, with the first two DVD titles, Sid the Science Kid: Change Happens and Sid the Science Kid: The Bug Club.  Available on August 4, 2009, each DVD includes four episodes of Sid the Science Kid, the PBS Kids series that is co-produced by The Jim Henson Company and KCET Los Angeles.  Additionally, a limited supply of the Sid the Science Kid DVDs will have a special on-pack bonus DVD of Front Row Fun, that includes two hours of preschool shows including as Dive Olly Dive!, WordWorld, Hurray for Huckle, among others.

So Smart! Productions teams with Echo Bridge Home Entertainment to release the first six titles in its new DVD line, Baby's First Word Stories this September 22, 2009.  The releases are part of an exclusive distribution agreement between the companies that includes DVD and digital distribution rights to So Smart's! line of kid-targeted DVDs and CDs.  Additionally, nine DVDs from Baby's Beginnings and King Otis and the Kingdom of Goode series, as well as three CDs, will also release on September 22.  Further Baby's First Word Stories titles are set for release in early 2010.

The new Super Why toy line created by Learning Curve, and based on the PBS Kids preschool series, is set to debut at Toys "R" Us stores this month.  To mark the release of the Super Why toys, Toys "R" Us stores nationwide will host a two-hour Super Why event on Saturday, June 13 (12noon-2p), featuring storytelling, reading-focused games, activities and give-a-ways (while supplies last, of course).  Beginning in August, Super Why toys will roll out to other retailers nationwide.  The Super Why line also includes new product from other licensees, including Grosset & Dunlap (books), University Games (puzzles and games) and PBS Home Video (DVDs).  Super Why is produced by Out of the Blue in conjunction with Canadian-based Decode Entertainment Inc. and C.O.R.E. Digital Pictures Inc.

ZingZillas

CBeebies orders up a new in-house music-themed preschool series ZingZillas (52x22).  Featuring the Zillas, a group of musical primates that create the ZingZilla sound, the series showcases all sorts of music genres from rock to opera to help get toddlers moving.  Simultaneously BBC Worldwide acquires the global distribution rights for TV, merchandise, DVD and publishing for ZingZillas.  Set to launch on CBeebies in spring 2010, ZingZillas grooves into production this month through December 2009 at Pinewood Studios.

Disney's "Handy Manny" Shorts

The network commissions the new short-form animated preschool series, Handy Manny's School for Tools (20 shorts), and two primetime Handy Manny specials.  The short-form series is based on Disney Playhouse's Handy Manny series, which is currently in production on a third season (29 episodes) that will introduce a host of new tools.  Set to begin production this year Handy Manny's School for Tools will bow in 2010.  Meanwhile, this fall the network will debut the first of two primetime specials, Handy Manny's Motorcycle Adventure, which features four new songs performed by Los Lobos.

BBC Worldwide

BBC Worldwide continues to expand its US business and in so doing promoted Susanna Pollack to SVP/Children's and Children's Business Development and Matt Forde as EVP/Sales and Co-Productions. Susanna will head efforts to launch CBeebies, BBC's worldwide preschool channel in the US in addition to increasing the company's children's brands in North and Latin America. Matt will relocate to New York from London to supervise sales and co-production efforts for all genres in the US and Latin America.  

BIG moves from the CEO of Wildbrain

Michael Polis is appointed to the newly created position of CEO, Wildbrain Entertainment.  The move comes as President and CEO, Wildbrain and its subsidiary Kidrobot, Charles Rivkin steps down from those roles later this week, having been nominated as President Obama's candidate to serve as the US Ambassador to France.  Polis will report directly to Wildbrain's board of directors.  Diego Marchioni, CEO, Kidrobot, will remain in his post and will also report directly to the board.

KidMangoTV

KidMangoTV, a new syndicated K3-10 aimed TV programming block premieres today, June 1, 2009, on the MyFamilyTV network.  Launched by PorchLight Entertainment and ValCom, via its subsidiary MyFamilyTV, KidMangoTV debuts with a four-hour daytime block (Monday-Friday) and plans to expand with a primetime block and an educational/informational (E/I) Saturday morning block later this year.  At launch KidMangoTV features kid-targeted programming that is created and acquired by PorchLight, including Jay Jay the Jet Plane, Four Eyes, The Secret World of Benjamin Bear and My Goldfish is Evil.  Additionally, today also marks the debut of a corresponding website www.kidmango.com, will also offer kid/family-aimed content including programs such as WordGirl, Pocoyo and Doodlez, as well as games, comics and music among other things.  Moving forward, the plan is to expand with a primetime block and an educational/informational (E/I) Saturday morning block later this year.

Joshua Blake: The Agency

BKN International is launching a new animated project, Joshua Blake: The Agency, which it will present, including animation and scripts, this fall at Mipcom Jr.  BKN plans to deliver 40 episodes by spring 2011.  With a budget of approximately $13 million, BKN has already secured about $5 million in a deal with a Canadian company.  The project will qualify as Canadian Content.  Joshua Blake: The Agency revolves around Joshua Blake, a teen following in the footsteps of his older and well-known brother, has been trained by the government spy organization, known as The Agency.  Unlike his brother, Joshua will use the powers of The Agency to save the world from the forces of evil.  The series will be executive produced by Richard Ungar (Spiderman - The Animated Series, Biker Mice from Mars and X Men  Evolution), with Andy Briggs as lead writer (Hero.com and Rise of the Gargoyles).

Domo Animate

Big Tent Entertainment teams with GoAnimate.com to launch a new digital platform, Domo Animate at Domonation.com (www.domonation.com).  On the platform fans can create their own customizable animations featuring Domo.  Domo Animate marks the first time that GoAnimate.com has used its animation platform to create a completely customized site separate from the GoAnimate.com property.  Additionally, Domonation.com and Phase 4 Films are launching the Domo Animation Challenge, a competition where fans can showcase their original animated Domo videos created using Domo Animate (entries must be received by June 14, 2009).

Swine Flu, PBS, and Hasbro

The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) joins the Ad Council and Sesame Workshop to launch a national public service advertising campaign designed to encourage US families and kids to take simple steps to protect themselves from the 2009 H1N1 flu virus and continue to practice healthy habits.  As part of HHS and the Ad Council's campaign, Sesame Workshop produced a TV PSA featuring Sesame Street's Elmo and Gordon explaining the importance of healthy habits including washing your hands, avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth and sneezing into the bend of your arm.  An extension of Sesame's Healthy Habits for Life initiative, the PSAs direct viewers to go to www.cdc.gov for information on how to stay healthy.  The Ad Council is distributing the PSAs to TV stations nationwide.

Hasbro and Discovery Communications complete Hasbro's purchase of a 50% interest in a joint venture that holds the Discovery Kids Network in the US.  Hasbro and Discovery plan for the joint venture to create a re-branded kid's/family entertainment aimed TV network.  Slated to launch in late 2010, the network will feature content based on Hasbro's portfolio of properties, and content from Discovery's extensive library kid's programming, as well as programming from third-party producers.

Giftventure

Sesame Workshop and Giftventure, a creator of personal treasure hunts for kids, enter into a licensing agreement that will create the Sesame Street Giftventure line.  The new Sesame Street Giftventure will include three illustrated poster-sized letters featuring a Sesame Street character chosen by the customer, such as Elmo or Big Bird, and a personalized game or puzzle, which when solved reveals the location of a hidden gift.

PBS and Panache

PBS and Panache, an ad-insertion platform for media and entertainment companies, partner to integrate Panache's platform into PBS's video management system.  This move will allow PBS Kids Go! producers to place interactive game elements within any video content on the programming block's website, which will let games run directly inside the PBS Kids Go video player, which offers show video clips and full-length episodes.  By enabling producers to assign and schedule game content over specific broadband videos within Panache's, which features specific reporting capabilities, PBS Kids Go will be able to track the effectiveness of their interactive elements.  The first series adding the Panache-enabled game interactivity to online videos include Arthur, Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman, Cyberchase and WordGirl, which will be followed by The Electric Company.

BillMyParents, battleship, L.O.S.E news

Here's a new way for tweens/teens to spend (more of) Mom and Dad's money online.  Socialwise, Inc. launches BillMyParents, a new online payment system that allows teens to buy things online and parents to later ok the purchase via an approval process.  After convincing their folks to sign up for the service, tweens/ teens can shop online either via BillMyParents enabled social networks, virtual worlds or online gaming sites. Once they pick what they want to buy (and maybe include a note to the folks), BillMyParents sends an email or text to their parent(s). Parents then review their selections and can approve or put the kibosh each request individually, or as a group, and then enter the credit card information.  BillMyParents has launched a shopping site powered by Amazon.com at www.bmpshopping.com, and also has set partnerships with a number of social networking sites including Artix Entertainment, Habbo, Outspark and RockYou!, among others.


Negotiations are underway for Peter Berg (Hancock, The Kingdom, Friday Night Lights) to direct an action-adventure movie version of Hasbro's Battleship game for Universal, according to THR.  Already signed on to pen the script is the brother writing team of Jon and Erich Hoeber (Whiteout, Red).  Universal is already in various stages of development for movie adaptations of three other Hasbro properties, Monopoly, Candy Land and Ouija Board.

Muhuhahaha!  Cartoon Network Asia picks up Nerd Corp Entertainment's animated series League of Super Evil (a/k/a L.O.S.E.).  The series will launch in 2010 on Cartoon Network in 25+ countries, including India, Pakistan, Australia, New Zealand, Korea, China and several others in South East Asia.  Cartoon Network will handle all rights, including merchandising, for the 26x30 of the series. Additionally, Nerd Corps has created 30-second shorts tied to each episode for use as bonus on-air or online content of evil.  The League of Super Evil debuted in March on Cartoon Network US and YTV (Canada), as well as CBBC (UK), Jetix in Latin America and Canal +, Canal J and Gulli in France.

Sesame Workshop enters into a multi-year partnership with Yoostar, which will make some 160 classic and newer Sesame Street clips, featuring star Muppet characters (e.g. Elmo, Oscar the Grouch, Big Bird, Cookie Monster, Bert and Ernie etc.), available over the course of the deal.  Fans can purchase and download the Sesame Street clips at Yoostar.com  beginning July 1, and at retail outlets from August 24.  The Yoostar system (retails for $169.95) includes the equipment and software to remove original actors from the scene and insert users in their place.

36th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards

The nominees for the 36th Annual Daytime Entertainment Emmy Awards, a presentation of the National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) in cooperation with the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (ATAS), were announced yesterday.  As always the Daytime Emmy Awards include a range of kid-targeted programming, and this year the during the telecast the Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Sesame Street in celebration of its 40 years of educating and entertaining kids.  The awards will be handed out during the live 36th Daytime Emmy Awards from the Orpheum Theater in LA, on August 30, 2009 on The CW.  Some of the kid categories and the respective nominees are listed below.  I am happy to report that there are many kid programming categories and lots of nominees to fill them, as well as some nominees for kid-centric programming in non-kid specific categories  so many in fact that I can't list them all here.  For a full list of Daytime Emmy categories and nominees go to www.emmyonline.tv . Congratulations to everyone!

Children's Animated Program
Curious George (PBS)
Little Einsteins (Disney Channel)
Sid The Science Kid (PBS)
The Backyardigans (Nickelodeon)
WordWorld (PBS)

Children's Series
Adventure Camp (Discovery Kids)
Fetch! With Ruff Ruffman (PBS)
From the Top at Carnegie Hall (PBS)
Postcards From Buster (PBS)

Preschool Series
Between the Lions (PBS)
Johnny and the Sprites (Disney Channel)
Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies (PBS)
Sesame Street (PBS)
The Wonder Pets (Nickelodeon)

Animated Series
Back at the Barnyard (Nickelodeon)
Ben 10: Alien Force (Cartoon Network)
Handy Manny (Disney Channel)

New Approaches  Daytime Children's
Artopia (PBS)
Cyberchase (PBS)
Sesame Street (PBS)

iCarly the game

Activision Publishing and Nickelodeon enter into a global partnership to develop a new videogame based on the network's TV series iCarly.  Set to release in fall 2009 for Wii and Nintendo DS the iCarly videogame invites kids to help Carly and her friends create new webisodes in the iCreate mode of the show, which corresponds to the original storyline featured in the game, allowing them to add their own ideas by swapping out props, characters, color schemes, audio, intros, outros etc.  The game will also includes mini-games, presented as show skits.  Up to four players can compete in the Wii version of the game, where they can also earn 'Web-Cred' to purchase new items, props and so on.

The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That!

Dr. Seuss's The Cat in the Hat is headed to PBS Kids in the new animated preschool series, The Cat in the Hat Knows A Lot About That! (40x30).  Currently in production and slated to premiere in fall 2010, the new series, the very first Cat in the Hat animated TV series, is the result of an agreement between Random House Children's Entertainment, in association with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, and producers Portfolio Entertainment and Collingwood O'Hare Productions, with PBS Kids.  Martin Short will lend his voice to The Cat in the Hat for the series.  The series will also air in Canada on Treehouse, premiering concurrently with PBS.  Developed for TV by Portfolio and Collingwood O'Hare, the animated series is based on Random House's Beginner Book franchise, The Cat in the Hat's Learning Library.  A series-based website aimed at kid and featuring activities will exist on PBSKids.org, while parent and teacher resources will be available at PBSParents.org and PBSTeachers.org.  Additionally, Random House Children's Books will publish a full line of original books to support the TV series launch.  Random House Children's Entertainment will oversee all licensing and merchandising.

Gator Group

Gator Group, a new licensing agency, including product design and development, manufacturing and marketing, opens its doors.  Founded by a group of former execs from global marketing services agency, Cresta, Gator Group's client list includes Paul Frank Industries and the newly launched Tales 4 Tomorrow ( www.tales4tomorrow.com ), the latter of which was created in partnership with Conservation International.  With headquarters in Dana Point, California, Gator Group also has offices in LA, Paris and Hong Kong.

Dr. Helen Boehm is named as an advisor to the US Department of Education, where she will assist in the development of the Ready-to-Learn kid's video initiative for preschool and elementary school students.  Boehm also continues to write and consult on kids' media and certify educational programming content at www.FCCReady.com .

A look at the numbers

Top 10 Combined Broadcast/Basic Cable shows among Kids 2-11 for the week of 4/27-5/3/09 , 6a-6a:
K2-11                                                      Total Delivery (000)
NICK:    Fairly OddParents: Wishology Pt. 3 (5/3; 8-9p)      2205
NICK:    SpongeBob SquarePants (5/2; 9:30a)                   2187
DSNY*: Hannah Montana (5/3; 8p)                                   2172
NICK:    Fairly OddParents: Wishology Pt. 2 (5/2; 8-9p)      2144
NICK:    Fairly OddParents: Wishology Pt. 1 (5/1; 8-9p)      2143
DSNY*: Sonny With a Chance (5/3; 8:30p)                        2137
NICK:    Back at the Barnyard (5/3; 10:30a)                      2087
NICK:    Fairly OddParents: Wishology Pt. 2 (5/3; 11a-12p) 1993
DSNY*: Jonas (5/2; 8p)                                                    1976
NICK:    Penguins of Madagascar (5/3; 10a)                       1963
Source: Disney from Nielsen Media Research Data
*Disney Channel is not an ad supported cable network, unlike the others in this listing.

Top 10 Combined Broadcast/Basic Cable shows among Kids 6-11 for the week of 4/27-5/3/09 , 6a-6a:
K6-11                                                 Total Delivery (000)
DSNY*:  Hannah Montana (5/3; 8p)                             1764
DSNY*:  Sonny With a Chance (5/3; 8:30p)                  1750
DSNY*:  Jonas (5/2; 8p)                                              1606
NICK:    Fairly OddParents: Wishology Pt. 3 (5/3; 8-9p) 1591
NICK:    Fairly OddParents: Wishology Pt. 2 (5/2; 8-9p) 1518
DSNY*:  Suite Life on Deck (5/1; 8p)                            1484
NICK:    SpongeBob SquarePants (5/2; 9:30a)              1466
NICK:    Fairly OddParents: Wishology Pt. 1 (5/1; 8-9p) 1395
DSNY*: Wizards of Waverly Place (5/2; 8:30p)              1386
NICK:    iCarly (4/29; 6p)                                            1378
Source: Disney from Nielsen Media Research Data
*Disney Channel is not an ad supported cable network, unlike the others in this listing.
Source: Disney from Nielsen Media Research Data
*Disney Channel is not an ad supported cable network, unlike the others in this listing.

Top 10 Combined Broadcast/Basic Cable shows among Tweens 9-14 for the week of 4/27-5/3/09 , 6a-6a:
Tweens 9-14                                     Total Delivery (000)
DSNY*:  Hannah Montana (5/3; 8p)                             1773
DSNY*:  Sonny With a Chance (5/3; 8:30p)                  1693
DSNY*:  Jonas (5/2; 8p)                                              1594
DSNY*: Wizards of Waverly Place (5/2; 8:30p)              1447
NICK:    Fairly OddParents: Wishology Pt. 3 (5/3; 8-9p) 1420
DSNY*: Suite Life on Deck (5/1; 8p)                             1392
FOX:     American Idol (4/28; 8-9:02p)                         1324
DSNY*: Wizards of Waverly Place (5/3; 7:30p)              1238
NICK:    Fairly OddParents: Wishology Pt. 1 (5/1; 8-9p) 1238
DSNY*: Camp Rock (5/1; 9-10:45p)                             1186
Source: Disney from Nielsen Media Research Data
*Disney Channel is not an ad supported cable network, unlike the others in this listing.

Top 10 Combined Broadcast/Basic Cable shows among Teens 12-17 for the week of 4/27-5/3/09 , 6a-6a:
Teens 12-17                                     Total Delivery (000)
FOX:     American Idol (4/28; 8-9:02p)                        1236
FOX:     American Idol (4/29; 9-10p)                           1149
DSNY*:  Hannah Montana (5/3; 8p)                              977
DSNY*:  Sonny With a Chance (5/3; 8:30p)                  935
DSNY*:  Jonas (5/2; 8p)                                              921
DSNY*: Wizards of Waverly Place (5/2; 8:30p)              868
NICK:    Fairly OddParents: Wishology Pt. 3 (5/3; 8-9p) 836
VH1:     For The Love of Ray J (4/27; 10-11p)               833
NICK:    Fairly OddParents: Wishology Pt. 1 (5/1; 8-9p) 802
NICK:    iCarly (4/27; 7:30p)                                       768
Source: Disney from Nielsen Media Research Data
*Disney Channel is not an ad supported cable network, unlike the others in this listing.
**Abbreviation for Adult Swim, which airs on Cartoon Network

Hit Entertainment

Hit Entertainment unveils its new kid-targeted program development slate, which include three properties:
Mike the Knight (52x10) is a CG animated preschool-aimed series created by Alexander Bar (Lunar Jim).  The series revolves around Mike, a 10-year-old boy, who wants to be a knight, who sets out to protect his kingdom and make mom proud and do the very best he can.

Also in the works for preschoolers is another CG animated series titled The Real Mees (52 x 10), which encourages kids to believe in themselves.  Created by Dan Good (Waybuloo), the program focuses on a group of characters as they transform from cocoons into quirky personalities.  Hit is working in conjunction with the team at indie production company Absolutely Cuckoo.

Kids Hate Clowns (52x13) is a new 2D animated comedy in the early stages of development from Firestep & Impossible Pictures.  Targeted to K8-12, Kids Hate Clowns follows Chloe a prim/proper 13-year-old and what happens when three relatives, who happen to be clowns, show up at her home and move in.

The JumpArounds

Nickelodeon begins production in LA on its new live-action preschool series The JumpArounds.  Set to premiere this summer on the network, the 30-minute music appreciation-centric series encourages kids to express themselves through movement, song and music and features original music composed by Matter Music and lyrics by series creators Nadine van der Velde and Scott Kraft.  The JumpArounds revolves around four music school friends and their band that invite viewers to help solve everyday challenges in each episode.  In May, Nickelodeon and Noggin will air two new music videos featuring The JumpArounds in addition to launching the corresponding series website ( www.thejumparounds.com ).

new kid-targeted TV channel

Hasbro, Inc. and Discovery Communications are partnering in a new 50/50 joint venture that includes the creation of a new kid-targeted TV channel, which will take the place of the current Discovery Kids Network, and a corresponding website.  Set to launch in late 2010, the re-branded network will be targeted to kids 14 and under and will feature original programming based on Hasbro properties, Discovery Kids existing programming as well as third-part content.  The 13-year-old Discovery Kids Network will continue to operate until the debut of the new network (name TBA).  Discovery Communications will retain the Discovery Kids brand for, among other things, its international networks and its licensing and merchandising business.  Under the terms of the deal, Hasbro will purchase a 50% stake in the venture, which will hold the assets related to Discovery Kids Network in the US, for which Discovery Communications will receive $300 million.  The search for a President and GM for the network has begun. Discovery will handle ad sales, distribution, origination and other operational requirements for the venture, while Hasbro will provide studio-produced programming.  New programming will include shows (animated, live-action, game etc.) based on Hasbro's Romper Room, Tonka, G.I. Joe, Transformers, My Little Pony as well as Trivial Pursuit, Scrabble, and Cranium among others.

The Muppets of Plaza Sesamo

The Muppets of Plaza Sesamo and Mexican celebrities are addressing the new flu emergency in a series of pubic service announcements (PSA) aimed at kids.  Sesame Workshop and Mexico's Grupo Televisa have produced four PSAs featuring the Plaza Sesamo Muppet's Pancho and Lola as well as celebrities Lucero, Jorge Poza and Adrian Uribe, which empower kids with things they can do during this period.  The PSAs, which have already begun airing on Televisa, encourage kids to tell a parent if you feel sick, and if you are sick don't go to school or outside, cover your mouth with a tissue or arm if you sneeze or cough and throw away that tissue in a covered trash can, and of course, wash your hands with soap and water several times a day for at least 20 second.  Plaza Sesamo's Education and Research team worked with Mexico's Ministry of Health to develop the PSA scripts.  The PSAs are being offered to several government organizations to extend the message in Mexico including the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, the Government Workers ' Social Security and Services Institute (el ISSSTE) and Mexico City's public transit system.

Kids news

Cartoon Network celebrates the final episodes of its animated series, Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, as part of a six-hour Foster's marathon of five episodes, including the series finale, Goodbye to Bloo, this Sunday, May 3, 1-7p.  The marathon begins with favorite Foster's episodes 1-4:30p, with the final premiere episodes debuting back-to-back from 4:30p.  Created by animator Craig McCracken (The Powerpuff Girls), Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends (78x30, 3 feature-length specials) premiered on Cartoon Network on August 13, 2004.

Nickelodeon launches season three of The Wonder Pets! with a week of new episodes, Monday-Friday, May 18-22 at 10:30a.  The premiere week features special guest appearances by the late Eartha Kitt and jazz singer Jon Hendricks, and the Friday episode celebrates 100 rescues including visits from animals saved by the Wonder Pets.  The new season also includes guest appearances from the likes of Lauren Bacall and Ben Vereen.  The Wonder Pets! is produced by Little Airplane Productions.  Nick Jr. will roll out content from The Wonder Pets! season three premiere week across various platforms, including Nick Jr. Video, with clips made available on various wireless carriers, as well as episodes available throughout May via Nickelodeon on Demand.  Additionally, all of the week's episodes will be simulcast on Nickelodeon Mobile.

Edebe Audiovisuall

Edebe Audiovisual completes new agreements for its K4-8 aimed series Edebits.  Picking up the ecology-based show are RAI SAT (Italy), which is dubbed the series into Italian, Thai PBS (Thailand pubcaster) and TRT (Turkey).  Edebits revolves around a young girl named Bet, who lives in the Antarctica with her parents, and explores the ways people can use technology to help solve environmental issues including climate change, sea pollution among others.  Co-produced by RTVE (Spain), Grupo Edebe and Tiburon de Animacion in a mix of 2D and 3D animation, Edebits is currently airing in Spain on TVE's La2.

The Wiggles

Preschoolers get to do more than just dance and sing with The Wiggles as the group launches its first interactive online world WiggleTime .com.  The site is created specifically for preschoolers and their adults, and provides kids with an introduction to the internet in a safe environment and where they can play developmental games and watch video clips.  Parents can find parenting information and updates, including a monthly report about their child's progress on the site.  The site can be played for free, but a premium service is also available with monthly subscription (about US$6, up to four kids per account), including a plan where $1.50/month is donated to UNICEF, which allows the sub access into a special area and game.

Power Moms

Nielsen Online identified an interesting new online category: Power Moms, a group of Moms who collectively make up 19% of the total online population who increasingly turn to the web to network, learn and provide information and advice to other parents. Among the top 10 sites ranked by unique viewer composition percent in February 2009, eight featured predominantly kid's programming, indicating that moms are seemingly keeping up on what their kids watch and play online, as many of these sites also offer games and/or activities.
 
Top 10 Online Destinations for "Power Moms" by Unique Viewer Composition Percent
Site                   Unique Viewer          Unique Viewers (000)
                    Composition Percent           
PBS Kids                24.5%                     241,000
Noggin                   22.2%                     121,000
Nick Jr.                  21.7%                     492,000
Playhouse Disney    20.7%                     199,000
Kohl's                    18.3%                      203,000
Disney.com            17.8%                      710,000
PBS                       17.4%                      125,000
DisneyChannel.com17.2%                      689,000
Nick                      16.2%                      415,000
Source: Nielsen Online VideoCensus, Feb. 2009
Women 24-54 with at least one child in the household, sites with a min. of 100k unique visitors

Gator Group

Gator Group, a new licensing agency, including product design and development, manufacturing and marketing, opens its doors.  Founded by a group of former execs from global marketing services agency, Cresta, Gator Group's client list includes Paul Frank Industries and the newly launched Tales 4 Tomorrow ( www.tales4tomorrow.com ), the latter of which was created in partnership with Conservation International.  With headquarters in Dana Point, California, Gator Group also has offices in LA, Paris and Hong Kong.

Dr. Helen Boehm is named as an advisor to the US Department of Education, where she will assist in the development of the Ready-to-Learn kid's video initiative for preschool and elementary school students.  Boehm also continues to write and consult on kids' media and certify educational programming content at www.FCCReady.com .

Zoo Factor

CBBC acquires the new comedy series Zoo Factor (13x20) from Welsh indie producer Calon TV (Hana's Helpline).  Targeted to K8-10, Zoo Factor will debut in fall 2009.  Described as a Britain's Got Talent-style puppet show featuring animal contestants that share their personal stories and then show off their unusual talent to Clive - a lazy and vain lion, Barry  a gaff-prone monkey, and Carmel  an indecisive chameleon.  Contestants voted off are eaten by Clive.  Calon holds the distribution rights for the show.

Noonbory

Cookie Jar Entertainment completes deals for two of its preschool series for the UK and Ireland for air in 2009. TG4 (Ireland) acquires Noonbory and the Super 7 (26x30), while Will & Dewitt (26x30) goes to Tiny Pop (UK).

The Doozers

The Jim Henson Company and Decode Entertainment are coming together to co-produce The Doozers (26x30), a new 3D animated series based on the small hard hat-wearing creatures featured Henson's Fraggle Rock.  Currently in development, The Doozers is targeted to K4-7 and will be produced in Canada for broadcast in fall 2010.  The Jim Henson Company will license The Doozers to the US market, and handle worldwide consumer products licensing and merchandising.  DHX Media's distribution arm Decode Enterprises will handle international distribution of the series.