Beyond opens Toybox to market

Australia's Beyond Distribution is set to debut the new Beyond Entertainment-produced series Toybox (75 x 3-minutes) at Mip Jr. in October.

Aimed at children ages two to five, the program includes a lineup of childhood toys including Patches the rag doll and an excitable toy robot called Super Ned. Each episode focuses on the adventures, mischief and fun the toys have when they are left alone.

The series is the latest project from creators Ian Munro and Ron Saunders, whose previous credits include New MacDonald's Farm and Bananas in Pyjamas.

KidsCo extends Luxembourg reach

International children's channel KidsCo has inked a partnership with Eltrona, a Luxembourg multimedia, cable, satellite and terrestrial TV company.

The KidsCo channel will be offered as part of Eltrona's Luso package 24/7 starting this month and will feature original productions such as Boo & Me and Jass Time! along with hits like The Wiggles. All content will be aired throughout Luxembourg in Portuguese.

Eltrona is the third platform for KidsCo in Luxembourg alongside P&T and Numericable.

Vme launches 24/7 preschool channel

Building on the success of its kids programming block, US Hispanic broadcaster Vme is launching the first 24/7 American channel developed for Latino preschoolers, Vme Kids.

Vme Kids, goes live today on carrier AT&T U-verse and will offer a diverse lineup of Spanish-language programming with shows like Los Supernumeros (Numberjacks) and Bruno y los amigos Banana (Bruno & the Banana Bunch). The channel is also airing programs and interstitials that help kids transfer Spanish language skills and vocabulary to English.

Additional carriers will be announced soon. Vme is supporting each of its carriers with on-the-ground marketing events, such as book tours with Vme's sister company, Santillana USA and a LazyTown Live! school-based tour.

Since the launch of its broadcast network in 2007, Vme has built the largest library of educational Spanish kids programming in the US.

People Moves: Janet Woodward named director of Jane Evans Licensing

UK-based Jane Evans Licensing Consultancy has appointed licensing vet Janet Woodward as a director of the company, effective at the end of this month.

At a time of company expansion across a number of brands and categories, Woodward will join forces with MD Jane Evans to develop JELC's portfolio, further increase revenue and bring in new deals.

Following a background in marketing, Woodward began her licensing career with European art licensing agency, MWC. In 2003, she co-founded Coolebah Limited, which merged with Alibi Communications to become Coolabi, where she was head of licensing for six years.

On top of a list of brands that includes Plain Lazy, Bad Cat, Sony ATV, NICI and Ruby Gloom, JELC has taken on a number of new properties in recent months, including the mixed martial arts brand Ultimate Fighting Championship, Grumpy Old Gits, The Bamforth Collection, Smiling Bear and Vincent.

Ty UK launches Hello Kitty Beanie Bandz

Ty UK is set to get on the silly bandz wagon with Beanie Bandz for a number of Sanrio characters. Hello Kitty bandz are the first out of the gate.

The Sanrio elasticized silicone wristbands will be the first licensed Beanie Bandz to be launched in the UK market.

The line will consist of a pack of 12 Hello Kitty Beanie Bandz priced at US$6 and will be available at retail from mid-September.

Ty UK first noticed the colourful elasticized wristband trend occurring in the US and saw potential in the product due to its highly collectible and simple nature. The company will be taking a stand at Autumn Fair in Birmingham, UK next week to promote the product to the trade.

Namco and Rainbow roll out new Winx Club video game

Namco Bandai has inked an agreement with Italy-based animation company Rainbow to distribute the latest Winx Club: Rockstars video game based on the Winx Club franchise.

The game will be distributed by Nintendo DS in Europe, Middle East and Africa in November. And in selected Europe retailers, the game will be accompanied by either an exclusive DS Case or a Winx Club Watch.

Winx Club, which first aired in 2004, features fairies and their adventures between the planet earth and the Magical Dimension. In the Winx Club: Rockstars video game, the fairy friends head out on a new musical adventure, swapping their magic for guitars and microphones.

Imira inks more Spanish deals

Spanish children's prodco Imira Entertainment has inked new sales with Spanish channel Canal Sur for Millimages' Planet Grabo and Corneil & Bernie.

Canal Sur, part of Forta's public broadcasting network, has acquired 26 x 13-minute episodes of Planet Grabo aimed at eight- to 12-year-olds, and 52 x 13-minute episodes of Corneil & Bernie,, which targets six- to 10-year-olds.

In a separate deal, Televisión de Canarias has acquired two teen TV movies from the Imira library, Scooter, Secret Agent and Wicked Science. Both 90-minute movies are produced by Jonathan M. Schiff and ZDF Enterprises.

The deals follow Imira's recent sales to Forta channels ETB and TV Galicia in Spain, which renewed their commitment to a number of HIT Entertainment series. ETB renewed series one and two of Pingu alongside a deal to acquire seasons three to six of the animated show, while TV Galicia renewed Pingu and Sheeep.

Imira represents the rights to the Millimages and ZDF Enterprises TV catalogues in Spain, Portugal, Latin America and Hispanic US.

People Moves: Michael Riley named president of ABC Family

Television and radio exec Michael Riley has been named president of ABC Family, reporting to Anne Sweeney, co-chair, Disney Media Networks & president, Disney/ABC Television Group.

Riley will have oversight of ABC Family's original programming and acquisitions, franchise management, marketing, sales and operations, as well as responsibility for the overall strategic and creative direction for the channel.

Riley makes his move from his previous role as SVP and GM of Radio Disney, where he oversaw the strategic management of the Radio Disney network and its portfolio of 36-owned radio stations. He joined The Walt Disney Company in April 2008 after holding various senior roles at Turner Broadcasting. Riley's replacement at Radio Disney will be announced soon.

Strawberry Shortcake sweetens childhood cancer awareness campaign

Strawberry Shortcake is collaborating with Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) to help raise national awareness and support fundraising efforts in the fight against childhood cancer.

During the campaign, ALSF and Strawberry Shortcake are enlisting volunteers from across the US to host special strawberry lemonade stands during the month of September, tied to Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. Participants can sign up at http://www.alexslemonade.org/campaign/strawberry-shortcake to receive a special kit with lemonade vouchers and Strawberry Shortcake materials along with the opportunity to win a Strawberry Shortcake prize pack.

American Greetings Properties, the IP and outbound licensing division of American Greetings Corporation, along with Strawberry Shortcake's global licensing agent CPLG, will also donate US$50 to ALSF for every strawberry lemonade stand registered on behalf of Strawberry Shortcake. All funds raised will go directly to Alex's for cancer research.

Straandlooper launches Lifeboat Luke iPhone game giveaway

Northern Ireland-based production company Straandlooper will be giving away free Lifeboat Luke iPhone games every day throughout September.

Based on the animated kids TV series aimed at four- to seven-year-olds, a series of Lifeboat Luke apps on iTunes for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, called spotisodes will be made available for free download from iTunes every day, culminating in the release of four brand new spotisodes at the end of the month.

Lifeboat Luke, the search-and-rescue adventure cartoon set in the mythical Irish seaside town of Donaghadoo, follows the adventures of Luke and his crew. Made in association with the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI), the series introduces its young audience to sea safety issues, with a percentage of all proceeds from the series going towards helping the volunteer crews of the RNLI.

Aside from releasing 26 of its spotisodes to date, Straandlooper has sold the Lifeboat Luke series to 25 broadcast territories including Ireland, South Africa, Portugal, Denmark and the Middle East and has also released a DVD of the first 13 episodes and a book of the first episode, Rubberduckadoo.

Karito Kids partners with Journey for Change

Author and social activist Malaak Compton-Rock, wife of comedian Chris Rock, is bringing her Journey for Change message to Karito Kids in an effort to educate children about giving back through global service.

Represented by 4Kids Entertainment, Karito Kids is the producer of a line of multicultural, philanthropy-focused dolls and books and shares the same goal as Compton-Rock in empowering kids to make a difference in the world and providing them with the resources they need to achieve change.

The new partnership grants girls from Compton-Rock's Journey for Change 2 program the opportunity to share stories of their current service trip to South Africa with other girls who make up the Karito Kids audience.

As part of Journey for Change 2: Empowering Youth through Global Service, at-risk youth ages 12 to 15 travelled to Johannesburg, South Africa from Brooklyn, New York on August 18th to serve two weeks in the poverty-stricken towns of Diepsloot and Soweto helping orphaned and vulnerable children. These Global Ambassadors will continue their service and advocacy work at home in the US for a full year. As part of the collaboration, daily updates on the global volunteer efforts are available as blog posts, photos and videos hosted on the Karito Kids website, www.karitokids.com.

Licensees jump on board Rango

Paramount Licensing has signed a raft of new licensees for upcoming animated film Rango, slated to debut State-side on March 4, 2011.

Current licensing partners include American Greetings (greeting cards), Artbox (trading cards), Eaglemoss (mini-magazine and figurine collection), Fortune Fashions (men, women, boy and girl fashion basic tees, knit tops and fleece), Hot Toys (collectible figures), Inkology (school supplies), Palace Press Intl (art book), Rubie's Costume Co (Costumes), Scorpio Posters (posters), Sterling Publishing (children's book formats) and The Canadian Group (puzzles, games, magnetic colorform product, tattoos).

Ratings Watch Global

This week Eurodata TV has provided us with the ratings for the top-five program broadcasts with kids four to 15 in the UK between July 19 and August 15, 2010.

The top-five programs are:

1. The Simpsons, CHA4 (July 26, 5.1% rating, 22.6% share)

2. Tracy Beaker Returns , CBBC (Aug 13, 4% rating, 26.9% share)

3. Horrible Histories, CBBC (Aug 13 30, 3.1% rating, 21.7% share)

4. Something Special, CBeebies (Aug 13, 2.8% rating, 19.2% share)

5. What's New Scooby-Doo? , CBBC (July 20, 2.8% rating, 21.3% share)

** Ratings supplied by Eurodata TV Worldwide/BARB/Kantar Media UK

The Hub adds pop culture series to lineup

Discovery/Hasbo US kidnet The Hub is boosting its original programming lineup with the addition of Hubworld, a new weekly half-hour series hosted by Cupcake Wars star Justin Willman.

Produced by Hasbro Studios in association with Natural 9 Entertainment, Hubworld is a pop culture magazine show that infuses what's happening in the life of kids with what's happening on The Hub television network. In doing so, the series allows kids to watch highlights of the net's animated and live-action series while integrating with what's going on in the world of entertainment, music and sports. Weekly segments will also highlight kids' service and volunteerism in both their local communities and the world beyond.

Hubworld will join a growing lineup of Hub Original Series and US Premieres previously announced by the channel, including Dan Vs., Family Game Night, Clue and Transformers Prime.

Nelvana and Vivendi join forces for Beyblade series

Nelvana Enterprises has forged a North American licensing agreement with Vivendi Entertainment, a division of Universal Music Canada, for home entertainment and VOD distribution of new animated series Beyblade: Metal Fusion.

Content will include an initial 51 episodes in seven DVD releases with Volume 1 available on November 9 in English, French and Spanish at retail outlets across North America.

The new 2-D and CGI-animated series from Nelvana and d-rights offers a fresh take on the original Beyblade series and features new characters competing for dominance with their spinning Beyblade tops, battling against an evil organization, The Dark Nebula.

It currently airs on YTV in Canada and Cartoon Network US and is set to launch in the UK and Europe in the coming year. The series' accompanying toy line is one of the most popular toys in Japan, selling more than 24 million tops and accessories since the 2008 re-launch by Tomy Company. Hasbro has been appointed the master toy licensee for most international markets outside of Asia and the toy line is already on shelves in Canada and the US.

Gong mobilizes new live app

Gong, the UK-based multiplatform entertainment and animation network for teens, has launched its GONGLive app for the iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad, which will stream Gong digital HD channels and radio onto the devices.

GONGLive will be available for free from the Apple Store in a one-month introductory offer, after which it will be available on a subscription basis (US$3.20 for iPod Touch and iPhone and US$4.45 for iPad). Additional features include a 30-second rewind button for instant replay and integration with Facebook and Twitter.

The initial deal covers French-speaking territories in Europe.

People Moves: Changes at CPLG Germany

Gerold Kolenbrander is stepping down as MD of CPLG Germany after 14 years with the company. Assuming his role will be Joachim Knödler, who has served as director of sales and retail since joining CPLG Germany in 2003.

Prior to CPLG, Knödler worked at both Hasbro and The Marketing Store. And stepping into the role of sales and retail director will be Sibylle Braune, who spent the last 10 years at Merchandising Media, where she was director of licensing and home entertainment. In her new role, Braune will also be handling the toy and games categories in order to extend licensing activities in these areas.

People Moves: Mango appoints Asia sales manager

George Sakkalli will be stepping in as Australia-based boutique shop Mango Distribution's Asia sales manager.

Sakkalli will be responsible for finding new properties for the distributor to develop across all platforms, along with seeking out broadcast partners for new and existing properties in the pan-Asia region and driving sales for Mango's portfolio.

Working from Singapore, Sakkalli reports to company directors Wayne Dearing (Top Draw animation) and Donna Andrews (Sticky Pictures and also Mango sales manager Australia, New Zealand).

Sakkalli has garnered more than 14 years of sales experience in the Asia and Middle East regions via his work with Power TV, ITV and Granada International, including many family and kids properties such as Pocoyo, Creature Comforts, Worst Witch and Enjie Benjie.

In related news, Mango has inked a sale for its new property Invisible Network of Kids (26 x 24-minutes) to ABC3 in Australia. I.N.K. is an action-comedy series for kids ages six to 10 about a secret kid network charged with protecting their school. It's a co-production between Samka Productions (France) and France 3.