Kid Knievel set for Disney XD premiere

Production is underway for 2-D animated comedy adventure series Kid Knievel, set to premiere on new boy-driven channel Disney XD in fall 2009.

It follows 12-year-old Robbie Knievel who wants to become the world's greatest daredevil. Produced by Walt Disney Television Animation, the series is inspired by Kaptain Robbie Knievel, son of the famous Evel Knievel, and is the first animated show for the Disney XD platform, which targets boys ages six to 14. DisneyXD.com will air five 55-second original Kid Knievel shorts in advance of the show's premiere, and will then air them on the channel.

Disney XD makes its debut in February 2009.

Mediatoon launches eToon

Looking to bring all its cartoons together under one brand, Mediatoon Interactive has launched eToon, an online channel dedicated solely to youth content.

Under the new umbrella brand, all Mediatoon cartoons will be available on VOD and SVOD platforms, including series such as Little Brown Bear, Lucky Luke, Funny Little Bugs and Pirate Family. The brand will also encompass series made by the group's production companies - Dargaud Media, Dupuis, Ellipsanime Production, Storimages - as well as attempt to expand its catalogue through partnerships with indie producers. Belgacom TV (Belgium) and Neuf Cegetel (with its Pass Kids Illimité package) are already on board.

eToon is available on Dailymotion Kids (http://kids.dailymotion.com/eToon), which currently gives free access to two episodes from series such as Babar, Nonook and Little Potam.

Thunderbirds soar on to BBC and Sci Fi Channel, seeks new CP opps

BBC Two and the Sci Fi Channel UK are the two latest broadcasters to come aboard for ITV's cult family series Thunderbirds. Along with the broadcast rebirth, ITV is looking to refresh a new L&M program for the property.

A popular episode will air on the Beeb on Sunday December 28 after a 60-minute documentary All About Thunderbirds, co-produced by ITV Global Entertainment and the BBC, which will repeat on New Year's Day 2009.

Meanwhile, the 32 x 60-minute series will air on the Sci Fi Channel in spring 2009 as part of its primetime lineup with other fan faves such as Star Trek. The new broadcast deals present new consumer product opportunities for ITV, which it will seek to build on the property's current licensing program that includes fashion, toys, DVD and gaming.

CBeebies picks up Penelope

Painterly preschool series Penelope, distributed by TV-Loonland, will soon have a broadcast home in the UK.

The BBC has acquired full TV rights for the 54 x five-minute series that is set to premiere on CBeebies in spring 2009. A co-production with TV-Loonland, Nippon Animation, NHK Enterprises and Shirogumi, Penelope revolves around the daily adventures of a three-year-old blue koala bear and is based on the popular Gallimard books by Anne Gutman & Georg Hallensleben.

The series has already been sold to ABC Australia, France 5, MNET (South Africa), DRTV (Denmark), TV2 (Norway), RUV (Iceland) and MTV3/Channel Juniori (Finland).

4Kids announces new Saturday morning lineup

On the heels of laying off 15% of its staff yesterday, 4Kids Entertainment has unveiled the lineup for its The CW4Kids five-hour kids program block that hits US airwaves on January 3.

Huntik: Secrets and Seekers and Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight will anchor the new block, supported by Chaotic: M'arrillian Invasion and Sonic X, which move over from the 4Kids TV block on Fox that will cease broadcasting on December 27.

A new free video streaming portal is also launching at 4KidsTV.com with exclusive content; it will also stream series from the former Fox block.

The new lineup takes to the air at 7 a.m. with Will & Dewitt, followed by The Spectacular Spider-Man, Sonic X, Gogoriki, Dinosaur King, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Back to the Sewer, Chaotic: M'arrillian Invasion, Huntik: Secrets and Seekers, Yu-Gi-Oh! 5D's and Kamen Rider: Dragon Knight.

Disney and Media-One launch Russian terrestrial channel

The House of Mouse and its Russian subsidiary Media-One Holdings are banding together to launch a family-oriented, free-to-air TV channel in the territory.

The Disney-branded entertainment channel will launch sometime in 2009 on 30 stations owned and operated by Media-One. In the meantime, Disney's waiting for regulatory approval from Russian government authorities. The channel will launch with localized acquired content and original Russian programming. The goal is for Disney Russia to produce series in the region, which will eventually take over more of the schedule.

Disney is investing cash and providing programming, marketing and content acquisition support in return for a 49% stake in the company, while Media-One will bring its knowledge, advertising sales, operational experience and local broadcast station portfolio to the table.

Nick sets record-breaking year on air and online

Nickelodeon US is on track to record its best year ever, according to recent ratings from Nielsen, capping off 2008 as basic cable's number-one rated network in total day, along with taking the top spot in all kids and tween demos.

Its popular pineapple-dwelling SpongeBob SquarePants will close the year as the top-rated series for kids two to 11, as he swims his way to his 10th anniversary in 2009, and iCarly is also topping the ranks as the number-one kids show on all of TV with kids six to 11.

The kidnet has been averaging a record 2.2. million viewers in total day this year, which is 42% ahead of the next closest-ranked network. It finishes with the top spot with K2-11 for the 14th consecutive year, earning a 3.5/1.2 million.

Noggin also posted its highest-rated and most-watched year with kids two to five and with total viewers, reporting double-digit increases from last year, prior to its split with The N. Delivery was up 39%. For its part The N, wasn't too broken up about the split, also reporting its highest-rated year with its core teen demo (ages 12 to 17), up 25%, and Nicktoons Network also happy with its success in the six to 11 arena (up 33%) overall and 25% with boys six to 11.

The company's digital sites also saw a healthy bump this year, with a monthly average of 131 million visits and 2.4 billion minutes spent by users across the sites. Its gaming sites saw 22 million unique players, bringing the year's total game plays to 20 billion.

Kid vs Kat marks new territories

Decode Enterprises has inked two new international deals for Studio B's animated series Kid vs Kat.

Nickelodeon South East Asia and ABC Australia are the latest kidcasters to acquire the 52 x 11-minute/26 x 22 minute series created for a core kid audience of six to 11s.

The series, produced by Studio B Productions, in association with YTV Canada and Jetix Europe, is already set to air in more than 100 territories and more sales are slated to start rolling in over the next few months.

Toei sells Pretty Cure to YTV

Canada will soon be treated to the girl-skewing animated series Pretty Cure from Toei Animation.

The licensing agreement will bring the first season of series to Corus Entertainment kidnet YTV in Q1 2009. The show follows the adventures of eighth-grade best friends Natalie and Hannah who transform into superheroes to guard Earth from evil enemies.

Fremantle conjures up second series of Merlin, posts global sales

Primetime family adventure series Merlin will continue to deliver the magic as FremantleMedia Enterprises confirms a second season commission from BBC 1 and BBC Drama Commissioning.

With the second season set to start filming in Wales and France next year, the first series has also been gaining traction around the world with recent sales to RTL (Germany), France (Canal+), South Africa (Mnet) and Japan (MICO). Merlin has been enchanting audiences since its UK premier on BBC1 this year, drawing 7.15 million viewers as the most-watched drama series of the week. Italy's Mediaset is on board to premier the series today, followed by Sweden's SVT on Thursday.

Nick Oz picks up third season of Amazing Extraordinary Friends.

Kids down under can continue following the adventures of The Amazing Extraordinary Friends, as Nickelodeon Australia has picked up the third season of the live-action series.

Sydney, Australia-based Beyond Distribution also sold season two of ITV's preschool CGI series Numberjacks to Disney Australia & New Zealand since its MIPCOM debut for the company.

HDTV penetration nears 25% in US households

It looks like high-definition television is steadily becoming the norm in American households.

Nielsen reports that as of November 30 HDTV penetration reached 23.3% of US homes, coming a long way since the company began tracking the stats in July 2007 when that number only sat at 10%.

Lower prices and increased availability of HD programming, along with the planned transition from analogue to digital broadcasting in February 2009 are fueling State-side sales.

Washington, D.C. has the highest HDTV penetration, with 31.1%, followed by Boston and New York with 30.5% and 30.2%, respectively. Detroit has the lowest HDTV penetration at 20.9%. Sporting events have the highest index of viewing in HDTV households, with HDTV receivable and capable homes watching 54% more sports than non-HD ones, followed by political programming (25% more popular) and awards shows (10% more popular).

CBBC picks up Martha Speaks

2-D animated series Martha Speaks will have more to say, thanks to a new deal with CBBC.

The 40 x 22-minute series, produced by Studio B and WGBH Boston and distributed by Decode Enterprises, is based on the best-selling books by Susan Meddaugh, about a dog who can speak like a human after she eats alphabet soup. It current airs on PBS Kids in the US and has also been sold to Canadian broadcasters TVO, Knowledge Network and SCN.

Sorry, I've Got No Head gets new co-production partners

UK-based Little Portman has picked up Nickelodeon Australia and SO Television as co-pro partners for the second season of kids sketch show Sorry, I've Got No Head.

Nick Oz has acquired the series and will be premiere the tween-targeted slapstick comedy series in February 2009. The off-beat series, nominated for a children's BAFTA, aired on CBBC and BBC1 this summer.

Layoffs at Peace Arch Entertainment

Yesterday, Toronto, Canada's Peace Arch Entertainment unveiled plans to cut 23 jobs as part of a restructuring of its entertainment division.

The producer and distributor that currently holds Canadian home video rights to Treehouse TV titles, Word World and Storm Hawks, said the job cuts taking place over the next two months will result in annual cost savings of around US$1.97 million.

Peace Arch gave no indication where the cuts will be concentrated, but said the workforce reduction was the first step in a cost-reduction program to help fend off a deepening industry downturn.

The move also comes as the company recently bolstered its international sales arm as well as its North American theatrical distribution and home video businesses, and beefed up its TV development slate.

The cost efficiencies also follow three major acquisitions in 2007: the Castle Hill/Dream film library, the Trinity Home Entertainment US DVD distribution business and the Dufferin Gate Productions studio facility in Toronto.

From Playback Daily

Xilam gets into Christmas spirit

Three series from France-based animation company Xilam will be getting some airtime in the territory this holiday season.

The first four eps of toon adventure series Rahan, aimed at kids seven to 13, will air on French pay-TV channel Canal+ from December 22 to 26.

Canal+ will also air new episodes daily of slapstick series Oggy and the Cockroaches. Meanwhile, family comedy series A Kind of Magic gets a spot on France 3 this month. The series has been on Disney Channel France since this past January. Xilam handles worldwide distribution rights for all three series.

People moves: Marvel Studios ups Tim Connors to COO

As Marvel Studios amps up to translate more of its iconic characters to the big screen, the Hollywood subsidiary of Marvel Entertainment has promoted Tim Connors to the post of COO.

He'll manage day-to-day business operations and oversee business transactions for all studio productions, including upcoming film releases Iron Man 2, Thor, The First Avenger: Captain America, The Avengers and Ant Man. Connors previous held post as EVP of business affairs and operations for the studio, and has also worked at DreamWorks as a business development consultant.

Disney Channel orders season two of Imagination Movers

Capitalizing on strong ratings with the preschool set, Disney Channel US has greenlit a second season of the Playhouse Disney series Imagination Movers.

The music series, which stars a New Orleans-based alt-rock band for preschoolers, will resume production of 26 new eps in spring 2009. It finished number-one in its weekend time slot this past November and reaches almost 30 million unduplicated viewers ages two and up; seven million of which are kids ages two to five. The show airs daily at 10 a.m. ET/PT on Disney Channel.

DQ inks content deal with Disney

A new licensing agreement between DQ Entertainment International and Walt Disney Television International India will see three of DQ's series gaining spots on several South East Asian Disney channels in early 2009.

The deal includes the CGI animated Twisted Whiskers, a co-production from DQE, American Greetings and Taffy Entertainment, Ratman, a 2-D traditionally animated co-pro by DQE and Italy's Stranemani, and Sandra, a DQE co-pro with Spain's Imira Entertainment.

The shows will reach homes in India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Nepal, Maldives, Pakistan and Sri Lanka.

Blue Water High scores Aussie award

Southern Star Entertainment's teen drama series Blue Water High came away from the 2008 Australian Film Institute Award with a Best Children's Television Drama nod for its third season.

The surf academy series, commissioned by ABC Australia in association with Nickelodeon Australia, produced with assistance of the New South Wales Film and Television Office and the Film Finance Corporation Australia has achieved an average market share of 64% for the five-to-12 demo and 49% for the 13-17 crowd.