Roundups #135: Genius Brands Rolls Out A Music Division, A Rebroadcast Of Die Put Makes Way To e.tv's Line-up And Chaos Reigns At BBC News Ahead Of Merger With BBC World News

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Kartoon Channel becomes a music division

Genius Music, which launched this month, already has a library of more than 8,000 tracks stemming from its own original brands and also from IPs it has inherited through recent acquisitions of companies including WOW! Unlimited Media and Your Family Entertainment.

According to a release, Genius Music plans to distribute and license these assets on streaming channels and music platforms. One of its first projects will be to develop and monetize original music for animated series Shaq’s Garage (co-produced with Ireland’s Telegael), which is slated to premiere on GB’s Kartoon Channel!

Former Saban Brands music supervisor Juan Carlos Quintero will oversee the division and serve as an executive music producer, with an eye towards making new content that spans a variety of genres. Quintero brings more than 20 years of experience as a music producer/composer with him to Genius Music, having managed production music libraries for companies including Warner Chappell, Café Moondo, Megatrax and 5 Alarm Music. And during an eight-year stint at Saban Brands, he worked on kids brands such as Power Rangers, Digimon and Popples.

Regular Nick:
- Operation Ouch returns for a new season on Da Vinci Kids
- Several Cartoonito domains have been registered
- February on Disney Channel and Junior
- New Bear Grylls series is coming soon to Da Vinci Kids

More drugs and violence is coming to e.tv

Directed by Sinan Öztürk, it is an acclaimed series with four seasons completed. Die Put is set in the dangerous Istanbul neighbourhood Çukur and revolves around a ruling mafia family and a prodigal son who needs to return home to save his family. Of course, there is also a beautiful girl and some romance in addition to the drama, danger and family secrets.

Viewers can expect a gripping first season of Die Put, with the Koçova family (a family that is often closely related to crime) that rules the neighbourhood of Çukur. The Koçovas have their own set of rules and one of these is that drugs cannot be produced, used or sold in Çukur.

In the series, the newcomer, Vartolu is determined to break the ban and after his initial attempts to negotiate with the Koçova family is rejected, he attacks the family and the neighbourhood. But, just as he thinks he has broken the Koçova family and brought them to their knees, something unexpected happens.

Openview Plus:
- eExtra scrapped the launch of 4 telenovelas
- Verdeelde Liefde to return with a second season on eExtra
- Imbewu has been cancelled on e.tv after 5 seasons
- A look at former NBC soap, Passions

More cuts awaiting the new version of BBC World News

In three months’ time, BBC World News and BBC News Channel are due to complete their merger to create a single service for audiences in the UK and around the world. But, according to BBC sources speaking to The Sunday Times, the service could end up with “the softest launch, so as to be indiscernible”.

Under the BBC’s proposals, the new TV news service would offer opt-outs for viewers in the UK, carrying simulcasts of news programmes on BBC One and BBC Two. Outside of these simulcasts, the BBC is due to retain a back-up facility allowing the channel to breakout of the international schedule to show UK-specific breaking news.

The report cites sources within the BBC who say bosses are not able to say how this break-out stream will work. Staff fear the service will be under-resourced. On the new service, presenters will be expected to manually work the autocue.

Genius Brands Expands International Market Launches For Kartoon Channel! Worldwide

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Continuing to build the global footprint of Kartoon Channel! Worldwide, Genius Brands International, Inc. has signed a deal with China’s StarTimes to launch the rapidly growing Kartoon Channel! on January 31st on DTH satellite and digital terrestrial in South Africa and in 46 countries throughout the Sub-Saharan African region.

The brand new 24/7 Kartoon Channel!, dedicated to Africa, will be available to all StarTimes customers in the basic tier on DTH satellite and digital terrestrial: channel 304 on satellite and channel 357 on DTT (276 in Uganda). Kartoon Channel! Africa will offer exclusive and first run series that have proven popular with kids and families, including Genius Brands’ originals “Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten,” starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, “Rainbow Rangers,” “Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab,” and “Llama Llama,” starring Jennifer Garner and based on the bestselling children’s book franchise. The channel will also feature family-friendly movies on the weekends such as “Stan Lee’s Mighty 7,” “Ella Bella Bingo,” “Toys and Pets,” and “Boonie Bears.”

Insidus Games:
- Powerpuff Girls Snowboarding
- Baby Felix Halloween
- Looney Tunes Monster Match
- Thor: The Dark World

Additionally, Kartoon Channel! Africa will internationally premier the recently announced new 10-episode elimination-style competition reality series and accompanying Roblox Game Experiences for children, Kidaverse Roblox* Rumble. Hosted by TV personality and former NFL star, Rashad Jennings, the series will air as part of a games-branded programming block on weekday afternoons.

“We continue to build the global presence of Kartoon Channel! by creating unique partnerships, and we are delighted and honored to work with StarTimes to bring Kartoon Channel! to African kids and families in 2023. Our family-friendly brand values and safe environment deliver the perfect recipe to entertain and inform kids via characters and shows they adore. We are just getting started in growing Kartoon Channel! as a preeminent children’s entertainment destination worldwide,” stated President of Kartoon Channel! Worldwide Paul Robinson.

“We are thrilled to launch a channel throughout Africa that offers such a diverse line-up of programming for children 2 – 12-years-old and their families.  With safe, value-driven content across multiple genres, we anticipate Kartoon Channel! to be a hit across the region, and look forward to working with Genius Brands in the coming years to bring a unique entertainment experience to our young audiences across the region,” said General Manager of StarTimes Media Lily Meng.

Kartoon Channel! is currently available in key territories around the world, including Australia and New Zealand (Samsung TV Plus), Germany (Waipu), and the Philippines (Tapp Digital). Kartoon Channel! branded blocks are also currently available in 65 countries across the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America.

Regular Nick:
- Could Universal Kids be the next channel to close down from NBCUniversal?
- Here are other ways to view PBS Kids
- The Twisted Timeline Of Sammy And Raj coming soon to Nickelodeon
- Predictions: Nicktoons and Boomerang's untimely demise

Kartoon Channel's Parent Company Acquire 50% Ownership in Select Content and Consumer Products From Genius Brands’ Frederator Network

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Genius Brands International, Inc., through its WOW! Unlimited Media subsidiary, Frederator Network, today announced it has completed a deal with TOHO International, a subsidiary of one of the largest media companies in Japan, whereby TOHO International is making a multimillion-dollar investment to acquire a 50% stake in two of the Company’s original productions, the critically-acclaimed series, Bee and PuppyCat, following its successful launch on Netflix, Frederator’s pop culture phenomenon Bravest Warriors, and the upcoming series Catbug, based on the popular character created in the Bravest Warriors’ series.

The deal provides a framework for Genius Brands’ Frederator Network and TOHO International to co-produce new content for the properties and cooperatively develop a global consumer products campaign. Genius Brands will oversee global distribution and consumer products development for the properties, excluding Asia, which will be handled by TOHO International. Additionally, a dedicated online store for Bee and PuppyCat launched in September 2022, to coincide with the series release on Netflix.

Genius Brands’ consumer products’ team will develop a consumer products retail program for Bravest Warriors, Bee and PuppyCat and Catbug, excluding Asia, which will be handled by TOHO International.

Regular Nick:
- Here are other ways to view PBS Kids
- The Twisted Timeline Of Sammy And Raj coming soon to Nickelodeon
- Predictions: Nicktoons and Boomerang's untimely demise
- Avatar to return with new animated series on Nickelodeon

Michael Hirsh, CEO of WOW! Unlimited Media, parent company of Frederator Network, stated: “Demand for quality animated content is greater than ever, and yet we recognize the importance of delivering productions that can stand out and provide enduring value. As illustration, I’m proud to report that the LA Times recently voted Bee and PuppyCat as one of the “20 shows our TV experts are most excited to watch this fall.” In fact, the sneak peek trailer of Bee and PuppyCat achieved over 2 million views within 24 hours and has successfully launched on Netflix. At Frederator, our mission is to foster the creativity of content creators and give them a platform to get their projects seen. We are thrilled that our productions, Bravest Warriors, Bee and PuppyCat and Catbug, are now attracting a global audience. Our partnership with Toho will allow us to further expand the reach of these two series, both in terms of distribution and upcoming consumer products.”

Hiro Matsuoka, President of Toho Co., Ltd, commented: “This new deal aligns with our long-term strategy, as we build a more effective system for distribution and licensing of our own IP. We have seen the tremendous global popularity of Bravest Warriors and the growth of Bee and PuppyCat, as well as the growing popularity of Catbug along with the overall Western Anime genre. With our production resources and distribution capabilities across Asia, complementing Genius Brands and Frederators’ expansive network in key markets around the world, we anticipate these two properties will continue to develop a global fan base as we introduce new content and merchandise.”

Andy Heyward, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Genius Brands, commented: “This transaction is a huge privilege for us at Genius Brands to now partner with the pre-eminent media company in Japan, and their visionary management. We believe it is a further validation of our strategic acquisition of WOW! Unlimited Media and their impressive portfolio of original content, which we can then migrate to the streamers, our own Kartoon Channel,! and media platforms around the world.”

From its start as a 2-part, 10-minute short on Frederator Networks that became an immediate hit amassing millions of views on YouTube, to a record-breaking Kickstarter campaign to launch the new Bee and PuppyCat series on Netflix, fans and critics have driven the breakout success of Bee and PuppyCat, with over 2.5M fans across all social channels. Created by Natasha Allegri (“Adventure Time”) and produced by Frederator Network (“Adventure Time” and “Castlevania”), the series’ first full season premiered on September 6 as a Netflix series. Bee and PuppyCat follows a twenty-something temp worker named Bee and her mysterious companion PuppyCat as the two travel on fantastic adventures across space while taking on various intergalactic odd jobs to help make rent.

Insidus Games:
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- Tom And Jerry: The Magic Ring
- The Wild Thornberrys Movie
- The Wild Thornberrys: Chimp Chase

Created by Pendleton Ward (Adventure Time) and headed by showrunner Breehn Burns, Bravest Warriors tells the story of four teenage heroes-for-hire in the year 3085, as they warp through the universe to save adorable aliens and their worlds using the power of their emotions. Launched on YouTube in November 2012, the series rapidly grew an impressive and dedicated online fan base earning 250 million views, three million likes, and over a billion minutes watched. Bravest Warriors was the 2013 Shorty Award winner for Best Web Show and the Online Film and Video (Animation) Honoree at The Webby Awards in 2015.

The Catbug character was created by Breehn Burns and featured in the Frederator Network’s digital series Bravest Warriors. Catbug is growing rapidly into a viral, pop cultural phenomenon across social media platforms--YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter—with videos featuring Catbug achieving over 200 million views to date and counting. Additionally, over 200 million GIFs have been created for Catbug on Giphy.

Genius Brands Expanded Kartoon Channel! Worldwide’s Global Footprint With Launch of “Kartoon Genius” Branded Blocks Across Latin America, the Middle East & North Africa, Could Africa Follow Suit On DStv Or StarSat?

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Leveraging its strategic investment in Germany’s Your Family Entertainment AG (“YFE”) (FRA:RTV), to expand the Kartoon Channel! global footprint, Genius Brands International, Inc. (NASDAQ: GNUS) announced the launch of the new Kartoon Channel! Worldwide programming block, “Kartoon Genius,” across Latin America and the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region, reaching 67 countries.

The Kartoon Genius two-hour, Monday - Friday programming block airs across the Middle East & North Africa (MENA) region on the pan-regional linear Pay TV channel fully dubbed in Arabic and English. As of March 7, the programming block debuted throughout Central & South America as a linear channel, offering content in Spanish and English languages.

The Kartoon Genius programming blocks offer first-run original content on these platforms and deliver positive entertainment for children and families, underscored by safety and enrichment. Series on the programming block line-up include Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten, Llama Llama, Rainbow Rangers, Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club, Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab, and more.

Managing Director of Kartoon Channel! Worldwide Paul Robinson, who previously served as Managing Director of Walt Disney Television International and Senior Vice President Disney Channel Worldwide, commented: “Positive and uplifting children’s entertainment is more in demand today than ever. Since announcing our commitment to launch the Kartoon Channel! internationally less than three months ago, we are off to a fantastic start with pan-regional launches within the next two weeks across The Middle East, North Africa, Central America and South America on the program platforms through Genius Brands’ investment in YFE. The growth of the Kartoon Channel! over the past two years in the U.S., headed by Jon Ollwerther, has been tremendous. Despite the global challenges, children’s entertainment is timeless and enduring. We are extremely excited about the many opportunities we have to bring the channel to the rest of the world and to build it into the preeminent entertainment destination for kids.”

Genius Brands Signs 20-Year Deal with Marvel Studios to License “Stan Lee” for Use in Future Feature...

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“Stan Lee Universe, LLC,” Genius Brands International’s “Genius Brands” (NASDAQ: GNUS) controlled venture with POW! Entertainment, has signed a 20-year deal to license the name and likeness of Stan Lee to Marvel Studios for future feature films and television productions, as well as use in Disney theme parks and experiences worldwide.

 

“We are proud to be the stewards of the incredibly valuable rights to Stan Lee’s name, likeness, merchandise, and intellectual property brand,” said Andy Heyward, Chairman & CEO of Genius Brands. “And, there is no better place than Marvel and Disney where Stan should be for his movies and theme park experiences. As we enter the centennial year of Stan’s birthday, December 28, 2022, we are thrilled to see his memory and legacy will continue to delight fans through this new long-term agreement with Marvel.”

Under the terms of the deal, Marvel Studios has acquired rights to use Stan Lee’s name, voice, likeness and signature in movies and television projects, as well as use images, existing footage and existing audio recordings featuring Stan. Exclusive rights to use Stan Lee’s name, voice, likeness and signature in theme parks, water parks, cruise lines and in-park merchandise were included for Disney Parks, Experiences and Products as part of the deal.

 

“As Stan’s longtime business partner and friend, I’m looking forward to commemorating his work in this new way,” said Gill Champion, President of POW! Entertainment. “Building a connection with his fans is important to us and it’s a privilege to get to do that on his behalf.”

Stan is one of the most prolific and legendary comic creators of all time. As Marvel's editor-in-chief, Stan "The Man" Lee helped build a universe of interlocking continuity, one where fans felt as if they could turn a street corner and run into a superhero from Spider-Man to the Fantastic Four, Thor, Iron Man, the Hulk, the X-Men, and more. Stan went on to become Marvel’s editorial director and publisher in 1972, and was eventually named chairman emeritus.

 

Stan also appeared in some of the most popular films of all time. His well-known cameos in Marvel films began in the 1989 telefilm The Trial of the Incredible Hulk. After the release of X-Men in 2000, he appeared in nearly every Marvel film and television project until his passing in 2018.

Among Stan’s many awards is the National Medal of Arts, awarded by President Bush in 2008, and the Disney Legends Award, received in 2017. He was also inducted into the comic industry’s Will Eisner Award Hall of Fame and Jack Kirby Hall of Fame.

MAKING MOVES!!! Moonbug Expands Its Linear Offering To Europe While Genius Brands International Preps Their Global Expansion Killing Off A Certain Brand

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Moonbug Expands Its Linear Offering To Europe, Could Africa Follow?
London-based Moonbug Entertainment is expanding its footprint in the MENA region through a new partnership with Orbit Showtime Network (OSN).

On December 12, the pay-TV operator will launch a Moonbug Kids linear channel and streaming hub aimed at preschoolers. The new network is designed to give viewers 175 hours of content.

The series range from CoComelon, Blippi, Morphle, Little Baby Bum, Mia’s Magic Playground, Go Buster, Playtime with Twinkle, Arpo, Gecko’s Garage and Supa Strikas.

This isn’t Moonbug’s first foray into MENA. Earlier this year, it partnered with Etisalat to launch its brands on the telecom company’s e-Junior VOD service and a year ago MultiChoice's Showmax.

Kartoon Channel's Parent Company Is Taking Over
Genius Brands International has entered into an agreement to acquire a 28.6% stake in Germany’s Your Family Entertainment (YFE). The deal, which is still subject to YFE shareholder approval, will see the distributor/broadcaster rebranded as Genius Family Entertainment.

YFE’s kids networks will now also operate under the Kartoon Channel! Worldwide banner. Former Disney exec Paul Robinson has been appointed as managing director of Kartoon Channel! Worldwide, effective immediately. Reporting to Kartoon Channel! president Jon Olwerther, he’s based in London and charged with overseeing the brand’s global expansion.

YFE has more than 4,000 films and episodes of animated and live-action content from both European and US producers in its catalogue.

Moving forward, non-violent content and themes like sustainability will be a focus for its growth. The company will continue to be run by its current management board, which is comprised of CEO Stefan Piech and COO Bernd Wendeln. Genius Brands’ new EVP and GM of global franchise management Kerry Phelan will supervise the global rollout of consumer products based on channel content. Moving forward, Genius plans to invest as much as US$7.8 million to expand YFE’s digital and linear footprint globally.

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Genius Brands Launches Their Very Own Kiddies Channel Online, Will DStv Or StarSat Perhaps Get It?

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Former Fox Kids Networks head Margaret Loesch and former Disney exec David Neuman are to be tasked with growing the soon-to-launch kids OTT.

Genius Brands International announced two new hires as it prepares to launch its upcoming digital channel. Former Fox Kids Networks Worldwide president and CEO Margaret Loesch was named executive chairman of the California-based company’s upcoming Kartoon Channel!, and former Disney Television president David Neuman takes the role of chief creative officer.

Loesch previously held roles with Marvel Productions and The Jim Henson Company. She has also served on Genius Brands’ board of directors since 2016. Neuman, meanwhile, joins Genius Brands from media company Happs, a live-streaming news app. He previously served as president of Walt Disney Television from 1996 to 1998.

In their new roles, Loesch and Neuman will be responsible for building viewership, market share and advertising demand for Kartoon Channel! as well as attracting creative content. Neuman will work closely with Caroline Tyre, who was hired by Genius Brands as SVP of international distribution in June 2019.

Kartoon Channel! will launch in the US on June 15 and target kids ages two to 11. More than 4,000 episodes from shows including Baby Genius, Shark Academy, Dino the Dinosaur and Super Geek Heroes will be available on the channel. The OTT channel will not require a subscription, and will be available through a number of platforms, including Amazon Prime, Apple TV and Roku, among others.