Nickelodeon UK Presenter Anna Williamson Announced As The First Host Of Digital Spy's Brand New Online Breakfast Show

Entertainment news website Digital Spy has announced in a news article on their official website that Nickelodeon UK and Ireland presenter and Digital Spy showbiz columnist Anna Williamson (Nickelodeon UK's "Camp Orange", "Jamie's & Anna's Big Weekend", "UPick Summer") is the presenter of the first ever edition of Digital Spy's brand new VoD (Video-on-Demand) breakfast show, which you can watch here on DigitalSpy.co.uk!

Nickelodeon India Picks Up The Broadcast Rights To Toon Distribution's Brand New Animated Series "Tony And Alberto"

From C21Media:

Japanese cat purrs in Cannes

MIPJUNIOR: French animation vendor Toon Distribution has picked up an Asian animated series to launch here in Cannes and sold some of its own back the other way.

Chi's Sweet Home (52x12′) is a series that Japan's Madhouse Studios made in 2008 for TV Tokyo and TV Osaka, based on the popular manga comics of the same name published by Kodansha.

“We were attracted to it because it’s not violent, like other manga properties, and appeals to not just children but adult cat-lovers too,” said Victoire Lemaistre, sales manager at Toon Distribution. “It doesn’t actually feel that Japanese. We’ve got interest from three major French channels.”

Like the comics it's based on, the show follows the day-to-day life of a cute feline and is written by Konami Kanata. Toon Distribution has rights within Europe (ex-UK) and Latin America, while Kodansha handles Asia.

On the sales front, Lemaistre said her company's latest toons had got some new broadcasters attached. Tony & Alberto (78x7′) is now backed by Nickelodeon India, Canal J in France and RTS in Switzerland. The show is currently on M6 here in France.

My Friend Grompf, meanwhile, has gone to Arabic satellite channel Al Jazeera Children’s Channel, Belgium’s RTBF, France 3 and TeleQuebec in Canada.

Speaking from MipJunior, Lemaistre added that one of the big trends this time around is that the number of buyers from VoD services is much higher than at previous markets.

“VoD is really starting to pay serious money, and not just revenue-share deals like three or four years ago, but upfront licence fees,” she said. “The dynamic is really changing.”

However, she warned vendors not to sell VoD rights ahead of TV rights. “VoD licence fees are growing but are still small compared to TV, so you wouldn’t want to jeopardise a TV deal by selling the VoD rights to someone else beforehand.”

Paris-based Toon Distribution is the sales arm of production house Toon Factory, which produces several animated series based on comics published by long-standing partner Glenat Kids.

New shows in development include Kid Paddle Reloaded, Tiny Tyrant, The Smash ‘Em Up Gang, Marie Lune and Lucy June I Dunno. The latter will be the company’s first toon to include transmedia elements.

Ed Waller
06-10-2012
©C21Media

SECTIONS: C21Kids, FutureMedia

Children Queue Out Of The Door To Meet Nickelodeon Star Victoria Justice At Argos Holloway

From the Islington Gazette:

Children queue out of the door to meet US star in Holloway

Children's TV star Victoria Justice caused a stir at a Holloway store last week [on Sunday 23rd September 2012].

Young fans queued out the door at Argos as the 19-year-old actress, best known for her role as Tori Vega in Nickelodeon's Victorious, signed autographs.

The former child-star, who has been a Nickelodeon regular on shows such as Zoey 101 and iCarly since the age of 10, is in the UK on a promotional tour. “My trip so far has been amazing. It's been great to meet so many fans,” she said.

Gary Philpott, store manager said: “Victoria is a huge role model for so many children and it’s an honour to have her visit our Holloway Road store.”

You can view a couple of exclusive photographs from Nickelodeon UK and Argos' recent 'Meet and Greet Victoria Justice at Argos Holloway' event here on the official Islington Gazette website, islingtongazette.co.uk!

Nickelodeon UK Alumna Debbie MacDonald Guides New Canadian ProdCo Animated Series "Mighty Mighty Monsters"

From C21Media:

Nick alumna guides Monsters toon

MIPJUNIOR: Debbie MacDonald, the former head of programming at Nickelodeon in the UK, is now working with a Canadian prodco on its first animated project.

MacDonald, who left her role at Nickelodeon UK in December last year after spending 17 years at the kidcaster, is now a freelance children’s media consultant.

She is currently advising Bron Animation, the fledgling toon division of Canadian movie producer Bron Studios, on its debut TV project, Mighty Mighty Monsters (2x44′).

The holiday specials, which follow a group of monstrous children who try to fit in at a school for normal humans, are currently being shopped here in Cannes by Toronto indie Shaftesbury.

“The shows are about the juxtaposition between monsters and terrifying tween culture. I’m working very closely with them on the specials and the elements around the project, such as the marketing and promotion. Hopefully, it will move forward into a full series,” MacDonald said.

MacDonald is also advising Music Sales Group (MSG), which holds the rights to a huge catalogue of classical and pop songs and claims to be the largest printed music publisher in Europe, as it looks for opportunities to invest in the kids sector.

“MSG recognises that the kids’ TV business can be both lucrative and creative. We want to bring great shows and catalogues to the table, invest in them and give producers advances and help them with production,” MacDonald said.

While at Viacom-owned Nickelodeon, MacDonald managed Nick UK’s acquisitions, original productions and scheduling across its portfolio of channels, which included Nick Jr and Nicktoons.

“I’ve learnt so much and seen the business change on the content side drastically over the years. It can be overwhelming for small producers just coming into the business. I’ve been across the whole sector as a programming director and I’d say my passion was in preschool production,” she told C21.

Ed Waller
07-10-2012
©C21Media

TAGS: Mipcom, MipJunior
GENRES: Animation, Children's
PEOPLE: Debbie MacDonalds
COMPANIES: Nick Jr, Nick UK, Nickelodeon, Viacom International Media Networks
SECTIONS: C21Kids
COUNTRIES: Canada, UK

Also, from Screen International:

Bron Animation announces key hires

The new division of British Columbia-based Bron Studios has added former Nickelodeon UK CEO Debbie Macdonald as creative consultant.

Macdonald will work on the company's Mighty Mighty Monsters specials.

Bron Animation has brought on Kevin Drew and Ohad Benchetrit to work on the music. Bezhad Mansoori-Dara joins as director of photography for Mighty Mighty Monsters.

Managing director Aaron L Gilbert’s Bron Studios is in post on A Single Shot starring Sam Rockwell, Jeffrey Wright, Jason Isaacs, Melissa Leo, and William H Macy.