Nickelodeon Brazil Teams Up With Conspiracao For New Telenovela Titled "Dani Who?"; To Premiere In March 2014

The entertainment industry news website Variety is reporting in the following article that Viacom Networks Brasil, the Brazilian branch of MTV Networks Latin America, has teamed up with the Brazilian production company Conspiracao to produce 75 hour-long episodes of a brand new Portuguese-language telenovela called "Dani Who?", a company designed for 7-14 year olds that will premiere on Nickelodeon Brazil (also known as Nickelodeon Brasil) in March 2014:

Latin American content still struggling to crack U.S.

But RioContentMarket wraps with slew of local deals

RIO DE JANEIRO -- The TV biz is booming in Brazil, but indie shows still face obstacles breaking into the U.S. main-stream TV and theatrical markets, according to local industryites and government officials at the third RioContentMarket, Latin America's main indie producers meeting, which closed Thursday with a flurry of local deals.
The distribution of Brazilian TV shows is usually limited to Latino nets or VOD platforms, while pics make it to the art-house circuit, VOD and homevideo.

"The U.S. market is formatted to be self-sufficient. The studios make their shows in-house or co-produce with U.S. indie companies," said Daniela Vieira, content manager of the Brazilian versions of Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Toonscast and one of 3,000 participants from around the world at the event.

Vieira added Turner has acquired a number of Brazilian animated series and will co-produce a few others with local partners, designed for the local market. These series, she said, have international quality and global themes, and Turner intends to air them on its channels across Latin America, but not in the U.S.

One show that has broken through in the U.S. is Sao Paulo-based 44 Toons' "Newbie and the Disasternauts," which will be the first 100% Brazilian cartoon series to air on a main-stream net in the U.S.

Sci-fi space comedy follows the young commander of an interstellar ship and his crew.

Created and directed by 44 Toons' Ale McHaddo, the English-language series consists of 39 episodes of seven minutes and will bow April 1 on Starz Kids & Family.

New York-based distrib Branscome Intl. and 44 Toons are looking for a co-production partner for the series' second season.

But nothing indicates this is a trend. "It is very difficult for any indie production to make it to the U.S. market, especially if it is a foreign production," said Branscome topper Catherine Branscome.

But while U.S. biz remains elusive, there was good news at the Rio confab where the local TV biz is booming, boosted by new regulations that impose primetime quotas for Brazilian programming on pay TV channels. This is opening up the local TV production sector.

An example of this is Viacom's pact with Conspiracao to produce 75 hourlong episodes of Portuguese-language telenovela "Dani Who?" Designed for 7-14 year olds, comedy will bow March 2014 on the local version of Nickelodeon.

Brazil's Grifa and Gaul's FL Concepts will co-produce 20 episodes of "Bel Etoile," hosted by local chef Bel Coelho, for French/German net Arte to air in 2014. The $20 million-budget skein will see Coelho travel Brazil looking for local dishes to prepare.

Meanwhile, the Spirit of Football, an international non-governmental organization that promotes social empowerment via soccer, pacted with DGT Filmes to produce content to screen in workshops with kids in Brazilian schools, among other venues.

The Spirit of Football promotes this initiative every four years in the country hosting FIFA's Soccer World Cup, which will take place in Brazil in 2014. DGT's business director Daniel Melloni said the deal amounts to $5 million.

The RioContentMarket was created and organized by the Brazilian Independent TV Producers Assn. (ABPI-TV).

It has grown exponentially in its three years, from an attendance of 800 for its first edition in 2011 to 3,000 this year.

Some 208 local production companies participated in the event, with large delegations from the U.K. (35), France (20) and Germany (10). Rio hosted 16 keynote speeches, 93 panels and 820 business meets.

Nick Jr. UK And Ireland Website To Add Video Clips Of "Big Block SingSong" Soon

Nick Jr. UK and Ireland has announced the Nick Jr. News in a Tweet (post) on their official Twitter profile page (@NickJrUK) that they will start to add online streaming videos clips featuring Nick Junior UK's brand new animated preschool series, "Big Block SingSong", to the official Nick Jr. UK and Ireland website, NickJr.co.uk, soon!:

Are you a fan of @BigBlockShow? Catch them every day at 9.55 & 3.25. Clips will be on http://nickjr.co.uk soon! pic.twitter.com/I8N1utS1U2

"Big Block SingSong" is a brand new 49 x two-minute animated musical interstitial preschool series that was created and is produced by Toronto-based Goddard/Brown. Each episode stars block-like characters who sing topical, humorous songs. The series is targeted towards kids ages three and up. Catch "Big Block SingSong" everyday at 9.55am and 3.25pm on Nick Jr. UK.

'Peter Rabbit' Earns 1.7 Million Total Viewers, Nickelodeon Preschool's Biggest Launch in Two Years

Nickelodeon has announced the Nickelodeon News in the following Press Release, from TVbytheNumbers, that Nickelodeon USA's, also known as Nick, brand-new animated preschool series "Peter Rabbit" hopped to the top of the ratings charts with the show's Tuesday 19th February 2013 premiere, which included the stories "The Tale of the Radish Robber", in which Peter and his friends try to find the perfect place to eat the radishes they took from Mr. McGregor's garden, but little do they know they've got a radish robber on their tails, and "The Tale of Two Enemies", which, when Peter decides to set Mr. Tod and Tommy Brock against each other, he soon finds out that breaking the food chain is harder than it looks, delivering 1.7 million total viewers. The new CG-animated series was also basic cable's top telecast in its time period (12-12:30 p.m. ET/PT) with K2-5, A18-49, W18-49 and total viewers, posting double-digit gains for the network with K2-5 (5.7/760,000, +21%), A18-49 (+47%), W18-49 (+43%) and total viewers (+31%). The premiere also ranks as the net's highest-rated preschool series premiere since 2011 (behind "Bubble Guppies"):

'Peter Rabbit' Earns 1.7 Million Total Viewers, Nick Preschool's Biggest Launch in Two Years


via press release:

Nickelodeon's brand-new Peter Rabbit Tops with Kids, Total Viewers

Peter Rabbit Earns 1.7 Million Total Viewers, Nick Preschool's Biggest Launch in Two Years

NEW YORK – Feb. 21, 2012 2013 – Nickelodeon’s brand-new preschool series Peter Rabbit hopped to the top of the charts, with its Tuesday, Feb. 19 premiere, which delivered 1.7 million total viewers. The new CG-animated series was also basic cable’s top telecast in its time period (12-12:30 p.m. ET/PT) with K2-5, A18-49, W18-49 and total viewers, posting double-digit gains for the net with K2-5 (5.7/760,000, +21%), A18-49 (+47%), W18-49 (+43%) and total viewers (+31%). The premiere also ranks as the net’s highest-rated preschool series premiere since 2011 (behind Bubble Guppies).

Nickelodeon’s Peter Rabbit is a fresh re-imagining of the iconic Beatrix Potter children’s books based on Peter Rabbit. The series features educational goals that encourage preschoolers to learn problem-solving and interpersonal skills, self-efficacy, resilience, positive re-framing and fostering an interest in and respect for nature.

The show follows Peter, a mischievous, charming and brave rabbit who overcomes obstacles, outwits predators and avoids danger. Clever, resilient and funny, Peter Rabbit wants to grow up to be just like his late father and carries his journal (a guide to everything you to need to know to be a good rabbit) on his fun and exciting adventures with his best friends Benjamin Bunny and Lily Bobtail. Set in Potter’s treasured Lake District, Peter lives in a world where behind every rock there is a surprise to discover and where dangers (be it a sly fox or bad-tempered badger) lurk around every corner. Peter Rabbit airs regularly at 12 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.

Nickelodeon, now in its 33rd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 18 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).

Categories: Network TV Press Releases

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon News!

Marketing Blackpool Launches The Blackpool Resort Pass, A New Super Saver Ticket Giving You Access To The Best Of Blackpool, UK, Including Nickelodeon Land At Pleasure Beach!

The Blackpool Gazette is reporting that Marketing Blackpool, the official promotional organisation for the British seaside town of Blackpool, have teamed up with everybody's favourite Blackpool attractions to launch The Blackpool Resort Pass, a brand new trouble-free great value for money ticket that will allow BPL visitors access the best of Blackpool - Blackpool Pleasure Beach, the UK's only Nickelodeon Land, The Blackpool Tower Eye and 4D Experience, The Blackpool Tower Dungeon, Sea Life Blackpool and Madame Tussauds - for a special discount (around £50)! The pass allows you one entry into each of the specified attractions across seven days and is the first of its kind to be operated in the UK. The Blackpool Resort Pass also has the option to add on discounted three day and seven day saver tickets for Blackpool Transport's bus and famous tram services and the chance to add extra attractions (bolt on's) to make sure It's Just The Ticket!

Have you visited Nickelodeon Land UK at Blackpool Pleasure Beach? Let NickALive! know on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, and/or Facebook!:

Big family discount

AN offer to give families discount access to some of Blackpool’s top attractions has been launched.

The Blackpool Resort Pass is the first of its kind to be operated in the UK and will allow visitors access to Blackpool Pleasure Beach, Nickelodeon Land, The Blackpool Tower Eye and 4D Experience, The Blackpool Tower Dungeon, Sea Life Blackpool and Madame Tussauds for around £50.

Entrance to Blackpool Zoo, Sandcastle Waterpark and Blackpool Model Village can also be added to the pass for a further £25.

There is also the option to add on discounted three day and seven day saver tickets for Blackpool Transport’s bus and tram services as part of the ticket.

Natalie Wyatt, managing director of Marketing Blackpool, today welcomed the launch of the new pass.

She said: “It’s our responsibility to help make everyone’s stay in Blackpool an enjoyable and value for money holiday and the Blackpool Resort Pass is the perfect tool for that.

“Blackpool is the only destination in the UK to offer such an incentive for its visitors.

“We recognise people spend their hard earned money when they visit Blackpool so we want them to enjoy the best value for money possible. By teaming up with so many more attractions and transport services this year we believe we are doing just that.

“The Blackpool Resort Pass really is just the ticket.”

The launch of the Blackpool Resort Pass is part of wider destination marketing activity promoting Blackpool, supported by £100,000 from the Government’s regional growth fund.

The Resort Pass is available to buy in advance online, as well as from Blackpool Tourist Information Centre at Festival House on the Promenade.

For more information go to www.blackpoolresortpass.com or order by phone on (01253) 478222.

Also, from the official Blackpool Resort Pass website, run by Visit Blackpool:

The Blackpool Resort Pass is a new ticket designed to bring you the best of Blackpool at great value for money.

We've teamed up with your favourite attractions to ensure you have the best possible time and enjoy great value for money when you visit Blackpool. The Blackpool Resort Pass provides you with one visit per attraction across seven days.

Enjoy massive savings! Simply choose from one of our great value packages below or bolt on extras to personalise your resort pass - JUST LIKE THAT!

"Yo Gabba Gabba"'s DHX Media Upbeat About Digital Distribution Revenues

From Kidscreen's children's digital entertainment news column, iKids:

DHX Media upbeat about digital distribution revenues

Canada’s DHX Media was upbeat yesterday (Wednesday 13th February 2013) about digital distribution, even as its proprietary production and work-for-hire revenues were down in its latest financial quarter.


Michael Donovan, CEO of the production and distribution house, told analysts during a conference call that Netflix, Amazon and other emerging digital platforms looking to build their subscriber bases are making subscription video-on-demand (SVOD) deals for DHX Media’s expanded programming library after the acquisition of Cookie Jar Entertainment this past October.

“Streaming VOD (SVOD) is offering new ways for consumers to access our large library of family and childrens' titles,” he said

In results for the three months to Dec. 31, 2012, DHX indicated its distribution revenue was up sharply to US$9.2 million, against US$1.8 million in the same period of 2011.

That gain was offset by proprietary production revenue, which dropped to US$3.66 million, against a year-earlier US$4.9 million, and producer and service fee revenues falling to US$5.82 million, compared to US$9.84 million in the same period of fiscal 2012.

DHX Media has recently signed an SVOD deal with Amazon’s European digital media subsidiary LOVEFiLM, Tesco-owned blinkbox, Dailymotion and Wananchi.

Despite overall revenue rising 7% to US$26.3 million, DHX Media posted Q2 earnings of US$287,000, down sharply from a profit of US$1.83 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2012.

From Playback Online

Tags: DHX Media, Michael Donovan, SVOD