The announcement follows the securing of carriage deals with various platform operators in Asia, including SingTel s mio TV in Singapore, the Philippines Sky Cable, Palau s PNCC and Korea s HanaTV at the end of this month. KidsCo has also signed a deal with the Philippines Cable Boss to act as their distributor in that market. It is anticipated that KidsCo will be available in up to 40 territories - including Europe and Latin America within the next 18 months. The channel currently broadcasts in Romania, Ukraine, Hungary, Russia, Turkey and Poland.
KidsCo, a 24/7 multiplatform channel, will be committed to providing a responsible and entertaining environment for children and families around the world. The unique channel utilises NBC Universal s state-of-the-art broadcast distribution facility in the U.S. and the company s international network of affiliates.
KidsCo Managing Director Paul Robinson said: "The launch of KidsCo in Asia is a strategic part of our expansion into all the world s TV markets and we are delighted to be welcomed into Asia. KidsCo s unique positioning and content partner ownership makes us a valuable new channel to platforms and kids."
Raymund Miranda, NBC Universal s Managing Director Global Networks Asia Pacific, added: "KidsCo represents a unique opportunity for platforms to continue to address an underserved audience in a region that is one of the youngest in the world. Our partners have recognized this and have embraced KidsCo with great enthusiasm. We re equally confident that families all over the region will welcome KidsCo into their homes with a lot of excitement."
KidsCo features renowned animated and live-action television series and feature-length movies from pre-eminent independent animation programme suppliers, DIC and Nelvana. DIC s programming library features over 3,000 half-hours of top quality series, including;
Inspector Gadget, Strawberry Shortcake, Madeline, Dennis the Menace, Care Bears and more. With more than 3,200 half-hours of kids programming, Nelvana Enterprises catalogue features international favourites such as Babar, Franklin, The Adventures of Tintin and Rolie Polie Olie.
KidsCo has also acquired programming from other major children s content suppliers after signing deals with Entertainment Rights and TV-Loonland. KidsCo programming is being localised market-by-market and has been programmed by day-parts to create a strategic line-up targeting segmented audiences.
About NBC Universal
NBC Universal is one of the world's leading media and entertainment companies in the development, production, and marketing of entertainment, news, and information to a global audience. Formed in May 2004 through the combining of NBC and Vivendi Universal Entertainment, NBC Universal owns and operates a valuable portfolio of news and entertainment networks, a premier motion picture company, significant television production operations, a leading television stations group, and world-renowned theme parks. NBC Universal is 80%-owned by General Electric, with 20% controlled by Vivendi.
About DIC Entertainment:
DIC Entertainment, a fully-integrated global brand management company, is dedicated to creating, developing, producing, distributing, marketing and merchandising family-based intellectual properties. The Company serves as the worldwide licensor or agent for brands such as McDonald s, Strawberry Shortcake, Horseland, Mommy & Me, The Beginner s Bible and Eloise. DIC has distinguished itself by building one of the largest libraries of animation worldwide with approximately 3,000 half-hours of programming, including Inspector Gadget , Dino Squad , Strawberry Shortcake , Horseland , Sabrina , Madeline , Liberty s Kids , Sonic The Hedgehog and Care Bears . In 2007, DIC and CBS launched a new educational and informational Saturday morning programming block, "KEWLopolis on CBS." As a pre-eminent supplier of kid s programming worldwide, DIC has developed strategic partnerships with key broadcast partners throughout North America, Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and Australia. DIC also acquired Copyright Promotions, a Pan-European licensing agency that represents the licensing rights of a broad portfolio of world-renowned companies including DreamWorks Animation, MGM, Marvel, Sony, Twentieth Century Fox, Viacom and The Football Association. DIC is headquartered in Burbank, California with offices in New York, Paris and London.