New Agreements Span TV, Home Entertainment and Toy Distribution
Toronto, Canada – November 2, 2015 – 9 Story Media Group is pleased to announce that it has secured several deals in Australia for the hit animated series Wild Kratts, including broadcast placement with Channel Nine’s Go! Channel. The channel picked up the first two seasons of the series and will begin airing the program weekdays at 7:00 am and 2:30 pm commencing November 14thand at 1:30 pm on Saturdays and Sundays commencing November 21st.
In addition to broadcast exposure, Roadshow Entertainment has picked up home video rights while master toy licensee Wicked Cool Toys has appointed Hunter Products to distribute the toy line.
Now in its fourth season, Wild Kratts premiered on PBS KIDS in the U.S. in 2011 and on TVO, Knowledge Network and Télé-Quebec in Canada. A co-production between Kratt Brothers Company and 9 Story Media Group, Wild Kratts is distributed in the U.S. and Canada by Kratt Brothers Company and internationally by 9 Story Media Group. The series was created and developed by real life brothers and zoologists, Martin and Chris Kratt who star in the show as animated versions of themselves. The fourth season includes 26 episodes, which will begin rolling out in the U.S. on PBS KIDS in late 2015.
The series also has tremendous global reach, airing in over 180 countries across 18 different languages. Broadcast partners include Discovery Kids (Latin America and Asia), Super RTL (Germany), TV3 (Spain), Canal Panda (Spain), RTE (Ireland), VRT (Belgium), Minimax (Eastern Europe), Media Corp PTD Ltd. (Singapore), Primetime (Colombia), Minika (Turkey), E Junior (UAE) and Al Jazeera Children’s Channel (Middle East).
On the licensing front, master toy licensee Wicked Cool Toys launched a broad toy offering at Toys “R” Us last year which included creature power suits, action figures, talking plush and vehicle sets. Due to strong performance, new items including the Tortuga Playset, have been developed, and the line has recently rolled out to Kmart and select Target stores.
Random House Kids released the first Wild Kratts books in the U.S. and Canada as part of the publisher’s Step Into Reading Program. Sales of the book exceeded expectations, and as a result, it went into a second printing within the first few weeks on sale and a vastly expanded book line is in production.
9 Story Media Group is a leading content creator, marketer and distributor of kids & family focused intellectual property. Recognized around the world for best-in-class brands such as Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood, Wild Kratts, Numb Chucks, Arthur and Peg + Cat, 9 Story represents over 2,150 half hours of animated and live action programming, seen on some of the most respected international channels and platforms. With one of North America’s largest animation studios, 9 Story employs over 250 creative and production staff in its Toronto facility and has produced over 900 half hours of award-winning children’s content. 9 Story recently acquired the award winning animation studio Brown Bag Films, which employs over 170 staff members across Dublin, Manchester and Los Angeles. Brown Bag is recognized for producing leading animated children’s series such as Octonauts, Doc McStuffins, Bing Bunny and Henry Hugglemonster. 9 Story is owned by senior management, ZMC (Zelnick Media Capital) and media entrepreneur Neil Court. www.9story.com
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For further information:
Jennifer Ansley, Vice President, Marketing & Communications, 9 Story Media Group
+1 416 530-9900 ext 230, jennifera@9story.com