Toronto, Canada – April 8, 2013 – 9 Story Entertainment and CCI Entertainment announced today that CCI Kids, the family content division of CCI Entertainment, has entered into an agreement with 9 Story Entertainment for the marketing and distribution of CCI Kids children’s, tween and family programming. Through this agreement, 9 Story will acquire the underlying rights to CCI Kids owned Children’s and Family library, in addition to the distribution rights for CCI Releasing’s other titles in this genre, totaling over 1,000 half hours of content. The agreement also provides 9 Story a first look at future CCI produced or acquired children’s and family programming.
“Bringing CCI’s exceptional Children’s and Family library into the fold fits perfectly with 9 Story’s strategy to significantly grow our distribution business as its quality and diversity compliments our own. Arnie Zipursky and Charles Falzon are talented producers and we look forward to working with them on new projects,” said 9 Story Co-founders Vince Commisso, President and CEO and Steven Jarosz, Senior Vice President and COO.
“We are proud of the award winning Children’s and Family catalogue we have built over the years and are delighted to work together with 9 Story in the distribution of both our current and future kids and family programming as we continue to focus our energies on the content creation side of our business,” said Arnie Zipursky CEO and Co-Chairman and Charles Falzon, Co-Chairman of CCI Entertainment.
CCI’s extensive children’s and family library includes such successful titles as Artzooka, Harry and His Bucketful of Dinosaurs, Turbo Dogs, Extreme Babysitting, Erky Perky, GeoFreakZ, and classics such as Sharon, Lois & Bram’s Elephant Show and Shining Time Station.
CCI will continue to focus its efforts as one of Canada’s leading content producers across all genres and as a rights management company through CCI Releasing.
The agreement will also see CCI’s distribution staff, including Jill Keenleyside, EVP of Distribution CCI Entertainment working with 9 Story on Children’s and Family content and with CCI on other genres.
9 Story Entertainment is one of the industry’s leading creators, producers and distributors of award-winning animated and live-action content for young audiences around the world. With one of North America’s largest animation studios based in Toronto, 9 Story has over 200 creative and production staff, and has produced over 800 half hours of quality children’s and family programming, seen on some of the most respected children’s channels around the world across multiple platforms. The company’s distribution arm 9 Story Enterprises represents a growing catalogue which includes several beloved brands such as Arthur, Wibbly Pig, Harriet the Spy: Blog Wars, Wild Kratts and Almost Naked Animals in addition to popular new series such as Camp Lakebottom, Cache Craze, Daniel Tiger’s Neighbourhood and Nerds and Monsters. www.9story.com
CCI Entertainment is a leading IP development, production and international distribution company based out of Toronto, Canada, with a successful track record spanning twenty-five years. CCI has been particularly recognized in the area of family television, lifestyle programming, documentaries and movies having been responsible for thousands of hours of award-winning entertainment for the world market. www.ccientertainment.com
Contacts:
For 9 Story – Mary Powers, MPowers Communications +1 416 767 8692 mpowers@mpowers.ca
For CCI Entertainment – Joanna Bryden, +1 416 583 2919 jbryden@ccientertainment.com