The 2023 Kidscreen Hot50 list is here, and we are so proud to share that for the second consecutive year, 9 Story Distribution International has earned the #1 Spot in Distribution!
In addition to this outstanding result, 9 Story Brands rocketed from #5 in 2022, to the #2 slot in this year’s Licensing category. 9 Story Media Group and Brown Bag Films also secured the #4 spot in Production and 9 Story swooped onto the Digital Media list at #6.
Now in its tenth year, the Hot50 rankings are determined by an industry vote that Kidscreen’s 16,500-plus print and digital subscribers are invited to take part in. We’re proud to be ranked among such high-performing companies and celebrate the superb work that our teams have produced this past year. It means a tremendous amount for both 9 Story and Brown Bag Films to be acknowledged in this way. Most awards ceremonies recognize individual productions, but the Kidscreen Hot50 honours companies as a whole, acknowledging the talent in every department from HR, Finance and Tech alongside our Directors, Producers and Animators. An award like the Hot50, which is voted for by our peers and not a jury, is truly very special.
Distribution
For the second year running, 9 Story Distribution International has been voted #1 in the Hot50 Distribution category! Our distribution division had a massive year acquiring seven series, including two from South Korea: That Lion Show (Kakao) and Hero Inside (CJ ENM, Million Volt Animation Studios, Tencent Video and YGG Global). The team navigated the industry’s budget cuts by turning their focus to AVODs, launching 1700 half-hours of new content across multiple platforms over the last year. We also had some immense presales success on our live-action series A Kind of Spark, securing early commitments from ABC Australia, France Televisions and CBC Kids.
Alix Wiseman, SVP of Distribution and Acquisitions, had this to say:
“This was an ‘all hands-on deck year.’ We experienced the same challenges as everyone else in the business but our resourceful and smart team worked to achieve maximum value with minimum risk, which proved to be a good strategy. A special shout-out goes to our Digital team who unturned every stone to explore all possible revenue streams.”
Check out the full list of Distribution honorees below:
DISTRIBUTION
1. 🔥 9 Story Distribution International
2. CAKE
3. Jetpack Distribution
4. Sinking Ship Entertainment
5. WildBrain
6. Sesame Workshop
7. Aardman Animations
8. Banijay Kids & Family
9. Guru Studio
10. Australian Children’s Television Foundation
Licensing
LicensingThis year’s runner up in the Hot50 Licensing category, 9 Story Brands had an incredible year building on the strength of consumer products programs for Daniel Tiger’s Neighborhood and Karma’s World. To celebrate Daniel’s 10th anniversary, the team worked with many of their long-standing CP partners including Jakks Pacific to create an exclusive plush, Simon & Schuster to release special edition books and PBS KIDS to release new browser games. 9 Story Brands also inked their first deal with Pact Organic to bring Daniel’s iconic red sweater to life in a new apparel line for kids. Our Karma’s World property also thrived with multiple new retail activations in US Walmart stores, Toys “R” Us locations across North America, and an experiential bus, which toured the UK with ASDA.
Check out the full list of Licensing honorees below:
LICENSING
1. Mattel
2. 🔥 9 Story Brands
3. Aardman Animations
4. WildBrain
5. Spin Master
6. BBC Studios Kids & Family
7. Sesame Workshop
8. Jazwares
9. Sinking Ship Entertainment
10. Paramount Consumer Products
Production
ProductionIt was a big year for both 9 Story Media Group’s award-winning animation studio, Brown Bag Films, and 9 Story’s growing live-action division. The studio’s new live-action series A Kind of Spark, premiered on BBC and BYUtv in March, and received a season 2 greenlight for the critically acclaimed show this October. Brown Bag Films also had a strong year, maintaining the studio’s 16 active pipelines across Dublin, Toronto, and Bali, which delivered 238 half-hours of content, including the animated series Rosie’s Rules for PBS KIDS, Eva the Owlet for Apple TV+, Lu & The Bally Bunch, which premiered on Cartoonito, CBC & TVNZ+, and Open Season: Call of Nature, which launched on Family Channel in Canada.
See the full list of Kidscreen Hot50 Production honorees below:
PRODUCTION
1. Aardman Animations
2. Ludo Studio
3. Atomic Cartoons
4. 🔥 9 Story Media Group/Brown Bag Films
5. Fred Rogers Productions
6. Sinking Ship Entertainment
7. Titmouse
8. Cheeky Little Media
9. Mattel TV
10. BBC Studios Kids & Family
Digital Media
Digital MediaThis year our Digital Media division experienced some awesome wins! The team extended the series Rosie’s Rules into gaming launching three popular games, with Rosie’s Slime Store becoming a smash hit with kids and continuing to dominate the top 10 most-played titles for PBS KIDS. Our digital team also supercharged two of our legacy brands, launching a Garfield FAST channel on Pluto and revamping the Barney & Friends YouTube channel to achieve a 15% year-over-year increase in viewing. Finally, our company’s YouTube business experienced a 57% uptick in watchtime in 2023.
Check out the full list of Digital Media honorees below:
DIGITAL MEDIA
1. PBS KIDS
2. Moonbug Entertainment
3. Aardman Animations
4. WildBrain
5. Sesame Workshop
6. 🔥 9 Story Media Group
7. Mattel
8. Headspace
9. The LEGO Group
10. Dubit
We’re so happy to be in such amazing company in these categories, and to close out 2023 with this recognition for our brilliant and creative teams. Alix Wiseman, SVP of Distribution and Acquisitions said this about the 2023 list:
“It means A LOT! We couldn’t be prouder of our team at 9 Story and Brown Bag Films. This vote is testament to the excellence, expertise and – importantly – the humanity of each and every one of our colleagues across sales, business affairs, technical, digital, finance and marketing. The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
To see the full list of Kidscreen honorees, visit kidscreen.com and check out the Kidscreen Hot50 special digital issue.
The number-one ranked companies will be honored at the 2024 Kidscreen Awards ceremony taking place during Kidscreen Summit (Feb 4-7) in San Diego on Monday, February 5.
A huge thank you again to our extraordinary teams at 9 Story Media Group and Brown Bag Films, without whom opportunities like these would not exist. It’s truly incredible to see what we can achieve together!
And finally, an enormous congratulations to all the 2023 Kidscreen Hot50 honorees!