Boat Rocker Buys FremantleMedia Kids & Family

Boat Rocker Media has acquired FremantleMedia’s Kids & Family division (Danger Mouse, Bitz & Bob), effective immediately.

FremantleMedia Kids & Family will be integrated into Boat Rocker Media’s global distribution arm, Boat Rocker Rights, immediately expanding its scale and capabilities, specifically in Europe and Asia. Boat Rocker Rights is led by Jon Rutherford as president.

This deal marks Boat Rocker’s continued commitment to developing, producing and monetizing an expanded catalog of premium kids’ and family entertainment while also enhancing Boat Rocker Rights’ worldwide presence for its scripted and unscripted catalog, which now totals more than 6,000 half-hours.

FremantleMedia Kids & Family was set up in 2010. Since then, it has built a portfolio that includes more than 45 brands spanning 150-plus series and 1,600 half-hours of programming aimed at children of all ages.

“Today marks a major step in our expansion on the international stage,” said John Young, CEO, and David Fortier and Ivan Schneeberg, co-executive chairmen of Boat Rocker Media. “We have deep respect for the unique expertise and brands that the FremantleMedia Kids & Family team have created over the last eight years and are excited for future collaborations with such an impressive collection of global broadcast and ancillary partners.”

Sangeeta Desai, group COO and CEO of emerging markets at FremantleMedia, added: “We are incredibly proud of the business we’ve built and the amazing characters we have brought to families around the world. We are thrilled that the business will continue to grow and develop under Boat Rocker.”