Turner Partners with Rubicon on Mideast Initiative

AMMAN: Rubicon Group Holding’s animated series Ben & Izzy and Tareq wa Shireen will air on Cartoon Network in the Middle East and North Africa beginning in October 2010 as part of a strategic partnership between the two companies.

The deal between Rubicon and Turner Broadcasting covers a range of development, production, broadcasting and merchandising activities. The Ben & Izzy and Tareq wa Shireen animated series will initially air on Cartoon Network in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), but will eventually expand to Europe, Asia and North America. In addition, Rubicon and Cartoon Network will collaborate on the development of MENA merchandising programs to coincide with the launch of the two new animated series. Plus, the agreement includes the development and co-production of new episodes of Ben & Izzy that are set in Africa. Rubicon and Turner will also explore co-production opportunities to create content for broadcast on regional and international Cartoon Network channels.

“On the heels of the successful launch of Pink Panther & Pals on Cartoon Network in the U.S., which we co-produced and co-financed together with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), we are extremely pleased to be furthering our relationship with Turner Broadcasting and look forward to even greater successes on Cartoon Network throughout the Middle East, Africa and the rest of the world,” said Randa Ayoubi, CEO of Rubicon Holding Group. “We are proud to be partnering with such a celebrated leader in children’s entertainment as we continue to bring creative and innovative new properties to kid audiences around the globe.”

Chris Groves, Turner Broadcasting’s senior VP of business affairs and managing director for the Middle East, added: “We are very pleased to be working with Rubicon on this project. It further re-enforces Turner’s ambition and commitment to build upon the business we have established in the Middle East. Cartoon Network has always focused on high quality content and our association with Rubicon will deliver more great content to our audiences across the region."