Huntik Airing in Australia

WEESP: Network 10 in Australia has bagged the rights for the action-adventure property Huntik: Secrets & Seekers from Big Bocca Productions, and is airing the show Monday to Friday at 7 a.m.

Created by Iginio Straffi, the author of the Winx Club, the show was developed through a partnership between Big Bocca, Rainbow S.p.A. and m4e. Network 10 and Southern Cross have committed to the first two seasons of Huntik: Secrets and Seekers. The broadcast is backed up by a TV campaign from trading-card licensee Upper Deck, with a minimum of 180 commercials running over four weeks on Network 10. A similar campaign has started on Southern Cross with 160 commercial spots as of June 1.

In September, Upper Deck will be releasing a Huntik toy line to all major retailers. The toy line will display fully articulated action figures of the main characters and titans shown on the series. Home-entertainment partner Madman is planning the first DVD launch on August 19, to be supported by a TV campaign on both Network 10 and Cartoon Network.

Marie-Laure Marchand, the managing director of Big Bocca Productions, said: “We are delighted to get such a great coverage in Australia from both our broadcast partner Network 10 and our licensees, Upper Deck International and Madman. We trust that this massive launch campaigns will boost Huntik profile in Australia and New Zealand and will set the ground for a long lasting successful brand.”

"Upper Deck Oceania is pleased with the media and retail support for Huntik," said Mark Williams, the commercial manager of Upper Deck Oceania. "With the program currently on air backed with a national TV and press advertising campaign with includes additional promotions and giveaways and strongly supported by our retail partners, I am confident the Huntik brand will generate strong sales of trading cards and toys in this marketplace."