Driver Dan’s Story Train Continues Rollout

LONDON/ABU DHABI: Driver Dan’s Story Train, a preschool series from 3Line Media in association with twofour54, heads into MIPTV with the momentum of a recommission from CBeebies.

The show’s companion website recently received an award. The series itself was shortlisted in the Best Preschool Children’s Program category at the 2011 Broadcast Awards. CBeebies recommissioned the show for a second season. The additional 50 10-minute episodes and half-hour special will feature new settings and a new character.

Driver Dan’s Story Train ranked as the second most popular program on the CBeebies schedule for the period from March 1, 2010 to February 28, 2011, according to ratings from BARB. A host of international broadcasters are also on board for the show, including Sprout in the U.S., ABC in Australia and Al Jazeera Children’s Channel’s Baraem, with an Arabic version broadcasting on the pan-regional service.

Golden Bear is set to launch the first range of toys for the show this summer in the U.K., including talking plush, soft bean toys and an electronic story-telling train. Universal Pictures International Entertainment has DVDs for the U.K. and Australia, with an introductory limited-edition DVD featuring three episodes and a bonus book launching in the U.K. on April 18. Two further releases are planned for Q4, including a multi-episode gift boxset. Macmillan Books, the global master publishing partner, launched a book range in September, and more than ten new titles are due to publish this year.

BBC Worldwide Magazines will feature Driver Dan’s Story Train in its CBeebies Weekly and Animals magazine later in 2011. MV Sports will launch an imaginative range of wheeled Driver Dan’s Story Train toys beginning 2012. Aoh!K Commercial, the U.K.-based licensing and merchandising agent for the property, has firmed up a multimedia trade and consumer advertising campaign in the U.K. with Practical Parenting. The new relationship will see the brand in the publication throughout 2011 via paid media, advertorial and strategic product placement.

twofour54 will be representing Driver Dan’s Story Train at MIPTV.