FME Furthers Push into Children’s & Family Entertainment

CANNES: FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) is working to establish a next-generation model for the creative development, acquisition, production and distribution of content in the children’s and family entertainment arena, and has a number of deals and partnerships in place. 

My Babysitter is a Vampire, which is produced and developed by Fresh TV in association with TELETOON, is a new live-action series aimed at tweens and teens. The property launches with a TV movie this month, with a series to follow in 2011. FME holds exclusive distribution and licensing rights outside of canada for the show. 

FME also signed a three-project development deal with Dan Clark Company, behind such hits as Brats of the Lost Nebula, The Save-Ums and Team Smithereen. FME and CBeebies in-house production have teamed up for a new CGI animated fantasy-adventure series for preschoolers for 2012. The deal sees FME co-developing, co-funding and co-producing the new title for CBeebies and acquiring the licensing and other ancillary rights internationally, as well as all distribution rights outside the U.K. 

Josh Selig’s Little Airplane Productions signed a deal for FME to co-develop and co-produce a preschool mixed-media animated series, Jo B. G. Raff. FME will also handle global distribution rights for this property. A separate deal sees FME developing a new series with Australia’s Sticky Pictures starring Bindi Irwin, daughter of the late Steve Irwin of Crocodile Hunter fame. Sticky Pictures will co-produce the untitled live-action series with FremantleMedia Australia. FME is currently Australia Zoo’s global multiplatform entertainment partner and this is the first project under this deal. FME is also entering into a deal to develop a new series with Blue Rocket of Tasmania. 

Further deals in the children’s and family arena include a development deal for a new series based on the exploits of a real alternative rock band, in discussion with a major U.S. broadcaster; a co-development and co-production deal with Random House based on a successful graphic novel; a new animated sitcom for The Hub that will be delivered for a fall 2011 or mid-season 2011-12 deliver, from producer/writer/creator Russell Marcus; and the re-imagining of the classic property DangerMouse with a major broadcast partner. 

In June, FME announced its first production and distribution agreement with the JV formed by JAKKS and Dentsu Entertainment USA for the animated project Monsuno. FME is responsible for the exclusive worldwide distribution, outside of Asia, for Monsuno programming and will also serve as the master licensing agent for the brand worldwide, except in Asia, where Dentsu retains rights. 

"We are very pleased with the slate of projects and programs that we have assembled as part of our initial slate of offerings," said Sander Schwartz, the executive VP and head of children and family entertainment for FME. "We are thrilled to be in business with great network partners and some of the most talented producers, writers and other talent working in kid’s and family fare.” Schwartz added: “As we bring our new shows to market and to top broadcasters around the world, we are diligently forging new partnerships and deals while building the value of the FME brand in the kids and family space.”