Galli Galli Sim Sim

CONTACT _Con-41598BC6419 c s l TV
Kids Weekly, May 29, 2007

ORIGIN: Galli Galli Sim Sim
is the Hindi-language co-production of the internationally acclaimed children’s
series Sesame Street. Aimed at serving
the 157 million children under 6 years old in India, the series features an
innovative curriculum created by Indian educators, child development experts,
and producers, as well as original Indian Muppet characters. In addition to TV,
the Galli Galli Sim Sim property
addresses India’s need for high-quality early education through a radio
program, outreach materials distributed in urban and rural areas, and a mobile
viewings program that brings the series to local communities via a portable
screen. By the end of 2006, the viewings reached over 20,000 children aged 2-6
and their caregivers.

Galli Galli Sim Sim supports India’s Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (Universal Access
to Education) initiative, transcending socio-economic barriers, encouraging
education for all children, and addressing local and universal values. Most
recently, the Michael & Susan Dell Foundation awarded Sesame Workshop
a grant, which the organization will use to support Sesame Workshop India to
research, develop, and implement similar educational interventions in slum
areas in India’s six largest cities such that there are measurable improvements
in children’s learning outcomes. The initiative is estimated to reach over 1.5
million children and caregivers over the next five years.

CREATORS: Galli Galli Sim Sim
was created by Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind Sesame
Street, and Miditech, as well as Turner
Broadcasting in India.

TV SHOW: The first season of Galli Galli Sim Sim features 65×30-minute episodes in Hindi, as well as a
subset of 30×30-minute episodes that were dubbed into English.

Segments for Galli Galli Sim
Sim are produced in a variety of formats
including locally produced studio segments with Muppets, vibrant live-action
films from across the country, original animation, and music, all of which
reflect the rich cultural diversity of India. Animation is produced in many
different formats such as 2-D, 3-D, flash, stop motion and CGI.

EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: Sesame Workshop and Miditech

MAIN BROADCASTER: The show premiered on Turner’s Cartoon Network, and also
airs on POGO and public broadcaster Doordarshan.

MAJOR TOY LICENSEES: Mattel/Fisher Price

OTHER PRODUCTS: Apparel with Liliput (Anand Childrenwear); storybooks with
Eurokids International; toys, board games, and other creative and imaginative
games with Funskool India; stationery, bags, gifts and novelties with HM
International; bedding, towels and bath accessories with Creative Mobus
(Portico India); and storybooks from Scholastic India.

STRATEGY FOR ROLL OUT: “Last fall, we planted the “Sesame Seed” with a soft launch
of new product in time for India’s festive holiday Diwali,” explains Maura
Regan, the VP and general manager of global consumer products at Sesame
Workshop. “We worked with Mattel to launch a Hindi-speaking Hokey Pokey Elmo,
as well as other classic character plush. In addition, we launched books from
Scholastic, apparel from Liliput, and worked with local game manufacturer
Funskool India to create a variety of toys, board games, and other creative and
imaginative games for children.

“This fall, in conjunction with
the conclusion of Galli Galli Sim Sim’s
first year on air, we will launch a more robust rollout of new product
beginning with the introduction of Boombah, Chamki and all the local characters
to the current line of classic Sesame Street character plush in India,” continues Regan. “In addition,
new apparel from Liliput will feature the local characters, as will a line of
home furnishings.”