ITV Global Closes Thunderbirds Deals

LONDON, December 22: Gerry
Anderson's classic sci-fi puppet series Thunderbirds, distributed by ITV Global Entertainment, has been
re-licensed to SCI FI Channel in the U.K., while BBC Two is set to air a
special compilation episode.

SCI FI has renewed its
license for the 32-episode show, for launch in the spring, and has taken two
additional Gerry Anderson series: Joe 90 and Stingray. BBC
Two, meanwhile, is scheduled to broadcast Stingray—The Reunion Party on December 28. Co-produced by ITV Global
Entertainment with the BBC, the special has been assembled with the assistance
of Gerry Anderson, drawing on recently discovered material and illustrating
some of Stingray's most exciting adventures. It will be followed by the
one-hour documentary All About Thunderbirds, also co-produced by ITV Global Entertainment with
the BBC. In it, Anderson, together with the show's cast, crew and fans, reflect
back on the series and its legacy.

The British TV activity
comes as ITV Global gears up to relaunch the Thunderbirds consumer-products campaign next year. Giles Ridge,
the head of brand and product development at ITV Global Entertainment, said:
"Thunderbirds has been
entertaining the world for decades and the trusted brand continues to deliver
new and dedicated fans to all it touches, including consumer
products—which currently features fashion, toys, Blu-ray DVD and gaming.
We're looking forward to developing new and exciting licensing partnerships
with Thunderbirds for
2009."

—By Mansha Daswani