Nickelodeon Takes On Winx Club

NEW YORK: Nickelodeon has picked up the TV rights for Rainbow’s Winx Club for the U.S., along with the pay-TV rights for Latin America, Canada, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and Benelux.

This brings to Nickelodeon the existing Winx Club series and two theatrical films. The agreement also includes the co-development and co-production of seasons five and six of the show, which features the adventures of six magical fairies. Seasons five and six will each include 26 episodes and will launch on Nick domestically and internationally, with the exception of Italy, in 2012. Nickelodeon will introduce the series in 2011 by airing four hour-long animated specials based on seasons one and two, as well as the episodes from seasons three and four.

“It is very exciting for us to be partnering with Iginio Straffi and Rainbow, who have had such tremendous success with this property internationally,” said Cyma Zarghami, the president of Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. “The Winx Club franchise is a big hit with young girls and we think there is great opportunity for it domestically as a property that allows us to fill a gap for girls in the 6- to 8-year-old range.”

”We are very proud to start this collaboration with the most prestigious network in the world,” commented Iginio Straffi, the founder and president of Rainbow S.p.A. “This is a new challenge for our fairies who, I’m sure, will find a place in the hearts of American and British children.”

“We are confident that Nickelodeon’s global brand strength and scale combined with Rainbow’s strong consumer products base will perfectly position us to take Winx Club to the next level for audiences and partners in multiple markets around the world,” added Bob Bakish, the president of MTV Networks International.