Penelope Scores CBeebies Slot

MUNICH/LONDON, December
19: TV-Loonland has closed a deal with the BBC for the full TV rights for the
animated series Penelope, which
is slated to premiere on CBeebies in spring 2009.

CBeebies joins the lineup
of broadcasters currently signed on for the 54×5-minute series that includes
ABC Australia, France 5, JimJam in Italy, MNET in South Africa and Scandinavian
broadcasters DRTV in Denmark, TV2 in Norway, RUV in Iceland and MTV3/Channel
Juniori in Finland.

Penelope is a co-production from Nippon Animation, NHK
Enterprises and Shirogumi. The series follows a sweet-natured 3-year-old named
Penelope, who is a blue koala with a big curiosity for all things that are fun
and filled with humor and affection. It originated from the popular Gallimard
books by Anne Gutman & Georg Hallenslebe,

Justine Bannister,
TV-Loonland's head of international distribution and acquisitions, commented:
"With CBeebies we have found the perfect partner to introduce Penelope to the U.K. preschool audience. With its
educational characteristics and the ability to inspire a child's imagination,
we are confident that the series will form a valuable part of their kids'
programming."

Kay Benbow, CBeebies' head
of production, animation and acquisitions, added: "I am delighted to
welcome this charming animation to CBeebies. The beautiful design and gentle
flow of the stories will work perfectly for our younger viewers."

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski