Saban Reclaims Power Rangers, Scores Nick Slot

LOS ANGELES: Saban Capital Group has acquired the Power Rangers brand from The Walt Disney Company and has clinched a deal for Nickelodeon and Nicktoons to become the new U.S. homes for the show, with a 20-episode 18th season slated to premiere in 2011.

Saban Capital cooperated with Toei Company Ltd., the original Japanese creator of the Power Rangers television show, in the acquisition from Disney. Saban first introduced the show in 1993 on the Fox Kids network in the U.S. It soon become a huge TV and merchandise success, and has aired in more than 60 countries, with licensed products and promotions generating well over $5 billion worldwide. The Walt Disney Company acquired the franchise in 2001 as part of its purchase of Fox Family Worldwide, which included Saban Entertainment and its library of children’s programs.

The acquisition from Disney covers the worldwide rights to the brand—which will be managed by the newly unveiled Saban Brands division, led by Elie Dekel—as well as more than 700 library episodes produced over 17 years. Bandai Namco has come on board with Saban as the new long-term master toy and video game licensee for Power Rangers, having been toy partner since the brand’s inception.

“Power Rangers is one of the world’s leading children’s entertainment properties and we are delighted to see its return,” said Haim Saban, chairman and CEO of Saban Capital Group. “We are also very proud and excited to renew our long-standing partnership with Namco/Bandai and know that this powerful combination of experience and capabilities will continue to support the global success of Power Rangers.”

In addition to new ownership, Power Rangers now has a new U.S. broadcast platform. An upcoming 18th season will air on Nickelodeon and Nicktoons in 2011, with the catalogue of 700 episodes launching on Nicktoons later this year. Production on the 20 new episodes will begin this summer by SCG Power Rangers. The original executive producer, Jonathan Tzachor, will be back at the helm, leading a new cast, look and theme for the show. “We are truly excited to be partners with Haim Saban and his team,” said Cyma Zarghami, the president of Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. “As one of the original leaders in kids’ television he helped to create powerful brand equity for Power Rangers and with partnerships like this Nickelodeon will be able to build a broader audience, superserve multiple demos, especially boys, and expand our programming offerings.”