Broadcast & Book Deals for Rainbow Properties

LONDON: Rainbow has announced plans to launch its hit property Winx Club in India later this year, while also clinching a book deal for the new live-action series Maggie & Bianca Fashion Friends.

Seasons four through seven of Winx Club will air on Sun TV’s regional entertainment channels for kids—Chutti TV, Kochu TV, Kushi TV and Chintu TV—across Southern India in four different languages starting in June. The series follows the adventures of a group of young fairies, mixing action and adventure with comedy.

“Winx Club is a huge hit wherever it’s shown and I’m sure Indian fans will be just as enthusiastic,” said Andrea Graciotti, the head of sales of TV series, movies and co-productions at Rainbow Group. “We are delighted to be linking up with Chutti TV, as they are a great broadcast partner and will do a fantastic job in bringing this magical series to Indian screens!”

Meanwhile, a new deal between Rainbow and Mondadori Libri will see the Italian publisher develop a range of titles based on Maggie & Bianca Fashion Friends, Rainbow’s first fully live-action production. Products will include secret diaries by the titular characters, novels and activity books. The titles are due to hit bookstore shelves in time for the 2016 back-to-school season. 

Enrico Racca, the editorial director of Mondadori Ragazzi and Piemme Junior, said: “With Maggie & Bianca, it was love at first sight. We are honored and delighted to be part of this important partnership with Rainbow and we are looking forward enormously to starting out on this new adventure.”

“There’s a huge buzz surrounding Maggie & Bianca Fashion Friends,” said Cristiana Buzzelli, the senior VP of licensing and acquisitions at Rainbow. “Mondadori Libri is the largest publisher in Italy and we are glad to have them on board to start this new adventure for the tween audience.”