Watch Next & Monello Launching Kids First Distribution

Producers Watch Next Media and Monello Productions have teamed up to create Kids First Distribution, a new subsidiary dedicated to the international sales of children’s programming.

Kids First will globally distribute the animated series of its shareholders and third-party producers. Titles include Max & Maestro (Monello), Nate Is Late (Watch Next), Marble Gen (Monello), I, Elvis Riboldi (Watch Next/Peekaboo), Best Bugs (Watch Next/JSBC) and Rocky Kwaterner (Monello/Mondo TV). The company is being chaired by former Zodiak exec Philippe Alessandri, the president of Watch Next Media and Kids First. Maria Lassal, previously of Normaal Animation, France TV and Mediatoon Distribution, will serve as head of sales.

Kids First will officially launch at Cartoon Forum and MIPCOM. The company is located in Boulogne-Billancourt in the premises of Tetra Media Group, which will manage the legal and financial back office. The equity fund Sofica SofiTVCiné will invest alongside Kids First, supporting its risk-taking strategy.

Alessandri commented: “It seemed essential to us to unite our strengths in an increasingly fragmented distribution market in order to ensure for this new player a regular and high-quality supply.”

“Our subsidiary could open its capital to other producers who dispose of an equivalent production capacity, and whose editorial line will be considered to be compatible with the editorial lines of the actual shareholders,” noted Giorgio Welter, co-founder and president of Monello Productions.

Lassal said: “Participating in the launch of Kids First and building its success is a true privilege. I can’t wait to put myself at the service of skilled and keen producers and to distribute their series, which match perfectly with the expectations of international channels and have everything that is required to become hits!”

“The partnership with Kids First falls within the voluntarist policy led by our private investors fund in favor of the exportation of French productions,” added Danielle Kadeyan, the president of Sofica SofiTVCiné.