The increasing importance of AVOD platforms in the kids\u2019 business, a need for new funding models and the creative revolution unleashed by the SVOD streamers were all key themes across the 15 panels and keynotes at the inaugural TV Kids Festival this week.<\/p>\n
More than 1,500 registered participants took part in the four-day festival, which wrapped today with our Screenings Day featuring an\u00a0NBCUniversal Global Distribution\u2014Kids & Family sizzle reel<\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0MONSTA\u2019s\u00a0Mechamato<\/em><\/strong><\/a>,\u00a0Boat Rocker Studios\u2019\u00a0Dino Ranch<\/em><\/strong><\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Mondo TV Iberoamerica\u2019s\u00a0Annie & Carola<\/em><\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Missed any of the sessions live? Don\u2019t worry, you can now access the entire festival on-demand here:\u00a0<\/strong>TVKidsFestival.com<\/strong><\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n The first day of the festival opened with a phenomenal session featuring WarnerMedia\u2019s Adina Pitt, M6\u2019s Maud Branly, Kidoodle.TV\u2019s Brenda Bisner and Hopster\u2019s Ellen Solberg. These four powerhouse content executives were generous with their time and insights, providing super detailed briefs on what they are looking for. You can watch it\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Next up, Andy Heyward, chairman and CEO of Genius Brands International, and Harold Chizick, CEO and co-founder of ChizComm, offered up their expertise on brand-building, the potential of AVOD, television ad buying and working with A-list talent. The session concluded with a sneak peek at\u00a0Stan Lee\u2019s Superhero Kindergarten<\/em>, introduced by Arnold Schwarzenegger. You can watch that session\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n The afternoon schedule began with a delightful conversation with award-winning actor Tony Hale and DreamWorks Animation\u2019s Teri Weiss, discussing the origins of\u00a0Archibald\u2019s Next Big Thing<\/em>\u2014the third season of which rolls out on Peacock later this month. That session is accessible\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Then, veteran broadcasting executive Claude Schmit, CEO of Super RTL, discussed how the group has moved from being a purely linear channel to a content hub. Watch this session\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n The day wrapped with an in-depth conversation with ViacomCBS\u2019s Jules Borkent and Nina Hahn, who discussed Nickelodeon International\u2019s co-pro strategy and the importance of the launch of the VIS Kids division. It\u2019s accessible\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Day two kicked off with a look at Cyber Group Studios’\u00a050\/50 Heroes<\/em>, an animated comedy that delivers a unique spin on the superhero genre, featuring Pierre Sissmann, France T\u00e9l\u00e9visions’ Christine Reinaudo and character designer Yann de Preval. The session ended with a sneak peek at the new series. Watch it\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n The Big Picture delivered a wide-ranging look at the challenges and opportunities faced by IP owners as they navigate the shifting needs of broadcasters, SVOD platforms and now AVOD streamers, with insights from CAKE\u2019s Ed Galton, 9 Story\u2019s Alix Wiseman and eOne Family Brands\u2019 Monica Candiani. You can watch it\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n And for a masterclass on the ins and outs of managing the financing of series and perfecting the art of co-productions, don\u2019t miss the Partner Potential session with Serious Lunch\u2019s Genevieve Dexter, Guru Studio\u2019s Frank Falcone, Toon2Tango\u2019s Ulli Stoef and Boat Rocker\u2019s Jon Rutherford. It\u2019s available\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n The second day of the TV Kids Festival also provided two amazing creative keynotes. In the first, Traci Paige Johnson and Angela Santomero discussed the process that goes into making\u00a0Blue\u2019s Clues & You!<\/em>, a reboot of the iconic preschool show for Nickelodeon. You can see it\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>. And then the multitalented Dan Povenmire talked about the long road to getting\u00a0Phineas and Ferb<\/em>\u00a0commissioned, the inspiration for his new series\u00a0Hamster & Gretel<\/em>\u00a0and the opportunities for animators today. Watch it\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Day three kicked off with a panel featuring three experts on French animation: Xilam Animation\u2019s Marc du Pontavice, Superprod\u2019s Cl\u00e9ment Calvet and Dandelooo\u2019s Emmanu\u00e8le P\u00e9try-Sirvin. Watch it\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Next, Eric Ellenbogen participated in a keynote conversation about WildBrain\u2019s positioning in the market, its treasure trove of classic IP and its position in the AVOD space. After Ellenbogen\u2019s informative session, TV Kids Festival participants were treated to an episode of\u00a0The Brilliant World of Tom Gates<\/em>. You can watch the entire session\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n AVOD also took center stage in the afternoon panel, The Kidoodle.TV Story, with Brenda Bisner, chief content officer, delivering a deep dive into the strategy at the fast-growing Safe Streaming service. That conversation can be viewed\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n Jonathan M. Shiff, veteran Australian hitmaker, talked about the appeal of live action for tweens, producing amid COVID-19 restrictions and speaking to a global audience in his creative keynote, which you can watch\u00a0here<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n