<\/a>Andy Fry surveys leading programmers about wish lists, success strategies and the rapid changes in kids\u2019 viewing habits.<\/em><\/p>\nThe kids\u2019 TV business has never been more dynamic\u2014or more competitive. With public broadcasters, pay-TV channels and online and on-demand platforms all vying for the attention of younger audiences, it takes strong brands, clear targeting and great creativity to cut through the clutter of rival content.<\/p>\n
Whatever changes have transpired over the last few years as new competitors have entered the mix, the landscape is still dominated by the three global behemoths, Disney, Nickelodeon and Turner, all of which are relying on strong U.S. production pipelines, alongside regional and local commissions and acquisitions, to reach kids around the world.<\/p>\n
BRAND PLANS<\/strong>
\nAt the top of the food chain at Disney Channels Worldwide are heavily supported 360-degree brands. On boys\u2019 action-adventure channel Disney XD an example would be Star Wars Rebels<\/em>, which reaches 400 million homes in 163 countries. On the Disney Channel, meanwhile, there is Descendants<\/em>, a hugely popular TV movie that has now spawned a short-form animated series spin-off and a sequel planned for 2017.<\/p>\nPaul DeBenedittis, the senior VP of programming strategy at Disney Channels Worldwide, says a number of new shows are good indicators of the way the company is heading editorially. He cites the live-action comedy series Stuck in the Middle<\/em>, about a girl who is an engineering whiz. \u201cThe show has a lot of great touchpoints for different kids,\u201d says DeBenedittis. \u201cIt has a diverse cast and is very reflective of the audience that we program for.\u201d<\/p>\nA new genre development, he adds, is Walk the Prank<\/em>, a hidden-camera prank show for Disney XD. \u201cWe\u2019ve done factual TV from time to time, but nothing quite like this. A key part of our approach is to keep surprising our audience with exciting new ideas.\u201d<\/p>\nWhile the U.S. delivers a steady stream of content to the global channels, Disney has production hubs around the world and is constantly looking at whether shows created for local markets can be shared within the family\u2014a good example being Violetta<\/em>, a Latin American production that aired around the world. On the co-production front, meanwhile, DeBenedittis is excited by LEGO Star Wars: The Freemaker Adventures<\/em>, scheduled to hit Disney XD this summer. He also singles out Counterfeit Cat<\/em>, a Wildseed Studios and Tricon Kids & Family British-Canadian co-production destined for Disney XD EMEA.<\/p>\nOn the acquisitions front, he cites the DHX Media show Backstage<\/em>, which has been picked up for use in 15 territories, including the U.S. and U.K., and the FremantleMedia Kids & Family preschool show Kate & Mim-Mim<\/em>, which is on Disney Junior.<\/p>\nKIDS\u2019 CHOICE<\/strong>
\nAmong the global kids\u2019 players, a big overarching trend has been the support and development of megabrands that can play out across all their international networks. In the case of Nickelodeon, examples include the wholly owned Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles<\/em> property and Saban Brands\u2019s Power Rangers<\/em>.<\/p>\nNick has always had a strong origination pipeline that is mainly driven by the U.S. But this is supported by a well-resourced international department that looks at opportunities in the shape of co-productions, format deals and acquisitions.<\/p>\n
Explaining how it works, Layla Lewis, VP of content acquisitions, says, \u201cI am responsible for content acquisitions for Nickelodeon channels globally, including the U.S., as well as all international acquisitions across Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Nicktoons, TeenNick and [the SVOD service] Noggin. We take pitches at the earliest stage of development right up to fully produced series.\u201d<\/p>\n
An interesting model for Nick is Talia in the Kitchen<\/em>, a fantasy sitcom about a 14-year-old girl who revives her family\u2019s restaurant business with \u201cmagical\u201d spices. It\u2019s part of a trend within the Nick family that involves adapting local shows for the global market. Talia <\/em>was a Nick Latin America telenovela remade as a 40-episode English-language series. This model had been previously adopted on House of Anubis<\/em> and Every Witch Way<\/em>.<\/p>\n\u201cWe\u2019re continuously on the lookout for content that can work across all of our channels around the world, including the U.S.,\u201d says Lewis. \u201cTo achieve this, it\u2019s important that we take time to explore different ways, as well as different locations, to source, make, co-produce or acquire that content. For example, we just finished shooting a set of three movies in Spain called Lost in the West<\/em> and also announced new live-action series.\u201d<\/p>\nEchoing the Talia<\/em> example, one of these new series is a U.S. adaptation of the Nick Latin America hit Yo Soy Franky<\/em>. Another sees Nick returning to the Netherlands for inspiration: The Ludwigs<\/em> will be made as both an English-language global series and a Dutch-language local series at the same time, using the same sets.<\/p>\nIn terms of co-productions, Lewis points to the preschool hit Paw Patrol<\/em> as well as \u201cmore and more\u201d collaborations in live action (such as Max & Shred<\/em> with Breakthrough Entertainment and Make It Pop<\/em> with DHX Media).<\/p>\nOn the acquisitions front, strong performers recently have included Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks<\/em> and Peppa Pig<\/em>.<\/p>\nTURNER\u2019S WAY<\/strong>
\nEchoing the situations at Disney and Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network is reliant on the output from its U.S. operation in markets around the world. However, the message from Patricia Hidalgo, Turner\u2019s senior VP and chief content and creative officer for kids, EMEA, and international kids\u2019 strategy, is that in-house content needs to be backed by complementary third-party shows.<\/p>\nTurner\u2019s flagship brands are Cartoon Network and Boomerang, \u201cbut internationally we also have successful local brands like Cartoonito, Toonami, Boing and Pogo,\u201d Hidalgo says. \u201cAcross EMEA alone, 20 million kids tune in to Turner\u2019s kids\u2019 channels every month.\u201d<\/p>\n
Of her programming approach, Hidalgo says, \u201cOur aim is to partner with producers who understand and love our brands. This is the case with partners such as LEGO and DHX, from whom we acquired and launched Nexo Knights<\/em> and Supernoobs<\/em> [respectively] for Cartoon Network globally at the end of last year. In the case of Boomerang, we are working with various producers to develop concepts and ideas, always liaising with our U.S. colleagues to acquire rights globally. Later this year we will be launching Grizzy and the Lemmings<\/em> from French producer Studio Hari, our first global acquisition for Boomerang.\u201d<\/p>\nIn addition, \u201cwe are soon to deliver a fourth season of our most successful European production, The Amazing World of Gumball<\/em>,\u201d says Hidalgo. \u201cThis is one of our highest-performing shows globally. We are now working closely with the U.S. studio to develop new concepts that could eventually become the new international show going global, as Gumball <\/em>did.\u201d<\/p>\nUP NORTH<\/strong>
\nThe positioning of the big three in Canada has undergone a change in the last year. Family Channel used to be the Canadian home of Disney\u2019s series. In 2015, it was announced that Corus Entertainment (which operates Cartoon Network Canada and has a content licensing deal with Nickelodeon) had acquired the Canadian rights to Disney content from the start of 2016.<\/p>\nDHX Media had acquired Family Channel and two local-version Disney channels (Disney XD and Disney Junior) in 2014 for approximately C$170 million ($125 million). Disney doing a deal with Corus meant a major revamp for DHX Television, the division created to run the acquired Family channels business.<\/p>\n
\u201cUntil the content deal with Disney ended, we aired a lot of their shows on Family Channel,\u201d says Joe Tedesco, senior VP and general manager of DHX Television. \u201cSo it meant a rethink. But we weren\u2019t too concerned because our channel brand is so trusted. In fact, it was an opportunity to replace the Disney content, which was quite expensive, with original shows.\u201d<\/p>\n
In another context, replacing Disney titles might have seemed like a daunting challenge. But Tedesco, who has worked with Family Channel since 2001, says DHX had two advantages. The first is that DHX Television is part of a prolific production and rights-owning entity, which means its channels have access to a pipeline of in-house content. The second, he adds, is that Canada has a strong community of indie producers to call on.<\/p>\n
In terms of concrete actions, the flagship channel, which targets 8- to 14-year-olds, slightly girl-skewing, is now focusing \u201cmore on live-action drama series as opposed to animation,\u201d says Tedesco. \u201cHowever we also launched a teen block called F2N, which offers a mix of live action and animation after 9 p.m. It\u2019s anchored by Degrassi: Next Class<\/em>, for example, but also schedules quality animation that we have acquired from third parties.\u201d<\/p>\nAs for the two Disney-branded channels, \u201cwe changed them to Family CHRGD, an action-adventure channel for 6- to 12-year-olds with a strong emphasis on animation, and Family Jr., our preschool offering. Rounding out the portfolio, we also have T\u00e9l\u00e9magino, our French-language channel for Quebec viewers.\u201d<\/p>\n
Looking more closely at the lineup on the channels, Tedesco says Family Channel has benefited from \u201can ambitious origination program with 14 new commissions. We already had some popular franchises like The Next Step<\/em> and Gaming Show (In My Parents\u2019 Garage)<\/em>, but we have been able to deploy the Disney dollars behind new titles such as Lost & Found Music Studios<\/em> and Backstage<\/em>, a 30-episode scripted series from Fresh TV about a performing arts school. All this is part of our ambition to introduce more event-style drama to our schedule.\u201d<\/p>\nAlongside the company\u2019s originals, eye-catching content acquisition deals have helped soften the blow of Disney\u2019s departure. \u201cFor Family Jr., we acquired shows from Mattel to go alongside our own preschool properties,\u201d says Tedesco, \u201cso that gives us a lineup including Thomas & Friends<\/em> and Bob the Builder<\/em> [alongside] Teletubbies<\/em>, a DHX-owned property. In addition, we have titles such as Playdate<\/em> from producer Sinking Ship.\u201d<\/p>\nAlso important is a new alliance with DreamWorks Animation (DWA) that will provide content for the F2N block and Family CHRGD, among other platforms. This works at three levels, says Tedesco. First, there is a five-year agreement to co-produce 130 episodes of original animated kids\u2019 content at DHX Studios. Second, DHX has licensed 1,000 half-hours from DreamWorks Animation, to be broadcast across DHX Television\u2019s channels from June 2016. And third, DHX has also signed a deal with DWA-owned AwesomenessTV for a further 300 half-hours of teen content.<\/p>\n
While Tedesco believes the quality and range of content on the DHX channels will sustain Family Channel\u2019s leadership position, he also argues that the broadcaster has come out with a more distinctive profile. \u201cIncreased emphasis on original Canadian content is a distinguishing mark. I also think our brand stands out because it says it\u2019s OK to stay young. The world of imagination we provide appeals to kids\u2014and also to their parents, who aren\u2019t anxious to see their kids age up too quickly.\u201d<\/p>\n
Disney, interestingly, has also been involved in shifts in the German market, following the 2014 launch of its own channel that competes with Super RTL (a joint venture between RTL\u2008Group and Disney-ABC Television Group), Nickelodeon and trusted pubcaster KiKA. The man who has been steering KiKA\u2019s content strategy for almost 20 years is Sebastian Debertin, its head of fiction, acquisitions and co-production. Explaining his role, he says: \u201cI look for acquisitions and co-productions for all genres from national and international sources. Germany, France, the U.K., Ireland, Italy, Scandinavia, Canada, Australia and the U.S. are the main countries where our programs come from. Having said that, I also have two co-productions with Asian partners, from South Korea and from Singapore.\u201d<\/p>\n
DAS KIDS<\/strong>
\nAmong his priorities, Debertin says, is KiKA\u2019s support for an initiative called Der besondere Kinderfilm (Special Children\u2019s Films). \u201cIn a joint effort by ARD, ZDF and KiKA, together with the film industry and media policy-makers, and supported by funding bodies, children\u2019s films in Germany are to be given an improved and enhanced presence,\u201d Debertin says. \u201cKiKA is involved in this in terms of editorial input, joint development and co-investments.\u201d<\/p>\nAs for upcoming shows that he is excited by, Debertin cites Super Wings<\/em>, an animated preschool co-production with CJ E&M of Korea and Josh Selig\u2019s Little Airplane. \u201cIn the past, Asian countries were known mainly as service partners, but I am happy that the creativity from Asia now puts this region more and more in the driver\u2019s seat. Partners like CJ E&M in Seoul or One Animation in Singapore are coming up with great ideas that resonate with our audience in German-speaking Europe.\u201d<\/p>\nLikewise on the co-production front, Debertin cites titles like Belle & Sebastian<\/em> with Gaumont Television and ZDF. He is also looking forward to The Insectibles<\/em>, a KiKA, Discovery Kids Asia and ZDF Enterprises co-production targeting 6- to 9-year-olds.<\/p>\nRegarding acquisitions, Debertin says a big part of KiKA\u2019s success has been a refusal to buy kids\u2019 shows in bulk. \u201cOur shows are hand-picked, which is why they work so well on KiKA platforms. At the end of January, for example, The Jim Henson Company\u2019s Doozers<\/em> achieved ratings of 74.6 percent and Little Princess<\/em> also continues to deliver huge ratings. Q Pootle 5<\/em> by Snapper Productions delivers a fantastic fresh look at aliens, while family audiences love Animaccord\u2019s Masha and the Bear<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nFUN IN FRANCE<\/strong>
\nLike DHX and KiKA, French broadcaster Lagard\u00e8re Active faces tough competition in the kids\u2019 arena from U.S.-backed kids\u2019 channel operators Disney, Turner and Nickelodeon. Once again, it benefits from having strong channel brands that are capable of sustaining a mix of origination and high-profile acquisitions. In pay TV, it has Canal J and preschool sister service TiJi, which are available via platforms such as CANALSAT and Numericable. In DTT, it has Gulli, which is also now available in Russia and French-speaking Africa. Combined, these channels are known to 97 percent of French kids and make up the number one kids\u2019 TV group in France. Gulli is the number one free kids\u2019 channel.<\/p>\nA good indicator of the company\u2019s market muscle is a recent content supply deal with DreamWorks Animation. Caroline Cochaux, the managing director of France and international for Lagard\u00e8re Active TV and CEO of Gulli, calls the collaboration, which starts in September 2016, \u201ca landmark agreement. We are glad to bring these original series to French audiences for the very first time on linear TV. Gulli, Canal J and TiJi will allow young viewers to rediscover their favorite characters in all-new adventures (Dragons: Race to the Edge<\/em>, The Adventures of Puss in Boots<\/em>, All Hail King Julien<\/em>, Turbo FAST<\/em>, The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show<\/em> and Dawn of the Croods<\/em>), while also enjoying new shows based on original concepts that DreamWorks Animation has created, for example Dinotrux<\/em>.\u201d<\/p>\nAside from the DWA deal, Cochaux says this past year has been marked by the launch of Chica Vampiro<\/em> on Gulli. \u201cAn exclusive Colombian musical series, it has become a real phenomenon in France. Children are so fond of these vampires that a French musical tour has just happened. Chica Vampiro<\/em>\u2019s success perfectly demonstrates Gulli\u2019s power.\u201d<\/p>\nCochaux says other acquired or co-produced titles launched in 2015 include Popples<\/em>, Zoli & Pokey<\/em>, Trolls of Troy<\/em> and Get Blake<\/em>. \u201cWe are also in progress on Arthur and the<\/em> Minimoys<\/em> (a CGI series from Studio 100 and EuropaCorp) and are involved in second seasons of hits such as Maya the Bee<\/em>, Sonic Boom<\/em> and Magic<\/em>. In 2016, we are involved in about 23 productions and are looking at a pre-buy for Gulli Africa.\u201d<\/p>\nLET\u2019S GET DIGITAL<\/strong>
\nAlongside international expansion, the company is following kids into the digital space. \u201cWe have to be on every platform because children are born consuming this way,\u201d Cochaux says. \u201cIn 2015, Gulli Replay was very successful, with more than 250 million views. We expect 300 million in 2016 (Chica Vampiro<\/em>, Zig & Sharko<\/em> and Pok\u00e9mon the Series: XY<\/em> have been big successes in this area). Moreover, we have our free app, Gulli (3 million downloads), and our new app GulliMax (300,000-plus downloads), which gives subscription access to 26 games and 3,000 videos. In 2016, Gulli on YouTube will launch its first original web series, Les Tactiques d\u2019Emma<\/em>, a new step in interactivity and creation.\u201d<\/p>\nDisney\u2019s DeBenedittis says that having content on digital platforms is absolutely central to the company\u2019s strategy. \u201cWe\u2019re not using on-demand and social media as promotional platforms, we\u2019re creating content for them too, as our animated spin-off of Descendants<\/em> shows. In my view, it\u2019s meaningless to claim your show is number one in a particular time period because you need to understand audiences across all platforms. Gravity Falls<\/em> was a particular success for Disney XD on all platforms.\u201d<\/p>\nRIGHTS MATTER<\/strong>
\nFor Turner\u2019s Hidalgo, securing access to all rights for acquisitions and co-pros is key. \u201cOur preference is to secure from the outset as many rights as we can for international channels. We are no longer operating in a linear world. Digital rights have become more important, and not securing these could result in us walking away from a show. Usually we prefer going into projects at an early stage.\u201d<\/p>\nHidalgo also mentions Mighty Magiswords<\/em> and OK K.O.!<\/em>, which were \u201cdeveloped as digital properties first and will roll out as high-quality games and shorts in our apps and digital platforms before launching as long-form shows on our linear channels.\u201d<\/p>\nFor her EMEA and international strategy, Hidalgo says she\u2019s \u201cinterested in concepts developed for multiplatform [use]. It would be great to have something that comes from a nonlinear platform be developed for [linear and more]. It\u2019s also the case that we can no longer wait to make content for other platforms after the show has launched on the channel. It\u2019s vital to think about making bespoke content to fulfill the need to reach out to consumers through apps, YouTube, web, mobile or tablet, etc. This should become the norm, if there will ever be a norm!\u201d<\/p>\n
Acknowledging and understanding how kids access and use content today is important, programmers stress. But there are some basics that shouldn\u2019t be forgotten.<\/p>\n
DeBenedittis states: \u201cThere are often local opportunities\u2014with shows needed to meet quotas or for tactical scheduling reasons\u2014but for multi-territory deals, producers must know the brand inside out. They need to be coming to us with shows that complement, not replicate, our existing brands. And they really have to stay focused on Disney\u2019s emphasis on magical storytelling, and the fact that parents like to watch our shows alongside their kids. I also think it\u2019s important to keep in mind that stories that would have worked years ago won\u2019t necessarily work now\u2014the media landscape has changed.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cBe brave,\u201d says KiKA\u2019s Debertin, \u201cand come up with the next smart and clever concept for kids 6 to 9, whether animated or live action. There is a big demand for such shows by broadcasters, as I have learned from my exchange with international colleagues, public and commercial alike.\u201d<\/p>\n
Lagard\u00e8re\u2019s Cochaux has her eye out for shows that are \u201cpositive, amazing, surprising.\u201d She\u2019s also keen to buy more titles for her prime-time kids\u2019 movies slot. \u201cOur children\u2019s prime time is really successful and we are looking to acquire TV movies or feature films.\u201d<\/p>\n
In an ultra-fragmented world where kids can watch their shows on their own devices, whenever they want, Cochaux has the last word on what many programmers are looking for. \u201cWhat we want is to make families watch TV together.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pictured: INK Global\u2019s <\/em>Masha and the Bear.<\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Andy Fry surveys leading programmers about wish lists, success strategies and the rapid changes in kids\u2019 viewing habits.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":9720,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"pmpro_default_level":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[79],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9719","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","","category-features","pmpro-has-access"],"yoast_head":"\n
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