Independent TV production company Calon TV has secured the distribution rights to its back catalogue of award-winning children's animation. Studio manager Lynne Stockford has been appointed to manage international sales following the reversion of the distribution rights from S4C International.

The list of programs includes such hits as the BAFTA-winning HANA'S HELPLINE, which currently airs on Five; Welsh language classic SALI MALI; '80s fav WIL CWAC CWAC, UNDER MILK WOOD and the feature film THE PRINCESS AND THE GOBLIN.

The first co-production deal between Canada's Cookie Jar Entertainment, a global independent producer of children's entertainment, and South Africa's biggest animation studio, Clockwork Zoo, will use the Toon Boom pipeline to produce PETER PEPPER'S PET SPECTACULAR. The 26-episode half-hour show is based on the immensely popular book of the same name by the hottest family in children's content, mother-son duo Betty and Mickey Paraskevas (MAGGIE AND THE FEROCIOUS BEAST, JUNIOR KNOLL).

Independent French production company Moi j'aime la television (MJTV) is launching its own in-house licensing division and has appointed Alexandre Mayaud as consultant.

This move reflects the company's growth into new areas and its plans to further exploit its key brands across merchandising and other media including music and book publishing, videogames and educational language learning toys.

Ahead of the MIPTV market, The Jim Henson Company has finalized a new slate of broadcast deals for its animated preschool property SID THE SCIENCE KID.

TV-Loonland has a raft of TV deals worldwide with prestigious broadcasters for its multi-formatted property, PAT&STAN. Along with short formats and a half hour comedy special available, the 39x7 PAT & STAN series is currently in production with new episodes to be presented at upcoming MIPTV.

Paul Johnson, Television Division Director at Reed MIDEM, the Paris-based organizer of international exhibitions and conferences, is to leave the company in mid-March for a new career opportunity to be announced shortly.

Johnson was appointed Reed MIDEM's Television Division Director in April 2003 and was responsible for the company's MIPTV, MIPCOM, MIPDOC and MIP Junior events. He oversaw the launch of the MIPTV Content 360 initiative, the introduction of the International Digital Emmy Awards and the digitization of screenings at MIPDOC and MIP Junior.

Digital creators, interactive agencies and producers will have until January 19, 2009 to enter into the cross-media international competition, Content 360. The 46th MIPTV will be held in Cannes, France, from March 30-April 3, 2009.

Reed MIDEM and the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (I.A.T.A.S.) announced the launch of the fourth International Digital Emmy Awards (I.D.E.A.), to take place at MIPTV (March 30-April 3, 2009 Cannes, France). The call for entries runs until January 12, 2009.

The International Digital Emmy Awards are recognizing excellence in content created and designed for viewer interaction and/or delivery on a digital platform (i.e. interactive TV, mobile, internet, etc.) originating outside of the United States.

Reed MIDEM and the International Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (I.A.T.A.S.), have announced the launch of the fourth International Digital Emmy Awards (I.D.E.A.), to take place at MIPTV (March 30-April 3, 2009 Cannes, France). The call for entries runs until January 12, 2009.

The International Digital Emmy Awards are recognizing excellence in content created and designed for viewer interaction and/or delivery on a digital platform (interactive TV, mobile, Internet, etc.) originating outside of the United States.

The 24th MIPCOM recorded its highest attendance figure of all time, driven notably by an increase in attendance from the "METRIC" countries and regions (Middle East, Turkey, Russia, India and China), as well as Ukraine.

At the close of the market on October 17, MIPCOM 2008 totaled 13,588 participants, an increase of 1.6% over the 13,371 industry professionals who attended in 2007. A total of 4,519 companies from 103 countries registered, of which 1,779 were exhibitors. The number of international buyers grew by 7.2%, from 4,242 in 2007 to 4,573 this year.