Program distribution and
development company CABLEready has inked a deal with Tokyo's SSA
Productions for key international TV rights to SLAMMIN' SAMMY, an
animated one-hour biography of Sammy Sosa, the Dominican-born Major
League Baseball star. The deal includes all of South and Central
America, the Caribbean (except the Dominican Republic), Asia's
Pacific Rim, Europe, Canada and Africa. SLAMMIN' SAMMY -- THE SAMMY
SOSA STORY traces Sosa's life from the hardships of his youth as a
shoeshine boy to the realization of his dream of playing for a Major
League Baseball team and his remarkable, record-breaking career.
"Sammy Sosa is one of the most popular and recognizable athletes on
the international scene, especially in such baseball-crazed markets
as Latin America and Japan," noted Gary Lico, president and CEO of
CABLEready. "The creative animation in SLAMMIN' SAMMY helps the
special appeal to children and adults alike, while the compelling
'rags-to-riches' storyline attracts even non baseball fans." SSA
Productions has a ten year exclusive agreement with Sammy Sosa to
create animation for TV, theatrical releases and video/DVD sales. The
agreement includes publishing comic strips, merchandising and
promotional usage of the animated Sammy. The company plans to produce
weekly series in the future.