Press Release from DECODE Enterprises
Toronto, 16 September 2009. Leading kids and family entertainment specialist DECODE Enterprises, the distribution subsidiary of DHX Media Ltd., has scored a hat trick of deals with Australian broadcasters across its slate of standout preschool entertainment.
ABC TV has renewed its commitment to illustrative preschool series FRANNY’S FEET while Disney Channel Australia and New Zealand has picked up Halifax Films active series BO ON THE GO! and Nickelodeon Australia has acquired the older preschool-skewing MARTHA SPEAKS Nick Jr., a Studio B production with WGBH.
Josh Scherba, VP Distribution at DECODE Enterprises said: “The preschool market is incredibly competitive, but we’re really pleased with the strength of our series for this demographic. These three deals for Australia, together with the international presence of all our preschool properties, show that we offer a diverse but distinctive slate that can meet all requirements.”
Franny’s Feet is a commission by Astral Media’s Family Channel in Canada, which airs the show on its Playhouse Disney and Family channels. Further broadcasters include PBS KIDS, Sprout and V-me in the US and channels in more than 150 countries worldwide such as Five in the UK, France 5, Disney Channel Germany, Italy’s Rai, and TV2 Denmark in Europe as well as ABC Australia and Cartoon Network in Japan, Korea and Taiwan, and TV12 Singapore in Asia. FRANNY’S FEET is supported by an extensive worldwide licensing and merchandising campaign.
The series follows the adventures of a little girl with magical shoes. Each episode follows Franny off on a different adventure. Where will my feet take me today?…There’s the time her sandals take her to meet Princess Tia in Egypt or when she puts on hiking boots to take her to the mountains of Tibet, where she learns from Rinchen about Yak herding.
Using motion capture technology and CGI, BO ON THE GO! promotes an active lifestyle and an active mind for preschoolers. BO ON THE GO! follows the adventures of Bo, a positive, energetic and inquisitive young heroine and her young friend Dezadore dragon. ‘Dezzy’ encourages children at home to go on amazing adventures by actively joining her in a variety of movements that assist her on her quest. Cheerful and determined to solve all problems she encounters, Bo will lead the way for kids at home to get ‘on the go’.
BO ON THE GO! has been commissioned for a third season by CBC in Canada where it is currently one of the broadcaster’s highest rating preschool shows and also airs on CITV in the UK and France 5 as well as on further channels worldwide.
A co-production between Studio B Productions and WGBH Boston, MARTHA SPEAKS is an animated show aimed at 4-7 year olds. It is based on the best-selling books by Susan Meddaugh which have sold nearly one million copies in the U.S., and have been widely translated throughout the world. DECODE Enterprises represents worldwide television and home entertainment rights outside of the United States.
The series follows the adventures of Martha, a loveable dog whose appetite for alphabet soup gives her the power of human speech. Using her speaking abilities, Martha gets jobs, foils bad guys, wins contests, runs for office and orders lots of pizza! A dog’s breakfast of messes and hilarious entanglements ensue for Martha, her family and the unsuspecting people of her town who make up the comic heart of the series.
Currently airing on PBS KIDS in the U.S. and CBBC in the U.K., MARTHA SPEAKS has also sold internationally.
About DECODE Enterprises, a DHX Media Company
DECODE Enterprises is the distribution subsidiary of DHX Media Ltd. It handles programme sales for third party producers and for DHX subsidiaries DECODE Entertainment, Halifax Film and Studio B, which are leading international producers of television programming and interactive content with an emphasis on children, family and youth markets. DHX Media Ltd. shares trade on both London's AIM exchange and the TSX in Toronto.