Press Release from The Jim Henson Company
Cannes, France: October 6, 2009 – On the eve of MIPCOM, The Jim Henson Company has finalized a new broadcast agreement with Discovery Kids Latin America to air the all-new CGI-animated series, Dinosaur Train, across the region. The new deal follows previously announced agreements for the series with Nickelodeon (Australia), Selecta Vision (Spain), Al Jazeera (Middle East), TVO and TFO (Canada), Knowledge (British Columbia) and NRK (Norway), and is the second series to be acquired by the channel which currently airs The Jim Henson Company’s Sid the Science Kid. The announcement was made today at MIPCOM 2009 by Sam Ewing, Head of International Sales, The Jim Henson Company and Bilai Joa Silar, Vice President & Channel Director, Discovery U.S. Hispanic Networks & Discovery Kids Latin America.
Dinosaur Train embraces and celebrates the fascination that preschoolers have with both dinosaurs and trains while encouraging basic scientific thinking and skills as the audience learns about natural science, natural history and paleontology. The new series premiered September 7, 2009 in the U.S. on PBS KIDS®. The Jim Henson Company will offer 40 half-hour episodes (80 x 11 minute episodes) at the MIPCOM market.
Dinosaur Train is seen through the eyes of Buddy, a preschool-aged Tyrannosaurus Rex. Buddy and his adoptive family of Pteranodons go for adventures on the Dinosaur Train to meet all kinds of dinosaurs in different eras and learn fascinating new facts about these incredible creatures.
“Our international broadcast partners have immediately embraced Dinosaur Train,” comments Ewing. “The Jim Henson Company is synonymous with quality entertaining and engaging programming, and partners, such as Discovery Kids Latin America, see that Dinosaur Train is a series that delivers key elements all kids love--dinosaurs and trains.”
“Dinosaur Train exemplifies the level of quality programming that meets our standards and helps to fulfill Discovery Kid’s mission to introduce science concepts to preschoolers,” added Silar. “This is a great addition to our programming schedule and sure to engage our viewers through the unique characters and storylines.”
Created by Craig Bartlett (Hey Arnold!), Dinosaur Train joins other top-ranked PBS KIDS preschool series including The Jim Henson Company’s Sid The Science Kid, which premiered in fall 2008. Brian Henson, Lisa Henson, Halle Stanford and Bartlett executive produce. The series is co-produced with Singapore animation company Sparky Entertainment, with the participation and assistance of the Singapore Media Development Authority. UK production and financial support is being provided by Ingenious Media.
About The Jim Henson Company
The Jim Henson Company has remained an established leader in family entertainment for over 50 years and is recognized worldwide as an innovator in puppetry, animatronics and digital animation. Best known as creators of the world famous Muppets, Henson has received over 50 Emmy Awards and nine Grammy Awards. Recent credits include "Sid the Science Kid", and "Pajanimals." Features include "The Dark Crystal," "Labyrinth," "MirrorMask," and "Unstable Fables." Television productions include "Fraggle Rock" and the sci-fi cult series "Farscape." With additional locations in New York and London.
The Jim Henson Company is headquartered in Los Angeles on the historic Charlie Chaplin lot, complete with soundstage and postproduction facilities. Independently owned and operated by the five adult children of founder Jim Henson, the Company is also home to Jim Henson's Creature Shop™, a pre-eminent character-building and visual effects group with international film, television and advertising clients, as well as Henson Recording Studios, one of the music industry's top recording facilities known for its world-class blend of state-of-the-art and vintage equipment.
The Company is currently in production on 40 episodes of "Dinosaur Train," an animated preschool series teaching concepts of natural science and history, set to debut on PBS KIDS in fall 2009. The Company's Henson Alternative brand continues to produce "Puppet Up! - Uncensored," a live puppet improvisational show that runs monthly at the Avalon Hollywood. The Company has also announced the creation of Jim Henson Designs, a merchandise collection inspired by Jim Henson's earliest sketches, and The Jim Henson Company: Discoveries, an acquisitions banner that celebrates outstanding third party produced independent film, television and video productions from around the globe embodying the Company's enduring legacy. www.henson.com [1]
About Discovery Kids:
Discovery Kids is the first and only 24/7 channel in Latin America dedicated 100% to the youngest of viewers. It provides a unique environment that nurtures children's curiosity using characters and stories, enabling them to relate to real life experiences and creating life-long learners. Discovery Kids integrates the Discovery Networks Latin America/US Hispanic (DNLA/USH) portfolio comprised of nine channels across 34 countries in Latin America: Discovery Channel, Discovery Kids, Discovery Home & Health, Discovery Travel & Living, Discovery Science, Discovery Turbo, Discovery Civilization, People + Arts and Animal Planet. Discovery Networks Latin America/US Hispanic also operates two U.S. Hispanic brands for Spanish-speaking audiences in the United States: Discovery en Español and Discovery Familia.
Links:
[1] http://www.henson.com