Sarah Baisley's Recent Posts

PorchLight Home Ent., a new division of the Los Angeles-based production company, has acquired the DVD rights to the Australian series FARMKIDS from FARMkids Pty Ltd., reports KIDSCREEN. The acquisition is part of an energetic campaign to build up its DVD distribution schedule for 2008.

The CG-animated FARMKIDS follows a group of pampered city animals who are moved to a rural setting. Production of the first season is nearing completion, with a movie special planned for release in 2010.

Cake Distribution has secured a home for animated comedy/action/adventure series SKUNK FU! on the last "SKUNK-free" continent through a deal with Disney Channel Latin America. South America joins Australia, Asia, Africa, Europe and North America as purveyors of the 52x13 property created by Aidan Harte. Skunk is a western kid learning kung fu from a wise old Panda in China, so that he can help the resistance fight against the evil Dragon and his army of Ninja Monkeys. SKUNK FU! is a Cartoon Saloon, Cake Entertainment and Telegael co-production for TG4 (Ireland) and SUPER RTL (Germany).

Sesame Workshop, the nonprofit educational organization behind SESAME STREET and other educational programs, has announced the addition of Aura Kenny Dunn to its staff as Assistant VP, Government Affairs. In this capacity, Dunn will manage government relations efforts and advance Sesame Workshop's visibility in federal policy and funding arenas to promote education and well-being for children around the globe. She will report to Myung Kang-Huneke, VP, General Counsel.

Munich-based distributor Telepool has hooked up with The Weinstein Company to distribute NIKO & THE WAY TO THE STARS, Weinstein's new 3D Xmas movie, C21 MEDIA reports. Telepool will handle all English-language territories, as well as Latin America, for the family film about a young reindeer who dreams of becoming one of Santa's sleigh team. The film, which will have its European premiere in Scandinavia on Oct. 10, 2008, has already been sold in more than 100 territories. Universum is releasing the animated feature in Germany, with Filmax distributing in Spain.

Bloo, Cheese, Eduardo and all of the other denizens of FOSTER'S HOME FOR IMAGINARY FRIENDS will have a new home this December at Hot Topic locations nationwide. Cartoon Network Enterprises (CNE) and the retailer are setting up a chain-wide boutique for the product line based on the Emmy Award-winning series and all 693 Hot Topic stores will feature products including apparel, accessories, slippers, room décor, jewelry, hair accessories, stationery, DVDs and more.

Peter Orton, founder and chairman of HIT Ent., whose properties include BOB THE BUILDER and THOMAS THE TANK ENGINE, has died following a long battle with throat cancer, reports THIS IS WILTSHIRE and THE HOLLYWOOD REPORTER. He was 64.

The Nielsen Company and Digimarc Corporation have announced a new service that will enable media companies, social networks, peer-to-peer services and user-generated content sites to monitor and manage the distribution of media content across the Internet. Dubbed "Nielsen Digital Media Manager," the system will use digital watermarking and fingerprinting to enforce copyright compliance and help clients realize the value of their digital content.

Jacquelyn Martino, a renowned researcher and graduate from MIT, was recently selected to chair SIGGRAPH 2008, the 35th International Conference and Exhibition on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques. With the theme Evolve, SIGGRAPH returns to the Los Angeles Convention Center. The conference will take place Aug. 11-15, with the exhibition occurring Aug. 12-14.

STAR TREK THE TOUR, the largest interactive STAR TREK exhibit ever, will make its North American debut on Jan. 18th for a limited engagement at the Queen Mary Dome in Long Beach, CA. William Shatner, who portrayed Captain James T. Kirk, is the official Celebrity Ambassador for the tour and will be making appearances at various times throughout its multi-city run.