Kids
ZDF Enterprises to handle licensing, merchandising for children’s channel Kika
MUMBAI: ZDF Enterprises GmbH is now responsible for the worldwide distribution of the license and merchandising rights of German children’s TV channel Kika.
As general agent, ZDF Enterprises will handle the marketing activities of the joint children’s channel of Ard and ZDF, which is now in its 15th year.
ZDF Enterprises’ marketing mandate for Kika entails the marketing of all rights owned by KiKA, from the KiKA umbrella brand to Kika programme brands such as ‘Baumhaus‘, ‘Bernd das Brot‘ and ‘Beutolomäus‘.
According to the market research institute iconKids and Youth, KiKA is also the most popular children’s broadcaster among children aged six to 13 (26 per cent) and their mothers (29 per cent), with a considerable edge over other channels. The survey also gathered data on the Internet use of the target group. 82 per cent of preschool children who were allowed to go online have already visited www.kika.de.
In 2011 Kika also become the market leader for preschool children. With a market share of 33.7 per cent (source: AGF/GfK-Fernsehforschung; TV Scope) among three-to-five-year-olds, it outperformed other children’s broadcasters by nearly seven per cent points. Altogether, the ARD/ZDF children’s channel scored an average rating of 19 per cent in the total target group (three- to 13-year-old viewers) in 2011.
ZDF Enterprises president, CEO Alexander Coridass said, “Thanks to Kika’s first-class programme brands, ZDF Enterprises is supplementing its portfolio of outstanding children’s fare with superior productions. From preschool children to teens, from classics such as ‘Jungle Book‘, ‘Peter Pan‘ and ‘Lassie‘ to new series formats such as ‘Dance Academy‘ and ‘Alien Surf Girls‘ and, of course, the two strong umbrella brands ZDF tivi and KiKA, we offer a unique and varied portfolio of expertly crafted programs for optimum merchandising from one single provider.”
Kids
Mukta Arts and Green Gold ink MOU to animate iconic film IPs
Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan to spawn animated shows plus features.
MUMBAI: When classic hindi movie meets animation, the result is a fresh reel of nostalgia with a cartoon twist. Mukta Arts Ltd. and Green Gold Animation have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on animated shows and feature films drawn from Mukta Arts’ four-decade treasure trove of iconic IPs. The partnership taps Mukta’s SGM Animation Studio launched in 2025 as its dedicated animation and games arm and Green Gold’s proven track record in building scalable, homegrown franchises. Creative teams from both sides have already kicked off discussions, with the first project currently in development.
The slate will draw inspiration from landmark Mukta films including Kalicharan, Karz, Hero, Karma, Ram Lakhan, Khalnayak, Saudagar and Iqbal, plus character-led spin-offs from those universes. The aim is to reimagine these stories for today’s young, global audiences while preserving their emotional core.
Green Gold Animation (home of Chhota Bheem) founder and CEO Rajiv Chilaka said, “This partnership with SGM Studios allows us to apply our experience in building long-lasting animation IPs to a truly iconic film catalogue. Together, we aim to create animated worlds that are rooted in these legendary stories, yet designed to connect with today’s young, global audiences.”
Mukta Arts Ltd. filmmaker and founder Subhash Ghai added, “Mukta Arts has always believed in creating stories with lasting emotional value. Through animation, we are extending our IP into a new medium for the next generation.”
In an industry where timeless tales never go out of fashion, this collaboration promises to bring beloved characters back to life with a modern, animated glow proving that some stories are too good to stay in live-action. Stay tuned for the first animated frame to drop.
