Kids
DIC Entertainment & AOL partner to create strategic TV & online programming block
MUMBAI: DIC Entertainment (DIC), an independent global brand management company based in the US, and AOL online kids destination, KOL, have formed a partnership to co-produce a new Saturday morning branded programming block, KOL‘s Saturday Morning Secret Slumber Party on CBS, which will premiere 16 September 2006.
DIC and KOL will also develop online and on-air co-production initiatives in conjunction with the block. DIC and KOL are also now in development on programs for the 2007 season, informs an official release.
As per the agreement, KOL and DIC will co-produce programming for the 2006 broadcast season, including the new television series Dance Revolution. This series is inspired by Konami‘s hit video game franchise Dance Dance Revolution (DDR). The new dance competition series will be hosted by Radio KOL DJ Rick Adams, who will also continue to maintain his live online radio show for kids available on KOL.
In addition, KOL and DIC will develop a website designed to transform the programs airing on KOL‘s Saturday Morning Secret Slumber Party on CBS into a comprehensive and interactive experience for kids. KOL will also offer special online programming including games, program clips, behind-the-scenes features and more to drive on-air viewership.
Dance Revolution and the online activities will support the schedule of programming debuting this fall on the E/I compliant branded block. Other programming on the Saturday Morning line-up includes Cake, Horseland, The Animated Trollz and Madeline.
Additionally, KOL will create public service announcements on healthy eating, to air during the block and online utilizing KOL‘s popular original animated character Princess Natasha, adds the release.
DIC will seek initial guidance on all programming to air on the KOL‘s Saturday Morning Secret Slumber Party on CBS, from children‘s experts from the DIC Educational Advisory Board — a group comprised of leading media experts, educators and pediatricians created to provide information, guidance, advice and general expertise to DIC in the development of multimedia programs and projects for children.
“With AOL‘s expertise in developing online programming and our success in building brands such as ‘Princess Natasha‘ and Radio KOL, appealing to millions of kids, we are confident that this landmark partnership with DIC will be a tremendous success,” says AOL Kids & Teens SVP Malcolm Bird. “Once again, AOL is leading the industry by building another initiative that taps the power of television and the online medium to ultimately grow a larger audience across both platforms.”
“Kids today continue to expand their entertainment options beyond television, and our new partnership with KOL will provide us with a tremendous opportunity to reach kids through the launch of the new Saturday morning programming block on CBS as well as through KOL‘s growing online destination,” comments DIC Entertainment chairman & CEO Andy Heyward. “We are thrilled to work with KOL to co-produce innovative programming and to create a unique cross-promotional program that will drive kids online; increase on-air viewership and provide our clients with an effective way to reach kids in a progressive safe environment.”
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.
