Kids
Comcast eyeing 24-hr network for kids
MUMBAI: Catch them young! US-based Comcast Corporation is contemplating a network exclusively for kids.
The cable giant is in an advanced state of negotiations with Public Broadcasting System (PBS), Sesame Street Workshop and HIT Entertainment – a United Kingdom-based company producing children’s programming – to develop the 24-hour network dedicated to pre-school kids.
A report in the Wall Street Journal says that the yet-to-be- named network would carry no commercials and would have rights to Sesame Street Workshop’s shows, Barney and Friends, Sesame Street, Bob the Builder and Thomas the Tank Engine.
According to the report, all four partners in the venture Comcast, PBS, Sesame Street Workshop and HIT Entertainment would own stakes in the new digital network. The biggest stake, however, would go to Comcast as will the content rights. Comcast and some of the other partners would contribute an undisclosed amount of cash to fund the new venture.
Interestingly, Walt Disney, that owns Cartoon Network, has also been toying with the idea of launching a channel aimed at pre-schoolers.
Comcast channel could be facing stiff competition from Viacom Inc.’s (VIA) Nickelodeon and Nick Jr.
The report speculates that the deal could be finalised within weeks and that the network could launch sometime next year.
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.
