Kids
Nick obtains kids’ media rights for MU Premier Cup
LONDON: Nickelodeon has received exclusive kids’ media rights to the Manchester United Premier Cup tournament in Beaverton, Oregon.
An official release informs that Nickelodeon channels around the world will premiere a 30-minute special this August offering viewers highlights from the largest and most prestigious football tournament in the world for kids under 15 years old.
In addition, 33 newly produced vignettes shot around the world featuring professional players, as well as kids competing for a place in the youth tournament finals, will premiere on-air this month.
UK production company TWI is producing the new vignettes that will debut on Nick globally. These will feature both kid and professional players, each spotlighting a unique, inspiring story reflecting the different cultures that are united when it comes to playing and enjoying the game.
Parts of the programming will comprise a half-hour highlight special that will premiere on Nick channels globally in August, along with new footage from the event itself featuring kid and professional players.
Professional players confirmed to appear in the vignettes or special include Roberto Carlos (Brazil), Brett Emerton (Australia), Freddie Ljungberg (Sweden), Fernando Torres (Spain), Landon Donovan (US – men) and Mia Hamm (US – women).
The channels are also running a contest to send kids to the tournament, enabling them to participate in a Football Clinic with professional Manchester United players, among other activities. Viewers can enter the contest via local Nick web sites, as well as by telephone and post.
At the tournament, kids and their families will be able to watch the Manchester United first team train, participate in the Football Clinic training sessions with professional football players, and watch all of the matches including the finals.
The release informs that 20 youth football teams from across the globe will gather in Beaverton from 15-18 July to compete for the chance to become the Manchester United Premier Cup champions for the year. With more than 107,000 players across five continents and 40 countries participating in qualification matches over the last year, the Premier Cup showcases some of the brightest football stars of the future.
Senior director programming, acquisitions and content development, Nickelodeon Europe Jules Borkent said, “We’re excited that Nickelodeon has received the exclusive kids’ media rights to the Manchester United Premier Cup. Football is by far the most popular sport worldwide, and our programming and contest dedicated to the Manchester United Premier Cup will inspire kids to play, watch and learn in a creative environment that only Nickelodeon can offer.”
The release states that the Premier Cup was developed by Nike a decade ago with the aim of providing junior players at grassroots level with the opportunity to compete in a high quality international tournament and test their skills against the best in the world.
For the first time this year, the Premier Cup will be jointly organised by NIKE and Manchester United, as part of the commitment both have made to invest in a grassroots football programme that will focus on youth participation and skills development.
According to a press note, Nickelodeon is seen in 279.1 million households and 156 countries, with channels and branded blocks in Africa, Asia and the Pacific Rim, Latin America, Europe, CIS/Baltic Republics and the US.
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.
