Kids
Nick US’ ratings surge
MUMBAI: Kids brand Nickelodeon continues to grow from strength to strength in the US. It has announced that it finished November 2005 by getting double-digit increases in ratings from October across all kid and ‘tween demos.
For November the network averaged a 4.0/1.3 million for kids aged 2-11. This represented an increase of 18 per cent versus October’s total day ratings. This was on par with November’s 2004 ratings. With kids 2-5 years old Nickelodeon earned a 4.6/564,000. this was up 14 per cent over last month, and with kids aged 6-11, Nickelodeon earned a 3.7/730,000, 20 per cent over last month.
Among tweens 9-14, Nickelodeon earned a 2.8/569,000. This marked an increase of 23 per cent over last month and an increase of 12 per cent over November 2004. Nickelodeon brought in about 2.3 million total viewers (P2+), and increase of 19 per cent versus October and on par with last year.
The monthly ratings increase was driven by the success of Nick’s Veteran’s Day television events, Nick Jr.’s preschool properties, and the successful Teenick block, which has kept Nick as the top ‘tween destination:
The half-hour special episode of SpongeBob SquarePants “Where’s Gary” on 11 November 2005, marked the highest-rated programme on the entire TV landscape with kids aged 2-11 for the year behind the Super Bowl and the Super Bowl kick-off, and the highest-rated play on all of cable with kids 2-11 years old and kids aged 6-11 in 2005. Where’s Gary was the highest-rated episode of SpongeBob ever with kids of ages 6-11. Where’s Gary triumphed with kids 6-11 years old, averaging a 17.4/3.4 million kids aged 6-11, up a huge 177 per cent versus year-ago levels.
The Nick Jr. block maintains the top five preschool shows on commercial television, and is averaging a 6.1/753,000 kids aged 2-5 in November. Dora the Explorer, in its one-hour special Dora’s Dance to the Rescue on 11 November proved to be a hit, marking the second highest programme on all of cable with preschoolers aged 2-5 in 2005. Dance to the Rescue earned a 11.2/1.4 million up by 54 per cent versus last 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.
