Kids
BBC Worldwide restructures kids biz
MUMBAI: BBC Worldwide has announced the restructure of its children‘s business under the leadership of the new MD Neil Ross. |
The business, which will be renamed Children‘s and Licensing, will be structured with three main strands focussing on pre-school, pre-teen and adult licensing.
The name change reflects the importance of maximising global licensing opportunities for adult brands such as Top Gear and Planet Earth in addition to shows such as In the Night Garden, Teletubbies, Doctor Who and Charlie and Lola, in order to channel the profit back into children‘s programming at the BBC.
Neil Ross Russell said, “Coming to this role, it was clear to me that we have a exceptional pipeline of content from the BBC with brands like Planet Earth and Top Gear, and from Indies with our partners such as Tiger Aspect and Ragdoll.
“The growing success of BBC channels internationally also provides us with great broadcast platforms but we are not currently set up to make the most of licensing opportunities outside of the UK.
“At a time when there are more brands than ever in the market, this new structure will allow us to provide each brand in our portfolio with the focus and attention it deserves.”
BBC Worldwide also announced a new agreement with joint venture partner Ragdoll which sees them oversee US and Canada TV sales and licensing for programmes such as Teletubbies and In the Night Garden. With the addition of North America, BBC Worldwide now represents global distribution rights, excluding UK broadcast, for all Ragdoll properties.
Ragdoll CEO Mark Hollingsworth says, “Following the creation of the joint venture between Ragdoll and BBC Worldwide, it is a natural progression for Ragdoll to merge its North American Division with the Children‘s and Licensing team at BBC Worldwide in New York. This further strengthens our partnership with BBC Worldwide as we extend our collaboration in managing the Ragdoll portfolio in the US and Canada.”
BBC Worldwide Children‘s and Licensing will also look to explore new opportunities for brands in the US with the recruitment of a newly created role of global head of licensing. The role will be based in BBC Worldwide‘s New York office and sit alongside Susanna Pollack, who is the seenior VP TV sales, co-productions and children‘s.
Kids
Sony YAY! launches ‘House of Masti’ to celebrate 20 years of Shin chan
Comedian Kiku Sharda joins the fun with a special rap track as the mischievous icon returns to Indian TV.
MUMBAI: Shin chan is back and this time, he’s bringing the whole house of masti with him! Sony YAY!, India’s leading kids’ entertainment channel, has unveiled ‘House of Masti’, a specially curated programming block to mark 20 years of the iconic animated series Shin chan on Indian television. The campaign transforms the beloved character’s mischievous world into a fresh, high-energy viewing experience. It features new episodes, fan-favourite moments, and themed programming stunts, all designed to stand out from regular broadcasts.
Adding extra sparkle to the celebration, popular comedian Kiku Sharda has joined the campaign. He anchors the integration with a lively rap track titled ‘Shin chan ka YAY! Dhamaal’, infusing contemporary music and humour into the beloved series.
Sony YAY! business head of kids and animation Ambesh Tiwari said, “Over the past 20 years, Shin chan has built a strong and enduring connection with audiences in India. With ‘House of Masti’, we are celebrating this milestone through a differentiated, campaign-led experience. Kiku Sharda and the rap track add a fun, high-energy layer that will resonate with today’s kids and families.”
Starting 27 April, viewers can enjoy the World Television Premiere of Shin chan along with new episodes and an exciting lineup of blockbuster movies on Sony YAY!.
By blending nostalgia with fresh, engaging content, Sony YAY! is ensuring that the cheeky, laughter-filled adventures of Shin chan continue to entertain and connect with new generations across the country.
In a world full of serious cartoons, Shin chan remains delightfully naughty and with ‘House of Masti’, Sony YAY! is making sure his brand of chaos stays as fresh and fun as ever. Get ready for some serious masti!
