Kids
CBBC, CBeebies to be simulcast online in UK
MUMBAI: UK pubcaster the BBC has announced that BBC Four, CBBC and CBeebies will be available to watch live online from 16 September 2008.
The channels join BBC Three and BBC News which are already simulcast, and can be watched online via their channel sites on bbc.co.uk through a wide range of internet enabled devices.
They can also be watched through BBC iPlayer. BBC Vision director Jana Bennett said, “The launch of three more BBC Television channels further fulfils the BBC‘s commitment to increasing the accessibility of our content to licence fee payers.
“Although still a relatively new phenomenon, watching programmes online is growing; now through simulcasting our channels, viewers can find and watch programmes as they are broadcast as well as having the option of catching up with them later.”
Recent research by Ofcom (The Communications Market 2008, August) suggests that consumers of all ages are showing a growing interest in accessing audio-visual content online, with 17 per cent of those with broadband watching TV on the internet, up by eight percentage points on 2006.
This trend is particularly apparent in younger people who tend to watch less television.
26 per cent of those aged between 15 and 24 claimed they used the internet for “watching TV programmes” – up by 16 percentage points in 12 months.
BBC controller of multiplatform and portfolio Simon Nelson said, “Simulcasting online is another step in making our channels true multiplatform brands accessible to audiences wherever they want and providing lots of opportunities to let them discover a wealth of related content through the channel and programme sites.”
Simulcasting BBC Four, CBBC and CBeebies is being launched as part of a 12-month evaluation period. Video on the channel sites is GEOIP restricted, so can‘t be viewed from outside the UK.
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.
