via Nickelodeon press release:
Nickelodeon and Rainbow S.p.A. Announce Global Partnership for Winx Club Animated Series Nick and Rainbow S.p.A. to Co-Develop and Co-Produce Seasons Five and Six of Winx Club NEW
YORK, Sept. 2 /PRNewswire/ — Nickelodeon has acquired the Winx Club TV
rights for the U.S. and the pay-TV rights for Latin America, Canada,
United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Benelux. Winx Club features
the adventures of six magical fairies who are hugely popular with
young girls around the world. The new partnership gives Nickelodeon,
the number-one global brand for kids, access to the existing Winx Club
TV series and two theatrical films. The agreement also includes the
co-development and co-production of seasons five and six of the series.
"It is very exciting for us to be partnering with Iginio Straffi and
Rainbow, who have had such tremendous success with this property
internationally,” said Cyma Zarghami, President of Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids
and Family Group. "The Winx Club franchise is a big hit with young
girls and we think there is great opportunity for it domestically as a
property that allows us to fill a gap for girls in the
six-to-eight-year-old range.”
"We are very proud to start this collaboration with the most
prestigious network in the world,” declared Iginio Straffi, Founder and
President of Rainbow S.p.A. "This is a new challenge for our fairies
who, I’m sure, will find a place in the hearts of American and British
children.”
"We are confident that Nickelodeon’s global brand strength and scale
combined with Rainbow’s strong consumer products base will perfectly
position us to take Winx Club to the next level for audiences and
partners in multiple markets around the world,” said Bob Bakish,
President, MTV Networks International.
Nickelodeon will partner with Rainbow to co-develop and co-produce
seasons five and six of Winx Club. Seasons five and six will consist of
26 episodes each and will launch on Nickelodeon domestically and
internationally (with the exception of Italy) in 2012. Prior to
launching the new seasons of Winx Club, Nickelodeon will introduce the
series on the network in 2011 by airing four hour-long animated specials
based on seasons one and two, as well as the episodes from seasons
three and four.
Winx Club is an animated action and fantasy series set in the mystical
dimension of Magix where three schools educate modern fairies, witches
and supernatural warriors from all over the universe. Bloom, a young
fairy in training from Earth, and five of her schoolmates form the Winx
Club to combat their arch enemies. Winx Club first debuted in Italy
six years ago and quickly became a hit that has generated an
international franchise of toys, books, clothing, and DVDs, as well as a
CG feature film.
In addition to the series, Nickelodeon has acquired all merchandising
rights to Winx Club within the U.S., Latin America, Canada, United
Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand and Benelux.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 31st year, is the number-one entertainment
brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids
first in everything it does. The company includes television
programming and production in the United States and around the world,
plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films.
Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million
households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 16
consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit
http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles,
characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).
About Rainbow S.p.A.
Founded in 1995, Rainbow SpA is a content company which develops
animated and multimedia properties. Today it is one of the largest and
most internationally renowned animation studios in the world. It is the
only production company in Italy able to complete all stages of
animation internally, including 3D animation. It currently has 200
full-time employees, as well as a network of animation freelancers and
professionals who work with the company on a regular basis. The
companies within the Rainbow group holding include: Rainbow Distribution
BV in the Netherlands and Rainbow Spain (local offices which manage TV
and licensing interests in association with the head office in
Loreto); Rainbow CGI in Rome (film production, special effects and 3D
animation); Rainbow Entertainment in Rome (fiction and live action);
Rainbow Media in Singapore (videogames, internet, and on-line games);
Tridimensional in Loreto (publishing and DVDs sold in kiosks); and
Witty Toys in Amsterdam and Hong Kong (toy manufacturing).
Rainbow SpA creates and distributes original properties Winx Club,
Huntik, PopPixie, Monster Allergy, Tommy & Oscar, and Maya Fox. For
more information visit www.rbw.it
SOURCE Nickelodeon
|