MIPCOM 2012: Canada's Nelvana Taps Ciwen Media Group to Release TV Product in China

CANNES – In a blockbuster distribution deal for China, Ciwen Media Group has grabbed the rights to market around 1000 half-hours of classic cartoon and live action product from Canada’s Nelvana Enterprises to Chinese broadcasters and digital platforms.

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The agreement, unveiled at MIPCOM, gives the Beijing-based distributor exclusive rights to popular titles like Franklin, Babar, Rolie Polie Olie, Mr. Young and The Detentionaire, as well as exclusive merchandise representation rights for Franklin and non-exclusive rights for Ruby Gloom, 6teen and Grossology.

The distribution deal, to get the Canadian content into China across multiple platforms and channels, covers mainland China, Macau and Hong Kong.

“In terms of the number of episodes, the number of properties involved and the breadth of rights and distribution channels granted to Ciwen, this deal is certainly significant and likely one of the largest kids media deals for western properties ever to be concluded in China,” said Anke Redl, managing director of CMM-I, a Beijing-based media research and consulting firm.

Ciwen will market the shows to free TV, cable and satellite broadcasters, after dubbing them into Mandarin or other regional languages.

The Canadian product will also be shopped to the VOD and Internet TV market in China, and Ciwen will release certain titles on DVD.

Nelvana, a cartoon producer aligned with Corus Entertainment in Canada, has a library of over 4,000 half-hour episodes.