On the eve of MIPCOM, The Jim Henson Company has finalized a new broadcast agreement with Discovery Kids Latin America to air the all-new CGI-animated series, Dinosaur Train, across the region.
The new deal follows previously announced agreements for the series with Nickelodeon (Australia), Selecta Vision (Spain), Al Jazeera (Middle East), TVO and TFO (Canada), Knowledge (British Columbia) and NRK (Norway), and is the second series to be acquired by the channel which currently airs The Jim Henson Company’s Sid the Science Kid. The announcement was made today at MIPCOM 2009 by Sam Ewing, Head of International Sales, The Jim Henson Company and Bilai Joa Silar, Vice President & Channel Director, Discovery U.S. Hispanic Networks & Discovery Kids Latin America.
Dinosaur Train embraces and celebrates the fascination that preschoolers have with both dinosaurs and trains while encouraging basic scientific thinking and skills as the audience learns about natural science, natural history and paleontology. The new series premiered September 7, 2009 in the U.S. on PBS KIDS®. The Jim Henson Company will offer 40 half-hour episodes (80 x 11 minute episodes) at the MIPCOM market.
Dinosaur Train is seen through the eyes of Buddy, a preschool-aged Tyrannosaurus Rex. Buddy and his adoptive family of Pteranodons go for adventures on the Dinosaur Train to meet all kinds of dinosaurs in different eras and learn fascinating new facts about these incredible creatures.
“Our international broadcast partners have immediately embraced Dinosaur Train,” comments Ewing. “The Jim Henson Company is synonymous with quality entertaining and engaging programming, and partners, such as Discovery Kids Latin America, see that Dinosaur Train is a series that delivers key elements all kids love–dinosaurs and trains.”
“Dinosaur Train exemplifies the level of quality programming that meets our standards and helps to fulfill Discovery Kid’s mission to introduce science concepts to preschoolers,” added Silar. “This is a great addition to our programming schedule and sure to engage our viewers through the unique characters and storylines.”
Created by Craig Bartlett (Hey Arnold!), Dinosaur Train joins other top-ranked PBS KIDS preschool series including The Jim Henson Company’s Sid The Science Kid, which premiered in fall 2008. Brian Henson, Lisa Henson, Halle Stanford and Bartlett executive produce. The series is co-produced with Singapore animation company Sparky Entertainment, with the participation and assistance of the Singapore Media Development Authority. UK production and financial support is being provided by Ingenious Media.
Source: The Jim Henson Company
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