MUMBAI: Canada?s DHX Media which is an independent producer, distributor and licensor of mainly children?s entertainment content, has signed a deal with China Mobile Entertainment Holdings (CME) and Alebrije Entertainment for a new SVOD edutainment channel on PPTV extending the reach of key brands into the Chinese market.

PPTV has a registered user base of 300 million and PPLive is one of the largest OTT content distribution networks in the region. The deal encompasses over 900 episodes from series including ?Arthur?, ?Caillou?, ?The Busy World of Richard Scarry? and ?Care Bears?.

DHX Media senior VP distribution Josh Scherba said, "This is a significant deal for us - one which expands the reach of our brands into the rapidly growing Chinese digital market. We already have a number of shows performing strongly on VOD platforms in the territory but this will add to the content available."

DHX Media properties such as ?Super WHY!?, ?Inspector Gadget? and ?Sonic the Hedgehog? already have a Mandarin-language presence in China on SVOD platforms including Cheers Media, Qiyi TV and Beijing Kanngiongsneng.

MUMBAI: Canada?s DHX Media, a leading independent producer, distributor and licensor of mainly children?s entertainment content, has licensed its animated comedy show Kid vs. Kat to Disney Channel in India.

The show revolves around a 10-year-old boy?s constant battle with his sister?s Sphinx cat which, in reality, is a cybernetic alien.

The company has licensed several of its children?s series from its library of 8,500 half-hours ahead of Asia Television Forum (ATF).

Discovery Networks Asia Pacific has snapped up Inspector Gadget?s Last Case and Inspector Gadget?s Biggest Caper Ever, as well as the series Gadget Boy while PCCW?s now TV in Hong Kong has acquired both seasons of new preschool series Monster Math Squad. SkyAsia Media Indonesia has committed to both seasons of Pirates, Adventures in Art and the first season of Urban Vermin.

In Japan, NTV has taken broadcast rights to Super Duper Sumos and Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century and Cartoon Network has renewed several Madeline titles. In Thailand, True Visions has picked up its fourth season of Super WHY!

Deals have also been signed in Australia and New Zealand with Quickflix snapping up SVOD (Streaming Video-on-Demand) rights to a number of DHX Media titles and TV New Zealand has picked up feature Bonjour Timothy.

Broadcasters have also underscored their commitment to a number of DHX Media shows, with renewal deals signed with Mediacorp Singapore for Johnny Test seasons four and five, Disney Channel Asia for Animal Mechanicals seasons one and two.

MUMBAI: DHX Media has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire the business of Cookie Jar Entertainment to create Canada‘s largest children‘s entertainment company.

DHX has acquired Cookie Jar at an enterprise value of $111 million, to be paid through a combination of approximately 36 million DHX shares, $5 million in cash, and the assumption of $66 million of debt.

The combined company will own the world‘s most extensive independent library of children‘s entertainment, including more than 8,550 half hour episodes.

"The acquisition of Cookie Jar is a transformational event for DHX that will significantly enhance our scale and our growth opportunities," said Michael Donovan, Chief Executive Officer of DHX. "Through this combination, we will strengthen our portfolio of brands, global reach, management depth and our position in the rapidly emerging digital distribution channels to become the market leader."

"Today is an exciting day for Canada‘s children‘s entertainment industry. Cookie Jar joining forces with DHX results in a company that is an independent global market leader in all aspects of children‘s entertainment from distribution to production to licensing and merchandising. There is an insatiable appetite for kids‘ content in the new digital streaming universe and we are very well positioned with our extensive library of evergreen, popular and recognizable brands to satisfy the market demand," said Cookie Jar‘s CEO Michael Hirsh.

Following the closing, Michael Donovan, current CEO of DHX, will continue to serve as CEO. Michael Hirsh, current CEO of Cookie Jar, will become Executive Chairman of DHX. Steven DeNure and Dana Landry will continue in their current roles of President & COO, and Chief Financial Officer, respectively. Cookie Jar‘s current President & COO Toper Taylor will continue to focus on digital distribution and business development. Aaron Ames, CFO of Cookie Jar, will assume the role of Chief Integration Officer reporting directly to the CEO.

Cookie Jar has a significant content library and features some of the world‘s most recognizable series including Caillou, Inspector Gadget, and Johnny Test. The company controls Cookie Jar TV, the weekend morning block on CBS. Cookie Jar has offices in Toronto, Los Angeles and in addition, throughout Western Europe, as part of its Copyright Promotions Licensing Group, a leading licensor and merchandiser of third party brands and characters.

Cookie Jar has experienced significant growth in digital distribution, growing revenue from that channel to $8 million in the 12 months ending 31 May. Over the same 12-month period, Cookie Jar had total revenue of $56.7 million and EBITDA of $12.6 million.

MUMBAI: Zodiak Kids, Zodiak Media Group?s children?s production and distribution arm, concluded a number of new sales deals for its long-running preschool show, Waybuloo.

Following the success of the series in Australia, ABC has picked up the 50x11 minute spin-off version of Waybuloo as has Zappelin in the Netherlands.

RAI (Italy) has licensed another 50 episodes of the original ?19? series taking the total number of episodes that they have acquired to 150. Other sales include: Canal Panda (Portugal / 52x19?); Luli (Turkey / 52x19?) and EM TV (Papua New Guinea / 15x19?).

Internationally, Waybuloo airs in over 80 other countries worldwide.

Zodiak Kids SVP Global Sales and Co-Production Karen Vermeulen comments, ?We are thrilled to be announcing more Waybuloo sales. These new and returning broadcaster deals demonstrate that Waybuloo continues to have international appeal with preschool children worldwide.?

Zodiak holds worldwide rights in all media for Waybuloo, with the exception of Canada where Decode Enterprises handles broadcast and home entertainment rights, and DHX Licensing represents consumer products rights. Both Decode Enterprises and DHX Licensing are subsidiaries of DHX Media.