MUMBAI: National Geographic Television International (NGTI) has announced a raft of new deals for its festive family special - Toot & Puddle: I'll Be Home for Christmas.

Based on the Holly Hobbie book of the same name, the show has been licensed to broadcasters including ARD and Ki.Ka in Germany, Nickelodeon in the UK and Australia, YLE Finland, TV2 Norway, DR1 Denmark and ATV Hong Kong.

NGTI head of kids' sales Karen Vermeulen comments, "In Toot & Puddle, Holly Hobbie has created very charming characters - and they definitely succeeded in charming a number of buyers at their first outing at Mipcom this year!

"This is the first programme out of the four in production from National Geographic Kids' Entertainment to deliver, and has been tremendously well received. Kids is a relatively new area of business for NGTI but the strong heritage of the National Geographic brand means that buyers know to expect top quality kids' programming that both entertains and excites kids to explore the world around them."

Toot & Puddle: I'll Be Home for Christmas tells the tale of two piglet pals who must overcome severe winter weather, cancelled flights and other unexpected delays in order to spend Christmas together. Targeted at families and kids aged 3-8 it is produced by National Geographic Kids' Entertainment, in association Warner Home Video.