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NEWS CANDY CRUSH LIVE ACTION ‘RUSH’ FOR CBS CBS HAS ordered a new one-hour, liveaction game show series based on mobile game franchise Candy Crush. CBS, Lionsgate and the game’s developer, King, will work together on the format, which will be distributed domestically by CBS TV Distribution and internationally by Lionsgate. In Candy Crush Saga, players match colourful candies in combinations of three or more to win points, overcome obstacles and progress through more than 2,000 levels. Glenn Geller, president, CBS Entertainment, said: “We are huge fans of Candy Crush and we know the ‘rush’ of advancing to the next level. We’re excited to work with Lionsgate and King to make it available to its massive fan base.” “When the head of our interactive and games division, Peter Levin, brought this IP to Lionsgate, we instantly knew it would make an incredibly visual, physical and fun programme,” added Lionsgate TV chairman Kevin Beggs. “The Candy Crush franchise lends itself perfectly to the kind of larger-than-life, physical game shows that I love to produce and CBS is the perfect home for it,” said Matt Kunitz (Wipeout, Fear Factor), who will executive produce the show.
FremantleMedia renews content deal with Youku.com in China
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REMANTLEMEDIA International has announced that it has extended its multi-year digital deal with the Chinese online video giant Youku. The original deal was signed in 2013 and has now been extended for another three years. The deal provides more than 100 hours of FMI’s premium entertainment and drama, such as America’s Got Talent and Project Runway, continues to be available to Chinese audiences on Youku.com. The platform currently averages 130 million unique users a day. Youku also has 240 million mobile users. MI as one of the first in e en ent distributors to strike a deal with the platform and is a major contributor to Youku’s line-up. FremantleMedia International executive vice-president, Asia, Ganesh Rajaram, said: “While
FMI’s Project Runway
local content is a big thing in China, Youku has managed to build a loyal base of video enthusiasts who will be able to enjoy some of our best-known shows for another three years.” Yang Weidong, president of Heyi
Group (Youku Tudou), said: “We will make joint efforts to bring high-quality content to young users in China through constant collaboration and Youku will endeavor to introduce successful series to China from the world.”
IN A DEAL conceived at MIPTV and closed at MIPCOM, Korean animation company Tak Toon nter rise has sol the first t o series of stop-motion animation Galaxy Kids (52 x 11 mins) to New York-based Janson Media. The comedy adventure, which centres on the antics of a team of space satellites and a comical villain called Space Monkey, will air on Amazon from November. Sophia Lee, Tak Toon’s managing director, pictured here sealing the deal with Janson’s acquisitions director Jesse Janson, said the KBS series is targeted at early elementary-aged children. “The second season of Galaxy Kids has just started to air in Korea and is delivering good ratings,” she said. “At MIPCOM, we are looking for a partner to help us develop a third season of the show.”
Who Is The Real Celebrity? Asia deal NBCUniversal International Formats has acquired the Asian rights for Japanese format Who Is The Real Celebrity? from ABC International (the format sales division of Osaka-based Asahi Broadcasting Corporation). Who Is The Real Celebrity? is a
comedy quiz show that has so far aired for more than 70 episodes in Japan. Yvonne Pilkington, senior vicepresident, format sales & production, NBCUniversal International Formats, called it “a brilliantly entertaining format,
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which has potential to make an impact across Asia”. Shusaku Inoue, ABC International managing director, added: “We have confidence that NBCUniversal International Formats will make this format travel successfully throughout Asia.”