TOTAL LICENSING ers and Late Nite Eats. Texpand its capabilities as a global studio with a focus on premium content production and brand building, its strong development pipeline has several exciting new titles due to be announced in the near future. As it continues to rock the boat industry wide, Boat Rocker Media is well on the way to achieving its aim of expansion.
Further recent acquisitions have substantially raised its international profile and status with a greatly expanded portfolio: Fremantle’s kids & family portfolio has provided over 800 hours of active programming and several new brands, including Bitz & Bob and Danger Mouse, while November’s deal with Matador Content ) has bolstered its increasing expansion into the US market. Boat Rocker is also building a greater presence in Europe and Asia with the recent opening of offices in London and Hong Kong. Along with the extra programming, the acquisitions have also enabled further vertical integration, bringing in additional expertise in global distribution, brand management, licensing, strategic global partnerships and creative development and production to complement Boat Rocker’s existing robust production and distribution capabilities. The company now has more than 650 employees across its nine offices worldwide and as well as now being able to fully fund its own content, it can also distribute and provide ancillary revenue for its burgeoning portfolio, which now comprises 750 hours of content produced annually by its scripted, unscripted and kids & family divisions alongside a distribution library totalling more than 7,000 half hours. Boat Rocker’s current licensing program in Canada includes global hits The Next Step – also a hit in the UK where it is a huge ratings driver for CBBC – and Orphan Black, and it is currently looking at opportunities for new titles such as Vintage Tech Hunt-
74
Guru Studio, a leader in Canadian children’s entertainment, is taking its popular broads further afield with the recent announcement that Hengxin Shambala Kids (Guangzhou) Cultural Industry Development Co. Ltd will represent its flagship preschool property True and the Rainbow Kingdom in China. HSK will look to secure opportunities for the brand in China across television, toys, publishing, non-toy merchandise, digital games and apps, theme parks, stage plays, educational centers, and carnivals. True and the Rainbow Kingdom continues to grow in popularity worldwide on Netflix as well as on Canada’s national public broadcaster the CBC where it has emerged as one of the top preschool shows. With a fourth season of the show recently greenlit, interest in the merchandising program continues to grow in North America and key territories in Europe and Asia. “There’s no question China has emerged as one of the most significant new markets for building a global children’s brand,” said Frank Falcone, President and Executive Creative Director of Guru Studio. “The
fresh energy and creative possibilities in the Middle Kingdom are frankly overwhelming and we’re thrilled to be working with such a talented and knowledgeable team to guide us as we bring our flagship preschool series to China.” In recent months, Guru Studio announced a series of US based licensing deals including Aurora World (plush), Palamon (costumes); American Marketing Enterprises (sleepwear); GBG Socks (hosiery); Chouette (master publishing); and Bendon Inc. for coloring books and art sets. True and the Rainbow Kingdom is a Netflix Original preschool series produced by Guru Studio in collaboration with Pharrell Williams’ i am Other artist collective, FriendsWithYou, and Home Plate Entertainment. The series follows compassionate hero True, and her hilarious best friend Bartleby the cat, as they come to the rescue of the Rainbow Kingdom’s whimsical citizens. True is the only one that can unleash the power of the Magical Wishes from the Wishing Tree in order to set things right and keep all the residents safe. True and Bartleby’s adventures empower both girls and boys to be mindful, courageous and respectful of all living things. DHX Media has recently announced that it has struck ten new distribution deals for the hit family series, The Deep, bringing the total number of broadcasters and streaming platforms for the CGI-animated underwater adventure series up to 40 globally. New deals for season three of The