Zodiak Kids and China’s Ciwen Media Group have entered into a major content acquisition representation agreement for China, both companies announced on March 24.

Zodiak has granted Ciwen exclusive distribution rights to over 390 episodes of animated Zodiak programming which includes programming from Zodiak Media’s French studios Marathon Media (Totally Spies – 26 x 26’, The Amazing Spiez – 52 x 30’, Rekkit Rabbit – 104 x 13’) and Tele Images (Extreme Football – 39 x 26’, The Ranch – 26 x 26’, The Basketeers – 52 x 26’) as well as Little Princess (100 x 11’) from the Illuminated Film Company.

The agreement will see Ciwen acting as agent on behalf of Zodiak Kids and brokering deals across free TV, cable and satellite broadcasters as well as home entertainment and VOD platforms throughout China and Macau as well as VOD platforms in Hong Kong. Programming will be dubbed into Mandarin or other regional languages. Discussions between the parties continue with a view to extending the deal to include licensing, merchandising and publishing, and further announcements will be made during the year.

Commenting on the agreement, Karen Vermeulen, SVP Global Sales and Coproduction, Zodiak Kids said: “We are extremely excited to be partnering with Ciwen Media Group which is recognised as one of China’s leading distributors and a pioneer in introducing top animation properties to the Chinese market. This is a tremendous opportunity for us to be strategic about how we introduce Zodiak Kids content to China, and gain a deeper understanding of how to distribute content across multiple platforms in this unique marketplace.”

Sean Chu, VP of Ciwen Kids, a division of Ciwen Media Group, said: “Ciwen Media Group has quickly become the market leader in introducing classic animation properties to Chinese kids and their families.  We are implementing a comprehensive plan for distribution of animation across China through the traditional channels such as broadcast, DVDs, print, publishing, toys, apparel and accessories, but also through emerging digital platforms such as Internet TV, OTTTV, e-publishing, and content for mobile devices and tablets. These wonderful kids’ properties from Zodiak represent world-class animation of the highest quality, and they possess the kind of universal and enduring appeal that will make them favourites of Chinese kids and their families.”