21 January, 2008
FIREWORKS INTERNATIONAL ANNOUNCES THE ACQUISITION OF THE CBC INTERNATIONAL CATALOGUEFireworks International is delighted to announce its collaboration with the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, whereby Fireworks will acquire the international distribution rights and assets currently managed by CBC’s division responsible for international sales. The deal includes the sale of CBC’s programme catalogue of approximately 135 titles, comprising 700 hours of quality television programming. The catalogue features superb drama series; great documentary programmes; arts and entertainment titles and lifestyle shows along with programming from many other genres, which will now be sold alongside the Fireworks TV library as a distinct and attractive addition to it.
THE PRIMETIME EMMY® AWARDS
The Primetime Emmy® Awards continue to mesmerize audiences around the globe. Showing in over 143 territories the entertainment extravaganza adds sparkle to any schedule. When viewers expect to see only the very best in big event television then The Primetime Emmy® Awards Show delivers.
ROBOTECH HEADS FOR HOLLYWOOD
Warner Bros. Pictures has picked up the rights to bring Fireworks’ anime classic series ROBOTECH to the big screen. Tobey Maguire (Spider-Man) is set to produce under his Maguire Entertainment label and it has been rumoured that he is eyeing the lead role! “We are very excited to bring ‘Robotech’ to the big screen,” Maguire said. “There is a rich mythology that will be a great foundation for a sophisticated, smart and entertaining film.” See Robotech, the remastered series, for 85 episodes of digitally restored anime brilliance and 5.1 digital surround sound. An incredible home theatre experience!
WORLDWIDE FRENZY AS JPOD UNVEILS MASSIVE VIRTUAL FOOTPRINT
JPOD (A No Equal Entertainment Production), the new television series based on Douglas Coupland’s bestselling novel, is generating an unprecedented web presence including an array of dynamic websites inspired by the show’s characters and themes. Websites include: www.neotronicarts.com, the corporate website of the massive gaming company which includes glimpses into the games the Podsters are developing; CBC’S official jPod site www.cbc.ca/jpod and the jPod Lounge, a complete, interactive 3D visit to the actual jPod. The jPod Lounge is also a hub to the entire jWeb universe. Other fun sites include www.defendoid.com featuring a retro video game called Defendoid and www.jpodcowboy.com, a blog by jPod’s resident ladies’ man, Cowboy, which chronicles his endless array of intimate internet encounters. Don’t forget to visit the Fireworks site www.contentfilm.com/jpod for more online clips!
TEEN SENSATION
Multi award-winning and international sales success teen series BEING EVE continues to amuse and entertain teen audiences worldwide. This fresh, upbeat and light-hearted catalogue favourite looks at early teen life as seen through the eyes of 15-year-old Eve. Eve is the voice of the series – quite literally. Her thoughts are heard loud and clear as she muses on what it means to be a teenager in the new millennium in a small country at the bottom of the world and where she fits into it all. Her burning curiosity means that sometimes she just can’t help getting involved, usually with amusing consequences!
SHIA LaBEOUF
Shia LaBeouf ’s comic timing and impish boy-next-door looks quickly secured his first TV role. At just 14 years old, having garnered a large number of fans for his acting work, he earned himself a Daytime Emmy Award for the lead on the tween series EVEN STEVENS, produced by Brookwell-McNamara Entertainment and distributed internationally by Fireworks International. As the star of 2007’s mega-successful tentpole film, TRANSFORMERS, the voice of the lead penguin in the animated SURF’S UP and the vulnerable bad boy in the recent hit teen thriller DISTURBIA, it’s not surprising that Shia LaBeouf is being touted as the next Tom Hanks. And, as Steven Spielberg’s first choice to co-star with Harrison Ford and Cate Blanchett in the upcoming next instalment of the Indiana Jones feature franchise, LaBeouf is rapidly claiming his spot on Hollywood’s walk of fame.
ENJOY DIRTY ROTTEN LOVE THIS VALENTINES DAY!
This Valentine’s Day (14th February) let Fireworks International help you schedule the very best in love, lust, betrayal and revenge with a collection of programming full of dangerous liaisons. Just how far would you go for someone you love? In these twisted tales of passion, seduction, lust and jealousy, love sends these women and men over the edge and puts lives at risk.
POISON (1 x 95’), stars Rosanna Arquette (Desperately Seeking Susan) as a young mother who, after becoming estranged from her teenage daughter while incarcerated for a crime she did not commit, discovers that her daughter’s attempts at reconciliation are masking a deadly intent.
An action thriller not to be missed!
Inspired by a true story, MAN IN THE ATTIC chronicles the 25-year affair between a married, manipulative woman and her naïve, young lover who secretly lives in her attic. A powerful tale of twisted and obsessive love.
Other action thrillers which will keep you wondering if you can really trust the person you love include: BLIND HEAT (1 x 95’), STOLEN YOUTH (1 x 94’), CRIMES OF PASSION: SLEEPWALKER (1 x 94’) and THE GIRL NEXT DOOR (1 x 94’).
CATALOGUE WINNERS
The gems of the Fireworks catalogue continue to perform well with the recent announcement of the licence of ANDROMEDA (Seasons 1 – 5) and MUTANT X (Seasons 1 – 3) to the new pan-Scandinavian Sci-Fi Channel operated by TV4 Sweden, EVEN STEVENS (eps 1 – 32) to Sogecable in Spain, SCOUT’S SAFARI and BEAR WITH ME to Cartoon Network in Latin America, and EVEN STEVENS (Seasons 1 – 3) and A WRINKLE IN TIME licensed to Disney Channel in Australia, proving that the appetite for these library titles remains very strong.
VAMPIRES ON DEMAND!
Crime thriller BLOOD TIES wows viewers on air and on demand. In addition to a raft of deals secured in key territories for traditional media, the series with bite is now also available in the UK on demand via Virgin Media Television’s On Demand Platform. In the US, Lifetime unveiled BLOOD TIES on March 11th 2007. The 2-hour pilot was launched at 21:00, while the following 10 episodes aired at 22:00 each Sunday, till May, 20th 2007. The series attracted an average of more than one million viewers, equivalent to a share of 1.1% – positioning itself as the fourth most watched drama on high profile cable networks among Women 18+ on Sunday evening outpacing movies on TBS as well as critically acclaimed series such as Dirt (FX) and The Tudors (Showtime). – Source: Mediametrie – Eurodata TV Worldwide/Nielsen Media Research USA.
In the UK on Living TV, BLOOD TIES increased its market share week on week proving a big hit! See more at www.bloodties.tv
FIREWORKS STRIKES AN OUT-OF-THIS-WORLD DEAL WITH THE PARANORMAL
Fireworks International has concluded an exclusive deal to distribute US based Paranormal TV’s programming catalogue spanning over 100 hours. As an expansion of its move into multi-platform content distribution, Fireworks International will distribute the Paranormal TV catalogue of television series, made-for-television documentaries, and independently produced films focusing on the paranormal, from ghosts, witchcraft and re-incarnation to UFOs, aliens and conspiracy theories. The deal allows Fireworks International the right to exploit this programming globally in the VOD, broadband and mobile markets, complementing its growing slate of multi-platform programming. In addition, the deal includes the distribution rights to two unique short format content propositions currently in development at Paranormal TV with the broadband and mobile market in mind.
SALES SOAR FOR SUICIDAL SQUIRRELS
Fireworks International has licensed the fun and simply irresistible comedy animation series Suicidal Squirrels (28 x 1 minute episodes) to a raft of TV and new media providers. The sweet little squirrels that kill themselves one by one in a series of ingenious suicides – always with a smile on their tiny little faces – will be showcased on platforms worldwide with agreements in place with Azureus Inc, AXN Central Europe, Fox’s FX branded mobile and online channels and services, MCM Europe and Knocka TV.
MONDO MINI SHOWS
Fireworks’ Digital Division has acquired over 20 hours of animated shorts from award-winning digital company Mondo Media. The Mondo Mini Shows catalogue (including the Icebox catalogue) features a raft of offbeat comedy programming designed for an adult audience, providing an irreverent look at life from celebrity and music to politics and religion.
Rights for the short form and half hour compilation episodes are available for broadcast, online, mobile, VOD, IPTV and home video distribution.
View our online Natpe Newsletter here.
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