Environmentally-Conscious Underwater Adventure Series From Taffy Entertainment and Mike Young Productions joins second season line-up of Sprout's The Let's Go Show
LOS ANGELES - May 14, 2008 - PBS KIDS Sprout, the first 24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online for kids ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers, has secured US broadcast rights to "Dive Olly Dive!," the award-winning, high-definition CGI-animated underwater adventure series from Taffy Entertainment. The preschool-oriented show is scheduled to debut June 7 within Sprout's original weekend morning block, The Let's Go Show.
"Dive Olly Dive!" follows the fun-filled underwater escapades of Olly and Beth, two young research submarines-in-training. The two live in a deep-sea research center known as SURF--the Special Underwater Research Facility, where they experience the joys and challenges of life in their underwater world, much in the same way that preschoolers experience life in their world. Created using the latest advances in high-definition 3D CGI animation, the series features an incredibly lifelike underwater world, along with storylines that educate children on the delicate nature of the ecosystems that exist beneath the oceans.
The show is a winner of the 2008 Parents' Choice Award and Hugo Television Award (Certificate of Merit), in addition to being nominated for an Emmy® Award, Prix Jeunesse and Best Animated Series at the 2008 Annecy International Festival of Animated Film.
"Dive Olly Dive! is the perfect addition to our Let's Go Show weekend morning block, which is all about fun, exploration and learning," said Andrew Beecham, senior vice president of programming for Sprout. "The rich animation, charming storylines and positive messages in every episode are sure to engage our young viewers, as well as their parents and caregivers."
"PBS Kids Sprout is a fantastic home for Dive Olly Dive! and we look forward to introducing the show to their millions of kid viewers," said Lionel Marty, president of worldwide sales for Taffy Entertainment. "They have done an incredible job growing the Sprout brand on the linear, VOD and online platforms, making this the place to be."
Dive Olly Dive! is a co-production of Mike Young Productions Limited (MYP), Flying Bark Productions of Australia, KI.KA, ARD of Germany, Telegael of Ireland and GDC. Created by Andrew and Ian Ross, it is produced with the support of the MEDIA Plus Programme of the European Community.
High-resolution images are available in the media gallery at http://www.fishwithfeet.com/mediagallery.htm.
About Sprout®
PBS KIDS Sprout, the first 24-hour preschool destination available on TV, on demand and online for kids ages 2-5 and their parents and caregivers, was created as a partnership among Comcast Corporation, HIT Entertainment, PBS and Sesame Workshop. Since debuting its video on demand (VOD) service in April 2005, Sprout has become the #1 On Demand service for younger children, generating over 400 million orders. The 24-hour digital channel, which launched in September 2005 along with the website (SproutOnline.com), is the only channel that follows the day of child from breakfast to bedtime with its distinctive programming. Currently, Sprout is available in 40 million unique households.
The network's program lineup of gold-standard, curriculum-based children's shows includes: Sesame Street®, Bob the Builder™, Barney & Friends™, Thomas & Friends™, Angelina Ballerina™, Caillou®, The Berenstain Bears™, Jay Jay the Jet Plane®, Teletubbies™, Dragon Tales™, Pingu™, Make Way For Noddy™, The Hoobs™, Fifi and the Flowertots™ and more.
About Taffy Entertainment
Taffy Entertainment (www.TaffyEntertainment.com) is a leading worldwide distribution, brand management and entertainment company representing brands from some of the largest animation producers across the globe. This includes the prolific Mike Young Productions; MoonScoop Productions, the top producer of animation in Europe; and select properties from third parties. Taffy's library for distribution and/or consumer products includes the Emmy® Award-nominated series "ToddWorld," "Dive Olly Dive!" and "Growing Up Creepie," as well as "Pet Alien," "Titeuf" (TooTuff), "Mix Master," "Fantastic Four," "Code Lyoko" and "Casper," among many others. With offices in Paris, Los Angeles and Shanghai, the company has fully-integrated production, distribution, licensing, merchandising and marketing facilities. It also has a library that includes over 3,000 half hours of animation, encompassing some of the most recognizable worldwide brands and best-loved animated creations in the global television market. The company also distributes to leading broadcasters in 160 countries around the world.
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Media Contacts:
Marc Grossmann, Taffy Entertainment: (818) 227-8966 or PR@taffyentertainment.com
Jenni Glenn, PBS KIDS Sprout: (215) 286-2703 or jenni_glenn@sproutonline.com