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Moves
The top-five things on our radar this month
CONSUMER PRODUCTS / INTERACTIVE / RETAIL / TVMore tablets make their way in while Barbie moves out of China. We’re keeping our eyes on what’s happening in the fast-paced kids’ industry.
How I Did It – Doug Murphy
TVWith a Harvard MBA in hand, Doug Murphy thought he would end up on Wall Street. But an offer from Disney put him on the path to kids entertainment. Two decades later, he admits this business is still where his heart is because “it’s where I grew up.”
Digging deeper
INTERACTIVE / KID INSIGHTTapping into kids’ interest in series like CSI, the Smithsonian and MIT create a groundbreaking game.
Hooked on toons
TVHow book illustrator Noah Jones was lured by Disney to create the original series Fish Hooks.
TV
Family fare leads in France
KID INSIGHT / TVThere’s a lot of co-viewing going on, but recent ratings also show that Gallic kids are quite keen on original content produced in their territory.
Driving digital Down Under
TVNew leadership takes the reins at Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand.
Rainbow’s Winx spin-off takes global flight
TVThough Winx Club had given PopPixie a head start on building brand awareness with both audiences and buyers, the concept still had to prove itself on the worldwide stage.
Ready to roll
TVWith five years of imagining, developing and honing concepts under its belt, Cartoon Network Development Studio Europe is ready to debut its first commission, The Amazing World of Gumball .
Consumer Products
Made in China?
CONSUMER PRODUCTSProduction costs are up more than 15% this year in the world’s manufacturing hub. The question is whether or not toy makers can continue to pay the price.
Robotic retail
CONSUMER PRODUCTSHigh-tech vending machines are poised to become a new small-format sales channel.
Rushing the field
NEWSWith a football-themed series on NickToons, The NFL aims to expand the brand into kids consumer products.
Kid Insight
It’s only rock n’ roll…
KID INSIGHT…But US kids ages six to 11 like it, and many other genres of music. Nickelodeon delves into their listening habits.
Interactive
Wired to learn
INTERACTIVE / KID INSIGHTIf they’re capable of being as educational as they are entertaining, will learning-based apps actually make kids smarter earlier?
Niche networks
INTERACTIVE / TVContent aggregator Kidobi gets personal with online TV.
IntoNow checks out TV market
INTERACTIVEAs the latest contender in the growing location-based social networking space, IntoNow has a youth-friendly twist in that it allows users to virtually ‘check in’ to TV programs from the comfort of their own homes.
MIPTV 2011
Select segments
INTERACTIVE / KID INSIGHT / TVResearch firm Insight Kids delivers an in-depth look inside the cognitive and social drivers that influence the media habits and content preferences of key kids demos around the globe.
Series e-volution
INTERACTIVE / TVAs the rate at which kids watch video online climbs, internet portals are on the hunt for exclusive content to engage visitors. The good news? There seems to be a business model emerging for the production of web-only shows.
Cool new shows
TVAdventure and comedy (with a nice side of potty humor) abound in this crop of original series launching at this year’s MIPTV market.
The definitive kids ent resource.
Photos
MIPCOM 2012 -