– Britt Allcroft checks out pay-per-view

Britt Allcroft recently formed a partnership with Semaphore Entertainment Group, producers and distributors of pay-per-view events in the international market. The new partnership led to the pay-per-view airing of Britt Allcroft’s Magic Adventures of Mumfie earlier in September. Viewers could watch the show for US$4.95.

Britt Allcroft will be looking into additional pay-per-view opportunities for the future as market demands permit. This first pay-per-view event served to test the waters and illustrate if the medium would prove viable for children’s entertainment.

– NBC/Engel/Rysher team up again

Peter Engel Productions, NBC Enterprises and Rysher Entertainment are continuing their partnership, which began with the show Saved By the Bell. They are working on a new syndicated comedy called USA High.

USA High will launch in the fall of 1997. The series will be co-financed and distributed in the U.S. by Rysher Entertainment. NBC Enterprises is handling the international distribution.

– France 2 revamps kids block

PARIS: In the face of strong competition in the kids programming arena from TF1 and France 3, France 2 has revamped its kids block. The block, Donkey Kong’s Planet, encompasses six hours a week of programming. France 2’s youth programming budget totals FF105 million (US$20 million) with FF50 million (US$9 million) for acquisitions and FF55 million (US$11 million) for co-productions. Approximately 10 new animated projects are in development with French and European producers.