Chinese online conglomerate Alibaba has snagged two new shows from The Media Pioneer—The Moe Show and Pop Up (pictured)—that will roll out later this year on its digital platform and on Youku, its streaming video platform that has more than 500 million active monthly users. Alibaba also plans to promote the TV IPs across China through its online retail service.
Both The Moe Show (104 x 11 minutes and 27 x 23 minutes) and Pop Up (42 x three minutes) are produced by New Zealand’s Pop Up Workshop, which primarily uses puppetry as a way of creating huggable characters for kids.
The acquisition deal with The Media Pioneer also included adult drama series Taboo, which will premiere in China on Alibaba’s platforms this month. Produced by Scott Free London and Hardy Son & Baker, it first aired last year on BBC One in the UK and FX in the US.