BBC

The British pubcaster has picked up Pokémon for the first time. Following a deal with The Pokémon Company, BBC iPlayer will launch Pokémon the Series: Diamond and Pearl (189 episodes) on August 2, followed by Pokémon the Series: Black & White (142 eps) this fall. It has also acquired eight Pokémon movies for its linear channels and iPlayer.

The brand that debuted in Japan 25 years ago as two Game Boy titles has since expanded with a world-renowned anime series spanning more than 1,000 episodes, which have aired in 176 different countries in more than 30 languages.

Jetpack Distribution

The UK-based company has acquired international distribution rights to the complete portfolio of Spookiz content (pictured) from South Korean animation studio Keyring. The deal covers three seasons of the Spookiz TV series (75 x 2.5 minutes), as well as 81-minute film Spookiz: The Movie and a spinoff short series called Spookiz Cookie (25 x 2.5 minutes).

This non-verbal toon is aimed at kids ages six to 11, and stars a group of friendly monsters who have slapstick adventures at school.

It premiered on South Korean channel GBus TV in 2014, and was later picked up by SBS (South Korea). In 2015, WildBrain Spark inked a deal with Keyring to distribute Spookiz on YouTube, and it has since amassed more than four billion views on the AVOD worldwide, according to a release from Jetpack.

ViacomCBS UK

Banking on outdoor gatherings continuing to be permitted, the entertainment company has inked a deal with the UK’s Parkdean Resorts to launch events based on Channel 5’s Milkshake! and Nickelodeon brands at 40 hotels across the country. Parkdean will run all-ages events featuring SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and PAW Patrol throughout the year.

ViacomCBS UK has also teamed up with GO Outdoors to run a 5 on the Farm outdoor event from August 28 to 30, featuring live panels, characters from kids series Milkshake! Monkey, and activities that encourage kids to get outside more.

Scholastic

The publisher has signed a deal with Surge Licensing to create a range of books inspired by the YouTube-first brand Spy Ninjas in the US and Canada.

The live-action adventure series aimed at kids ages six and up (112 x 10 minutes) is about a team of ninjas who save the world from evil hackers. As part of the three-year deal, Scholastic will release an official guidebook, graphic novels and activity books, with the first titles hitting shelves this fall.

Nickelodeon International

The mediaco has teamed up with nonprofit OneSight to launch a campaign encouraging kids to get glasses and care for their eyes. “Framing the Future” will feature short-form and digital content showcasing kid stars and animated characters from Nickelodeon’s popular programming.

Yesterday, the companies unveiled a new digital hub that hosts quizzes, polls, activities and original mixed-media videos. Nick will also air a three-hour programming block of episodes that see characters including SpongeBob and the Chipmunks wearing glasses. Facts about eye health will pop up on screen during the marathon.