Latin America specialist Salsa Distribution has cooked up a deal with Brazil’s Globo TV for a five-year run of Tommy & Oscar, starting in January 2000. The 26 x 26-minute series about music-loving alien, Oscar, and his human friend, Tommy, is aimed at kids ages five to 10 and budgeted at about US$8.3 million. Salsa has already sold Tommy & Oscar into Chile, Peru and Bolivia, with sales pending as of press time in Argentina and Mexico. Producer Rainbow s.r.l. of Italy announced that a second 26 episodes of the series will be produced.

The deal follows Paris-based Salsa’s launch of Carrere’s Shéhérazade (a 52 x 26-minute series budgeted at roughly US$15.6 million) in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Columbia. The series was already airing in 10 countries, including Ecuador, Mexico, Panama, Peru and Paraguay, as well as on broadcasters HBO OLE and Televisa.

Salsa obtained local licensing and merchandising rights for both series and coordinated sales, with licensing opportunities made available in Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Colombia through local agent EXIM Licensing Group.

Salsa will now resume Latin American distribution for Jim Henson Productions following a one-year suspension while The Kermit Channel was established. Salsa is offering Henson shows such as Bear in the Big Blue House, Dr. Seuss and Jim Henson’s Animals, as well as newer offerings such as Mopatop’s Shop and Brats of the Lost Nebula.