Kids round-up: eOne’s ‘Ricky Zoom’ heads to Nordics; Dansschool hires ODMedia for expansion

Ricky Zoom

Ricky Zoom lands in Nordics

NRK in Norway and SVT in Sweden have struck deals to acquire preschool animated series Ricky Zoom from Entertainment One (eOne).

NRK and SVT, which will debut the first season from November and spring 2020 respectively, join a growing list of broadcasters to have picked up the show including Nickelodeon (US), Nick Jr. and Channel 5’s Milkshake (UK), Treehouse (Canada) and Super RTL (Germany).

Clan TV (Spain), Gulli (France), RAI (Italy), Youku (China), Discovery Kids (Latin America), Karusel (Russia), Minika Cocuk (Turkey), EBS (South Korea) and Spacetoon (MENA) have also added the series.

eOne’s Monica Candiani, EVP of international content sales, family & brands, said: “Ricky Zoom is a show all about vehicles, friendship and adventure with meaningful life lessons woven into the storylines. There’s nothing quite like it in the preschool sector right now and the long list of top-tier broadcast partners signed to date demonstrates that it clearly has global appeal.”

Saskia’s Dansschool hires channel managers

Netherlands-based Expoza-ODMedia Group has struck a deal to handle all aspects of channel management for dance and fitness children’s channel Saskia’s Dansschool.

The YouTube channel, which has more than 5.5 million subscribers and 1.4 billion views worldwide, offers dance routines and choreographies performed by professional dancers and other children. The service was launched by professional dancer Saskia Van Dijk, who said the deal would allow the YouTube channel to be expanded globally.

“We know Expoza can make that next step a reality. They not only have the expertise, but they also share our work ethic and drive to inspire, motivate, and entertain,” said Van Dijk. “Now Saskia’s Dansschool’s message of togetherness, inspiration and being able to express yourself is going to reach even more people and I am very excited for that.”

Sjef Pijnenburg, CEO of ODMedia Group added: “As specialists in launching, expanding and curating children’s channels, we are looking forward to further expanding her beautiful message and providing her with the right strategies for her big plans and digital distribution growth.”

CBBC welcomes The Snow Spider

The Snow Spider

CBBC and CBBC Wales have ordered a family adventure series based on Jenny Nimmo’s bestselling book trilogy The Snow Spider.

The 5 x 30 minute self-titled fantasy drama is being produced by Leopard Pictures and adapted for TV by writer Owen Sheers (Aberfan: The Green Hollow).

The show, which will premiere on CBBC and BBC Wales in 2020, blends ancient Welsh folklore, magic and myth with contemporary adventures.

The story revolves around a nine-year-old boy whose younger sister has disappeared and is introduced to a magical magical snow spider who helps him to find her.

The series is directed by Jennifer Sheridan, with Martyna Knitter as director of photography and Liverpool-based visual effects company Sparkle VFX also onboard.

Nick Andrews, commissioning editor, BBC Wales, said: “We’re all about to be whisked away to a magical world that’s captured the hearts and minds of a generation of readers. Deep in myth and magic yet rooted in family. This is series is going to be a cracker.”