Tag Archives: Rai Yoyo

Maurizio Distefano Licensing announces the arrival of Bluey toys in Italy

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Maurizio Distefano Licensing, Italian agent for BBC Studios’ property Bluey, has announced the arrival at retail of new Bluey toys from Giochi Preziosi, the Italian distributor of master toy licensee Moose Toys.

Bluey toys are now available in large-scale retail shops and major toy shop chains across Italy.

Bluey has been a massive success in Italy on Disney+, Rai YoYo and YouTube, and this timely collection of toys inspired by the colourful world of the little blue heeler is a real treat for fans of Bluey, her family and friends.

The line includes 20cm plush toys of Bluey and sister Bingo and six sets of action figures, four of which consist of two characters from the animated series (Grannies, Cousins, Pool Time, Skateboard) and two of which highlight four characters (Bluey’s Family, Bluey’s Friends). There will also be two mini playsets (Bingo’s Playroom and Bluey’s Playground) and, of course, the Heeler 4WD Family Vehicle.

The promotion and launch of the collection have left nothing to chance – inside 70 Toys Center shops there is a dedicated shelf, with an eye-catching layout and logo and a luminous sign. Supporting the launch, the rich media plan will include commercials on all preschool target TV stations. There will also be an integrated launch plan on the social channels of both Bluey and Giochi Preziosi.

Bluey has enjoyed excellent results in terms of views, registering an incredible 10.38% share on RaiYoYo in the 4-7-year-old range, taking second place on the podium on RaiYoYo for total time spent and occupying third place for the most viewed series by children on demand on Rai Play.

Further confirmation of the extraordinary success of the little Aussie dog in Italy comes in the form of the many licensing agreements already secured by Maurizio Distefano Licensing. Several products will be launched in the market in the coming months. Multiprint will produce a collection of stamp sets inspired by the series, Dulcop will offer a range of soap bubbles dedicated to the characters and Diramix plans a sticker album. Grabo meanwhile will bring Bluey to its inflatable balloons, Halantex will bring out Bluey bedding, and finally Dolfin, looking to 2023, will sweeten the Epiphany with a dedicated selection of Epiphany stockings.

Maurizio Distefano says: “As soon as I saw Bluey, I knew that it had strong potential in the Italian market but even this may be an understatement. The success of the animated series in Italy has encouraged many Italian licensees to partner with the property already and this success looks like continuing for some while.”

 

Bluey enjoys successful launch in Italy

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Maurizio Distefano Licensing, agent for Bluey since September 2021, has welcomed the series’ recent excellent ratings in Italy.

The loveable Australian dog has gained many Italian fans since her first appearance on Rai Yoyo, the public broadcast service’s preschool channel, in December 2021, and the show has established itself as number 1 among kids’ channels according to the latest (30 January 2022) Auditel ratings for reach – with more than 19,000 watching hours in just one week.

Bluey is also expanding its global presence with an Italian language channel (joining existing French, Spanish, Danish and English channels who share more than 1.2 million subscribers).

Bluey follows the adventures of Bluey, a six-year-old Blue Heeler dog, defined by her inexhaustible vitality, imagination and constant curiosity about the world, all of which are the driving force behind each episode.

Bluey lives in Brisbane, in the Australian region of Queensland, along with her father Bandit, mother Chilli and younger sister Bingo. The Heeler family are joined by family, friends and community (each belonging to different dog breeds) who are drawn into their games and adventures.

Bluey recently hit headlines around the world for an innovative collaboration with Airbnb, which saw the Heeler home faithfully reconstructed in a real-life version in a suburb of Brisbane. The home is available for one lucky family for a weekend stay and will also host online experiences for fans from around the globe.

Airbnb offering one family the chance to live like Bluey for the weekend

Rainbow names Giochi Preziosi master toy partner for Pinocchio and Friends

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Italian content powerhouse Rainbow and Italy’s historic leading toy company Giochi Preziosi have signed a partnership for the master toy line inspired by Iginio Straffi’s latest animated hit Pinocchio and Friends, already airing daily on Rai Yoyo.

Giochi Preziosi will initially distribute the line in Italy with a roll-out strategy that will bring action figures, dolls, playsets, and plush toys based on the show to the shelves starting next autumn, with the option of extending the agreement to other European countries and beyond.

Giochi Preziosi will invest significantly in the development of this new line, as well as in marketing and communication activities to support the launch and raise brand awareness.

“We are thrilled to collaborate with Giochi Preziosi, a historic partner and Italian reference point for almost half a century in the toy sector,” says Rainbow’s founder and CEO Iginio Straffi. “Developing together the toy line for a series full of inspiring features like Pinocchio and Friends is a great opportunity and will bring a touch of freshness, colour and fun to the daily lives of our children.”

The toy category’s debut is eagerly awaited by fans of the show, an original adaptation based on Carlo Collodi’s timeless classic and created in high quality CGI animation. Targeted at 4–7-year-olds, Pinocchio and Friends debuted on Rai Yoyo last November and is among the channel’s most watched shows.

After its successful release in Italy, the series will land in the UK this year thanks to a partnership with the BBC, which will broadcast Pinocchio on the leading children’s channel CBeebies, before continuing overseas to Discovery Kids Latin America.

The partnership signed with Giochi Preziosi is part of a broad development plan for the Consumer Products sector inspired by the show, with licensees already confirmed including Mondadori, Ravensburger, Dolfin, Fashion UK and Ciao.

Giochi Preziosi’s chairman Enrico Preziosi says: “When I came across this opportunity, I didn’t hesitate – it’s always a pleasure to create product lines inspired by the great tales of our cultural and literary tradition, as well as to work with Italian companies such as Rainbow, with whom Giochi Preziosi has been building and consolidating solid partnerships for years now. I really appreciated Iginio Straffi’s take on the great classic Pinocchio. I think it is a contemporary, funny, ironic and educational series; it reinterprets tradition in a modern key, without losing the charm and core values of the original version.”

 

 

Tycoon Enterprises named as Latin America rep for animated Topo Gigio series

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Topo Gigio S.r.l. announced today the appointment of Latin American licensing powerhouse Tycoon Enterprises as licensing agents for the iconic Italian television character Topo Gigio’s new animated series across Latin America, including Brazil.

Produced in Italy by Topo Gigio S.r.l., with Movimenti Production as executive producer and in collaboration with Rai Ragazzi, the new animated series introduces a collection of engaging adventures based on a revamped Gigio, and an ensemble cast of delightful characters that will connect with today’s kids and touch the hearts of families worldwide.

The animated show premiered on Rai Yoyo in October last year and has expanded since to countless international markets. The series launched on Discovery Kids Latin America in November and is rapidly amassing fans.

“There is no question about the love that Latin American audiences have for Topo Gigio,” says Dalia Benbassat, head of Corporate Relations at Tycoon. “To see Gigio come back in such an amazing and up-to-date form is not only a gift for those of us who grew up with the original character, but a fresh and powerful new inspiration for kids and young families today. This transversal appeal truly sets Gigio apart from any other show on TV. We could not be happier to be part of the extended G-Team!”

Established in Mexico in 1990, Tycoon Enterprises is the leading licensing network in Latin America. It has eight offices, in Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Peru, Colombia, Ecuador and Costa Rica.

For more information visit www.tycoon.mx and www.topogigio.com

Rainbow Group’s Pinocchio and Friends joins CBeebies lineup

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Italy’s Rainbow Group has inked an exclusive agreement with the UK’s leading free-to-air preschool channel CBeebies to broadcast its new CGI animated series Pinocchio and Friends from early 2022.

The new adaptation featuring the much-loved wooden character ranks as the most watched and top-rated show on Italian channel Rai Yoyo, which premiered Pinocchio and Friends last November.

Produced by Rainbow in collaboration with Rai Ragazzi and Toonz Media Group, the 26 x 12-minute action-comedy show retains the original values that made Collodi’s novel a timeless classic, while taking the audience on brand-new adventures set in the artfully designed, contemporary world.

The puppet is joined on his adventures by Freeda, a pirate doll always ready to board, and grumpy Talking Cricket, appointed by the Fairy with Turquoise Hair to keep an eye on them. Among old and new encounters, modern technology, and surprising twists, Pinocchio aims to take the audience on a funny journey to discover everyday little wonders and universal values such as inclusion, friendship and the power of dreams.

Rainbow’s Founder and CEO Iginio Straffi, who devised the concept for the new show, says: “I have been waiting for the right time to bring this concept to light with the attention and quality it deserves. My new Pinocchio brings out the essence of what makes this story so inspirational while speaking to children in a light-hearted, educational show that empowers their dreams with key life values and exciting dynamics.

“I couldn’t be more delighted that we’ve partnered with top-quality broadcaster BBC to air on CBeebies for British children next year, and we look forward to seeing the series thrive.”

 

 

 

New licensing opportunities for hit animation Bluey as it launches in Italy and Greece

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Produced by Ludo Studio and co-commissioned by BBC Studios and ABC Children’s, the much-loved global-hit animation Bluey will make its free-to-air debut on 27 December in Italy on Rai Yoyo, the public broadcast service’s preschool channel. The series will also air on ERT in Greece.

BBC Studios will also launch a new Italian language YouTube channel in January 2022 featuring clips and bonus content from the series.

Master toy partner Moose Toys will lead the product launch this coming Easter with their highly successful toy range via their distributor Giochi Preziosi. Other products from partners including global publishing partner Penguin Random House will follow. Maurizio Distefano Licensing was recently announced as BBC Studios’ licensing agent for Italy.

In Greece, Bluey will air on public broadcaster ERT, with transmission dates to be confirmed shortly. BBC Studios are in the process of finalizing the appointment of Partner Plus to act as licensing agent for Bluey in Greece and Cyprus. Giochi Preziosi will also handle distribution of Moose Toys in Greece and Turkey.

This marks further expansion in EMEA for the award-winning animation which has recently launched on free-to-air TV in Ireland, Denmark, Sweden and France. Bluey is also available on YouTube in French, Spanish and Danish and English with more than 950,000 subscribers.

The series follows Bluey, a six-year-old Blue Heeler dog who loves to play and turn everyday family life into extraordinary adventures that unfold in unpredictable and hilarious ways, bringing her family, friends and community into her world of fun.

Bluey has won the hearts of kids and parents around the world since it first launched in Australia in October 2018, and has quickly become a global hit.

In Australia, Bluey is the number one kids show on broadcast television in 2020 and is the most-watched series ever on ABC iview. In June 2019, BBC Studios struck a global broadcast deal with Disney to premiere Bluey in all territories outside Australia, New Zealand and Greater China; it now screens in over 60 countries.

In the UK, it was the most viewed show on CBeebies in August and is also available on Disney+. In the US, across Disney Junior and Disney Channel in Q2 2021, the show was the #1 most watched TV series with kids ages 2-5.

Bluey has also won multiple awards, such as the International Emmy Kids Award in the prestigious Preschool Category in 2020, and its second AACTA Awards for Best Children’s Program that same year. The accolades continue in 2021, with Bluey winning four Kidscreen Awards in February.

Bluey is produced by multi-Emmy award-winning Ludo Studio for ABC Kids Australia, co-commissioned by ABC Children’s and BBC Studios, and distributed internationally by BBC Studios outside of Australia.

‘The Adventures of Paddington’ scores a host of Italian licensing deals

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The Adventures of Paddington has secured its first Italian deals since launching on kids’ TV channel Rai YoYo earlier this year, helping Paddington firmly establish his presence in the Italian market. The deals were secured through The Copyrights Group’s agent in Italy, Rai Com, the wholly owned commercial subsidiary of Rai.

Edizioni Play Press will be publishing a range of magazines across a variety of formats, to be available in kiosk channels early next year.

Puzzles and games will be launching in Italy with Clementoni, in a deal that spans multiple territories across Europe from Q1 2022.

Rai Com has also renewed the agreement with Hopplà for character costume events in the Italian market. Paddington and Hopplà have had several years of successful partnership, with Paddington hosting English language workshops alongside meet and greet events and rides on Paddington’s train.

These partnerships follow the successful launch of the series on Rai YoYo, where The Adventures of Paddington airs three times daily, with audience peaks exceeding 200,000.

UNICEF will also be launching Paddington’s Postcards in Italy this October. Paddington’s Postcards offers children and families the chance to learn about other children around the world with Paddington, whilst also contributing to raising life-saving funds for UNICEF. Paddington’s Postcards is already available in the UK, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand, and Italy will be the first non-English-speaking country in which UNICEF will pilot the successful initiative.

The Copyrights Group is a full-service international IP development agency offering strategic worldwide brand development, licensing and retail expertise. Vivendi is The Copyrights Group’s parent organisation, which operates in Italy and around the world.

Second season of Rainbow’s 44 Cats debut in Italy this week, with global roll out to follow

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44 Cats, the popular children’s series from the European animation powerhouse, Rainbow, is ready to launch its second season to the global stage, making its debut on Italy’s Rai Yoyo channel this week.

Pay TV partners Discovery Kids and Nickelodeon will begin broadcast of the second season to audiences across Latin America and the rest of the world, respectively, from Q2 and Q3 this year. The show will later land on free to air broadcasters from autumn this year.

The first season of 44 Cats established record ratings since its very first launch in November 2018, and it’s proving a sensational success: 44 Cats is on air in over 100 countries and in more than 20 languages. According to Rainbow, the series is ‘conquering major kids networks,’ such as Carousel Russia where it is currently the number one show in the country for ratings and share.

Meanwhile, CCTV 14, China’s major kids’ content channel, the show launched early in February with ratings that confirm 44 Cats a leading show on the channel.

Produced by Rainbow in collaboration with Antoniano and Rai Ragazzi, the series is billed as a growing hit for ratings and web interactions, while making a significant impact on the licensing sector. Currently, more than 100 partners from across the world and a number of product categories have signed with 44 Cats, across both national and multi-territorial deals.

“Already on air on the major pay and free to air TV networks in the world and on leading digital platforms such as Netflix, Tencent and YOUKU in China, Start.ru and Yandex in Russia, 44 Cats is performing incredibly and turning into a true web phenomenon and a widespread success on YouTube, where the official channels have surpassed 320 million views in just 14 months,” said Rainbow in a press release.

The newest season comprises 52 episodes that follow the adventures of the Buffycats and Granny Pina as they are joined by new animal and human friends.

Rainbow added: “The explosive mix of action, comedy, friendship and great music makes 44 Cats a series that stands out worldwide, with a magnificent soundtrack of original songs by Antoniano.

After captivating TV, social media and the web around the world, the new chapter of the Made in Italy preschool classic by Rainbow is set to amaze again thanks to the great attention to product quality, universal values and educational content offer.”