11th June 2011. LazyTown continues its success on air, with broadcast deals agreed with numerous TV channels across the world. In particular recent agreement with American children’s channel Sprout, which is the #1 kid’s network among moms of pre-schoolers, has selected LazyTown as a “flagship brand” with everyday HD episodes starting this September and a 2-hour branded afternoon block starting January 2012. LazyTown currently also airs on Vme, #1 Spanish network for preschool children, multiple times daily.
New Content in Development
Cooking show
Currently a Cooking show with 13 episodes 9 minute long is being developed in co-operation with TVE Spain, Olive Oil Association and the Mediterranean Diet Foundation who are funding the production. “The LazyTown Cooking Adventure“ is a cooking show like you´ve never seen before as it will mix together puzzles, obstacles and simple healthy recipes. The format will be supported with a cooking book and extra video for online extension to the format. It’s now in pre-production, with filming taking place in 380 Studios in September and October 2011 with post-production completed in November.
Action Time
A new action packed show for kids – a magazine-style format delivered the LazyTown way. Each episode is themed around one healthy topic, such as sports, outdoor activities, or healthy eating. Episode themes range from basketball to SportsCandy (fruits and vegetables), encouraging children to make healthy lifestyle choices in LazyTown’s fun, fast-paced style.
The show stars the lovable Ziggy meeting real kids and introducing them to the LazyTown lifestyle.
There are 26 episodes 11 minute long available or 130, 1-minute sequences available as interstitials.
The popularity of Sportacus, and his campaign to improve kids’ health and active lifestyle, in many other countries continues to grow, and the numerous new and renewed licences that reflect this. New TV deals with TET TV in the Ukraine, Serbian National Television and Thailand‘s leading satellite cable television operator True Vision, allowing LazyTown to reach 1.5 million households in the emerging region as well as the following deals and renewals:
Turner Broadcasting Systems in the Nordics and France
LazyTown has after 5 years on Disney entered into a partnership with Turner Broadcasting Systems for Pay TV in France and the Nordic countries which will replace the Disney broadcast in the respective territories.
Italy: LazyTown moves to new terrestrial kids’ channel
Following a successful test run last year on the Italian channel Rai Tre, we launch in September on Rai Yoyo – the national public broadcast network’s dedicated digital children’s channel.
South Africa’s e.tv launches twice-a-week airings
In June, LazyTown will launch on e.tv, South Africa’s leading commercial free-to-air broadcaster, showing twice a week, on Sundays at 8.30am and Wednesdays at 3.30pm. E.tv Group Head of Multi-Channel Development, Monde Twala, says: “LazyTown is a welcome addition to e.tv’s children’s programming, and forms part of our new brand, Little e. The show forms part of our broader strategy of promoting a healthy lifestyle to our younger viewers, encouraging them to keep fit and eat correctly.”
Irish channel leads the way with Action Time
Ireland’s national broadcaster, RTE, has been the first broadcaster, after Iceland’s Channel 2, to acquire LazyTown’s new series, Action Time. It will launch in the Emerald Isle later this year. They have also re-licensed, once again, the original LazyTown series.
Sportacus Down Under
Australia’s prestigious ABC network has now licensed all 53 episodes of LazyTown. As well as being Australia’s national public broadcaster, ABC is also the leading broadcast platform for children’s programming. Episodes are being aired daily on ABC2, as part of the new “ABC 4 Kids” 13-hour-daily pre-school block.
Star TV, Greece, renew contract
Last September, LazyTown was launched in Greece by the national free-to-air broadcaster, Star TV and captured with approximately 50% share of viewers in the target audience group. It is currently being broadcast every Saturday and Sunday in their children’s block, and Star have recently renewed their licence.
LazyTown remains ever-popular in Germany
LazyTown has already been on air in Germany for five years. It continues to perform well on the Super RTL channel, and, as a result, has once again been re-licensed this year.