Nelvana, an international producer and distributor of children’s programming, has extended its video-on-demand operations to Europe via a broadband initiative with British Telecommunications Inc. (BT). Following on the heels of Nelvana’s North American partnerships with Comcast and Rogers (along with preschool broadcaster Treehouse), the deal will first see such series as Maggie and the Ferocious Beast, Little Bear, Babar, Max & Ruby and The Fairly OddParents made available to BT customers by late summer/fall of 2006.
Using their TV sets and set top box by Philips, BT clientele will be able to choose from a wide range of broadband-powered on-demand film, music and television programming with no mandatory monthly subscription fee. The next-generation platform will also offer an interactive and communications service, as well as access to digital terrestrial channels through the aerial.
“It’s an exciting time for content producers as the promise of on-demand services and next-generation TV platforms is realized through providers such as BT,” says Doug Murphy, Nelvana’s exec VP of business development. “This deal opens the European video-on-demand market to Nelvana’s deep library of animated family programming, and we are proud to have gained this foothold with an innovative partner like BT.”
Nelvana, owned by Canadian-based media and entertainment company Corus Ent., also handles such popular animated properties as Rolie Polie Olie, Franklin and Beyblade. More information can be found at the Corus website at www.corusentertainment.com.
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