Mediaset’s Italia 1 has bought the broadcast TV rights to the animated preschool series Toot & Puddle.
Produced by Canada’s Mercury Filmworks in association with National Geographic Kids Entertainment, the Spanish brand management company Elastic Rights handles all broadcasting, home video, licensing and merchandise rights in Spain and Italy. It additionally handles the property, including pay-TV rights, in Portugal, Greece and Turkey.
Based on the books by Holly Hobbie, Toot & Puddle follows the adventures a pair of pig pals as they visit interesting places and cultures around the world.
This series, which has already been sold to more than 60 countries around the world, is currently broadcast on Boomerang in Italy and Spain. In Portugal the series has recently been sold to RTP and Elastic Rights is in conversations to close a Free TV deal is Spain as well as broadcasting deals in Greece and Turkey.
In the United States, Toot & Puddle books, DVDs and plush toys are already on the market and apparel, further home video and other categories are being pursued for launch in 2010 and beyond.
