ABC3 RENEWS PRANK PATROL
April. 26, '10
MIPTV: Australian digital children's channel ABC3 has signed up for a second season of kids reality show Prank Patrol.
Originally created by Canada's Apartment 11 Productions for YTV, the Australian version is made for the public broadcaster by local independent prodco activeTV.
Season one of Prank Patrol, which launched on ABC3 in December, followed by a repeat on flagship channel ABC1 in March, consistently made the top five shows among five- to 12-year-olds on both channels.
[SB - Banijay 1] "The show was a ratings winner from day one and its audience continues to grow," said ABC TV's executive head of children's television, Tim Brooke-Hunt, who confirmed the renewal.
The Australian version has also outperformed both the original Canadian and UK versions by as much as 50%, said activeTV's president, Michael McKay.
ActiveTV is shortly to start production on a second season of 39 half-hour episodes.
LA-based producer and distributor MarVista Entertainment holds exclusive worldwide distribution rights to Prank Patrol. MarVista is now selling the first season of the Australian version (26x30'), as well as the Canadian (100 episodes) and UK versions (40 episodes) here in Cannes.
In related news, activeTV and Apartment 11 have signed a multi-platform licensing agreement with ABC's distribution arm, ABC Commercial, for Prank Patrol Australia.
The deal gives ABC Commercial home entertainment, merchandising, mobile, online, transport/hotel and live-event rights for Australia and New Zealand. The first DVD of the show is released in May.
Gün Akyuz
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