WildBrain and Mattel have inked multiple new distribution deals internationally for animated kids shows Fireman Sam and Polly Pocket.

The new deals are part of a multi-year co-development, production, distribution and licensing agreement between Mattel and WildBrain.

In Europe, new deals for season 16 of Fireman Sam include Cartoonito (Italy, U.K.), RTÉ (Ireland), NRK (Norway), Canal+’s MiniMini+ (Poland) and NPO (Netherlands), which has also picked up season 15, and long-time Fireman Sam partner KiKA (Germany), which has also picked up the special, Alien Alert (1 x 60 minutes). Also on board for the series are Pro Films (Bulgaria) for seasons 14 to 15, Leonine Studios (Germany) for season 15, and TFOUMAX (France) for seasons 12 to 13.

Additional European deals for Fireman Sam include KPN (Netherlands) for seasons 11 to 12 and Norman Price and the Mystery in the Sky (1 x 44 minutes); and Blue Entertainment (Switzerland and Liechtenstein) for seasons 12 to 14 and films Alien Alert, Norman Price and the Mystery in the Sky, Heroes of the Storm (1 x 60 minutes), and Set for Action! (1 x 60 minutes).

In the FAST space, WildBrain has launched new Fireman Sam FAST channels on LG Channels, available on LG Smart TVs (U.S. and Canada), Samsung TV Plus (U.S.), and Sling Freestream (U.S.), which include seasons one to 11 (198 x 11 minutes), The Great Fire of Pontypandy, Heroes of the Storm, Alien Alert, Set for Action! and Snow Business. Additionally, Peacock has launched seasons one and two.

For Polly Pocket season six, WildBrain has signed deals with Cartoonito (Italy), ITVX Kids (U.K.), Canal+’s TeleTOON+ (Poland), and Cúla4/TG4 (Ireland), which has also picked up season five (26 x 11 minutes). Additional deals for the series include Leonine Studios (Germany) for season five; hoopla (U.S., Canada, Australia and New Zealand) for seasons one through five; blue Play (Switzerland) for seasons one, two and five; Crave (Canada) for seasons three and four; and Pro Films (Bulgaria) and Kids Street (U.S. and its territories) for season one.

Slice

Corus-owned network Slice has expanded its deals with studios for new unscripted genres, adding 173 hours of new content.

The new titles include Love After Lockup, True Crime News, The Braxtons, and more, joining the previously announced addition of The Daily Show. All of the new content will be streamed on StackTV.

The specialty channel has been the Canadian home to several Bravo series, but an output deal between Rogers and NBCUniversal has diverted content to Rogers’ new Bravo channel, which launched this month. Current seasons of Below Deck Mediterranean, The Real Housewives of Dubai, Million Dollar Listing: Los Angeles, and The Real Housewives of Orange County will finale this fall, with streaming on StackTV available into 2025.

Slice’s primetime lineup continues to include movies and comedy marathons, including new addition The Goldbergs, as well as Will & Grace, The Neighborhood, and Ghosts.

Amuz Distribution

Amuz Distribution has inked deals for FAST and OTT channels for Just for Laughs (JFL) programming. Amuz acquired most of the JFL Group assets in June, when it also tapped Carlos Pacheco, former JFL director of OTT/FAST channel strategy and operations, as its director of monetization and OTT.

The new platforms that will carry JFL programming are Amazon Fire TV, Anoki and Local Now.

Over the last two years, FAST channels of JFL programming have been in full expansion and by adding these new channels, the programs are now syndicated across 30-plus platforms and markets inlcuding Samsung TV Plus, Roku, Xumo Play, Google TV, Rakuten TV, Sling TV and others. 

Yes TV

Family and faith-based channel Yes TV has inked a multi-year renewal with CBS International Canada to remain the Canadian home for Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! through the 2027-28 broadcast year.

The deal also allows the broadcaster to retain first-run rights for the reality courtroom title Hot Bench as well as new game show Flip Side.

Judge Judy, Blue Bloods, Bull and NUMB3RS are also part of the agreement with Yes TV and CBS International Canada.

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