L.A.’s DIC Entertainment, Toronto’s Nelvana Enterprises and U.K. channel operator/distributor Sparrowhawk Media have joined forces to create KidsCo, a new player in the children’s broadcast world.

The trio unveiled plans for the global multiplatform channel on Tuesday, looking to debut on cable carriers in central and eastern Europe this fall and in another approximately 40 territories across Europe, Latin America and Asia Pacific by 2009 — using Nelvana content and Sparrowhawk’s distribution expertise. The company currently programs Hallmark Channels in more than 150 different countries.

Former president of Walt Disney TV International David Hulbert assumes the role of chairman, while former Disney Channels UK exec Paul Robinson takes a spot in upper management. His full post has yet to be defined.

DIC and Nelvana will provide animated, live-action and feature-length programming. The pair has some 6,000 hours ready to go, including eps of DIC’s Inspector Gadget, Strawberry Shortcake and Madeline, and Babar and Franklin from Nelvana. To shore up its stock, KidsCo also plans to acquire third-party programming and to produce original series to meet the needs of local markets.

‘This partnership reinforces the strength of Nelvana’s library in international markets,’ said John Cassaday, president and CEO of parent Corus Entertainment, in a release. Corus struck a similar deal last year when it agreed to provide Nelvana programs to Qubo, the recently launched U.S. digichannel and programming block backed by NBC Universal and ION Media Networks.

Like Qubo, KidsCo will face off against animation stalwarts Disney, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon. The stated aim of the company is to turn a profit by its third year.

From KidScreen Daily