Nelvana has struck a multifaceted deal with Germany’s RTV Family Entertainment ag. Nelvana says the agreement, finalized Dec. 3, gives rtv television, home video, and merchandising sub-agency distribution rights to 560 Nelvana current and library half-hours for exploitation in Germany, Eastern Europe and certain Nordic territories.

In return, Nelvana is to receive a non-refundable distribution advance of us$10.25 million ($15.1 million) in the next year. Nelvana cfo and senior vp of finance, Sally Moyer Kent, says episodes from 1998 and ’99 make up 30% of the library rtv is buying.

Nelvana and rtv have also signed a three-year, US$22-million ($32.5 million) reciprocal distribution agreement, whereby rtv will buy television, home video and merchandising sub-agency rights to a minimum of 65 Nelvana tv episodes per year, beginning in 2000. The two companies have also agreed they will coproduce at least two 26-episode tv series over the next three years.

Kent says no decisions have been made as to which new series rtv will buy or coproduce, but says details should be available early in the new year.

rtv is a leader in German children’s production and programming, and is 78% owned by Ravensburger, a large German publisher and toy maker.