Blue Ant Media

Blue Ant Media and Smithsonian Networks’ joint venture Love Nature is launching as a linear channel in the Nordic Region, after pay-TV operator T-We, owned by telecom operator Telenor Norway, inked a two-year carriage deal for the wildlife and natural history channel. Through the deal, Love Nature will become available to T-We’s 600,000 English-speaking subscribers. America’s Wild Border: Northern Exposure (pictured), The Great Elephant Tale, Secrets of Wild Australia and Malawi Wildlife Rescue are among the recently commissioned shows set to air on the Nordic channel. According to Blue Ant, Love Nature now has a reach of more than 200 million households internationally.

Nelvana

Corus Entertainment-owned prodco and distributor Nelvana has tapped Blue Socks Media as its distribution partner in Africa. The U.S.-based rights management and distribution company will secure broadcast partnerships in territories across the continent for Nelvana’s more than 4,400-episode content library. Neill Warren, EVP distribution and licensing, will lead sales efforts in the territory, with support from its headquarters in Charlotte, NC, led by president Toni Steedman. Blue Socks Media has previously sold the TV franchise Raggs worldwide. Nelvana’s kids-targeted content includes classic series such as Babar, Franklin and Max & Ruby, along with newer titles Bakugan, Ranger Rob, The Dog & Pony Show and Agent Binky: Pets of the Universe.

Sinking Ship

Toronto-based prodco Sinking Ship has sailed into a handful of new international broadcast deals for its series Odd Squad. Nickelodeon snagged season one for Belgium and Netherlands, where it will be aired in both Dutch and Flemish. Italian pay TV channel Da Vinci Kids has picked up seasons one and two to launch on its regional channels across EMEA. It will also be available on its channels and SVOD platform Azoomee. South Africa’s free-to-air broadcaster SABC has picked the first season in a deal made by distributor RedHead Global.

Targeting four- to eight-year-olds, the 80 x 22-minute adventure tracks a team of kid agents who work to solve the most unusual problems with science and math. In addition to the Odd Squad pick ups, Slovenian public broadcast RTV SLO has acquired live-action/animated hybrid Dino Dana to bring it to the region for the first time.

With files from Ryan Tuchow, Kidscreen