Cartoon Network to rollout 10 new shows a year

Turner Broadcasting System Arabia, the network behind CNN, plans to launch at least 10 shows a year on its Cartoon Network channel and will grow its local content, its vice president said.TBS Arabia, which launched its free-to-air Arabic edition of the Cartoon Network last year, said it has met with a string of regional companies looking to co-produce Arabic animations.“You will see every year on Cartoon Network at least ten new shows. You’ll see new episodes of established franchises like Ben 10 and you’ll see brand new shows as well,” Alan Musa, vice president and general manager for Turner Broadcasting System, Pan Middle East and Africa, told Arabian Business.TBS launched a Cartoon Network development studio in June in partnership with twofour54 Abu Dhabi. Although no deals have yet to be signed, TBS said it sees no reason why the next big cartoon couldn’t originate from the Middle East. “We’re met with quite a few. There are loads of great ideas in the Middle East and we’ve met with loads of people who have got very raw, very underdeveloped ideas for cartoons. We’ve also met with animation companies who are keen to partner with a Turner Broadcasting,” said Musa.“Why shouldn’t the next big show - whether it’s the next Ben 10 type show or the next Powerpuff Girls show - not originate from the Middle East and become the big international hit?” The network aims to boost earnings by tapping into the region’s 35 million households, and broadening its reach into branded merchandise. In September, it will launch its UK preschool channel, Cartoonito, across Europe, Middle East and Africa. The channel will include shows such as Fireman Sam, Baby Looney Tunes and Care Bears.Parent company Time Warner on August 3 reported a ten percent increase in revenue for the quarter that ended in June, its biggest growth rate since 2007. The firm, which also owns Warner Brothers and Time Inc, said its total revenues reached $7.03bn up from $6.38bn for the same quarter last year. The networks unit, which includes Turner Broadcasting and HBO, saw its revenue increase nine percent to $3.5bn.TBS said advertising for its Middle East and Africa arm had been slower than expected but said it expected sales to pick up during the fourth quarter. “It was slightly slower than we had hoped for but things have picked up and we are getting more clients advertising on the channel. As we head to quarter four, when a lot of toy manufacturers spend the bulk of their advertising, we’re hoping for an uplift then,” said Musa. From / Arabian Business news