CCTV stocks up on children’s content

Kate & Mim-Mim

Chinese state-owned network CCTV Children’s Channel (CCTV-14) has acquired two preschool properties from a UK-based distributor.

CCTV-14 will broadcast Kate & Mim-Mim and Tree Fu Tom across China following the distribution agreement with FremantleMedia Kids & Family (FMK). Both series were produced by FMK for CBeebies in the UK.

It marks the first partnership between FMK and the Chinese broadcaster and comes after the distributor also sold the shows to digital platforms in China such as YoukuTudou, Tencent and Sohu.

“The combination of the exposure on the channel as well as the support of China’s leading digital platforms will give us a far-reaching footprint in the country and unprecedented brand support,” said Rick Glankler, president and general manager at FMK.

Last week CCTV acquired the rebooted version of Thunderbirds from ITV Studios Global Entertainment, which will see the long-running kids TV brand air in the country for the first time.