Olivier Bernard, COO and co-founder of Kedoo Entertainment, discusses the content company’s expansion and investment plans and how it funds production through its digital-first windowing strategy.
Olivier Bernard
Tell us about Kedoo Entertainment’s business strategy.
Kedoo specialises in creating, producing, distributing and managing premium content on digital platforms. Our portfolio covers a variety of genres: animation for kids, films and TV series including drama and factual entertainment, alongside travel documentaries for families. Our stand-out titles include top 10 Netflix kids’ animated series Booba, Sonya From Toastville, Let’s Go!/¡Vamos!, The Wonder Guys and more.
We operate a broad distribution network spanning digital and streaming platforms including YouTube, Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, and FAST services like Samsung TV Plus, TCL and Xiaomi. Our reach also extends to regional and local broadcasters, as well as our own apps.
Guided by a digital-first strategy, we are evolving our brands to a full 360-degree approach that expands our content footprint into VoD and TV platforms. All our decisions are informed by data-driven insights, with a focus on creating scalable, sustainable content brands that resonate with audiences worldwide across multiple platforms.
Sonya From Toastville had 200 million-plus views on YouTube
How is the company investing for the future in content production, acquisition and distribution?
Kedoo is making significant investments in original content production, with an expanding slate of projects across kids and general entertainment genres. Recent highlights include the newly launched Booba Live Show (4×15’), a live-action spin-off of our flagship animated series Booba; pilot episodes of Monkeys vs Robots, a slapstick comedy animated series for all ages now in production as a trial; and Startup BC (10×22’), an adult-focused animation currently in development. We are also developing brand new general entertainment content, pushing into ever-more diverse formats and audiences.
We are growing our footprint with newly launched kids Fast channel/digital brand Toon Mania. And we have two Fast channels in development – one focused on factual entertainment and the other on romantic drama. Our Super Toons app has just launched, with a second app, dedicated to romantic drama, set to go live soon.
To support our growing distribution network, we’re actively acquiring (and always on the look-out for) high-quality content that aligns with our approach and strengthens direct-to-consumer and long-term brand engagement.
In parallel, we’re actively extending our content licensing efforts across VoD and TV platforms (locally and regionally) for kids and general entertainment beyond just Booba. Our vision is to build a 360-degree ecosystem that engages audiences worldwide across digital, streaming and linear platforms and supports long-term brand growth.
How is Kedoo navigating a tough market for children’s content that is being hit by a downturn in commissioning and economic troubles?
Instead of relying solely on traditional commissioning, we fund our content production through our digital-first windowing strategy. Our ‘four-to-six pilot episodes’ model allows us to test content on YouTube, analyse performance metrics, gather audience feedback and optimise the format accordingly. As the series progresses, we secure revenue, which helps fund future episodes, ensuring a more sustainable and flexible production process.
We’re also increasing control over distribution and monetisation through the 360-degree networks we have built – spanning digital, streaming, Fast, linear and app platforms – while diversifying risk by expanding the content offer across kids and general entertainment, including films, drama and factual series. By building direct-to-consumer engagement and a sustainable content portfolio, we can stay resilient and scalable, even in challenging market conditions.
Sonya From Toastville was launch in 2024
What is Kedoo looking to acquire to add to its line-up of content?
With new Fast channels and apps available to audiences worldwide, we are focused on acquiring high-quality kids’ content, suitable for six- to 10-year-olds and pre-teens, and romantic series that can be adapted for shortform. We are especially interested in titles that can be localised to ensure broad appeal across international markets.
Kedoo has a digital-first approach but recently made the second season of Sonya From Toastville exclusively available to broadcasters and streamers. Why did the company decide to do this?
While maintaining a digital-first strategy, we recognise the importance of flexibility in content distribution. Broadcasters and streamers often prefer to premiere well-established kids’ brands on their platforms first, and we’re committed to supporting our partners’ preferences where it adds strategic value.
As Sonya From Toastville has gained strong recognition through its first season, garnering 200 million-plus views on YouTube since its launch in 2024, we made the decision to offer the second season exclusively to VoD and TV for its initial run. This action aims to maximise the show’s reach and audience engagement while reinforcing our broader 360-degree strategy.
What are Kedoo’s core aims and objectives for the next year?
At Kedoo, our focus over the coming year is to expand our global distribution footprint and deepen audience engagement, especially across our owned platforms.
We’re committed to optimising content production and acquisition through data-driven insights, while scaling our digital presence across Fast channels, apps and strategic partnerships with VoD and TV platforms.
By strengthening our 360-degree content strategy, we aim to connect more effectively with global audiences – both new and existing – across every key touchpoint
