ITVBe adds Claude to preschool slate

Claude will debut in the UK on the new preschool block on free-to-air channel ITVBe

ITV in the UK has acquired Sixteen South-produced Disney Junior series Claude from Cloudco Entertainment (fka American Greetings Entertainment).

The 50×12′ series is set to launch in the UK on the new preschool block on free-to-air channel ITVBe in the third quarter of 2019, while the series comes with 11×2′ shorts.

Darren Nartey, programme acquisition executive at ITV, said: “The cheeky humour sits well on the channel and will appeal to children as well as parents, making it a great fit for littleBe.”

Based on the books of the same name by Alex T Smith, Claude follows the adventures of a beret-clad dog and his faithful sidekick in a cosmopolitan seaside resort, home to an eccentric mix of larger-than-life-characters and colourful visitors.

It made its debut on Disney Junior in all countries across EMEA and Australia earlier this year. It has also been sold to YLE in Finland, YoYo in Taiwan, CJ E&M Media Corp for GEM in South Korea, TVB in Hong Kong and Cineplex Company for True Visions in Thailand.

The series has been licensed to UYoung to distribute the series in China, while sub-distribution in South-East Asia is handled by Bomanbridge.

Cloudco Entertainment, creator and producer of Care Bears, Tinpo, Holly Hobbie and Buddy Thunderstruck, rebranded from American Greetings Entertainment last month.

The LA-based firm recently announced it is growing its senior executive and sales teams and opening an office in London.