3rd window UK deal for Pokemon

Following a first-run pay-TV deal with Sky1 and terrestrial deal with GMTV, the third window rights to kids toon Pokemon have been bagged by Cartoon Network UK for its Toonami channel.

A package of 156 episodes of the kids animation – the first three seasons – has been licensed to the Turner-owned toon network, which airs the show twice-a-day from this month.

The deal comes as rights to the first three seasons revert back to distributor 4Kids Entertainment after its original five-year licences with Sky1 expire. The show’s first three seasons, titled Indigo League, The Adventures on the Orange Islands and The Johto Journeys, were the launch pad for the toon and follow a group of kids who are learning to become Pokemon trainers.

According to Brian Lacey, 4Kids’ exec vp of international: “This partnership with Cartoon Network UK represents an important part of our strategic plan to keep the Pokemon brand very much alive in this market. These programmes will enable new fans to catch the Pokemon craze from its very beginning.”

The US distribution outfit is also expecting further interest in third window rights from international broadcasters once the rights expire in a number of key markets.

Lacey also revealed that series seven of Pokemon (52×30′) will hit screens on Sky1 in 2004 and early 2005, as well as RTL2 in Germany, Italy’s Mediaset and Fox Kids France.

The Pokemon series has also screened on TF1 (France), Fox Kids (Netherlands), VT4 and RTL-TVI (Belgium), Fox Kids (Spain), TV2 (Denmark), TV4 (Sweden), SIC (Portugal), Televisia (Mexico), Ten Network (Australia), SABC (South Africa), YTV (Canada), Cartoon Network (Latin America) and Star Channel (Greece).