ZDFE and EM.TV team up for more Tabaluga toons

Germany's ZDF Enterprises has inked a three-way deal with EM.TV and its Australian joint venture toon studio Yoram Gross-EM.TV to make a third series of kids' show Tabaluga.

With production due to start this August, the 26×30' animated series will bring the total number of episodes featuring the eponymous little dragon to 78×30'. EM.TV and ZDFE have already inked a deal for a fourth series, bringing the total to 104×30'.

The second series arrives on German TV screens (namely ZDF and Ki.Ka) from October 27, 2001, when kids' publisher BMG Ariola will be bringing out a new range of Tabaluga videos, DVDs and audio cassettes. The company has already sold 3m units based on the first series, which hit ZDF airwaves in October 1997. The show has since reached 38% domestic market share of kids 3-5.

The show is based on what EM.TV calls a {concept album{ brought out by Peter Maffay back in 1983. Maffay is planning another such album for next year, plus a Tabaluga Tour in 2003.

The TV series has now been sold into 100 territories including Austria, where the show enjoys a 54% share among kids 3-11; Australia (65% share of kids 5-12); France (61% share of kids 4-10); and Poland (31% share of kids 3-11).