Transformers Armada goes terrestrial in the UK

UK breakfast broadcaster GMTV has picked up terrestrial rights to Entertainment Rights' first foray into boys action animation, a revival of the 1980s show Transformers.

Transformers Armada (52×30') will unspool on the broadcaster, jointly owned by Granada, Disney, Carlton and SMG, from the end of this month. The series' pay-TV window began back in January, with Sky1 stripping the show each morning at 8.00.

Following the launch of the series on Cartoon Network in the US, the toon has also been sold to a number of international broadcasters including Teletoon in France, Fox Kids Italy, RTL in Holland, Kanal D in Turkey, Disney (Fox Kids) in Latin America and Canada's YTV channel.

The new 52×30' series is produced by Ontario-based comic book animation company Dreamwave Productions. It follows the latest battle in the Cybertronian War between the Autobots and the Deceptions in the year 2010.

Entertainment Rights picked up ex-US rights to the title last November as its first move into boys action series, having previously concentrated on more gentle series, such as Merlin the Magical Puppy and Budgie the Little Helicopter.