Sprout said it has acquired three new series, including one that marks the NBCUniversal preschool network’s first acquisition from BBC Worldwide.
First up is the British series Sarah & Duck, debuting on Monday, Aug. 19, as part of Sprout’s live, hosted Sunny Side Up Show morning block. The show, with episodes about 7 minutes in length each, follows the adventures of Sarah and her loud, quacky best friend Duck, as they explore their world in their own wobbly and imaginative way. Sarah & Duck is a Karrot Entertainment Production with CBeebies and BBC Worldwide, created by Sarah Gomes Harris and Tim O’Sullivan, produced by Jamie Badminton and executive produced by Chris White, Alison Stewart, and Henrietta Hurford-Jones.
French animated series Zou will debut on Monday, Sept. 2, during The Sunny Side Up Show. Zou, which airs in more than 100 countries, is based on the hugely successful books by Michel Gay and created, produced and distributed by the Cyber Group Studios. The 3D CGI sit-com (11-minute episodes) features a lovable 5-year old Zebra (nicknamed “Zou”) and his extended family, as he explores with warmth and humor the world around him.
Stella and Sam will premiere on Nov. 1. Based on the best-selling book series by world-renowned Canadian author and illustrator Marie-Louise Gay, Stella and Sam (11-minute episodes) captures the joy and wonder of childhood. With wild red hair and an imagination to match, 9-year-old Stella is truly a “star” in the eyes of her younger brother Sam. Stella, who does 99 things a day and wouldn’t dream of leaving Sam out of the fun, explores the world in all its seasons with wild adventures and comical mishaps. Stella and Sam is licensed by Bejuba! Entertainment and produced by Radical Sheep Productions.
The three programs also will also have a strong online presence with 15 new games on SproutOnline.com.
