MUMBAI: Cartoon Network is gearing up for the launch of its global original animated series ?The Amazing World of Gumball? in India on 4 November.

The series will air every Sunday at 4 pm.

According to the kid?s broadcaster, this technically ambitious production fuses 2D and 3D animation with live-action, laying the foundation for a new era of animated cartoon format.

The Amazing World of Gumball takes viewers through a story of an ordinary family ? The Wattersons, who live in the extraordinary town of Elmore, and face challenges with their 12 year old son Gumball (a blue cat) and his bosom pal Darwin who spell misadventures for all. Gumball?s dad is a pink rabbit who stays at home while his mother works in a rainbow factory.

Turner International India South Asia GM Entertainment Networks Monica Tata said, ?Cartoon Network is proud to bring this internationally hit original series which has won the hearts of million kids globally to India. The innovative animation technique bridges the gap between fantasy and reality ? a dream for every kid. The Amazing World of Gumball, a light hearted comic tale reiterates Cartoon Network?s commitment towards providing the best of international and local content.?

MUMBAI: The size of the television broadcast industry in southern India is expected to grow to Rs 225.4 billion by 2016 even as programming mix shifts to shorter contemporary fiction shows to attract younger population and greater focus on different genres of non-fiction shows.

The overall television industry size in South India ? comprising Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Kerala -- is expected to grow at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 17 per cent till 2016 from its current estimated size of Rs 122.2 billion, according to a report by consulting firm Deloittee on South India Media and Entertainment Industry.

It said the television industry in southern India is on the cusp of a new age as it leverages every dimension of its vibrant eco-system to create value for all its stakeholders.

Subscription revenue forms a major chunk of income for television broadcasters in south India. The subscription income at Rs 81.4 billion now constitutes about 67 per cent of the total revenues, while advertising at Rs 36.1 billion accounts for 29 per cent. The subscription income is expected to grow to Rs 151.7 billion and advertising revenue to Rs 65.4 billion by 2016.

While content revenue with four per cent share in total revenues is expected to grow from Rs 4.7 billion currently to Rs 8.3 billion.

In South India, Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh have the highest share of TV subscription revenues at Rs 29.4 billion and Rs 26.6 billion respectively. While in Karnataka TV subscription revenue stood at Rs 16.4 billion, it was Rs 9 billion in Kerala.

By 2016, Tamil Nadu‘s subscription market is estimated to reach Rs 54 billion, while that of Andhra Pradesh to Rs 50.6 billion. Karnataka and Kerala are projected to reach Rs 31.2 billion and Rs 15.9 billion respectively.

The entry of state-run Arasu Cable in the distribution space has resulted in a significant change in the dynamics of the Tamil Nadu TV distribution scene, the report noted. With cable services being offered at Rs 70 per month by Arasu Cable, the subscription revenues in the state has witnessed lower growths as compared to other southern states.

"Going forward, as platforms, products and price points stabilise, Tamil nadu is expected to reach growth levels at par with other regioanl markets," the report stated.

Tamil Nadu currently dominates the Rs 36.1 billion television ad revenue market with a 38 per cent share followed by Andhra Pradesh at 26 per cent. Karnataka and Kerala have an identical market share of 18 per cent share each. The break-up of TV ad market is: Tamil Nadu (Rs 13.6 billion), Andhra Pradesh (Rs 9.3 billion), Karnataka (Rs 6.5 billion), and Kerala (Rs 6.7 billion).

The TV ad market in Tamil Nadu is expected to reach Rs 23.5 billion by 2016, while in Andhra Pradesh it is projected to reach Rs 18.3 billion. Karnataka and Kerala are projected to reach Rs 11.8 billion each.

The content revenue in Tamil Nadu is projected to reach Rs 3 billion from Rs 1.7 billion, Andhra Pradesh to Rs 2.3 billion from Rs 1.2 billion, Karnataka and Kerala to Rs 1.5 billion each from Rs 900 million currently.

According to Deloitte, non-fiction shows are steadily gaining prominence among viewers with genres like game shows, business, fitness, cookery, events and devotional programmes gradually carving their own niches.

The content is transcending from long-drawn soaps to shorter contemporary fiction shows that can attract younger audiences.

Non-fiction shows are also gaining traction with local broadcasters trying different formats to capture wide-range of age groups through these shows, the report added. The broadcasters in the south are also looking to invest in new content rather than just acquiring new movies, which has become an expensive proposition.

The report said local broadcasters are tying up with content providers to launch local versions of internationally hit formats. Sun TV signed up with Endemol for Deal ya no deal and Star TV inked a deal with Big Synergy to produce Kaun Banega Crorepati in three languages.

The report also pointed out that successful shows in the south are remade in Hindi language, a trend that is only going to grow stronger in coming days. The remake trend, according to Deloitte, allows broadcasters from south to cut costs and at the same time achieve greater scale and economy.

Kids genre an emerging market in South

The Deloitte report says the kid‘s genre in south is poised to grow with the entry of new players. Early entrants to the genre like Sun TV, which has four kids channels in its bouquet, have reaped benefits having captured majority of the viewers in this segment.

The main player in the industry is Sun TV with four channels - Chutti TV, Kushi TV, Chintu TV, and Kochu TV in Tamil, Telugu, Kannada and Malayalam respectively. Other kids? networks like Disney, Cartoon Network, and Nick are new entrants to the market with the launch of local feed.

Having a potent content supply pipeline from domestic as well as international players will help the genre grow in south.

News broadcasters

The news genre in the south is witnessing a new breed of channels which are also climbing up the viewership ladder due to their unique content offering. Channels like Puthiya Thalaimurai in Tamil, V6 News in Telugu and Public TV in Kannada are among the news channels launched recently.

The report noted that news channels with political leanings are also flourishing across the southern states. These broadcasters are expanding into entertainment genre and print media after tasting success, the report stated.

MUMBAI: Adventure Time, the American animated adventure series, is all set to debut in India on Cartoon Network starting 15 October.

To be aired every Monday-Friday at 4.30 pm, Adventure Time introduces viewers to Finn and Jake, buddies who traverse the mystical land of ‘Ooo‘ and encounter its colorful inhabitants.

From the mind of creator Pendleton Ward, ‘Ooo‘ is a land built for adventure. Whether it‘s saving Princess Bubblegum, defeating zombie candy, mocking the "oxy-moronic" Ice King or rocking out with undead music wiz Marceline the Vampire Queen, with Finn & Jake it‘s always Adventure Time.

"Adventure Time already enjoys an ardent fan following globally with kids engrossed by the show‘s humour, imaginary moments and thrills. We are proud to offer this immensely popular animated series in India, bringing to life kids‘ curious nature and eternal quest for fun, which is what Cartoon Network is all about. We hope that this storyline about friends through thick and thin will delight our young viewers across the country," said Turner International India GM Entertainment Networks South Asia Monica Tata.

MUMBAI: With the aim to boost its North American audience exposure for its animated children‘s series Ben and Izzy, RGH Entertainment has entered into a promising content partnership with Ameba, a multi-platform company in the children‘s streaming TV market.

At this month‘s television trade event Mipcom 2012 in Cannes, Ameba will be exhibiting and meeting with distributors and rights holders from 8-11 October.

‘Ben and Izzy‘ is a CGI-animated action-adventure comedy series currently enjoying a successful run on Cartoon Network Arabia, and as in-flight entertainment on Emirates and Qatar Airlines.

RGH‘s flagship property follows two inquisitive eleven-year-old boys, Ben, an American, and Izzy, a Jordanian, as they journey alongside their archaeologist grandfathers to ancient times and landmarks throughout the Middle East and Africa. Cultural explorations and comedy abound.

RGH CEO Randa Ayoubi said, "We are pleased to be partnering with Ameba to deliver Ben and Izzy through today‘s hottest digital platforms. Ameba‘s beneficial business model and ever-growing audience provide us with a wonderful opportunity to bring the fun and excitement of Ben and Izzy‘s cross-cultural adventures to millions of children throughout North America."

All 13 episodes of Ben and Izzy will be available to Ameba subscribers in English. The English version features the voices of several Hollywood celebrities, including Lucy Liu, the voice of Viper in the blockbuster movie Kung Fu Panda, and Mark Hamill, who played Luke Skywalker in the original Star Wars trilogy.

Ameba Founder and CEO Tony Havelka said, "We‘re thrilled to bring ‘Ben and Izzy‘ to Ameba‘s growing network of more than 5 million Internet-connected consumer electronic devices throughout the US and Canada. Our exciting, new content partnership with RGH is proof that rights holders can indeed maximize their audiences and revenues overseas with broadcasters, and yet still benefit from digitally distributing their content at the same time in North America on Ameba."

MUMBAI: Cartoon Network in association with Sterling Publishers is launching first Ben 10 magazine in India on 30 September.

It will be a bi-monthly magazine. It will be available at all key retail stores like Landmark, Crossword, Time Out, Big Bazaar, WalMart and also at individual book stores across India for Rs 60.

Turner International India Cartoon Network Enterprises- South Asia director Gaurav Brarsaid, "Kids across India adore Ben 10 and constantly demand new and innovative branded products. The launch of this unique and interactive Ben 10 magazine will give kids an exciting portal into the adventurous, fantastical, alien world of Ben 10. This is yet another attempt mode by which Cartoon Network Enterprises aims to bridge the gap between kids and their favourite TV characters so that they too can be a part of the toon world they admire!"

The 32-page magazine will let kids indulge in playing games, battling with their friends on alien adventures, solving puzzles, cracking codes, reading action-packed Ben 10 adventures, and collecting facts about Ben?s alien transformations, enemies and their origins, the company said.

Sterling Publishers director Gaurav K. Ghai commented on the launch of the new Ben 10 magazine "Sterling is excited to partner with Cartoon Network to launch the first-ever Ben 10 magazine in India. Ben 10 has a strong and special connect with boys 4-10 years. We are sure this magazine will bring hours of reading and activity fun for Ben10 fans."

MUMBAI: Russell Hicks, a 14-year Nickelodeon veteran and its Chief Creative Officer since 2008, has been named to the new position of President, Content Development and Production for the Nickelodeon Group. He will report to Nickelodeon Group President Cyma Zarghami.

In this new role, Hicks will be based at Nickelodeon?s Burbank and Santa Monica, California, offices, where he will lead the company?s live-action, animation development and production teams for all of Nickelodeon?s content platforms.

"Russell has been one of the driving forces behind the Nickelodeon brand," said Zarghami. "As we continue our ambitious evolution of Nickelodeon, Russell will ensure that our rich and diversified development slate, as well as our new and established producing partners, will all serve our creative vision for the network and deliver for our audiences. As the new development season begins, this is the perfect moment for Russell to take the helm."

Reporting to Hicks will be: Margie Cohn, who will serve in the new role of President, Content Development, Nickelodeon, working across live-action, animation and digital; Paula Kaplan, who will now serve as Executive Vice President of Current Series; Teri Weiss, Executive Vice President of Nickelodeon Preschool Development and Production; Alison Dexter, Executive Vice President, Nickelodeon Productions; Rich Magallanes, Senior Vice President, Animation, Current Series; and Keith Dawkins, Senior Vice President and General Manager for Nickelodeon?s Nick Jr., Nicktoons and TeenNick channels.

Nickelodeon?s recently announced development slate includes more than a dozen new live-action, animation and TV movie projects as part of the network?s deep commitment to new content.

These projects include: two Nick spin-off comedy pilots, Sam & Cat and Gibby, featuring beloved characters from hit series iCarly and Victorious; new series Wendell and Vinnie starring Jerry Trainor and the pilot Instant Mom, both for Nick at Nite; You Gotta? See This, highlighting must-see video clips; and two original TV movies, Swindle and Nicky Deuce.

Also included are the CG-animated series Monsters vs. Aliens and the 2D Sanjay & Craig; the highly anticipated return of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in September; and the 4Q launch of Nick at Nite?s Scott Baio family comedy, See Dad Run. For preschool, the network is adding the curriculum-based animated series, Monty and Norville, and a pilot for Blaze and the Monster Machines.

Brown Johnson, who has served as the President of Animation since 2008, will be leaving her role to pursue her own creative endeavors.

Prior to working at Nickelodeon, Hicks was Vice President of Marketing, Cartoon Network/Turner brands for Warner Brothers, where he was responsible for the marketing and creative that turned Scooby Doo and the Power Puff Girls into cultural icons.