CN and Pogo unveil seven new shows

The two channels have announced a slew of new original productions and formats for India spanning an action animated series, a quiz series, a detective series, a family sitcom and a science show

Kids entertainment channels Cartoon Network and Pogo have announced an array of original productions for viewers in India featuring new stars, heroes and new stories. The star attractions of the exclusive line up on Pogo include the launch of five brand new original productions across genres such as detective series (‘Cambala Investigation Agency’); family sitcoms (‘Sunaina’); and science (‘F.A.Q.’). In addition, there’s season five of ‘M.A.D.’, the award winning and innovative arts show, and the fourth successive year of Pogo Amazing Kids Awards 2007.

Highlighting the season’s line-up, Orion Ross, vice-president, creative and original content, TENA, says, “Entertaining kids is our business and we are passionate about it. Our earlier innovative original productions such as an arts show (‘M.A.D.’), the first dedicated kids’ awards (Pogo Amazing Kids’ Awards) and a revolutionary pre-school series (‘Galli Galli Sim Sim’) have already made their mark.”

An entertaining quiz series that pits cartoons against kids, called ‘Skatoony’, and the globally popular, new action, animated, original series from its international studios, ‘Ben 10’, are two international favourites that are being brought to India. All original productions being launched are developed on the programming foundation of offering kids’ a healthy mix of humour, adventure, originality and intelligence.

Monica Tata, vice-president, advertising sales and networks, India & South Asia, Turner International India, explains how the Indian market is different from other international markets for the two channels, “The fact that the local mythological series, ‘Krishna’, has outperformed international hits such as Harry Potter speaks a lot about the local needs. And, with our new content we want to reach out to this unique market. Our original productions in India have been growing from strength to strength from 50 hours in 2004 to over 150 hours of original productions in 2007.”

Cartoon Network’s latest original animation series, ‘Ben 10’, will be on air every week, Wednesday to Friday at 6 pm. ‘Ben 10’, the action animated series, follows the adventures of Ben Tennyson, a 10-year-old, otherwise average kid who discovers a strange alien watch in a crashed meteorite. The entertainment quiz, ‘Skatoony’, will liven up Sunday mornings at 9:30 am. ‘Skatoony’ is an entertainment quiz series, in which children compete against cartoons for real prizes. The show is being adapted for Cartoon Network by Miditech.

Meanwhile, Pogo’s original productions include ‘Cambala Investigation Agency’, which will premiere on October 29 at 7 pm. An investigative series, ‘Cambala Investigation Agency’ transports viewers into a world of adventure, intrigue and mystery. Also, coming soon on Pogo is a weekly, half-hour, family sitcom, an original production called ‘Sunaina’. The show revolves around the misadventures and crazy lives of teenager Sunaina, her friends and her family.