FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment Now Has Content On All Major US Kids’ Networks

FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment today announced that global hit Tree Fu Tom will be premiering on Sprout®, the 24-hour preschool channel this month. The sale marks a major milestone for FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment, that have now placed children’s content on all major U.S. Kids’ networks including Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and The Hub. Led by the Emmy award-winning Sander Schwartz, this notable achievement comes just three years since the division set out to become a global leader in the family entertainment business. Tree Fu Tom will premiere on Sprout on Earth Day – April 22, 2013. Featuring former Doctor Who star David Tennant (voice of Twigs),Tree Fu Tom is an exciting and inspiring CG animated show set in an enchanted world called Treetopolis, where movement creates magic and every child gets to be a hero. The show features engaging adventures that combine innovative elements of action, fantasy and magic, coupled with unique interactive physical activity. Children are brought into the magical action through special movements designed to help their motor skill development. When Tom performs a special sequence of action movements, he creates Tree Fu Magic that transforms him into a superhero.

The movements in Tree Fu Tom were designed by child development specialists to help stimulate the progression of physical activity in preschool children. The show was developed to aid all preschool children with their motor skill development, including those suffering from Dyspraxia – a condition that impairs the organization of movement and fine motor skills.

Tree Fu Tom originally launched in the UK on CBeebies. It was the highest rated program on CBeebies in 2012 for children aged 4-6 (by highest occurrence, excluding special events). The show has also received two BAFTA Children’s Awards nominations.

“With Tree Fu Tom being designed specifically for a preschool audience, Sprout will be the perfect home for this unique show that offers a learning and development experience unlike anything else on television,” said Sander Schwartz, President, FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment. “We formed FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment with the vision of making a difference in the lives of children around the world, and with shows like Tree Fu Tom, we are very pleased to have made great strides in realizing that vision.”

FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment has more than 15 shows in production in the preschool, comedy, action/adventure and tween/teen genres. In addition to Tree Fu Tom heading to Sprout, the division’s CGI action-comedy, Max Steel, recently premiered on Disney XD, while the combination of live-action, stunning visual effects and animation in Alien Dawn has recently invaded Nicktoons. Children across America will also be transformed into “Wildlife Warriors” as Bindi Iriwin hosts the wildlife based game show, Bindi’s Bootcamp, on Starz Kids & Family beginning in May. Following the tremendous success of Season 1 in the UK, Wizards vs Aliens will make its American debut on The Hub this summer, and the animated musical comedy, Grojband, is set to premiere on Cartoon Network later this year. FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment also recently signed a landmark 5-year development deal with BBC Children’s.

“By adding Tree Fu Tom to Sprout’s lineup of quality programming, we’re giving preschoolers a wonderful show filled with action and adventure,” said Andrew Beecham, Senior Vice President of Programming for Sprout. “In each episode, Tom and his friends invite viewers into their magical world while encouraging movement and the exploration of nature in a fun and interactive way.”

With animation by Blue Zoo Animation, Tree Fu Tom is a co-production between FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment and CBeebies In-house Production. FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment manages international distribution for the series outside of the UK and manages other ancillary rights globally.