4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: KDE) has partnered with The CW
Network to program its Saturday morning kids block for five years
beginning with the 2008-2009 broadcast season. 4Kids will be supplying
five hours of children's programming per week to The CW Network block,
which is broadcast Saturday mornings between 7 a.m. and 12 p.m. 4Kids
will also sell the national commercial advertising for the Network's
kids block.
"The last number of years have seen significant consolidation in
the world of Kids' programming," said John Maatta, Chief Operating
Officer, The CW. "It is important to us to continue to present young
viewers with quality entertainment choices on free-over-the-air
television. This is a great transaction for both The CW and 4Kids. It
is especially gratifying to work again with 4Kids, a recognized leader
in children's programming, with whom we have shared many past
successes. The agreement with 4Kids with its substantial resources and
focus in this arena, will position The CW to continue as a leading
supplier of kids programming on broadcast television."
Under the terms of the deal, The CW and 4Kids will share in
national ad revenue from the block, with the network's share of
revenue to be applied against a guarantee to be paid by 4Kids to The
CW. 4Kids and The CW will work closely to maximize the ratings and
economic success of the block.
"We have tremendous faith in Saturday morning kids television, and
with this deal we've renewed our commitment to remain a major player
in children's entertainment," said Norman Grossfeld, President of
4Kids' subsidiary 4Kids Productions. "We also continue to value our
relationship with the Fox Network and its affiliates. Fox recently
exercised its option to extend the term of our deal with them through
the end of the 2008-2009 broadcast season."
About 4Kids Entertainment
Headquartered in New York City with an international office in
London, 4Kids Entertainment, Inc. (NYSE: KDE), is a global provider of
children's entertainment and merchandise licensing. 4Kids, through its
wholly owned subsidiaries, provides domestic and international
merchandise licensing; product development; television, film, music
and home video production and distribution; and Web site development.
For further information, please visit the Company's Web sites at
www.4KidsEntertainment.com and www.4Kids.TV.