Cartoon Network Continues Its Evolution With Largest, Most Diverse Development Slate in Network History

Cartoon Network Continues Its Evolution With Largest, Most Diverse Development Slate in Network History

19 New Programming Ventures: Seven New Animated Series and Four Original Movies (Live-Action/CG-Animated)

Network Introduces For the First Time Six Live-Action "Alternative" Series and Two Scripted Live-Action Pilots

Sports Partnership with NBA, Recruits Boston Celtics Superstar Eddie House for My Dad's a Pro Short-Form Series

ATLANTA, March 25 /PRNewswire/ -- Cartoon Network announced a dramatic expansion to its 2009-2010 content development strategy today at its annual advertising Upfront presentation at Time Warner Center. On the heels of three consecutive quarters of double-digit prime time and total day growth - the only major kids network to do so - Cartoon Network unveiled 19 new programming ventures, including three new action-adventure and four new comedy animated series; six live-action "alternative" half-hour series; three original live-action and one all-new CG-animated movie specials; and two hour-long original, scripted live-action pilots. Coupled with 164 new half-hour episodes of returning comedy and action-adventure animated series, today's announcements represent the largest commitment to new content development in Cartoon Network history.

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Additionally, the network, along with National Basketball Association Commissioner David Stern, announced that world champion Boston Celtics Guard Eddie House and his 7 year-old son, Jaelen, will be featured in My Dad's a Pro, a short-form lifestyle series that is the first of several programs in development under the most recently announced partnership between Cartoon Network and the NBA.

"These exciting new projects represent the next phase in Cartoon Network's ambitious, ongoing strategy to re-invent the network and re-energize our youth business overall," said Stuart Snyder, president and chief operating officer of Turner Broadcasting's Animation, Young Adults and Kids Media division. "We've built tremendous momentum over the last year, both on air and through our thriving digital businesses, so we're thrilled to introduce new content that our audience cannot find anywhere else. Today marks the next big step forward in an evolution that is helping us reach our goal of becoming a dominant youth culture brand."

"Based on Cartoon Network's ratings and online growth, coupled with the increased commitment to original content, our goal is to maximize the strength of these linear and digital offerings by developing opportunities for advertisers that will activate their brands across our portfolio," said John O'Hara, executive vice president and general manager, Cartoon Network Ad Sales & Marketing. "We will continue to be flexible and innovative as we work with our advertising partners to develop high-profile, custom opportunities that will deliver measurable return on their investment."

"Last year, we outlined a strategy focused on genres of programming," said Rob Sorcher, chief content officer for Cartoon Network. "Today we revealed how that strategy continues to grow with additional nights of signature programming and expands to include both scripted live-action and alternative content, as well as animation. We're committed to delivering a diverse range of engaging, aspirational content to our audience."

Highlights of Cartoon Network's new content strategy to launch across the 2009-2010 season include the following:

   COMEDY AND ACTION-ADVENTURE ANIMATED SERIES   --  Adventure Time with Finn and Jake:  Finn, the human boy with the       awesome hat, and Jake, the wise dog, are close friends and partners in       strange adventures in the land of Ooo.  The 30-minute series is from       Cartoon Network Studios, created by Pendleton Ward and executive       produced by Fred Siebert and Derek Drymon.   --  Stoked:  Six teenaged groms (young surfers) come together for 12 weeks       over summer to work and surf at the world renowned Surfer's Paradise       Resort on the legendary Sunset Island, home of the most epic surf       break in the country. From Cake Distribution and Fresh Animation,       Stoked is created by Jennifer Pertsch and Tom McGillis (Total Drama       Island).   --  Total Drama Action:  Showcasing all the elements of favorite reality       TV shows - romances and friendships; scheming and sabotage;       death-defying stunts and stomach curdling challenges within       larger-than-life elimination competition - Total Drama Action succeeds       Cartoon Network's #1 show of 2008, Total Drama Island, from Cake       Distribution and Fresh Animation.  Fourteen contestants face thrilling       challenges on an abandoned film studio back-lot, all inspired by the       movies.   --  Ben 10: Evolutions (working title):  An all-new animated series       follows 16-year-old Ben Tennyson as his secret identity has been       revealed to the world and he's now an international mega-star super       hero, loved by kids the world over but distrusted by many adults.        Armed with a mysterious new Omnitrix, Ben will see action in places       he's never been.  From Cartoon Network Studios, Glen Murakami (Teen       Titans) serves as supervising producer and Dwayne McDuffie serves as       story editor.   --  Sym-Bionic Titan:  From creator Genndy Tartakovsky (Dexter's       Laboratory, Samurai Jack) comes an exciting hybrid of high school       drama and giant robot battles.  Sym-Bionic Titan follows the       adventures of three beings from the planet Galaluna who crash-land on       Earth while attempting to escape their war-torn world.   --  Generator Rex:  Infected by microscopic molecular-altering nanites,       15-year-old Rex has the ability to grow incredible machines out of his       body.  Recruited by an organization called Providence, Rex travels the       world investigating a host of biological mutations that were created       by the same nanites that give Rex his powers.  Generator Rex is from       Man of Action, creators of Ben 10.  John Fang of Cartoon Network       Studios serves as supervising director.   --  Scooby-Doo - Mystery, Inc.:  A sleepy little village, Crystal Cove,       boasts a long history of ghost sightings, poltergeists, demon       possession, phantoms and other paranormal occurrences.  The renowned       sleuthing team of Fred, Daphne, Velma, Shaggy and Scooby-Doo arrive to       prove all of this simply isn't real - but they don't realize the       locals don't welcome their help.  The series is produced by Warner       Bros. Animation.    ALTERNATIVE LIVE-ACTION SERIES   --  The Othersiders:  This thrilling reality adventure series follows five       friends on real missions to explore mysterious, potentially haunted       locations in search of evidence that will confirm or deny the       existence of paranormal activity.   --  Survive This:  An exciting reality series challenges teenagers ages 14       to 17 to push their limits, overcome fears and develop lifelong       survival skills.  Hosted by Les Stroud (Survivorman), each episode       aims to test endurance, wit and self-determination.   --  Destroy Build Destroy:  In a huge construction zone, two teams become       demolition experts with the guidance and assistance of experts in the       field, using wrecking balls, human destroyers and real explosions.        Each week brings a new challenge to build from the debris, with       strategy, wits and teamwork deciding which team's creation       out-performs the other--and whose hard work goes up in smoke.   --  Head Rush (working title):  Kids participate as game show contestants       playing for cash while riding thrill-inducing amusement park rides.   --  Dude, What Would Happen:  This series stars three adventurous teens       who ask and answer imaginative questions such as, "Dude, what would       happen if you attached 350 helium balloons to a sumo wrestler?"  A       series so over-the-top, you just might learn something.   --  Bobb'e Says:  Starring Bobb'e J. Thompson (30 Rock, Human Giant),       Bobb'e Says is a fast-paced, viral video clip show where other       people's painful mistakes become tools for Bobb'e as he dispenses sage       wisdom to an unsuspecting public.    LIVE-ACTION AND ANIMATED ORIGINAL MOVIES   --  Ben 10: Alien Swarm:  Director Alex Winter and writer John Turman       (Hulk '03, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer) team for an       all-new, live-action movie based on the hit animated series Ben 10:       Alien Force, set to premiere in fall 2009.  Ben 10: Alien Swarm       follows teenage hero Ben Tennyson (Ryan Kelley) as he breaks ranks       from the Plumbers, a secret organization that battles alien forces, to       help Elena (Alyssa Diaz), a mysterious young woman, uncover an alien       threat to our world.  Additional cast members include Barry Corbin (No       Country for Old Men) as Grandpa Max, Galadriel Stineman as Gwen and       Nathan Keyes as Kevin.   --  Scooby Doo! The Mystery Begins:  Discover the never-before-told story       of how a mismatched quartet of teenagers first came together before       becoming known as the Mystery Inc. gang.  Freddy (Robbie Amell), the       school athlete; Velma (Hayley Kiyoko), the science fair-winning       brainiac; Daphne (Kate Melton), the drama beauty; Shaggy (Nick       Palatas), the misfit; and Shaggy's newly adopted dog, Scooby Doo, are       forced to band together to clear their names.  Scooby Doo! The Mystery       Begins, a Cartoon Network co-production with Warner Premiere and       directed by Brian Levant (Snow Dogs, The Flintstones), is slated to       premiere in fall 2009.   --  Firebreather:  Cartoon Network's first original all-CG animation       adventure presents Duncan Rosenblatt, a rather typical, awkward high       school kid, except that his dad is a fire-breathing dragon and he is       destined to protect the earth.  Created and co-executive-produced by       Phil Hester (The Wretch), Firebreather is executive-produced by Julia       Pistor (Lemony Snicket) and co-executive-produced by Andy Kuhn       (Freedom Ring)--Jim Kreig (Ben 10: Alien Force) joins as writer.        Peter Chung (Aeon Flux) is attached to direct.   --  Tiger's Apprentice:  The best-selling young adult book by Lawrence Yep       will be brought to life in a live-action movie.  Tom Lee, a teenager       suddenly orphaned, is put under the protection of Mr. Hu, a mystical       tiger who can take human form.  Wayne Wang (The Joy Luck Club) is       attached to serve as executive producer/director, Oscar(R)-nominated       screenwriter David Magee (Finding Neverland) adapted the book and Jane       Startz (Tuck Everlasting, Indian in the Cupboard) serves as executive       producer.    SCRIPTED LIVE-ACTION PILOTS   --  Unnatural History (working title):  An action-packed blend of science,       western culture, eastern philosophy and martial arts, Unnatural       History is an urban adventure series centered around Henry Griffin, a       teenager with exceptional skills acquired through years of       globe-trotting with his anthropologist parents.  But Henry faces his       biggest challenge of all when he moves back to America to attend a       high school stranger than any place he's ever lived before.  Created       and written by Mike Werb (Face/Off, The Mask); the pilot will be       produced in association with Warner Horizon Television Inc.   --  Prepped (working title):  A rebellious teen wakes up one morning to       find himself trapped at a mysterious prep school that offers no       escape.  He forms a secret group to discover what they're being       trained for and how to escape.  The pilot is executive-produced and       written by Paul Dini (Lost, Batman Beyond).    RETURNING ANIMATED SERIES   --  Star Wars: The Clone Wars:  The #1 series with boys 6-11 returns to       Cartoon Network in fall 2009 for a second season.  The hit CG-animated       series from creator George Lucas and Lucasfilm Animation takes viewers       to the front lines of an intergalactic struggle between good and evil       with favorite characters such as Anakin Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi and       Padme Amidala, along with brand new heroes like Anakin's padawan       learner, Ahsoka.   --  Chowder:  In Marzipan City, the Mung Daal Catering Company cooks up       the most oddly delicious food where aspiring young chef-in-training       Chowder falls into all sorts of fantastic mis-adventures.  The series       is from creator C. H. Greenblatt at Cartoon Network Studios.   --  The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack:  Raised by Bubbie the talking       whale in the bubbling splendor of the sea, young Flapjack rescues an       old pirate, Captain K'nuckles, whose tall tales tangle up and consume       Flapjack with an unquenchable desire for adventure.  Creator Thurop       Van Ormon produces the series at Cartoon Network Studios.   --  The Secret Saturdays:  In this comedy-action series created by Jay       Stephens, Doc, Drew and Zak Saturday are a family of world-saving       adventure scientists called The Secret Saturdays who are part of a       network of scientists who protect the world against all the underlying       evil.  The Secret Saturdays is produced by Porchlight Entertainment.   --  Batman: The Brave and the Bold:  From Warner Bros. Animation comes the       latest interpretation of the classic Batman franchise.  Our Caped       Crusader is teamed up with heroes from across the DC Universe--Blue       Beetle, Green Arrow, Aquaman and countless others--to deliver nonstop       action and adventure with a touch of comic relief.   

Cartoon Network (CartoonNetwork.com), currently seen in more than 97 million U.S. homes and 166 countries around the world, is Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.'s ad-supported cable service now available in HD offering the best in original, acquired and classic animated entertainment for kids and families. Nightly from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. (ET, PT), Cartoon Network shares its channel space with Adult Swim, a late-night destination showcasing original and acquired animation for young adults 18-34.

Turner Broadcasting System, Inc., a Time Warner company, creates and programs branded news, entertainment, animation and young adult media environments on television and other platforms for consumers around the world.

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Source: Cartoon Network

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Profile: International Entertainment