TORONTO — Content producer Portfolio Entertainment announced Monday several partnerships with global broadcasters and streaming platforms to distribute its kids, unscripted and film programming.
Portfolio’s newest in-house production, Hero Elementary (pictured), co-produced with Twin Cities PBS, has been acquired by Discovery for the Middle East/North Africa (MENA) territory, as well as by Minika in Turkey, YLE in Finland and KAN in Israel. British Columbia’s Knowledge Network and Ontario’s TVO acquired rights in Canada.
The 40-episode, half-hour series, which is targeted at children aged 4-7, follows the adventures of a group of young, super-powered kids as they master their abilities and learn how to save the day at a unique school for aspiring superheroes. Hero Elementary debuted on PBS Kids in the U.S. in June 2020.
Portfolio’s Do You Know? (100 episodes x 15 minutes), Doki (52 x 30) and Addison (50 x 11) were picked up in the U.S. by family-focused video-on-demand service EncourageTV. Also in the U.S., the three series have found a new home on Busy Bee, the newly launched streaming service from kids and family home entertainment company NCircle. Educational SVOD service Epic! has added Do You Know to its lineup as well.
In addition, TVB, the long-time home for Do You Know? in Hong Kong, added the fourth season of the live action educational series to its lineup, while CTC in Russia followed up its previous season one and two pick-ups by acquiring season three. Meanwhile, Addison is heading to China with leading local SVOD platform Tencent.
National Geographic Channel picked up the unscripted series Best In The World Japan (10 x 30) for broadcast in the MENA region, while Ovation has acquired the food and travel series in the U.S. Meanwhile, UDU Digital added Café Maria (30 x 30), Chef Abroad (24 x 30), Fast Indian Cooking with Sapna (13 x 30), Sailing Chef (30 x 30), and You Gotta Eat Here! (130 x 30) in the U.S.
Other sales were also announced. Please click here for more.
“During these unprecedented times, it’s gratifying that our global broadcast and digital partners know they can turn to Portfolio Entertainment to help meet the needs of their audiences,” said Donnie MacIntyre, Portfolio Entertainment’s vice-president of sales and business development, in the news release. “Our content will help educate, entertain and thrill kids and adults alike as we all ride out this storm and rely on our screens to keep us connected.”
