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Children's Programming

DHX Media orders tween series Make it Pop for YTV

From a media release:

DHX Media Ltd. (“DHX” or the “Company”) (TSX: DHX.A, DHX.B), a key player internationally in the creation of content for families and children, has been commissioned by Nickelodeon in the US and YTV in Canada to produce a new, live-action musical-comedy series, entitled Make It Pop. The half-hour sitcom, which is targeted at the tween audience, is currently filming 20 episodes at DHX’s Epitome Studio, in Toronto, Canada. DHX Media will also handle global distribution and brand management for Make It Pop, as well as merchandising and licensing through appointed agency, Copyright Promotions Licensing Group Ltd. (CPLG).

Make It Pop is a comedic, music-infused sitcom about three unique girls who come together to start their own K pop-inspired band. Randomly selected to room together at boarding school, three freshman girls meet and bond over music. With the help of fellow boarding school classmate and DJ hopeful, Caleb, the girls grow from roommates to bandmates as their band, XO-IQ, becomes a school-wide sensation and they compete for a place in the upcoming school musical. The series, which will feature original songs and performances in every episode, is co-created by Thomas W. Lynch and Nick Cannon and produced by DHX Media.

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Children's Programming

YTV’s Some Assembly Required headed to Netflix

From a media release:

Thunderbird is pleased to announce an agreement with Netflix, which will see all episodes of its hit comedy Some Assembly Required exclusively available in all Netflix territories outside of Canada, where the show was commissioned as an original production for YTV and is currently #1 on the network.

Some Assembly Required is shot in front of a live-studio audience in Burnaby, BC and centres on an eclectic group of teenagers who run a toy company. As the new owner of Knickknack Toys, fourteen-year-old Jarvis Raines hires a group of friends from school to help him create awesome new toys. Following the teens’ comedic day-to-day adventures, this live-action series created by Dan Signer (A.N.T. Farm, Mr. Young) and Howard Nemetz (Mr. Young, The Suite Life of Zack & Cody), stars Young Artist Awards nominee, Kolton Stewart, and 2015 Canadian Screen Awards nominee, Charlie Storwick.

Some Assembly Required is slated to start streaming on Netflix this summer.

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Children's Programming

Family Channel orders Next Step spinoff The Music Room

Family_logo

From a media release:

After experiencing record-breaking success with the reality tween dramaThe Next Step, Family Channel is teaming up with Temple Street Productions and creator Frank van Keeken on a new half-hour show, The Music Room. A tween drama featuring an entirely original soundtrack, the series follows a group of young performers who are members of an elite music program. Family has ordered 26 episodes with production slated to start this Spring.  

The Music Room follows the lives of a group of musicians who are part of an exclusive after-school music program. Each year, in order to get in, students audition for the group’s current members who select a small number of performers to join their ranks. Ultimately the group’s leader, Mr. T., has the final say on new members, as well as who will have the opportunity to go on the annual live tour. He can’t guarantee that the members will have a music career when they’re finished at The Music Room, but the experience will help them become accomplished musicians.

Family has experienced great success with its production partners at Temple Street Productions. The popular series The Next Step, which returns for its third season on Monday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT, has received national recognition with such notable honours as the 2013 Shaw Rocket Prize and both the 2013 Digi Award and 2014 Canadian Screen Award for Best Cross-Platform Project – Children’s and Youth for The Next Step Interactive. The show is currently nominated for three 2015 Canadian Screen Awards: Best Children’s or Youth Fiction Program or Series, Best Writing in a Children’s or Youth Program or Series, and Best Performance in a Children’s or Youth Program or Series.

Created by Frank van Keeken (The Next Step, Wingin’ It, Billable Hours), The Music Room is produced by Temple Street Productions and is executive produced by Frank van Keeken, Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier (Orphan Black, Being Erica, The Next Step).

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Children's Programming, Industry News

The Next Step dances onto Family for Season 3

nextstep

From a media release:

As the cast of The Next Step prepares to take the stage for the first stop of its sold out national tour, Family Channel is pleased to announce the fan-favourite Canadian original series and recipient of multiple Canadian Screen Award nominations will return for its third season on Monday, March 16 at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT. Leaping back on to the small screen with a special one-hour premiere episode, the compelling dance-drama produced by Temple Street Productions follows the highs and lows of an elite group of dancers as they balance the pressures of competition with the trials of growing up. Following the season premiere, new episodes of The Next Step will air every weekday (Monday – Friday) at 7:30 p.m. ET/PT leading up to the mid-season finale in April.

Season two left off on a cliffhanger with the future of The Next Step – and the A-Troupe’s chance to compete at Internationals – hanging in the balance. After receiving an eviction notice, rival dance academy, Elite, came to the studio with an interesting offer: merge the two studios to create a hybrid team for the International competition. Season three kicks off with the A-Troupe dancers grappling with a tough decision. Can they learn to work with their arch-rivals, or will they risk forfeiting their spot at Internationals?

The Next Step stars 2015 Canadian Screen Award nominee Brittany Raymond as Riley; Victoria Baldesarra as Michelle; Alexandra Beaton as Emily; Trevor Tordjman as James; Isaac Lupien as Eldon; Lamar Johnson as West; Jennifer Pappas as Chloe; Logan Fabbro as Amanda; Taveeta Szymanowicz as Thalia; Samantha Grecchi as Stephanie; Brennan Clost as Daniel; Zac Vran as Hunter; Bree Wasylenko as Kate; Natalie Krill as Phoebe and So You Think You Can Dance Canadaseason four winner Jordan Clark as Giselle.

Additionally, several returning cast members will be brought to centre stage with exciting new storylines including Myles Erlick as J-Troupe dancer Noah, along with Devon Michael Brown as Max and Cierra Healey as Cierra, members of Elite Dance Academy. The cast also welcomes newcomer Ella Gilling, a semi-finalist on season two of the United Kingdom’s live-talent television show Got To Dance, in a recurring role.

Commissioned by Family Channel, The Next Step is produced by Temple Street Productions and is executive produced by Frank van Keeken (Wingin’ It, Kids in the Hall, Billable Hours), Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier (Orphan Black, Being Erica, Wingin’ It). BBC Worldwide has acquired international distribution rights. The Next Step is also produced with the financial assistance from The Shaw Rocket Fund and the Canada Media Fund.

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