Turner, Rubicon in regional alliance

Rubicon and Cartoon Network will collaborate on the development of Mena merchandising programmes to coincide with the launch of two new animated series, this was announced as part of a strategic alliance between Rubicon Group Holding and Turner Broadcasting that covers a wide array of development, production, broadcasting and merchandising initiatives.

To initiate the partnership is an agreement to broadcast Rubicon's new Ben & Izzy and Tareq wa Shireen animated series on Cartoon Network in Mena. This will also be in other regions including Europe, Asia and North America at a later stage.

The agreement includes the development and co-production of new episodes of Ben & Izzy that are set in Africa. In addition, Rubicon and Turner will explore co-production opportunities to create content based on intellectual properties (IP) in the Cartoon Network and Rubicon libraries, as well as IPs acquired by Rubicon from third parties, for broadcast on regional and international Cartoon Network channels.

Applying its expertise and extensive experience in themed entertainment, Rubicon will collaborate with Cartoon Network to seek out and develop opportunities in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) for all of their children's properties.

"On the heels of the successful launch of Pink Panther & Pals on Cartoon Network in the US, which we co-produced and co-financed together with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures (MGM), we are extremely pleased to be furthering our relationship with Turner Broadcasting and look forward to even greater successes on Cartoon Network throughout the Middle East, Africa and the rest of the world," said Randa S Ayoubi, Rubicon Holding Group CEO. "We are proud to be partnering with such a celebrated leader in children's entertainment as we continue to bring creative and innovative new properties to child audiences around the globe."

"We are very pleased to be working with Rubicon on this project. It further re-enforces Turner's ambition and commitment to build upon the business we have established in the Middle East," said Chris Groves, Senior Vice-President Business Affairs & MD Middle East, Turner Broadcasting. "Cartoon Network has always focussed on high-quality content and our association with Rubicon will deliver more great content to audiences across the region.

"Ben & Izzy is a 3D animated comedy and adventure series in English and Arabic. The series follows the adventures of two adolescent boys, Ben (an American) and Isam or Izzy (a Jordanian), who are persuaded by the desert genie Yasmine to travel through time and space on a journey to save history and its ancient treasures against the evil Mr Clutchford Wells and his mute assistant Roxanne.

Tareq Wa Shireen is the first 2D animated series in Arabic with implication toward the Arabic heritage, history, culture and music.

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