Advanced Television

Amazon to produce children’s programming

February 1, 2013

By Colin Mann

Amazon Studios, the original movie and series production arm of Amazon.com, has greenlit the production of five children’s test pilots. This announcement comes on the heels of the first pilot production commitment in December, which greenlit six comedy pilots, bringing the total number of Amazon Studios pilots currently in production to 11.

The move comes as rival online entertainment service Netflix débuts its first original programming venture –House of Cards – based on the 1990 BBC miniseries of the same name. All 13 first-season episodes are available at series launch on February 1 to Netflix members in territories where Netflix is available – the UK, Ireland, North America, Latin America and in the Nordic countries.

Once completed, all 11 pilots will be posted on Amazon Instant Video, Prime Instant Video, LOVEFiLM UK and LOVEFiLM Germany for Amazon customers to watch for free. Viewer feedback will help determine which series Amazon Studios should produce.

“Production is already underway for the first set of comedy pilots we announced last month, and now we are excited to add even more pilots to the list—five amazing preschool children’s series,” said Roy Price, Director of Amazon Studios. “Our children’s series come from industry luminaries with credits such as Blue’s Clues, Sid the Science Kid and Dino Dan. We think parents—and our very youngest customers—are going to love the magical combination of entertainment and learning that they’ll discover in these children’s series.”

“We are thrilled to be working with Amazon Studios on our pilot and can’t wait to soar into a creative arts curriculum with Creative Galaxy,” said Angela C Santomero (Blue’s Clues), creator and executive producer of the début series, which is one of five children’s series to receive a pilot order. “We know that art can have a powerfully positive effect on children, and through our proven signature approach to preschool television, we will actively help young viewers learn how to think creatively in their own lives. Working with Amazon Studios has been fantastic, and we look forward to jumping into the production process.”

Since its launch in November 2010, more than 14,000 movie scripts and 2,500 series pilot scripts have been submitted to Amazon Studios. The children’s pilots will be added to the Amazon Studios series development slate, which currently boasts 20 additional projects.

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