A Dublin-based animation company has sold international television rights for an interactive childrens' television programme, writes Colm Keena
Jam Media has sold the viewing rights for the programme, Picme, to MTV Networks International. It will be shown on Nickelodeon channels across Europe, Asia and Latin America.
While the company would not disclose the consideration yesterday, industry sources said that it was in the region of €300,000. The five-year deal will see 104 five-minute episodes of the programme being viewed from late spring 2006.
Picme has been showing on RTÉ 2's The Den since September 2004 and is the largest animation commission to date by the State broadcaster.
Jam Media has developed a software package that allows broadcasters to superimpose a child's face onto an animated body and which then places it in the Picme programme.
The company specialises in creating, producing and developing entertainment brands that make use of its software information technology to personalise animated content.
It is currently working on a project for mobile phone operator O2, involving animated content for mobile phones. The company is also working on an animated children's television series for BBC TV.
Jam Media's chief executive John Rice said he was "thrilled" to be partnering with Nickelodeon.
"Picme is a great series to work on and it has really clicked with our target audience.
"They love the interactive element of it, seeing their photo on TV and taking part in adventures with the other characters," he said.
Jam Media was set up in 2002 and is owned by Mr Rice, Alan Shannon and Mark Cumberton. It currently employs 18 people but plans to increase that number to 30 by July.
Picme won the best digital storytelling category at the 2005 Digital Media Awards. It also won the best youth programme award in the Irish Film and Television Awards last year.
The company has produced a DVD/CD-Rom box set of the Picme series. The computer package allows an electronic image of any child to be imposed on the cartoon series.
