DreamWorks Animation planning Asian channels launch

DreamWorks Animation is planning to launch a 24-hour kids’ and family channel across 19 countries in Asia, featuring more original content than any other children’s service in the region, TV Kids reports.

The DreamWorks channel represents the first time that the company’s content will be aggregated in one place, fully programmed and distributed by DreamWorks. The network will leverage 2,000-plus hours of existing DreamWorks TV content, in addition to more than 1,200 half-hours of original animation the company currently has in production.

The programming lineup will include favorites from the DreamWorks Animation library and forthcoming series based upon DreamWorks characters, including All Hail King Julien, The Adventures of Puss in Boots and all-new seasons of the How to Train Your Dragon series.

DreamWorks Animation is planning for the channel to be available beginning in the second half of 2015.

Singapore-based HBO Asia will manage affiliate sales and marketing as well as technical services for the new channel.

“The DreamWorks channel will bring our premier shows—great humor and stories, imaginative worlds and, of course, the highest quality animation—to audiences across Asia through a new DreamWorks-branded platform,” said Eric Ellenbogen, co-head of DreamWorks International TV. “Audiences in the region have always embraced our content and now they can engage with their favorite DreamWorks characters, as well as new ones, where and when they choose, across multiple screens and in local languages.”