MUMBAI: FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide (FLW), the licensing division of television format creator FremantleMedia has announced two publishing deals for the culinary adventure show, Planet Cook.
FLW has granted international publisher, Dorling Kindersley, the pan-territory rights to produce and distribute a Planet Cook cookbook, sticker book and Funfax in the UK, Germany and Australia. The 48-page branded cookbook will feature step-by-step guides to preparing selected recipes that have featured on the TV show. The products are scheduled to go on shelf from summer 2006
In a separate deal, leading annuals publisher, Pedigree Books, has been granted the rights to produce and distribute a 64-page hardback annual in the UK and Australia. The Planet Cook Annual, which will be distributed in Australia by ABC Publishing, is expected to hit shops in summer 2006.
Targetted at children aged 6-10 years, Planet Cook is a live-action cookery adventure show for children where mealtime disappointments are a thing of the past. Set on a tropical island, each episode sees Captain Cook guide three young Cook Cadets as they create a meal against the clock. Each recipe is inspired by the natural world - from leaf-eating dinosaurs to volcanoes - which gives Captain Cook the inspiration to create delicious dishes like 'Erupting Volcano Surprise'. All recipes have been analysed by independent, qualified nutritionists to fit within the context of a balanced, healthy diet.
FLW VP Licensing UK Dom Wheeler said, "These pan-territory publishing deals are yet another great example of how the Planet Cook brand can extend across multiple touch-points and these volumes will be a great fit with our existing range of products. Dorling Kindersley and Pedigree are both well-established leaders in the publishing field with tremendous distribution at retail and we are delighted to have them on board."
Planet Cook continues to be a key priority for FLW. FLW says that it will continue to extend the brand further across key categories including additional publishing, cookware, gifting, interactive and food to complement the Heinz Planet Cook range and first Planet Cook DVD release (Universal Pictures)which launched at retail last week. Branded cookware and bakeware (Trudeau-Euromark) will be available at retail from November.
Earlier this month, FremantleMedia had announced tape sales to TVB, in Hong Kong and Kids Central in Singapore. Both broadcasters acquired 52 x 20' episodes of the UK version of Planet Cook which is produced by format owner and creator, Platinum Films. 52 episodes of the UK show have also been sold to ABC in Australia and Fremantle Home Entertainment has granted DVD and VHS rights to ABC to complement the launch of the show on the channel this month. Planet Cook also has a first class broadcast platform in the UK and public broadcaster, ZDF, has produced a local series for Germany.
