Posted: Fri., Feb. 4, 2011, 9:25am PT
Viacom takes stake in Rainbow
Italo toon house produces 'Winx Club' franchise
By Nick Vivarelli
ROME -- Viacom has acquired a minority stake in Italian animation company Rainbow Group, maker of globally distributed "Winx Club" kiddie TV franchise, in a move that will propel the expansion of the ambitious privately owned studio and boost its bridgehead toward U.S. auds.
Founded in 1995 by former comicbook artist Iginio Straffi, Rainbow is an Italian success story largely thanks to his "Winx," six trendy teenage fairies designed with a style that mixes of Japanese manga and classic Western animation, that have bewitched millions of tween girls in more than 130 countries.
Last year, Viacom's Nikelodeon and Rainbow announced a global content-based partnership centered around "Winx Club" under which Nickelodeon secured TV and merchandising rights in the U.S. and pay TV rights for Latin America, Canada, U.K., and several other territories.
That partnership now expands to co-development and co-production of seasons five and six of "Winx Club," and to two existing theatrical "Winx" movie titles, CGI feature "Winx Club: The Secret of the Lost Kingdom" and "Winx Club 3D: Magic Adventure," which are now likely to be released Stateside via Paramount.
Neither financial terms nor the entity of the Viacom stake were disclosed.
According to Italian financial daily Il Sole 24 Ore, the Viacom stake in Rainbow is said to amount to 30%, allowing Straffi to stay in full control, with plans for a Rainbow Group flotation to follow.
Rainbow, which is based in the small central Italian city of Loreto, with a production outpost in Singapore, also makes the series "Tommy and Oscar," "Prezzy," "Monster Allergy" and, most recently, "Huntik Secrets and Seekers."
The group, which has emulated the Disney model, on a much smaller scale, also has a Rome theme park, called MagicLand, in the works based on the "Winx" franchise and other Rainbow properties.
Original
Who is Viacom? Viacom basically owns Nickelodeon, who is currently co-producing season five and six as well as redubbing the first three seasons into movies.
What is a flotation? A flotation is also known as an Initial Public Offering, or IPO for short, in which a privately owned company decides to issue stocks that can be sold to the public. (HowStuffWorks)
Take note that the article said that Paramount, which is also owned by Viacom, might release the movies in America.
Thanks to the Oblivious Prattler at Una di Noi for posting about it first.
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ReplyDeletei haven't even get the season 4 .
ReplyDeleteBrina
I have a question, I read (somewhere) that the videos of winx club are going to be deleted of youtube, so when the season five comes out, is it possible to watch it from youtube anymore, like we can watch the season four?
ReplyDelete- Anynomous
@Anonymous
ReplyDeleteThey are becuase of copyrights and when season 5 comes out yes you can but the user who will or might upload them will have to take some time to upload it anyway no not all winx club videos only episodes especially Rai English episodes.
i like the rai eng episode better than any other
ReplyDeletebrina
@ Brina I like the Italian version.
ReplyDeleteThank you for your answer, Kawaii as a Divina.
ReplyDelete- Anonymous
wow this is everywhere. and i think that season 5 will be more cheap than season 4. >:(
ReplyDeleteAnonymous-Do I hear a cuss in your comment?
ReplyDeletei dont really get it??? is there no more winx =( i hope not!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete@anonymous
ReplyDeleteno there still is winx don't worry ^.^
hey notice it says SIX trendy girls not SEVEN
so maybe it means that Roxy ins't in the group?
Viacom is one of the companies that worked on the winx club movie (there name, along with rai english, is on the poster)
ReplyDeleteI cant wait.I so desperetly want to go to that theme park!
ReplyDelete"hey notice it says SIX trendy girls not SEVEN
ReplyDeleteso maybe it means that Roxy isn't in the group?"
Roxy better be in the group or I'll strangle somebody. I like Roxy.
What's wrong with Roxy she's a awesome/amazing fairy I would really love for her to come back in season 5 and 6. Because I ♥ Roxy!!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDelete@ GLAzE140
On Micheal's Winx Club a article that mentions that The SEVEN Magical fairies will return for 2 more seasons.
well then i guess roxy is part of the group i like her she's a great fairy ^.^
ReplyDeleteHmm.. Honestly, in answer to the artile, I must say I am worried. I like the winx how it is, and I don't want it to change. As long as they don't change it though, then I am alright with it.
ReplyDeleteIn anwser to the comments above, I must say I don't like roxy. I think she would be a good side character like mirta, just checking in with her to see how she's comeing once in a while at alfea. I don't think she deserves to be part of the group with her attitude. Without hesitation, any of us would gladly trade places with her, yet she doesn't even want to be a fairy (at least not at first).
I hope she isn't in the group, just a side character.
oh and, the english eps are on youtube again
ReplyDeletewhich movies are out on the internet?
ReplyDeletecan someone post the links for the movies that are out?
-LoveWinx4