Nick, Rainbow Team Globally for "Winx Club"

Nickelodeon has secured Rainbow's "Winx Club" for U.S. television rights and pay-TV rights for Latin America, Canada, the U.K., Australia, New Zealand and Benelux. The kids' network has also acquired merchandising rights to the property in the territories.

Nickelodeon will begin to introduce the series via four hour-long animated specials based on the first two seasons. Seasons 3 and 4 will launch on the network in 2011. In addition, Nick will partner with Rainbow to co-develop and co-produce seasons 5 and 6 of "Winx Club." In 2012, seasons 5 and 6 (26 episodes each) will debut on Nickelodeon domestically and internationally (excluding Italy). Nick also acquired two Winx Club feature films.

"It is very exciting for us to be partnering with Iginio Straffi and Rainbow, who have had such tremendous success with this property internationally," says Cyma Zarghami, president of Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. "The Winx Club franchise is a big hit with young girls and we think there is great opportunity for it domestically as a property that allows us to fill a gap for girls in the 6- to 8-year-old range."

Iginio Straffi, founder and president of Rainbow, says: "We are very proud to start this collaboration with the most prestigious network in the world. This is a new challenge for our fairies who, I'm sure, will find a place in the hearts of American and British children."

Winx Club debuted in Italy six years ago and quickly spawned into an international franchise of toys, books, clothing, DVDs and a CG film.

The cover story of the upcoming September issue of License! Global will feature an in-depth look at Rainbow SpA, the 15-year-old independent Italian studio, as well as more specifics on the new Winx Club deal with Nickelodeon.