Turner Broadcasting System Europe, home to Cartoon Network, Boomerang and Cartoonito, has acquired Latibaer, the Icelandic entity that owns and operates the LazyTown brand. Magnus Scheving will remain chief executive officer of Latibaer and will retain hi

April 6, 2018

2 Min Read

Magnus Scheving will remain chief executive officer of Latibaer and will retain his management team, and the series production will stay in Iceland. Turner will produce a new series of "LazyTown."

The deal expands Turner's presence in the preschool space, following its recent roll out of preschool channel Cartoonito across the EMEA region to more than 125 million homes and its acquisition of preschool series "Jelly Jamm," "Bananas in Pyjamas" and "The Ha! Ha! Hairies."

The acquisition is immensely exciting both strategically and creatively,” says Jeff Kupsky, president of TBS Europe. “With the great fit between our existing assets in the preschool genre, and the retention of the unique talent that is Magnus Scheving, we’re ready to expand the LazyTown brand and will immediately be starting production on a new series. This will be supported by Turner’s successful 360 franchise management approach which will include consumer products and digital extensions.”

“We’re delighted to have Turner on board and believe that the fit is an ideal one for us, Turner being one of the world’s leading broadcast companies," says Magnus Scheving, chief executive officer of Laetibar. "Their ethos of entertaining children in a fun and educational way is perfectly in keeping with the LazyTown brand. We look forward to a bringing the LazyTown message of helping motivate children to lead a healthy lifestyle to a whole new audience of Turner viewers.”

“LazyTown is considered to be an innovative ground breaking program around the world," says Michael Carrington, chief content officer, Turner Broadcasting, EMEA. "It’s an inspirational television series designed to inspire young children to lead an active healthy lifestyle, and the show will be a key element in our preschool strategy going forward. I’m thrilled that we will be a part of its future as we develop and produce the new series.”

“LazyTown is one of those rare and wonderfully inspiring brands that at its core has such a relevant health message that everyone from governments to global retailers and most importantly millions of children every day from around the world are fully embracing," says Alan Fenwick, vice president of Turner CN Enterprises, EMEA. "We are delighted to be working with Magnus and his team as we build on this success together, ensuring that LazyTown becomes the world’s leading healthy lifestyle brand for children.”

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