Rubicon Group Holding and Turner Broadcasting have secured an extensive strategic partnership, which includes development, production, broadcasting and merchandising of children's properties. To start, Rubicon's two new animated series will air this October on Cartoon Network in the Middle East and North Africa.

Rubicon and Cartoon Network will develop the licensing programs for the two new series "Ben & Izzy" and "Tareq wa Shireen." The shows are expected to air in Europe, Asia and North America in the near future.

Also part of the deal, Rubicon and Turner will explore co-production opportunities to create content based on intellectual properties in the Cartoon Network and Rubicon portfolios, as well as third-party IPs acquired by Rubicon.

"We are very pleased to be working with Rubicon on this project. It further re-enforces Turner's ambition and commitment to build upon the business we have established in the Middle East," says Chris Groves, senior vice president of business affairs and managing director for the Middle East at Turner. "Cartoon Network has always focused on high-quality content and our association with Rubicon will deliver more great content to our audiences across the region. "