‘Thomas’ On Track in China

Mattel Creations has finalized brand-new deals for its “Thomas & Friends” franchise in China.

On the heels of the theatrical release of Thomas & Friends: Sodor’s Legend of the Lost Treasure in the country earlier this year, Asia-Pacific broadcasters are now hopping all aboard with the TV series.

Signed on to air the series are China Central TV (China), LeEco (China), China Mobile (China), Air Media (China), NHK (Japan), Global TV (Indonesia), GMA (Philippines), KBS (South Korea), TVNZ (New Zealand) and TVB (Hong Kong). China’s Youku has also recently launched a “Thomas & Friends” channel in China across its digital platforms.

In other parts of the world, “Thomas & Friends” will air on ABC TV (Australia), Channel 5 (UK), Minimini (Poland), Next (South Africa) and RTÉ (Ireland). The series will also gain a new pay TV broadcaster in the U.K.–Cartoonito.

Also announced at this week’s MIPCom event, taking place in Cannes, France, is a new deal between Mattel Creations and Universal Pictures Home Entertainment for the distribution of “Thomas & Friends” specials in Benelux, Greece, Turkey and the Czech Republic, as well as season 20 distribution in Italy, France, Malta, Switzerland, Monaco, San Marino, Vatican, Luxembourg, Andorra and Belgium.