ICONIC Welsh language children's animation Sali Mali has been sold to Channel 4 in the first deal of its kind for Cardiff-based programme makers Calon.
The animation company has signed an agreement to allow the English language Public Service Broadcaster to screen all 52 episodes of the series, which is based on the Mary Vaughan Jones' books from the 1960s and 1970s.
It is the first deal to be struck with a UK PSB since April when Calon regained the commercial rights to its back catalogue from S4C International. Having promoted studio manager Lynne Stockford to head of international sales, the company has also sold the second series of the Bafta-winning S4C and Five pre-school children's series Hana's Helpline to German public broadcaster ZDF.
Calon hopes the latest sale will drive other commercial deals such as DVDs and more overseas sales for its catalogue of award-winning children's animation which includes the Bafta-winning Hana's Helpline (recently screened on Five and S4C), Eighties favourite Wil Cwac Cwac, Under Milk Wood and the feature film The Princess and the Goblin.
It also leads the way for sales of its new pre-school series, based on the adventures of cave girl Igam Ogam and due to premiere on S4C in November on Five in the spring.
The animation company has signed an agreement to allow the English language Public Service Broadcaster to screen all 52 episodes of the series, which is based on the Mary Vaughan Jones' books from the 1960s and 1970s.
It is the first deal to be struck with a UK PSB since April when Calon regained the commercial rights to its back catalogue from S4C International. Having promoted studio manager Lynne Stockford to head of international sales, the company has also sold the second series of the Bafta-winning S4C and Five pre-school children's series Hana's Helpline to German public broadcaster ZDF.
Calon hopes the latest sale will drive other commercial deals such as DVDs and more overseas sales for its catalogue of award-winning children's animation which includes the Bafta-winning Hana's Helpline (recently screened on Five and S4C), Eighties favourite Wil Cwac Cwac, Under Milk Wood and the feature film The Princess and the Goblin.
It also leads the way for sales of its new pre-school series, based on the adventures of cave girl Igam Ogam and due to premiere on S4C in November on Five in the spring.
The announcement comes just days after Ofcom's report into public service broadcasting revealed that investment by ITV, Channel 4 and Channel Five, on UK-produced children's programmes fell by 70 per cent from £42m in 2004 to just £11m in 2008.
Calon's Managing Director Robin Lyons, said: "This is a significant deal for us. We hope this will be the first of many much-loved Welsh programmes which will go on to become equally loved by children in the rest of the UK.
We have taken an iconic Welsh language children's character series and reversioned it for a UK-wide PSB."
Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones welcomed the deal. He said: "This is a tremendous boost for Calon TV and it's great to hear that Sali Mali will now be able to be enjoyed by children across the UK. In the light of the recommendations made in the recent Ofcom review, this is an example of producers and broadcasters working together to maximise public value from the investment in PSB."
Generations of Welsh children have grown up learning to read with Mary Vaughn Jones' books based on the adventures of Welsh girl Sali Mali and her mischievous pet bird called Jack Daw. The animated TV series is narrated by Hollywood actor Rhys Ifan while Cerys Matthews sings the title song.
Originally made in 2000 for Welsh language broadcaster, S4C, Sali Mali has been sold to 25 countries including Australia and Korea and is regularly shown on S4C's dedicated children's channel Cyw.
Offpeak Commissioning Editor for Channel 4, Deborah Poulton, said: "We are delighted to be broadcasting such a charming series. We are sure it will be as big a hit with kids in the rest of the UK as it is with children in Wales."
The first episode will be show on C4 at 6.05am on Sunday, August 2 with further episodes scheduled for Monday, August 3, Wednesday, August 5 and Friday, August 7.
Calon's Managing Director Robin Lyons, said: "This is a significant deal for us. We hope this will be the first of many much-loved Welsh programmes which will go on to become equally loved by children in the rest of the UK.
We have taken an iconic Welsh language children's character series and reversioned it for a UK-wide PSB."
Heritage Minister Alun Ffred Jones welcomed the deal. He said: "This is a tremendous boost for Calon TV and it's great to hear that Sali Mali will now be able to be enjoyed by children across the UK. In the light of the recommendations made in the recent Ofcom review, this is an example of producers and broadcasters working together to maximise public value from the investment in PSB."
Generations of Welsh children have grown up learning to read with Mary Vaughn Jones' books based on the adventures of Welsh girl Sali Mali and her mischievous pet bird called Jack Daw. The animated TV series is narrated by Hollywood actor Rhys Ifan while Cerys Matthews sings the title song.
Originally made in 2000 for Welsh language broadcaster, S4C, Sali Mali has been sold to 25 countries including Australia and Korea and is regularly shown on S4C's dedicated children's channel Cyw.
Offpeak Commissioning Editor for Channel 4, Deborah Poulton, said: "We are delighted to be broadcasting such a charming series. We are sure it will be as big a hit with kids in the rest of the UK as it is with children in Wales."
The first episode will be show on C4 at 6.05am on Sunday, August 2 with further episodes scheduled for Monday, August 3, Wednesday, August 5 and Friday, August 7.
