Turner promises children ultimate fun in Arabic 24/7 for the very first time

Dubai, United Arab Emirates, October 7th, 2010 - Turner Broadcasting System Europe Limited (TBS), a Time Warner company, will launch its free-to-air Cartoon Network in Arabic on Sunday, 10th of October 2010. The channel, broadcasting completely in Arabic across the MENA region, will feature over 500 episodes of the kids’ most popular shows including: Ben 10, Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, Samurai Jack and Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends, in addition to the Middle East’s popular 3D animation series, FREEJ.

In celebration of the official inauguration, a ceremony was held at Media City, Dubai on Wednesday October 6th where a number of TBS regional officials and celebrities attended the event.

With a reach of a potential 35 million homes in the MENA region, the new channel will be launched to target the growing audience base who are dedicated followers of Cartoon Network through airing locally produced shows, blockbuster movies and original productions.

In commemorating this announcement, Chris Groves, Senior Vice President Business Affairs & MD Middle East for Turner said: “Cartoon Network Arabic reflects TBS’s ambition and belief in local talent. Our initiative has come to live through investing in different strategic partnerships with Dubai based companies such as Lammtara and Rubicon. Both partnerships will result in generating new ideas and series in addition to distributing them outside the MENA region.”

Under the deal with Lammtara, the studio and creator of FREEJ, Turner will license and distribute FREEJ episodes and merchandise, and produce a local version of its original production, Skatoony, which will feature FREEJ characters, a first for the global animated channel. Rubicon, the studio and creator of Tareq wa Shireen and Ben and Izzy will be working with Turner to air these series on Cartoon Network.

TBS’s efforts in publicizing and marketing Cartoon Network Arabic have manifested itself through various communication channels such as Print, broadcast and online. In addition to traditional media, community campaigns are being carried out throughout Dubai focusing on schools and mall visits to raise awareness among the targeted audience and educate them about the new channel and programs it will air.

Moreover, a website dedicated to the new channel will launch on the 10th of October 2010, to provide detailed and up-to-date information about the channel and its shows.