Genius Brands International’s Kartoon Channel! is gearing up for a March 23 launch on Samsung TV in Australia, following on the heels of similar rollouts in the Middle East, North Africa and Latin America.
GBI is working with Hong Kong-based Lightning International to broaden Kartoon’s digital distribution footprint around the world, targeting FAST channels, AVOD, SVOD, OTT, mobile devices and more.
The company has been bulking up its executive suite lately to support more expansion. It hired Cindy Kelly as head of advertising sales and co-chief revenue officer for Kartoon Channel! in January. (She’s also working on a new Kartoon Channel! Kidaverse SVOD brand that will offer metaverse-based and animated content.) And Kerry Phalen was recently promoted to chief brand officer, with oversight of global brand strategy, consumer products, partnerships and retail development for properties such as Rainbow Rangers, Shaq’s Garage and Stan Lee’s Superhero Kindergarten.
Kartoon Channel! is currently available on US platforms including Comcast, Cox, DISH, Amazon Prime, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, Apple iOS and Android TV.