ABC to air DQE's Rs 63-crore Jungle Book series

DQ Entertainment (Ireland) Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Hyderabad-based animation, gaming and entertainment company DQ Entertainment International, has entered into an exclusive broadcast deal with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) for airing its 52X11 minute-episode 3D animated series of Jungle Book and one 60-minute television special feature.

This agreement will allow ABC exclusive television broadcasting rights across the commonwealth of Australia. The series will be launched by the third quarter of 2010 worldwide.

The ABC deal was signed immediately after getting Disney channel of multiplexes for 29 countries and home video deal for several countries with NBC Universal.

An adaptation of Rudyard Kipling’s classic novel The Jungle Book, which will explore the various escapades of Mowgli and his friends through a dramatic, funny and fast-paced narration, the series was made at a budget of euro 9.2 million (approximately Rs 63 crore), in co-production with French broadcaster TF-I Group supported by French children’s animated content producer MoonScoop.

“I am delighted that the Jungle Book has found its Australian home with ABC TV. It is an integral part of our 2010 line up,” Barbara Uecker, head (programming and acquisitions), ABC TV Australia, said in a press release on Tuesday.