MUMBAI: Turner International India has inked an exclusive broadcast deal with DQ Entertainment to telecast the first and second sequel of the animated feature, Balkand, on its kids channels - Cartoon network and Pogo.
This new deal with the Hyderabad-based animation and gaming art company for Turner‘s South Asia feed underscores the latter‘s aggressive move to invest and promote its "Desi-Toons" strategy.

Just recently did the company launch Kumbh Karan on Pogo, the brainchild of Turner‘s original production team and the animation being produced by Mumbai-based Cornershop.
 
Says Turner International India director programming Krishna Desai, "Promoting and supporting Indian animation is a critical mandate of Turner in India. We have been aggressively executing our "Desi Toons" strategy that includes acquiring and creating Indian intellectual property as well, providing local animations the perfect launch platforms in the form of the number one and two kids‘ channels of India - Cartoon Network and Pogo. Kids across India enjoyed Balkand on Pogo and we are sure that their response to sequels will be equally encouraging."

This latest content agreement augments Turner‘s Indian animation library, taking the tally to 40 plus local titles acquired and/or produced by Turner in India.

Balkand, sequel one and two, follows the debut of Balkand on Pogo in 2009. Created and produced by DQE, each sequel comprises 70 minute animated features, split into three episodes of 22 minutes each.

Says DQE Group Chairman & CEO Tapaas Chakravarti, "We are very happy to partner with Turner Entertainment Networks. We appreciate their foresight and dedication to encourage production of local Indian content. This deal will help in adding to our library of Indian content and embarking on a new and exciting venture for producing Indian content."