C21media.et report that Entertainment Rights have picked up the international distribution rights for the third season of Transformers Animated.

Kids media group Entertainment Rights (ER) has secured distribution rights to the latest 13 episodes of Transformers Animated, bringing the total number available to 42.

The announcement follows Cartoon Network US's commission of an additional 13 episodes of the toon for delivery in spring 2009.

The 13x22' episodes generated "a great deal of interest among international buyers" at last week's Mipcom market, according to ER, and deals have been secured in the UK, France, Italy and Mexico, as well as pan-regionally within both Asia and Latin America.

The deals add to those for the original series, which has to date reached more than 80 territories via broadcasters including Mediaset (Italy), Turner Broadcasting (Australia, Latin America and India), Jetix (Israel, Netherlands and Belgium), Network 10 (Australia), TV3 (New Zealand), Mediacorp TV12 (Singapore), TV Globo (Brazil), Nickelodeon (UK), Gulli (France) and Super RTL (Germany).

ER holds worldwide TV distribution rights for the show, excluding Japan and North America, covering both free- and pay-TV.

The news may offer some comfort to concern shareholders amid speculation ER - which is sitting on around �127m (US$207.3m) in debt - is struggling to survive.

The company has said it will reveal future options and strategies in its interim results next week, after its shares fell to an all-time low earlier this week.

After the "terrible but turning out to not be that bad" news for UK Transformers Animated fans it is unfortunately time for us to bring you some bad news after all.� We have been in touch with Entertainment Rights who hold the International Distribution rights for Transformers Animated and asked them for an update on the UK terrestrial airing situation for Transformers Animated.� The answer was that GMTV, who are the station who have been in negotiations for broadcasting the show, have been some what slow in their discussions with Entertainment Rights.� We have been told that there is still a chance that the show will air in the Spring of 2009 to coincide with the release of Transformers Revenge of the Fallen.

However, and before anyone starts to moan, we (the collected Transformers fans from around the world) can change this and ER have given us their blessing to create a petition for fellow Transformers fans to sign to show GMTV the support and demand that exists to have the current Transformers show broadcast on a free-to-air channel within the UK.� As such we have created a petition over at PetitionOnline.com which we urge you all to go and sign.� We will be passing the URL along to Entertainment Rights who, assuming the support is strong enough, can present it directly to GMTV.� So what are you waiting for.� Go sign it and spread the links

'Transformers Animated' sells widely
ER sells series to more than 80 territories
By ALI JAAFAR, JOHN HOPEWELL

CANNES — U.K.-based Entertainment Rights has inked deals in more than 80 territories for the “Transformers Animated” skein as well as a special 70-minute episode.

Key new territories sold by Entertainment include Italy through Mediaset; Australia, Latin America and India through Turner Broadcasting; Israel, the Netherlands and Belgium through Jetix; Australia through Network 10; New Zealand through TV3; Singapore through Mediacorp TV12; and Brazil through TV Globo.

That's a quote from Variety found by Voiceroy, a member of TFWorld2005

Carrying on from yesterday's announcement of a few of the International channels that Transformers Animated will air on, it gives us great pleasure to be able to bring you exclusive news of which channels will show the series in 13 international territories. So without further-a-do, here's the list.

1. Asia Pacific - Cartoon Network
2. Croatia - Magma
3. France - Gulli
4. Germany - Super RTL
5. Hong Kong - TVB
6. Latin America - Cartoon Network
7. Malaysia -TV3
8. Middle East - MBC
9. New Zealand - TV3
10. Philippines - GMA 7
11. Singapore - TV12
12. South Africa - SABC
13. Spain - Cartoon Network
14. UK - Nickelodeon

We'd like to say a big thank you to the great folk over at Entertainment Rights especially Chloé and Pem for all of the help they've been over the last few months and for sending us over the details.

Don't forget to check out our sister site, TransformersAnimated.com for more Transformers Animated goodness.

We'd like to thank Chloé van den Berg for sending us through a copy of the full press release that was sent out this morning in regards to Transformers Animated. As you will see from the release, Entertainment Rights have signed over 24 territories with more in the works, so if you are not within the US, Canada, the UK, France or Germany, don't panic, the announcement for your territory is probably just around the corner.

ENTERTAINMENT RIGHTS SECURES MAJOR EUROPEAN BROADCAST AGREEMENTS FOR TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED

London January 14^th 2008 - Entertainment Rights Plc ("ER") the UK's leading global media group specialising in the ownership of children's and family programming, characters and brands today announced it has sealed significant broadcast agreements for the new TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED series (26 x 22 minute) plus a 70 minute special episode. ER secured the worldwide television distribution rights (excluding North America) covering television distribution across both free and pay tv platforms for the series.

Further to the hugely successful premiere of TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED in the US on Cartoon Network (highest rated kids cable programme in its time slot), ER is delighted to announce the following key European TV broadcasters have been secured including Nickelodeon in the UK, Gulli (France) and Super RTL (Germany). ER has sold TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED to over 24 territories, with a number of other key deals in negotiation.

TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED is the next generation of the globally popular saga of the struggle between the AUTOBOTS and the DECEPTICONS and is being developed by Cartoon Network Studios in Los Angeles. The best and brightest talent are working on the all-new animated TV series including: Sam Register, Executive Producer (Ben 10, Hi Hi Puffy Ami Yumi, Teen Titans); Matt Youngberg, Supervising Director (Teen Titans, Batman); Vincent Aniceto, Line Producer (Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends, Power Puff Girls); Marty Isenberg, Head Writer (Danny Phantom, A.T.O.M, X-Men, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles). Derrick Wyatt, character designer for the smash hit, Teen Titans will take the role of Lead Designer.

The bold new 2-D style that will be this new show's trademark presents a new twist on the original "Generation 1" animated series that launched the TRANSFORMERS phenomenon in 1984. Developed for a new generation of TRANSFORMERS fans, the series will also introduce new characters alongside legendary favorites such as OPTIMUS PRIME and MEGATRON.

Chloe van den Berg, Director of International, Entertainment Rights Plc, commented:
"We have had an overwhelming interest from international broadcasters post MIPCOM for the new TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED series. We recently extended distribution rights to include Latin America, where broadcasters are also showing great demand for the series and we expect to announce new agreements in due course. The recent agreements with European broadcasters demonstrate ER's success at securing premier television platforms for the franchise around the world."

About Entertainment Rights:

Entertainment Rights Plc (“ER”) is the UK’s leading global media group specialising in the ownership of high quality children’s and family programming, characters and brands ER owns or controls the rights to many global characters including Basil Brush�, Postman Pat�, Jess the Cat™, Little Red Tractor™, Rupert Bear�, He-Man and the Masters of the Universe�, Fat Albert and the Cosby kids™, She-Ra�, Jim Jam & Sunny™, Ghostbusters, , The Lone Ranger, Lassie, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Casper the Friendly Ghost, Felix the Cat and the award-winning Veggie Tales

In January 2007, ER acquired Classic Media, the US-based owner of an extensive portfolio of children’s and family characters and brands including Big Idea Productions Inc, producer and creator of the
award-winning ‘Veggie Tales’ series of programming which, to date, has sold over 45 million home entertainment units in the US

Since 1999, when ER owned rights to just 39 episodes of programming, ER’s library has grown to circa 8,700 episodes of high quality children’s and family characters and brands. This includes certain rights to global brands such as Mattel’s Barbie™, Scholastic’s CliffordTM and Hasbro’s Transformers™

ER’s wholly owned subsidiary Tell-Tale Productions, created and produced The Tweenies, one of the UK’s most successful pre-school brands

ER has grown rapidly. Annual revenues have increased from �1.8m in 1999 to �29.7m in 2006, the last reported financial year

Don't forget to check out Transformers Animated.com for all the latest Transformers Animated news, exclusive videos and wallpapers and much more