Vancouver-based 2D animation studio Big Bad Boo has sold its Arabian-themed comedy 1001 Nights to China Central Television (CCTV) for broadcast on its children’s channel CCTV-14.

Terms of the multi-year deal will see the series make its linear debut on Nov. 10, and viewers will also be able to live stream the show on CCTV’s VOD service, CCTV Kids.

Aimed at kids ages six to nine, 1001 Nights features heroine Shahrzad and stories of the famed 1001 Arabian Nights (including Sinbad, Aladdin, and Ali Baba).

Its sale to the world’s largest television broadcaster means the series will potentially reach CCTV-14’s audience of more than 340 million children under the age of 12. CCTV currently broadcasts to more than 1.2 billion people or 95% of China’s population.

Big Bad Boo also plans to launch a licensing and merchandising program for the brand in the Asia. Discussions with agents are currently underway as production continues on the third season of the show.

1001 Nights now airs in more than 80 countries on major networks including Disney, Cartoon Network, Al Jazeera Children’s Channel, Discovery TV and CBC/Radio Canada.

From Kidscreen