‘Pocoyo’ Producer Zinkia Is Looking To Sell Its Flagship Franchise

Executives at Spanish production company Zinkia Entertainment are looking to sell the company’s flagship franchise Pocoyo to French outfit Animaj Investment.

The potential sale’s financial terms are being kept under wraps, but this is a big deal for Zinkia. Pocoyo is far and away the company’s largest asset, and local reports are expressing shock at the news. For Animaj, Pocoyo would become the company’s biggest title overnight. Current catalog properties include Raving Rabbids, Hello Tiny, and Woof Meow.

Sale details:

• Pocoyo was created by Guillermo García Carsí, Colman López, Luis Gallego, and David Cantolla in 2003. The show has been a global hit, selling to broadcasters worldwide and finding success on Youtube and other digital services. The franchise’s Spanish-language Youtube channel currently has 12.1 million subscribers and its English-language channel has 4.8 million.
• In the U.S., Pocoyo aired on Nick Jr. and was added to the Noggin streaming service.
• Zinkia investors will vote on the potential sale during the company’s next shareholder meeting on June 23.
• The sale would include the transfer of Pocoyo IP rights, the distribution and license agreements, and most apps and assets linked to the property.
• If the sale goes through, Zinkia will maintain global rights to any educational aspects of the Pocoyo IP and will retain a 7.99% stake in the franchise through shares of Animaj SAS, the parent company of the bidding organization.
• Production on Pocoyo season five will continue at Zinkia’s Canary Island-based studio Koyi. The studio will also develop other properties from its catalog including Bumpy the Bear, Ghost Bros., and Bugsted.
• Zinkia CEO Alberto Delgado said: “The operation, whose approval by the board will be requested on June 23, means not only obtaining a very relevant cash income for Zinkia but also its incorporation as a reference shareholder in the ambitious business project of Animaj.”