TEMPLE STREET PRODUCTIONS announced earlier this week that it has entered into a licensing partnership with Segal Licensing, for the hit tween drama, The Next Step. Under terms of the agreement, Segal will represent the brand in Canada including merchandising, events and publishing rights.
Stuart Pollock, President, Segal Licensing. “We are excited to working with the team at Temple Street Productions and believe The Next Step will be as successful at retail as it is on air!”
“The Next Step has proven to be a ratings hit in Canada and is soon to air in many territories internationally. We are delighted to be working with Segal, who are leaders in the licensing world, to expand The Next Step brand and to allow us to bring a variety of new opportunities for fans to get more of this hit show,” commented John Young, Managing Director, Temple Street Productions
The Next Step follows the lives of a group of dancers at The Next Step Dance Studio as they attempt to win at the highest level of dance championships. It’s not just about winning, though. It’s about working together, accepting everyone for who they are, and finding your footing as these young dancers become young adults.
The series, which was recently greenlit for a second season by Canada’s Family Channel, debuted on March 8th to the networks’ largest premiere audience for any series, acquired or domestic, with an unprecedented 574,500 viewers tuning in (P2+ AMA). The reach of the audience exceeded more than one million P2+ viewers for the show’s premiere. With Family’s target audience of K8-14, the premiere was the #1 program of the week (March 3) on all television in the 7:00 p.m. timeslot, and was the #3 program of the day with the target demo for all television, following two episodes of Family Channel’s Good Luck Charlie.1
Commissioned by Family Channel, The Next Step is produced by Temple Street Productions. Executive produced by series creator Frank van Keeken (Wingin’ It, Kids in the Hall, Billable Hours), Ivan Schneeberg and David Fortier (Orphan Black, Being Erica, Wingin’ It). BBC Worldwide handle the international distribution rights for the series. The Next Step is also produced with financial assistance from The Shaw Rocket Fund.
