Cartoon goes to Israel

Turner Broadcasting inked a multiyear deal with Israel-based YES to offer Cartoon Network as a 24-hour channel. The YES pack, that includes CNN and Turner Classic Movies, launches in Q2.

FKE snags Digimon and lands in Turkey

Fox Kids Europe gets exclusive rights for Toei Animation of Japan’s Digimon: Digital Monsters series in the U.K. and France. The deal includes toys and merch, along with 54 x half-hour episodes. Fox Kids is also branching out further with its mid-month channel launch on DigiTurk, the first satellite platform in Turkey.

Zany Brainy swallows Noodle

U.S. specialty toy retailer Zany Brainy announced plans to buy out its biggest competitor, Syosset, New York-based chain Noodle Kidoodle. Zany will swap 1.23 of its stock for each NK share, giving NK shareholders a 30% stake in the new Zany Brainy. Zany will acquire all 59 of NK’s stores, located throughout the U.S., along with its Web site and catalog businesses, all of which it plans to convert under the Zany Brainy brand, says ZB CEO Keith Spurgeon. For the fiscal year that ended January 29, NK posted revenues of US$135 million. The deal, expected to be finalized by the end of Q2, will boost Zany’s revenues to US$376 million and its store base to 163.