IN BRIEF

By MCN Staff -- Multichannel News, 7/26/2010 12:01:00 AM

Sprout Produces a New Original Series

PHILADELPHIA — Pre-school channel Sprout is launching its first long-form original series, Noodle and Doodle, which also will be the first original show the Comcast-affiliated channel attempts to sell to international markets.

The show, featuring arts, crafts and cooking for preschoolers and their families, debuts Saturday, Sept. 25, at 9 a.m. It’s hosted by Sean, of live morning block The Sunny Side Up Show, along with a puppet (Noodle) and a virtual electronic friend (Doodle), two of the 11-minute episodes will air during Sunny Side Up, which is expanding to seven days per week, senior vice president of original programming Andrew Beecham said. Sprout is producing 26 episodes.

Also featured is Doggity, a beagle with the ability to take viewers into his imaginary, animated world, in a segment created in conjunction with Ka-chew!, a division of Klasky Csupo, creators of Rugrats.

The five-year-old channel recently signed a distribution pact with Charter Communications, pushing it past the 50-million-subscriber mark.

Nat Geo Ups Howard, Yates

WASHINGTON — National Geographic Channels promoted veterans Russell Howard and Cherry Yates.

Howard becomes senior vice president of communications worldwide. Yates has been elevated to vice president of marketing and communications for National Geographic Channels International. She reports to Howard, who reports to Steve Schiff - man, president of National Geographic Channel U.S.

Howard has led NGC U.S.’s communications team since before the net, a joint venture with Fox, launched in 2001.