Brazilian television network TV Cultura has reached a joint venture agreement with Castalia Communications—an independent distributor and producer of cable and satellite channels—for the distribution of its children’s channel TV Rá-Tim-Bum in the U.S. and Canada.

Under the agreement, TV Rá-Tim-Bum will be made available through cable and satellite distributors in the U.S. by this July. In the future, the channel will reach Africa, Asia and Europe, with plans to offer a Spanish version as well.

Created by TV Cultura two years ago, TV Rá-Tim-Bum, comprised entirely of Brazilian productions, broadcasts to 1 million homes in Brazil via platforms such as NET Brasil, TVA and Sky Brasil. The channel has a 24-hour children-oriented program schedule and produces approximately 500 hours of original programs each year.

(Published by The Brazilian, May 3, 2007)