Haim Saban andSaban Entertainment Group (SEG) have launched a virtual studio to develop,produce and market family projects.

Saban and SabanCapital Group chief creative officer Joel Andryc head the venture and willleverage their financial and creative contacts to develop the enterprise.

'I amthrilled to return to my roots and focus on developing media properties forchildren and families,' Saban said. 'The SEG team's extensivebackground in children's entertainment gives us unique expertise in recognisingbreakthrough creative content.'

The companyplans to focus on multi-media distribution platforms with a particular emphasison new media.

Andryc added:'In today's new media environment, we plan to capitalize on cutting-edgeinteractive technologies to engage the youth market.

'Our audiencewill discover and experience unique characters and story content through themedia outlet they prefer, be it broadcast, cable, VOD, broadband/internet,direct-to-home-video, video games or mobile devices.'

The studio willunveil its first projects, a 26-part television series Hollywood Star Dogs, at MIPCOM.

SEG has alsoentered into a development deal with Tiny Island Animation, a Singapore-basedanimation studio led by David Kwok. Further projects will be announced in duecourse.