‘Boss Baby: Back In Business’ Sets Nickelodeon Debut, Becomes Latest Netflix Animated Series To Sell Linear Rights
Netflix‘s Boss Baby: Back In Business has found a U.S. linear home on Nickelodeon; it is set to premiere on Paramount’s kids cable network Oct. 3 and will air Fridays 5 PM.
As part of the streaming business model, linear rights to shows from outside studios revert back to the producers several years in (unless Netflix buys out all rights as it has done with signature non-owned series like Orange Is the New Black).
This is most prevalent in animation, and especially in kids animation where most of Netflix’s programming is from third-party suppliers. The Boss Baby: Back in Business comes from DreamWorks Animation, as does the streamer’s Gabby’s Dollhouse.
Nickelodeon has become a go-to destination for Netflix kids animated series whose linear rights have become available. So far, it has picked up DWA’s The Boss Baby and Gabby’s Dollhouse, both distributed by NBCUniversal Global TV Distribution, as well as Unicorn Academy and Vida the Vet from Canadian company Spin Master Entertainment. (The shows remain available on Netflix for streaming.)
On the adult animation side, Netflix hit BoJack Horseman was produced by Tornante Co. which sold its linear rights to Comedy Central in 2018.
The Boss Baby: Back in Business, an offshoot of the Boss Baby animated movie franchise, ran for four seasons and a special. In it, the Boss Baby, with the help of his big brother and partner-in-crime Tim, continues to navigate the cutthroat corporate jungle gym of Baby Corp., while angling to achieve the near-impossible: the work-life balance of a modern career baby.
From Emmy-winning executive producer Brandon Sawyer, the series features the voices of JP Karliak as the Boss Baby; Pierce Gagnon as the Boss Baby’s brother and best friend, Tim; Flula Borg as Boss Baby’s supervisor Mega Fat CEO Baby; Kevin Michael Richardson as 99th percentile bruiser baby Jimbo; along with special guest voice appearances from Tony Hale and Nicole Sullivan.
