Watch Next Media
Watch Next Media is a France-based independent animation and fiction production company that produces, co-finances, and internationally distributes animated series for children and premium live-action series, serving public and commercial broadcasters plus global streaming platforms via its wholly-owned distribution arm Kids First.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2015
- HeadquartersParis, France
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Watch Next Media does
Watch Next Media is a French audiovisual production company founded in 2015 by Philippe Alessandri, a former President of TELE IMAGES, MARATHON and GTV, specializing in animated series for children and premium fiction series for international audiences. The company operates an integrated production-to-distribution model through three core subsidiaries: La Factorie, an owned animation and post-production studio with facilities in Paris and Lille (45 graphic stations); Kids First Distribution, a wholly-owned international sales subsidiary that became 100% owned in 2021; and Animato, an Italian production subsidiary created in 2020 with a studio in Turin. The company also holds a minority stake in Je Suis Bien Content, established in 1996, which extends its capability into animated feature films.
Watch Next's product portfolio spans preschool (3-6 years) and kids (6-12 years) animated series, including Mr. Men Little Miss (78x7' series based on the 250 million-book Sanrio IP), Hello Kitty: Super Style! (52x11' 3D animated series for Amazon Kids+, Canal+, and Discovery Kids), Oscar & Malika (104x11' across two seasons, with a third season in production at €7M), Boy Girl Etc. (104x11' sitcom), Audrey's Shelter (52x11' UNESCO-backed 2D series), Wild Kat (26x22'), Dungeons & Kittens, I Elvis Riboldi, Best Bugs Forever, plus premium live-action fiction including Algiers Confidential (4x45' thriller) and Nina & the Pig (8x26' drama). The underlying technology stack is conventional 2D and 3D digital animation, with no proprietary technology disclosed.
The business model is B2B production and licensing. Revenue is generated from (1) production fees and co-production financing from European public and commercial broadcasters (France Télévisions, Gulli/M6 Group, Super RTL, BBC/CBBC, ZDF, RTVE) and national film funds (CNC, COFIMAGE, SOFITVCINE); (2) international licensing and distribution royalties captured by Kids First Distribution to streaming platforms including Netflix, Amazon Kids+, Canal+, and Discovery Kids; and (3) IP rights development against established brand franchises from Sanrio. The company sells primarily through industry events (Cartoon Forum, Annecy) and direct broadcaster relationships, with secondary direct-to-consumer reach via YouTube, TikTok, Facebook, and Instagram (Oscar & Malika channel: 65M+ views, 145,000 subscribers). Pricing is negotiated per production deal and licensing contract; no public consumer pricing exists. The company is privately held by founder Philippe Alessandri, with no disclosed external institutional investment.
Watch Next Media firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Watch Next Media
- Legal name
- WATCH NEXT MEDIA, S.A.S.U.
- Website
- https://watchnextmedia.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2015
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Watch Next Media is a France-based independent animation and fiction production company that produces, co-finances, and internationally distributes animated series for children and premium live-action series, serving public and commercial broadcasters plus global streaming platforms via its wholly-owned distribution arm Kids First.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Watch Next Media industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Animated Content Production
- NAICS
- Broadcasting and Content Providers (516), Motion Picture and Video Distribution (512120)
- SIC
- Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Production (7812), Services-Motion Picture & Video Tape Distribution (7822)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Children’s & Youth Educational Entertainment (Edutainment) (EDAGALAK)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- Children’s/Educational Program Syndication (MPABAMAH)
Keywords
Where Watch Next Media is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Paris
- HQ country
- France
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Watch Next Media business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Animation production and co-production: Watch Next produces animated series commissioned and co-financed by broadcasters (France Télévisions, Gulli, Super RTL, BBC). Revenue comes from production budgets, pre-sales, and co-production financing from broadcasters and national film funds (CNC, COFIMAGE, SOFITVCINE).
- Content licensing and distribution: Through its subsidiary Kids First Distribution, Watch Next licenses produced content to international broadcast, VOD, and SVOD platforms globally. Revenue is generated from licensing fees and distribution royalties.
- TV and VOD rights acquisition and development: Watch Next acquires rights to established IP brands (e.g., Mr. Men Little Miss, Hello Kitty) to develop and produce new animated series, earning revenue through production fees and subsequent distribution.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels7 records
Marketing channels7 records
Watch Next Media product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Watch Next Media produces and internationally distributes 2D and 3D animated TV series and premium live-action fiction for children, family, and adult audiences. It finances and co-produces animated series with European public and private broadcasters, then exploits the resulting content globally through its wholly-owned distribution subsidiary Kids First and via direct licensing to streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Kids+, Canal+, and Discovery Kids.
Product overview
Watch Next Media is a French audiovisual production company specializing in animated and premium fiction content for international audiences. Founded in 2015, the company operates a multi-product portfolio across two main categories: animated series (preschool and children content including Mr. Men Little Miss, Wild Kat, Dungeons & Kittens, Hello Kitty: Super Style!, Audrey's Shelter, Oscar & Malika, Boy Girl Etc., I Elvis Riboldi, Best Bugs Forever) and fiction series (Algiers Confidential, Nina & the Pig). The company also has projects in development (Ash & Hazel, Super Switch). Watch Next Media controls production from conception through distribution via its subsidiary Kids First (international distribution) and La Factorie (animation studio in Paris and Lille).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- La Factorie: Animation and post-production studio located in Paris and Lille, established in 2017
- Kids First
- Animato
Products and services
- Mr. Men Little Miss (Monsieur Madame) 78 x 7' 2D animated preschool comedy series based on the Roger Hargreaves book series, featuring characters such as Mr. Happy, Mr. Messy, Little Miss Sunshine, and Little Miss Chatterbox; the underlying IP has sold 250 million books in 17 languages across 28 countries.
- Wild Kat (Kat Sauvage) 26 x 22' animated series following Idris and Dimitri who discover Kat is a cat-girl Wereling with superhuman abilities; combines fantasy, adventure, humor and action with themes of identity and self-acceptance.
- Dungeons & Kittens (Donjons & Chatons) 12-13 x 22' serialized animated series for children aged 6-10; four kittens banished from the Kingdom of Cats embark on a quest for treasure to return home, accompanied by a tabletop RPG companion game funded through crowdfunding.
- Hello Kitty: Super Style! 52 x 11' 3D animated series featuring Hello Kitty; when friends have problems Kitty transforms into heroic personas (pop star, detective, athlete, explorer) to help them; available on Amazon Kids+, Canal+, and Discovery Kids.
- Audrey's Shelter (Le Refuge d'Audrey) 52 x 11' 2D animated series for children aged 4-7; follows 8-year-old Audrey living in a sanctuary for endangered species, with a unique ability to communicate with animals; received UNESCO backing to enhance children's ecological awareness.
- Oscar & Malika (Nate is Late) 104 x 11' 2D animated comedy series for children aged 6-10; two friends Oscar and Malika constantly arrive late for school because they encounter incredible adventures en route; available on Okoo, France TV, Canal J, Netflix, myCANAL, and YouTube (65M+ views).
- Boy, Girl, Etc. (Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese) 104 x 11' (2 seasons) animated sitcom featuring an atypical family with two humans, three anthropomorphic animals, and a talking cheese; coproduced with CloudCo Entertainment and Kavaleer Productions.
- I, Elvis Riboldi (Moi, Elvis) Animated series for children aged 8-12; follows Elvis, a clumsy and impulsive boy who tends to break everything, navigating adventures with friends Boris and Emma in the town of Minipolis; co-produced with Peekaboo Animation.
- Best Bugs Forever (Bestioles Motel) 52 x 11' animated sitcom for children aged 4-7; a group of insects discover an abandoned human motel and see it as a sprawling metropolis from their tiny perspective, with a 1950s American aesthetic; co-produced with Je Suis Bien Content.
- Algiers Confidential (Alger Confidentiel) 4 x 45' thriller/romance series set in Algiers about a forbidden love affair between a German Embassy police inspector and an Algerian investigating judge; based on Oliver Bottini's novel; co-produced with Eikon Media for adult audiences.
- Nina & the Pig (La fille au cœur de cochon) 8 x 26' drama series about Nina, a teenage cardiac patient who discovers she lives with a pig heart valve; when she decides to save a pig named Fleur from slaughter, she embarks on a road trip with Hugo; produced with Lionfish Films.
Quantifiable outcome
- 65 million YouTube views for Oscar et Malika channel
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Watch Next Media
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Watch Next Media technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Watch Next Media partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- France TélévisionscoreFrance Télévisions is supporting the development of Dungeons & Kittens (13x22') and is a co-producer/broadcaster of Oscar et Malika and Audrey's Shelter. As a public broadcaster, France Télévisions provides financing and broadcast platform for Watch Next productions.
- Animato (Italy)minorItalian subsidiary of Watch Next Media, created with producer Elena Toselli. Opened an animation studio in Turin in 2021, expanding Watch Next's production footprint internationally.
- Je Suis Bien Content (JSBC)minorWatch Next entered the capital of JSBC, a Paris-based animation studio founded in 1996 by Franck Ekinci and Marc Jousset. The partnership enriches Kids First's catalogue and diversifies Watch Next's production activity into animated feature films. JSBC also operates alongside Watch Next at the Lille studio (La Factorie).
- La FactoriecoreAnimation and post-production studio created by Watch Next Media in 2017. Located in Paris and Lille, La Factorie guarantees production quality and cost control. Mandated by Watch Next and Je Suis Bien Content to open and operate the Lille animation studio.
- SanriocoreWatch Next Media secured TV and VOD rights to the globally iconic Mr. Men Little Miss brand from Sanrio (Japanese company). Watch Next is developing a 78x7' 2D animated preschool comedy series based on the brand. Sanrio and Watch Next previously collaborated on Hello Kitty: Super Style!. The Mr. Men Little Miss franchise has sold 250 million books in 17 languages across 28 countries.
- Kids First DistributioncoreWholly-owned (100% since 2021) international distribution subsidiary of Watch Next Media. Handles global sales of all series produced by Watch Next Media, including Mr. Men Little Miss, Hello Kitty: Super Style!, Audrey's Shelter, and others. Philippe Alessandri is President of both Watch Next and Kids First.
- UNESCOcoreUNESCO provided backing to Audrey's Shelter to further enhance children's ecological awareness. Hosted a global premiere screening at its Paris headquarters in early 2024, welcoming primary school groups with biodiversity and animal conservation expert discussions.
- Image-in AtlantiqueminorCo-producer of Audrey's Shelter alongside Watch Next Media and Peekaboo Animation.
- Peekaboo AnimationminorCo-producer of Audrey's Shelter alongside Watch Next Media and Image-in Atlantique. Also co-producer of I Elvis Riboldi.
- CloudCo EntertainmentminorUS-based co-producer of Boy Girl Etc. alongside Watch Next Media, Kavaleer Productions, and Gulli.
- Kavaleer ProductionsminorIrish co-producer of Boy Girl Etc., producing 25% of the series budget at its Dublin studio. Watch Next Media produced 75% of the budget at its Paris studio.
- Eikon MediaminorCo-producer of Algiers Confidential (4x45' thriller) alongside Watch Next Media.
- Lionfish FilmsminorCo-producer of La Fille au coeur de cochon (8x26' drama) alongside Watch Next Media.
- Monello ProductionsminorCo-producer of Hello Kitty: Super Style! alongside Watch Next Media and Maga Animation.
- Maga AnimationminorCo-producer of Hello Kitty: Super Style! alongside Watch Next Media and Monello Productions. Brand owner: Sanrio.
- Disney ChannelminorBroadcast partner for Bestioles Motel (Best Bugs Forever) alongside France Télévisions, ABC Kids, and others.
Scale indicators6 records
Recent moves11 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Watch Next Media competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- TeamTO: Paris-based French animation studio producing family content (Ploof, Mysterix). Comparable independent French animation producer of comparable size and pipeline-focused kids content targeting international broadcasters and SVOD platforms.
- Method Animation: French animation studio co-developing and producing Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir. Direct competitor in French-produced international kids animation with a comparable co-production and licensing model targeting broadcasters and SVOD platforms.
- ON Animation Studios: Paris-based French animation studio (part of ON Kids & Family) producing family-oriented animated content including adaptations of established brands. Direct French animation peer with a comparable model of leveraging licensed IP for kids series.
- Cyber Group Studios: Paris-based French animation studio producing kids series including Gigantosaurus and Zorro. Direct French competitor with similar kids 6–11 demographic focus, co-production broadcaster model and international distribution footprint.
- Xilam Animation: Paris-based French animation studio behind Oggy and the Cockroaches and Mr. Magoo; publicly listed on Euronext Paris. Xilam is a direct competitor in French-produced animated kids series with similar international co-production and distribution economics.
- Futurikon: Paris-based French animation production company with a long catalog of internationally distributed children's series. Direct French animation peer with comparable co-production model and target audience in preschool/children's programming.
- Marathon Media: Paris-based French animation production studio (Zig & Sharko, Totally Spies) now part of the Banijay/Zodiak group. Marathon is a directly comparable French animation producer and was previously led by Watch Next founder Philippe Alessandri before he founded Watch Next in 2015.
Broad incumbents
- Illumination Mac Guff: Paris-based feature animation studio behind the Despicable Me/Minions franchise (Illumination/Universal). While focused on theatrical features rather than TV, it is a French-headquartered animation powerhouse competing for talent and broadcaster relationships in the same ecosystem.
- Gaumont Animation: Animation arm of French studio major Gaumont, producing globally distributed kids series. A larger incumbent in the same French animation ecosystem with broader financial backing and a wider portfolio, overlapping with Watch Next on international distribution of children's programming.
Regional players
- Studio 100 Animation: European animation studio (Germany/Belgium) behind Maya the Bee and Heidi. Comparable European animation producer with a similarly IP-driven children's catalog and established broadcaster relationships across Europe, though headquartered outside France.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Watch Next Media social profiles
Digital presenceWatch Next Media financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Watch Next Media leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles9 records
Watch Next Media subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries4 records
Watch Next Media funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Watch Next Media M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Watch Next Media
What does Watch Next Media do?
Watch Next Media produces and internationally distributes 2D and 3D animated TV series and premium live-action fiction for children, family, and adult audiences. It finances and co-produces animated series with European public and private broadcasters, then exploits the resulting content globally through its wholly-owned distribution subsidiary Kids First and via direct licensing to streaming platforms such as Netflix, Amazon Kids+, Canal+, and Discovery Kids.
Is Watch Next Media a public or private company?
Watch Next Media is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Watch Next Media founded?
Watch Next Media was founded in 2015. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Watch Next Media based?
Watch Next Media is headquartered in Paris, France, in the Europe region.
How does Watch Next Media make money?
Three revenue lines are on record. Animation production and co-production is the primary driver. The others are content licensing and distribution and TV and VOD rights acquisition and development.
Who are Watch Next Media's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are TeamTO, Method Animation, ON Animation Studios, Cyber Group Studios, Xilam Animation, Futurikon and Marathon Media. Broad incumbents are Illumination Mac Guff and Gaumont Animation. Studio 100 Animation is listed as a regional player.
Does Watch Next Media have an API?
No public API is recorded for Watch Next Media.
What industry is Watch Next Media in?
Watch Next Media's product category is Animated Content Production. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAGALAK, Children’s & Youth Educational Entertainment (Edutainment), with a secondary code of MPABAMAH, Children’s/Educational Program Syndication. Its NAICS code is 516 and its SIC code is 7812.