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Kaaren Lee Brown has been named senior vp creative affairs at DIC Entertainment, where she will oversee the company's upcoming Saturday morning animated block for CBS. Brown comes to DIC after serving as a consultant on creative content and marketing for DIC, Warner Bros. Consumer Products, American Greetings and other firms. Her background includes serving as a writer and producer on animated series Strawberry Shortcake and Mary-Kate and Ashley in Action! as well as serving in executive posts at Hanna-Barbera Prods. and in licensing for toy maker Tyco Industries.

Los Angeles-based animation house DIC Entertainment on Monday unveiled a slew of big international deals for its kids programming, including deals for such signature programs as Super Duper Sumos, Madeline, Mary-Kate and Ashley: In Action and Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century. Broadcasters signing on for new deals with DIC include Nickelodeon Asia, Fox Kids Italy, Cartoon Network Japan and ITV in the United Kingdom. The deals, which also include the franchise Strawberry Shortcake, were announced by executive vp international sales Pat Ryan and Leslie Nelson, co-managing director of worldwide sales, U.K. Many of the deals were generated at last month's big international TV market MIPTV in Cannes, Ryan said. DIC chief executive Andy Heyward said the sales bounty has marked one of the most successful years to date for DIC on the international TV market.