'Rangers,' 'Yu-Gi-Oh' Power CW On Saturday Mornings

The “Power Rangers” franchise, which will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2013, is coming to the CW this fall as part of the network’s rebranding of its Saturday-morning block. Under a new deal, a unit of Saban Brands will provide the programming for the five-hour CW stretch, where shows such as “Yu-Gi-Oh!” will also continue to air.

Saban Brands, controlled by investor Haim Saban, reacquired the “Power Rangers” brand in 2010 from the Walt Disney Co. The franchise continues to have a presence on Nickelodeon, with another iteration set to debut in 2013.

A “Toonzai” brand from 4 Kids Entertainment currently airs Saturdays on the CW. That block includes “Yu-Gi-Oh!”

Recently, the “Yu-Gi-Oh!” brand was acquired by a Japanese entity, out of bankruptcy proceedings for 4Kids. SabanBrands’ Kidsco Media Ventures purchased CW rights in a bankruptcy court auction.

Besides “Power Rangers” and any assets acquired in the 4Kids proceedings, Saban Brands also controls the Paul Frank brand, which under a recent deal will appear on the famed Pan Am travel bags.

Former 20th Century Fox executive Elie Dekel serves as president of Saban Brands, which has arrangements with various licensees for 20th anniversary “Power Rangers” merchandise next year.   

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