American Online, Inc. has signed licensing deals with the Cartoon Network and Little, Brown Books for Young Readers, which extend its original "Princess Natasha" webisode series beyond the internet.

The twenty original animated short web cartoons, which were developed for the Kids AOL service, will be available on television later this year. AOL says this is the first time one of their online children's animated properties has made a transition from web to TV.

Little, Brown Books for Young Readers plans to release the first two books in series of "Princess Natasha" in May 2006.

"We feel strongly that these deals represent a major shift in the way original internet programming is being perceived by the entertainment industry. With the increased adoption of broadband, the time is right for innovative online video programming to set a new bar," says Malcolm Bird, senior vice president and general manager, Kids and Teens Programming, AOL.

"These licensing deals are marketing extensions of a property that was created on the internet. We also created online games and comics so 'Princess Natasha' was able to reach online young users without broadband. That's what really helped to make the series a popular following," says Lori Dolginoff, spokesperson, AOL.

"With the Cartoon Network and Little Brown Books deals, it's exciting to see how this online property can translate into other mediums while getting brand recognition from young AOL users. That's what makes this marketing extension very exciting," adds Dolginoff.