C21media.et report that Entertainment Rights have picked up the international distribution rights for the third season of Transformers Animated.

Kids media group Entertainment Rights (ER) has secured distribution rights to the latest 13 episodes of Transformers Animated, bringing the total number available to 42.

The announcement follows Cartoon Network US's commission of an additional 13 episodes of the toon for delivery in spring 2009.

The 13x22' episodes generated "a great deal of interest among international buyers" at last week's Mipcom market, according to ER, and deals have been secured in the UK, France, Italy and Mexico, as well as pan-regionally within both Asia and Latin America.

The deals add to those for the original series, which has to date reached more than 80 territories via broadcasters including Mediaset (Italy), Turner Broadcasting (Australia, Latin America and India), Jetix (Israel, Netherlands and Belgium), Network 10 (Australia), TV3 (New Zealand), Mediacorp TV12 (Singapore), TV Globo (Brazil), Nickelodeon (UK), Gulli (France) and Super RTL (Germany).

ER holds worldwide TV distribution rights for the show, excluding Japan and North America, covering both free- and pay-TV.

The news may offer some comfort to concern shareholders amid speculation ER - which is sitting on around £127m (US$207.3m) in debt - is struggling to survive.

The company has said it will reveal future options and strategies in its interim results next week, after its shares fell to an all-time low earlier this week.