Publishing Presence Grows for Angelina Ballerina
HIT Entertainment and Penguin Young Readers partnered on a new publishingprogram for Angelina Ballerina. The books will be published by three imprintsin formats that include hardcover from Viking, picture book reprints fromPuffin, and mass-market formats from Grosset & Dunlap. New titles willlaunch in fall 2005 with a full program headed to shelves in spring 2006.
New Initiative Helps Kids Become Globally Aware
Sesame Workshop and Merrill Lynch teamed up to launch the WorldwideKidsinitiative with a goal of preparing kids to become globally aware andfinancially responsible citizens. WorldwideKids, funded by a $5 million grantfrom Merrill Lynch, includes multimedia educational tools and resources foreducators, caregivers, and parents to equip 3- to 6-year-olds with essentiallife skills. Age-appropriate, research-based materials will be developed bySesame Workshop in concert with an international advisory board and will bedelivered through DVDs, a Web portal, activities, and printed resourcesspanning 14 countries and seven languages. Merrill Lynch employees in NorthAmerica, South America, Asia, and Europe will bring the content alive asvolunteers at preschools, community centers, and child-care agencies in theircommunities.
The Sharpe Co. Signs New Deals
The Sharpe Co. acquired the U.S. licensing and merchandising rights to Britishfeline Bagpuss. Since its debut in a classic TV series, the property has been afavorite with kids. Sharpe will offer the license to manufacturers anddistributors or for a direct-to-retail program with an extensive ready-made FarEast-produced product line. Bagpuss is controlled by Licensing by Design, aUK-based licensing and merchandising agency.
In other news, The Sharpe Co. nabbed the worldwide licensing and merchandisingrights to Bruno, a playful little monkey who is featured in interstitials onNickelodeon in more than 80 countries worldwide. Bruno is being developed intoa full-length series called Bruno and the Banana Bunch.
Trollz to Make DVD Debut
The first two of nine planned movies from the newly launched Trollz propertywill hit the street in September. New DVD releases from Warner Home Video andDIC Entertainment include Trollz Volume 1: Best Friends for Life and TrollzVolume 2: Magic of the Five. Both full-length, made-for-video animated movieswill retail for $19.98.
Six Licensees Ante Up for World Poker Tour
World Poker Tour Enterprises added six licensees to its growing roster for theWorld Poker Tour. Shell Auto Expressions will create car accessories, and MZBerger will come to market with digital poker game-play wrist watches, wallclocks, decorative tabletop clocks, and alarm clocks. Frankford Candy will makecandies and gift sets, while Zippo is putting on the heat with a series ofWorld Poker Tour lighters. Hot Properties! Merchandising, Inc., will debutnovelties and collectibles, and Pacific Direct will manufacture a TalkingBottle Opener that plays back unique sound bites when the opener touches thebottle cap.
Aurora World Wins Award
Aurora World Inc.'s "Woe Is Me Bear" won iParenting Media's 2005 Best ProductsAward. This marks the fifth time the company has been recognized with theaward, which honors products that exceed the highest standards as evaluated bya panel of iParenting Media's reviewers.
Mad Catz Interactive Inks Deal
Mad Catz Interactive, Inc., entered into a licensing agreement with WarnerBros. Consumer Products, on behalf of DC Comics, to produce specialty videogame accessories based on Batman Begins and comic book Batman. The accessories,which will be available for all current and next-generation video game consolesand handhelds, currently are heading to store shelves.
SloaneVision Partners with Art Licensing Veteran
SloaneVision Unlimited entered into a joint venture agreement with ElisaValentino to expand and grow the company's ArtBeat division. Proficient in thefield of artwork licensing, Valentino is best known for pioneering the conceptof branding in the artwork category. As vice president of Giordano licensingand president of ArtBrands Consumer Products, she was instrumental inestablishing the art category as a recognizable segment of the licensingindustry.
Pearson Named to New Position at 20th Century Fox
20th Century Fox Television appointed Mark Pearson to the newly createdposition of senior vice president, brand & franchise management. Pearsonwill be responsible for developing growth strategies for TCFTV's many brandsand franchises including The Simpsons, Family Guy, and 24, and he willcollaborate with the studio's producers, creative and marketing executives, anddivisions-including online, wireless, licensing & merchandising, and homeentertainment-to identify potential new business opportunities and promotionalplatforms.
McCandlish to Lead Marketing and Licensing Efforts
4Kids Entertainment, Inc., appointed Bob McCandlish vice president of marketingand licensing. In his new position, McCandlish is responsible for domestic andinternational development and sales for key brands American Kennel Club,Cabbage Patch Kids, Winx Club, Cat Fanciers' Association, Incredible CrashDummies, Monster Jam, and Artlist Collection: The Dog/The Cat.
Special Events at Licensing 2005International
In addition to hundreds ofexhibitors, networking events, and L!censing University- which covers topics frompromotions to art, international licensing, and 'tween and teenbrands-Licensing 2005 International offers some interesting special events.These include appearances by the Professional Bull Riders outside the JavitsCenter; appearances by baseball sluggers Hank Aaron, Reggie Jackson, ErnieBanks, and Sadaharu Oh at the 500 Home Run Club booth; and fashion showscreated by Sesame Workshop and Mattel. Be sure to visit www.licensingshow.com for additionalinformation. Registration for the Mobile and Digital Licensing Summit is stillopen. To save 10 percent, use promotional code "MDS05" when registering for thesummit. To go directly to registration, visit https://www.showreg.net/LSI2005/.Are You Prepared for Post-Show Follow-Up?
How are you planning to reach the leadsyou generated at Licensing 2005 International? The July 2005 issue of License!offers the only complete Licensing Show wrap-up-perspective and analysis of thebiggest week in the licensing industry. As licensees, agents, and retailers dotheir post-show follow-up, your company will be top of mind, keeping profitscoming your way long after the show is over. Make sure you reserveyour space by June 17 and have your materials in before Licensing 2005International. To find out more about ourJuly issue, visit http://www.licensemag.com/or contact Steven Ekstract at (212) 951-6684 or [email protected].
Licensing Fact: Didyou know that 100 percent of License! subscribers personally request thepublication?
LINK Las Vegas Announces Keynote: Laura Rowley, author of "On Target: How theWorld's Hottest Retailer Hit a Bull's-Eye"
How did Target's history and intenseculture shape the organization's success today? Author Laura Rowley will coverthose issues at LINK Las Vegas and explain how and why licensing has become oneof the retailer's most important strategies. Rowley is just one of manyspeakers at LINK Las Vegas, August 31 to September 1, 2005, Bellagio. Runningconcurrently with the last 1 1/2 days of MAGIC Marketplace, LINK Las Vegas willfocus on the challenges and opportunities of brand licensing in the fashion,entertainment, and sports worlds. For information on sponsorship, speaking, andattending, visit our Website. Registration is now open at http://www.linkconference.com.Submit Licenses Granted & Available Now Online
License!'s new License! Finder now allows you to submit licenses granted andavailable now online, which will be published on the License! Website (http://www.licensemag.com/) on a weeklybasis once approved by an editor. Go to http://www.finder.licensemag.com/to fill out the verification form and submit your licenses granted or availablenow. Highlights from each month's online submissions will be published inLicense! magazine. Any questions, contact Alyson Grala at (212) 951-6743 or viae-mail: mailto:[email protected].Sesame Fashion Show
Don't miss the Sesame Street fashion showat Licensing 2005 International. The show will feature hot new trends forinfants, toddlers, and teens that include favorite Sesame Street characters.The show will take place at the Jacob Javits Center, June 21, at 2 p.m. inBooth #1449. For more information on Sesame Workshop, the nonprofitorganization behind Sesame Street, visit www.sesameworkshop.org.
For more information on licensing news and features, visit License! magazine'sWebsite, http://www.licensemag.com.
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