Keithley Tapped as New TIA President
Carter Keithley was named president of the Toy Industry Association, effectiveMay 1. Keithley comes to the new post from the Hearth, Patio & BarbecueAssociation, where he served as president. He plans to relocate to New York andwill be introduced to TIA members at the association?s annual ToyCon meetingand conference April 30 to May 2 at the Sheraton WildHorsePass, Phoenix, AZ.
Cartoon Network Lays Out Plans
Cartoon Network held its Kids Upfront event in New York, where it detailed itslineup for 2006. New series Ben 10 and My Gym Partner?s a Monkey will be joinedby other original programming Squirrel Boy and Class of 3000 debuting inNovember. Also on tap is Cartoon Network?s first-ever live-action/animatedproduction, Re-Animated (due in fall), and three other original movies based onFoster?s Home for Imaginary Friends, Codename: Kids Next Door, and Teen Titans.Its existing original series also will take center stage as Ben 10 was greenlitfor a third season, and new seasons are on tap for Foster?s Home for ImaginaryFriends; The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy; Camp Lazlo; Ed, Edd ?n Eddy;and Codename: Kids Next Door. The network also outlined plans for newlyacquired series and movies, as well as the return of more than a dozen showsincluding Justice League Unlimited, Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi, Naruto, Zixx, and TheBatman.
New Deal Is in the Cards
Warner Bros. Consumer Products and Hallmark Cards are expanding theirtwo-decade-long relationship, with Hallmark creating greeting cards, gift wrap,partyware, and ornaments for properties such as Superman Returns, Happy Feet,The Ant Bully, and Hanna-Barbera, as well as preschool programs includingKrypto the Superdog, Firehouse Tales, and Harry and His Bucket Full ofDinosaurs. The Superman Returns product will launch in spring 2006, and HappyFeet product is due fourth quarter 2006. Territories include the U.S. andCanada, as well as certain product rights in Mexico and Latin America.
United Media to Guide Benton Property in Japan
United Media will manage the licensing program in Japan for Jim Benton?s It?sHappy Bunny property. The appointment represents the brand?s first foothold inthe East Asian market and initially will focus on apparel, accessories, andwireless content. As the program builds, gifts, stationery, and othercategories will be targeted. CopCorp Licensing will continue to manage theglobal program.
Angelina Ballerina Is Dance ?Spokescharacter?
Angelina Ballerina will inspire ballerinas everywhere as the exclusivechildren?s ?spokescharacter? for National Dance Week. Angelina will be in thespotlight during the program?s 10-day run from April 21 to 30, participating inboth national and local events promoting dance. Angelina Ballerina will befeatured in all outreach materials, ads, and posters distributed to more than15,000 libraries, schools, and dance studios, as well as on http://www.nationaldanceweek.org/.HIT Entertainment will support the event with an online promotion on http://www.angelinaballerina.com/,and through inserts in Angelina Ballerina home entertainment releases.
SPCP Secures Licensees for Open Season
Sony Pictures Consumer Products has declared open season on the licensingprogram for the first feature-length film from Sony Pictures Animation. OpenSeason is due in theaters September 29, 2006, and has attracted U.S. licenseesin the core categories of apparel and accessories, toys and games, domestics,food and beverage, interactive, publishing, stationery, and gift and novelty.The international arm of the licensing program also has attracted a list oftop-shelf partners.
Kid Galaxy Scores NBA Deal
Kid Galaxy signed a deal with the National Basketball Association for a line ofBendos figures, playsets, and radio-controlled toys. The NBA product line willinclude all 30 teams dressed in their regulation uniforms.
Diamond Select Courts Collectors with New License
Diamond Select Toys and Collectibles, LLC, will create several collectibleproduct lines for X-Men: The Final Stand via a deal with Marvel Entertainment.The line is expected to include statues, busts, and Minimates. Gentle GiantStudios, which scanned the actors from the film, will complete the statues andbusts, which will feature the actors? likenesses for the first time. X-Men: TheFinal Stand, from 20th Century Fox, currently is in post-production and will bereleased globally May 26, 2006.
Madacy Latino Brings Music to Maya & Miguel Fans
Madacy Latino partnered with Scholastic Media to produce and market brandedmusic products for Maya & Miguel. Madacy Latino plans to release severalEnglish and Spanish musical CDs in 2006. The initial release, Maya & MiguelBest Friends, is a collection of 14 tunes that celebrate the wonders of friendship.The album also will be available to consumers for download at online musicservice iTunes. Future titles in the CD series, Radio Favorites and PartyFiesta, will be released in spring.
4Kids Execs Move Up the Ranks
4Kids Entertainment, Inc., appointed Tony Reed senior vice president ofmarketing and licensing. In her new position, Reed will spearhead the strategicdevelopment, licensing, and marketing of brands including Cabbage Patch Kids,Winx Club, and Magical DoReMi. Carlin West was promoted to senior vicepresident of new concept acquisition and development. West will be responsiblefor the strategic identification and development of new product concepts andnon-television properties.
Bologna Bound
Bologna Children?s Book Fair is scheduled for March 27 to 30 at the BolognaFair Centre in Bologna, Italy. Don?t miss Licensing Days scheduled forWednesday, March 29, with LICENSE Editor-in-Chief Joyceann Cooney moderating apublishing panel discussion and separately presenting ?Licensing by theNumbers: Licensing Trends.? Other sponsored presentations include ?Children?sPublishing and the Lifecycle of Licensing?Three Case Studies? presented by KateKlimo, vice president, publisher, Random House/Golden Books for Young Readers,Tuesday, March 28. LIMA and LICENSE are sponsors of the Bologna Children?s BookFair Licensing and Film Rights Centre.
Licensing 2006 International Show and Conference Registration Is Open
Save $100 on exhibit hall registration by registering in advance for the mostimportant licensing event of the year taking place June 20 to 22 at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in New York. Or save hundreds of dollars on early LicensingUniversity Conference registration. For updates, conference details, up-to-dateexhibitor listings, hotel information, and online registration, visit http://www.licensingshow.com/reg.
Upcoming Industry Events
International Licensing Industry Merchandisers? Association (LIMA)Licensing Seminars, March 15 and 16 at theWilliams Club in New York City; and March 27 and 28 at the Los Angeles AthleticClub, http://www.licensing.org/
Youth Marketing Mega-Event 2006,March 27-29, Hyatt Regency Huntington Beach Resort & Spa, Huntington Beach,CA, http://www.youthmarketingmegaevent.com/
LIMA UK Introduction to Licensing Spring Seminar and LIMA and FriendsSpring Fling, May 25, No. 4 HamiltonPlace, London, http://www.brandlicensingexpo.com/
Submit Licenses Granted & Available Now Online
LICENSE?s License! Finder allows you to submit licenses granted and availablenow 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: [email protected].
Become a BellSouth Licensee
BellSouth invites all interested licensees to submit proposals to license theBellSouth brands. Licensing opportunities abound in traditionaltelecommunications, as well as nontraditional areas, including broadband andnext-generation applications and products. Tap into BellSouth?s global brandawareness:
? One of the largest telecommunications carriers in the U.S.
? Long history of high-quality service in the U.S. and Latin America
? Bell symbol is one of the most widely recognized icons worldwide
? Strong network of licensees in service and product areas
For more information, visit http://www.bellsouthintellectualproperty.com/or call Jim Reed, managing director, at (404) 249-3772.
For more information on licensing news and features, visit LICENSE magazine?sWebsite, http://www.licensemag.com/.
