NVCP Signs MEGA Deal with Nick Jr. Brands
MEGA Brands Inc. will create a range of construction toys based on leading NickJr. brands in a multi-year international licensing partnership with Nickelodeon& Viacom Consumer Products. MEGA Brands will bring products such asbuildable playsets and vehicles featuring properties including Go, Diego, Go!;The Backyardigans; and Dora the Explorer to market in 2007 beginning with theU.S. and Canada, with an expansion to additional markets—including theUK, France, Australia, and Latin America—later in the year, and others in2008.
4Kids Entertainment Trades Up with New Business Venture
4Kids Entertainment, Inc., has formed two subsidiaries: TC Digital Games, LLC,a trading card company, and TC Websites, LLC, an online multiplatform gamecompany. 4Kids will be majority owner of TC Digital, LLC, and a 50 percentowner of TC Websites, LLC. The deal marks the first time the company isproducing trading cards to be sold at retail. Chaotic, which integratestraditional trading card game play with unique online game elements, will bethe first property utilized in the new venture. The animated series premiereson 4Kids TV on Fox January 6. Chaotic, which is owned by 4Kids Entertainmentand Chaotic USA Entertainment, features an alphanumeric code that can beuploaded for virtual play on the free Chaotic Website. Once online, kids enterthe world of Chaotic, a place where their cards can be stored, traded, orplayed against anyone signed onto Chaotic's virtual world. TC Digital Games andTC Websites are based in San Diego. Bryan C. Gannon will serve as president andCEO of the new companies.
Hannah Montana Inspires Consumer Products Line
Disney Consumer Products created a new line of products inspired by HannahMontana that will play up the themes of music, fashion, and fun with anassortment of apparel, home décor, stationery, games, electronics, and personalcare. First on-shelf presence will be at Macy's this month with a collection ofapparel, handbags, and accessories for 'tween girls (sizes 7 to 16).Stationery, posters, bookmarks, greeting cards, gift wrap, and party goods alsoare hitting shelves at retailers such as Wal-Mart and Party City this month. Aseries of junior novels launched earlier this year and will expand in thespring. In 2007, girls can doll themselves up with a new line of cosmetics atClub Libby Lu, as well as find fashion dolls at retailers nationwide. Homedécor, consumer electronics, video games and toys will launch later in theyear, while apparel and accessories will expand to other retailers includingDillard's.
Sesame Workshop Builds Online Presence
Sesame Workshop launched an online Sesame Store available through a link on theSesame Workshop homepage, www.sesameworkshop.org. Users can browsefor products such as DVDs, music, books, apparel, toys, and plush by eithercategory or characters. More products will be added over time. Advertisementsfor the store will not run in the kids' areas of the site.
Cartoon Network Inks Deals for Original Series
Cartoon Network is set to bring Ben 10 to new categories in 2007. New softlines deals were signed with Jay Franco and Sons, Inc., for beach towels,bedding, 3-D character pillows, and sleeping bags, as well as bath accessories.Accessory Innovations will develop a line of Ben 10 headwear including baseballcaps, hats, rainwear, and cold weather accessories, while AME (American MarketingEnterprises, Inc.) will create pajamas, lounge pants, and robes. In other news,Cartoon Network and Warner Home Video will bring the first seasons of Ben 10and Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends to DVD, both on two-disc collectorssets in February and March, respectively. Both DVDs also will feature animatedmenus—a first for Cartoon Network DVD releases.
Kids Dance for Their Dinner
Konami Digital Entertainment, Inc., and Burger King Corporation are encouragingkids to get up and move by bringing Dance Dance Revolution to BK's Kids' Mealprogram through December 31 or while supplies last. The promotion includeseight exclusive Dance Dance Revolution toy premiums and is being supported withan integrated marketing campaign that includes television advertising,in-restaurant merchandising, custom DDR-themed Kids Meal bags and cups, and anonline micro site at www.bk.com/dance.
"Brainy" New Promotion at Chick-fil-A
The Brainy Baby Company will give kids food for thought with a board bookpromotion with Chick-fil-A in February. Four Brainy Baby board books will beavailable free to kids under age 3 with the purchase of a Chick-fil-A Kids'Meal Program. The promotion will be available at all Chick-fil-A stand-aloneand mall locations through early April 2007.
Kids Strut Spidey Sense in Personalized Video
PixFusion LLC will use patented technology to create a photo personalizedSpider-Man video as part of a multi-year licensing deal with Marvel/Spider-ManMerchandising L.P. The "I Am the Amazing Spider-Man" 25-minute video can becreated using a child's color photo sent by e-mail to the company's KideoWebsite at www.kideo.com/or by regular mail. The DVD stars the featured child as the "web slinger"battling many of the legendary villains and also contains educational contentand a music video set to the classic theme song from the 1960s animatedcartoon.
IFL Joins the Retail Fight
The International Fight League makes its retail debut with the support ofBioWorld Merchandising and International Sunprints. BioWorld will focus oncreating caps and bags, while International Sunprints will design, develop, andmerchandise a range of apparel products. The IFL secured the two deals with theassistance of licensing agent 360ep. The first full IFL season will begin infirst quarter 2007.
Artist Taps into Greeting Card Marketplace
April Cornell expands into greeting cards with a new line exclusively fromLeanin' Tree in early January. The collection includes 33 cards in threedifferent sizes, each with a color interior and designed envelope.
The Game Factory Inks Two Deals
The Game Factory signed a worldwide publishing agreement with TaffyEntertainment to market a Pet Alien title for Nintendo DS. The game will have a2007 simultaneous global release date. The company also will release CartoonNetwork Racing, its first arcade-style racing video game for Nintendo DS andPlayStation 2 starring characters The Powerpuff Girls; Cow & Chicken; Courage,the Cowardly Dog; I Am Weasel; Johnny Bravo; and Dexter's Laboratory.
Postman Pat Delivers Yuletide at Hersheypark
Entertainment Rights Plc hopes visitors to Hersheypark give Postman Pat theirseal of approval as part of a new deal with the theme park. Postman Pat will beon hand at Santa's Stables to ensure that children's letters to Santa reach himin time for the Christmas holiday. Additional Postman Pat activities designedto get visitors in the holiday spirit will take place at Hersheypark Christmas Candylane—wherechildren of all ages also will meet Santa's nine live reindeer.
Execs on the Move
Warner Bros. Consumer Products appointed Richard Goldsmith senior vicepresident of new business initiatives and Preston Lewis vice president ofinternational licensing. Maribeth Towers-Toth was upped to senior vicepresident of new business initiatives, and Mike Gibbs broadens hisresponsibilities in the new role of vice president, licensing businessdevelopment and worldwide brand assurance. Patti Buckner moved into the role ofvice president, apparel and accessories. Shari Pace was named to the newlycreated position of vice president of licensing and merchandising, and RobynCoward was promoted to director of licensing and merchandising at The WeatherChannel. Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products appointed Jeannine Lafebrelicensing director, Benelux.
Introducing LICENSE's Monthly Survey Question
Give us your opinion! Each month, we'll feature a different surveyquestion—on subjects ranging from product growth categories andinternational expansion to retail trends and consumer preferences—on ourWebsite. Then, we'll feature the final results in the following month's issueof LICENSE. December's question: For what licensed category do you foresee themost growth in 2007? See the choices and vote on www.licensemag.com.
Submit Licenses Granted & Available Now Online
The LICENSE Finder allows you to submit licenses granted and available nowonline, 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].
Get Set for Toy Fair: February 11-14, 2007
American International Toy Fair is a must-attend event where you?ll discovernew markets, innovative products, and the latest ways to build business. Inthis garden of opportunity, industry flourishes. Chances are the competitionwill be here—will you? Register today at www.toyfairny.com/attendees.html.
For more information on licensing news and features, visit LICENSE magazine's Website,http://www.licensemag.com/.
