Upper Deck Gives Spider-Man New Look
Upper Deck is giving Spider-Man a makeover with the help of the TWEEQiM Design Studio. The company has created limited edition SubCasts, which feature Spidey with an oversized comic stylized head with drastically curved shoulders.  Each collectible is also individually hand numbered on the bottom, with an overall run size on the figure at 2,000 pieces.  The SubCasts are available for purchase at the Upper Deck store online at www.upperdeckstore.com. Going forward, the line will include Iron Man in October and Ghost Rider in December.  Additional characters, including Captain America, Wolverine, and Hulk, will be released throughout 2008.

NVCP Gets Lucky with The Naked Brothers Band
Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products inked several new deals for The Naked Brothers Band including first time partner Lucky Brand Jeans. A new line of exclusive limited edition tees will be available this fall for boys’ and girls at Lucky Brand Jeans stores where Lucky Kid is sold—and LuckyBrandjeans.com. Lucky Kid will also be selling the upcoming The Naked Brothers Band CD due October 9.  Other new merchandising partners include Briefly Stated (sleepwear/loungewear), High Intensity (costume jewelry, hair accessories, cell phone charms, and bag clips), Dream Apparel (sleepwear/loungewear) and Accessory Network (notebooks, journals, backpacks, and stickers).  The first wave of apparel will hit specialty retailers this fall and will expand to all tiers in 2008.   

Mattel Expands Game Portfolio
Mattel, Inc. acquired the rights to manufacture, distribute, and market several game properties, including Apples to Apples, Snorta, and Blink from Out of the Box Publishing, Inc.

Bella Sara Taps New Distributor
Diamond Book Distributors has been named the exclusive distributor of Bella Sara horse-themed trading cards to all U.S. and Canadian book retailers in the company’s distribution network. The move will place Bella Sara cards, which launched successfully in the United States earlier this year, in more than 2,500 additional retail outlets.
 
Promotion to Aid Breast Cancer Awareness
Twentieth Century Fox Home Entertainment and MGM Home Entertainment are joining forces with Susan G. Komen for the Cure on a promotion to mark National Breast Cancer Awareness in October. The “DVDs For The Cure” promotion includes 12 DVDs in distinct pink packaging including, An Affair to Remember; A Walk in the Clouds; Entrapment; Ever After; In Her Shoes; Legally Blonde; Mermaids; Moulin Rouge;  Never Been Kissed; Say Anything; Thelma & Louise; and There's Something About Mary.  The companies are donating 50 cents from the sale of each specially packaged DVD to Susan G. Komen for the Cure and are working together to support the collection via consumer and trade marketing campaigns.

Coca-Cola to Support The X Factor
FremantleMedia Enterprises kicks off the fourth series of “The X Factor” via a promotional alliance with Coca-Cola Enterprises Ltd. in Tesco stores across the UK. Shoppers will have the chance to win exclusive prizes including VIP packages to “The X Factor” live series finale, live shows, access to the show’s sound checks and tickets to The X Factor live tour in 2008.
 
Paramount Licensing Steps Up Apparel Portfolio
Paramount Licensing signed apparel deals signed across a variety of properties.  AGB Accessories is manufacturing headwear, gloves, rainwear, cold weather accessories, and umbrellas based on the films Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Footloose, Grease, and Pretty in Pink.  Distribution will be to all tiers, and will hit shelves early February 2008. American Classics, Inc. is developing a line of men’s t-shirts, sweatshirts, and full button shirts based on The Godfather for specialty, department stores, and the Internet while Changes, Inc. will develop a line of urban streetwear also based on The Godfather. Orange Clothing Company is producing t-shirts and hats for juniors and young men based on Hot Rod. Ripple Junction Design Co., Inc. will create men’s and juniors’ apparel for the upcoming film Beowulf due in specialty stores this fall while T-Shirt Connection Productions, Inc. is manufacturing a wide range of apparel throughout Canada early next year based on the upcoming film The Spiderwick Chronicles.

KIDZ BOP Secures Sponsor for World Tour
KIDZ BOP signed on the Dodge Grand Caravan as the presenting sponsor of its KIDZ BOP WORLD TOUR.  The tour, in partnership with VEE Corporation, will hit more than 80 markets beginning on October 12th in Davenport, Iowa. Information about the all-new Dodge Grand Caravan will be available at every KIDZ BOP WORLD TOUR performance and audience members will preview a special music video, produced exclusively for Dodge by KIDZ BOP, during the pre-show and intermission. Kids around the country will then have the opportunity to make their own version of the music video as part of the “Let the Music Drive You” online contest. Better Homes & Gardens is the tour’s media partner, while Juicy Juice Harvest Surprise will be distributing samples of their new product at shows.

NASCAR to Star in On-Air Talk Show
Motorsports Authentics and SIRIUS Satellite Radio debuted NASCAR Collector, a new one-hour weekly radio show that will focus on the NASCAR collector and fans with special interests in racing memorabilia. The show airs Saturday mornings throughout the year exclusively on SIRIUS NASCAR Radio channel 128. Show hosts Tim Packman, Buzz McKim, and Tim Trout will provide NASCAR racing expertise, collectable information and value insight, and listeners will be encouraged to call in and talk about their favorite die-cast or NASCAR souvenir.
 
MTV Networks Deal Aids International Presence
MTV Networks International will make its content available in the UK via its first deal outside of the U.S. with Apple. The agreement will enable consumers to purchase and download full-length TV shows from MTV, Nickelodeon, and Paramount Comedy channels from the iTunes Store in the UK.  UK customers can now purchase the shows for £1.89 per episode from the iTunes UK Store for viewing on either computer or iPod.  

Ragdoll Grows Program for Teletubbies
Ragdoll USA expanded the licensee roster for Teletubbies signing deals with four new companies. Skechers is on board to create Teletubbies Cali Bits, rubber accessories for molded footwear while ABG Accessories will come to market with a range of licensed accessories for kids and juniors, and High IntenCity will create a line of jewelry, hair, and fashion accessories.  Ragdoll also partnered with Ty’s Toy Box on a dedicated online Teletubbies store at www.tystoybox.com, as well as exposure on its multi-channel sales network, including its store on Amazon.com.
 
Ocean Lifestyles Signs Two Licensees in Europe
Ocean Lifestyles signed a deal with EMBASSY for t-shirts, shorts, sweatshirts, swimwear, and other daywear with on shelf presence in the mass market slated for summer 2008.  OL also inked a deal with sock licensee ARBO with distribution slated for the mass market and mail order.  The deals were signed through MJA Licensing.

VIZ Media Nabs Rights to BLEACH
VIZ Media, LLC secured the download rights from TV Tokyo and Shueisha to supernatural action anime series BLEACH. Twenty episodes of both the dubbed and subtitled versions of the series were made available for download in the United States beginning on August 31, 2007 on direct2drive.com and totalvid.

Reality Series Climbs Into 4Kids Line-up
4Kids Entertainment acquired the U.S. television broadcast rights for the extreme adventure reality series, “The Adrenaline Project,” from Canada’s marblemedia. The series aired September 29 on 4Kids TV with 13 episodes, the same date as the exclusive Canadian broadcast on YTV.  The company also licensed exclusive content from www.theadrenalineproject.com including expanded video footage, streamed episodes and featured music from the soundtrack, which will be available at www.4kids.tv.
 
NCircle Horses Around With Two New Titles
NCircle Entertainment spurred interest in DIC Entertainment’s “Horseland” series with two new titles for the U.S. and Canadian markets. “Friends First ... Win or Lose” and “Taking the Heat” just hit shelves in all channels of distribution. The series is part of the Saturday morning KEWLopolis programming block on CBS.

Wal-Mart Rides the Fashion Wave with the Signing of Ocean Pacific and Op
This spring surf-inspired lifestyle brands Ocean Pacific and Op will ride into Wal-Mart doors due to a recent agreement between Wal-Mart and Iconix Brand Group, which also granted distribution rights for Brazil, China, and India. The exclusive agreement, which covers a wide assortment of apparel and accessories, is in alignment with Wal-Mart’s mission to expand its fashion offerings.