Tag Archives: news

Spin Master seals content licensing deals for its preschool series Mighty Express

Posted on by

Spin Master has announced content licensing deals for its CG animated preschool series Mighty Express. Continuing to expand the franchise’s global footprint, Mighty Express is laying new tracks with broadcast networks POP UK (United Kingdom), SUPER RTL (Germany), TVP (Poland) and Tele-Quebec (Canada).

Featuring action-packed missions starring cool trains and their kid best friends, the Mighty Express series aims to take a contemporary approach to the timeless genre of trains. The licensing deal includes 60 11-minute episodes in addition to 26 3-minute shorts for over 700 minutes of Mighty content.

“From promoting teamwork and friendship to celebrating accomplishments, Mighty Express appeals to a global audience through engaging characters and exciting storylines,” says Jennifer Dodge, Spin Master’s President of Entertainment. “At Spin Master Entertainment, we are committed to developing evergreen global properties that capture the hearts and minds of children around the world and broadcast partners like these help deliver our stories to preschoolers globally.”

The Mighty Express franchise is part of the company’s commitment to a multiplatform content strategy boasting discoverability for both kids and their parents. The franchise ecosystem includes a YouTube destination that has amassed over 165 million views amounting to 4.5 million watch time hours and counting.

Hasbro promotes Sally Carnota to Senior Director of UK Licensed Consumer Products

Posted on by

Hasbro has announced the promotion of Sally Carnota to Senior Director of UK Licensed Consumer Products, effective immediately. Carnota will be based at Hasbro’s Warren Street office in the UK and report to Marianne James, Vice President of EMEA & Asia Licensed Consumer Products at Hasbro. 

“Sally has been integral in expanding Hasbro’s EMEA licensing business,” says Marianne James. “She continues to build strong licensee and retail partnerships across the UK and Ireland and execute at scale, which has helped grow our brands significantly across those markets. We’re confident that Sally will continue making our UK licensing business a huge success in her new role and excited to see how she’ll take our brands to the next level.”

“Products, brands and retail are all passions of mine, along with being with people and building relationships,” said Carnota. “I am a proud mother of two preschool boys who remind me every day what a magical industry I am so lucky to be working in. I am excited to continue growing with Hasbro and proud to lead such a talented team to make our amazing brands come to life.”

In her new role, Carnota will continue to lead Hasbro’s UK Licensing Business, focusing on expanding its brands into new categories and channels of distribution whilst leading and strengthening the company’s extensive base of existing partners and retailers. She will be responsible for the vision, growth and performance of Hasbro merchandise across all categories and brands in the UK. She will also work closely with the Entertainment Brand Marketing team to ensure the UK continues to lead in delivering innovation, consumer relevance and exciting brand campaigns for its licensees and retailers.

Previously, Carnota was the Director of Licensed Consumer Products for UK & Ireland. She joined Hasbro in 2015 where she led the UK & EMEA Retail Development team. Prior to Hasbro, Carnota spent years at Viacom Paramount Pictures where she was responsible for Franchise Activation, Partnership Management and Commercial Business Planning.

TSBA Group secures adidas and Arsenal collaboration with Transport for London

Posted on by

adidas and Arsenal have today launched a collection in collaboration with Transport for London (TfL) to celebrate the historic connection between the football club and the London Underground. The collaboration was brokered by TSBA Group, TfL’s global licensing agent.

Available from today, the range celebrates Arsenal station – the only Underground station to be named after a football club, following its change from Gillespie Road in 1932.

The collection is inspired by the seat pattern or “moquette” that appears on the Piccadilly line trains that run through Arsenal Tube station and the bold and disruptive all-over print is seen on the prematch jersey and warm top, which the players will wear to warm up in ahead of games between now and the end of the season.

There are five pieces in the range, which also includes a youth jersey – matching the adult shirts – as well as a reversible padded vest and pant, both of which have navy base colour and subtle Arsenal Tube station sign-off.

Julie Dixon, Head of Customer Information, Design & Partnerships at Transport for London (TfL), says: “It’s been great to collaborate with adidas and Arsenal on this new pre-match range, which reflects our iconic Piccadilly line moquette. Arsenal Tube station has had a deep relationship with the football club for almost 90 years and for staff and fans alike – there is nothing quite like the atmosphere and excitement on a match day. We look forward to seeing fans around the world wearing this eye-catching new pre-match range.”

As part of the campaign, adidas has also teamed up with London-based artist and Arsenal fan Reuben Dangoor to create and design a special, limited-edition Oyster card.

Consumers can have the chance of claiming the card, which is pre-loaded with £15, by purchasing an article in the range via the adidas app. There is also a chance to win one via a first-come-first-served free to enter opportunity to adidas Creator Club members.

The range will be available across adidas.com, in store as well as at Arsenal official club stores and selected retailers.

For the chance to claim a bespoke Reuben Dangoor designed Oyster Card, visit adidas.co.uk/adidasapp.

For further information on the TfL brand, contact enquiries@tsbagroup.com

Cath Kidston partners with Beanstalk to extend the brand into new categories

Posted on by

Cath Kidston, the British lifestyle brand known for its playful nostalgic prints, has appointed global brand extension licensing agency Beanstalk to extend its brand into new categories in home, fashion and gifting areas internationally.

Beanstalk will extend Cath Kidston’s footprint into new areas for all the family to enjoy, with a focus on key geographic markets, developed through Beanstalk’s extensive partnership network.     

Melinda Paraie, CEO of Cath Kidston, says: “We are thrilled with the new partnership, which leverages the licensing expertise of Beanstalk to create opportunities for our customers to experience Cath Kidston in new ways.  The expansion of our iconic print narrative into additional product categories and key global markets supports our long-term growth plan. Through licensed extensions, the brand vision will continue to bring nostalgic meaning and joy to everyday life.”

Louise French, Senior Vice President, Business Development and Operations at Beanstalk, adds: “We are delighted to be working with Cath Kidston, one of Britain’s best-loved brands, to extend the brand into new and creative spaces.

“The quintessentially British nature of the brand and distinctive print handwriting offer significant opportunities to create beautiful new products that offer additional touchpoints for consumers. We are looking forward to working alongside the Cath Kidston team to deliver a successful international licensing programme.”

Laurence King Publishing to produce two new gifts for the forthcoming The Amazing Maurice film

Posted on by

Philip Contos, Commissioning Editor for Gift at Laurence King Publishing, part of The Orion Publishing Group, has acquired rights to produce a 250-piece jigsaw puzzle and children’s matching card game to accompany the release on Sky Cinema of The Amazing Maurice later this year.

The film – produced by Cantilever Media and Ulysses Filmproduktion in co-production with Sky – is based on Terry Pratchett’s novel The Amazing Maurice and His Educated Rodents (2001), the first Discworld novel for children, which won the Carnegie Medal in 2001.

The forthcoming Sky Original production features Maurice, a streetwise tom cat who comes up with a money-making scam by befriending a group of talking rats. When Maurice and the rodents reach the stricken town of Bad Blintz, they meet a bookworm called Malicia and their scheme soon goes down the drain.

The film features the voices of Hugh Laurie, Emilia Clarke, David Thewlis, Himesh Patel and Gemma Arterton, among others.

Philip Contos says: “I’m thrilled to be working on these games to help kids enjoy the world of the The Amazing Maurice, Bad Blintz, and the rat king. It’s the first-ever animated feature film based on a novel by Terry Pratchett and it’s a fantastic way of introducing younger audiences to his work.

“I watched the rough cut with my 7-year-old and he loved it, in spite of the fact that it was only a third finished. It’s like a cross between Ratatouille and Robin Hood, with the spirited Malicia as narrator giving lots of hilarious asides direct to camera. I can’t wait to see the finished film and it’s going to be so much fun exploring the world of the novel further in the jigsaw puzzle and matching game.”

The jigsaw and game will both be priced at £12.99 and are suitable for children aged 6+ and their families.

 

Vilebrequin appoints IMG for product and brand collaborations

Posted on by

Vilebrequin, the French luxury brand specialising in swimwear, has appointed IMG to extend its brand globally through product and brand licensing partnerships, in a multi-year global deal.

Vilebrequin, which celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2021, will work with IMG to creatively extend the brand into wider lifestyle categories consistent with the brand’s cultivation of a sun-kissed “joie de vivre” spirit. Categories targeted include sunglasses, headwear, footwear, jewellery, resort and beach furniture and sun-care, featuring the brand’s distinctive fabric patterns and St. Tropez-rooted European flair.

Roland Herlory, Vilebrequin CEO, commented: “We are pleased to partner with IMG to help us identify the best product and brand collaborations for Vilebrequin. We plan to extend our ‘art of living at the beach’ philosophy to new categories, which will expand the reach and grow our brand. In doing so, we will bring luxury holiday wear to the next level, while always staying true to our St. Tropez heritage, without making any compromises on quality, comfort and style.”

Bruno Maglione, President of Licensing at IMG, added: “Vilebrequin has mastered the art of creating swimsuits that are not only instantly identifiable, but also evoke a free-spirited mindset inspired by the sun, sand and sea that nourishes the imagination. Its French Riviera heritage and bright colours are married to a lifestyle of freedom and relaxation that is equal parts glamorous and aspirational. This uniquely rich brand heritage will enable us to bring to life new products consistent with the brand’s DNA.”

Founded in 1971, Vilebrequin was created in Saint Tropez by Fred Prysquel, a photographer and sports automobile journalist and Yvette, a fashion designer. Currently, Vilebrequin’s swim collections are developed from 50% recycled or recyclable materials and are expected to expand to approximately 80% by 2023. Additionally, Vilebrequin’s packaging is sourced from sustainably managed forests, contain 40% recycled materials and are fully biodegradable.

For more information on licensing opportunities, visit www.imglicensing.com.

Bachelors partners with Pokémon to roll out exclusive promotion

Posted on by

Batchelors is kicking off 2022 with an exclusive partnership with Pokémon, offering shoppers a raft of prizes through an on-pack promotion and campaign. Rolling out in stores nationwide from 27 January, the promotion is launching in the same week as the highly anticipated Pokémon Legends: Arceus.

The on-pack promotion will see Pokémon characters feature across packaging for Batchelors Super Noodles and Pasta ’n’ Sauce ranges, with shoppers able to win 100 prizes each week such as Nintendo Switch Consoles, Pokémon plush, copies of the Pokémon Brilliant Diamond and Pokémon Shining Pearl games, and cards from the Pokémon Trading Card Game.

Naomi Shooman, brand director for quick meals, soups and snacks at Premier Foods, comments: “Following on from the previous success of gaming partnerships for Batchelors, we are delighted to be joining forces this year with Pokémon, the highest media grossing franchise in the world. Our on-pack promotion will give shoppers the chance to win a range of prizes and Pokémon products, and is set to attract new shoppers to the category and encourage existing Batchelors fans to grab a pot or pack of Super Noodles or Pasta ’n’ Sauce more often. We know that Batchelors is particularly popular with those aged 35-44, and coupled with Pokémon’s wide-ranging appeal to younger adults, we see the partnership as a real recipe for success.”

The Batchelors and Pokémon promotion will be rolling out across retailers from 27 January, and will be supported through in-store activation in grocery and convenience.

 

Poetic Brands adds Schitt’s Creek to its portfolio

Posted on by

Apparel manufacturer Poetic Brands has partnered with ITV Studios to create a range of adult apparel based on the hugely popular riches-to-rags comedy drama Schitt’s Creek.

The new range is set to include men’s and women’s T-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies and nightwear for distribution across Europe.

Schitt’s Creek made a record-breaking sweep of the 2020 Emmy awards with nine wins, including Outstanding Comedy Series, and has also won a plethora of other awards in its six-year run, including ACTRA awards, Canadian Screen Awards, a Critics’ Choice Television Award, Screen Actors Guild Awards and many more.

ITV Studios has secured a number of international broadcasters for the series, taking the total count to 197 territories. When the sixth and final series launched on Netflix in September 2020, users in the US watched 968 million minutes (Nielsen Streaming Rankings, September 2020), moving the show to the most-watched on the platform.

Elliott Matthews, Executive Director at Poetic Brands, commented: “Schitt’s Creek is one of those series that will go down in history and despite there being no more production, it will continue to be popular with its army of fans. We’re really excited to be launching this apparel range – the brand is part of adult pop culture in the UK and we’re sure it will be a big hit.”

Christina Lima, VP Global Franchise Management and Creative Services at ITV Studios, added: “Schitt’s Creek is one of those brands that everyone wishes to have in their portfolio. After the huge success with the licensing programme in North America, it is time to bring it to Europe. We are very pleased to welcome Poetic Brands as one of our first signed partners in the UK.”

Schitt’s Creek is produced by Not A Real Company Productions Inc. for CBC and Pop TV.

Generation Media signs deal to distribute Bing Event Cinema in new territories from 2022

Posted on by

Generation Media confirmed today that it has partnered with Acamar Films to exclusively manage the theatrical distribution of Bing Event Cinema in territories including Australia and the Nordics.

Following box-office success for ‘Bing’s Christmas & Other Stories’, and ‘Bing’s Animal Stories’ across the UK, Italy, Poland and the Netherlands, this new deal will see Generation Media support Acamar to expand Bing’s cinema distribution footprint to new markets, further complementing Bing’s multiplatform presence across linear TV, streaming services, YouTube, apps and more.

The deal was secured by Generation Entertainment, Generation Media’s division that focuses on global content development and distribution initiatives across cinema, TV and digital. Generation Entertainment’s previous U.K. and Global event cinema releases include iconic preschool brands such as “L.O.L. Surprise! on the Big Screen” and Beano’s “Dennis and Gnasher”.

Greta Bisetto-Donelan, Director of Entertainment at Generation Media, says: “Bing is a beloved preschool character and we are incredibly proud to be bringing such relatable and engaging stories to the big screen in new territories, delighting young children with a new kind of Bing experience for the first time.

“Event Cinema is our absolute passion and a primary tool for engaging with preschoolers and their parents. Cinema is and will always be a fundamental part of a long-term franchise strategy – bring premium content to engaged fans in a quality environment.

“Last year saw us win the Gold Indie Award for the best TV Media Campaign, featuring IMC’s Cry Babies Magic Tears. This year we are, more than ever, committed to bringing engaging content, to the right audiences, wherever they are.

“Within the Kids’ and Families Entertainment space our expertise is truly 360. Our content-first approach allows our clients to achieve long-term success and maximise licensed products sell-in.”

Spread Group links with Peanuts Worldwide for print-on-demand babywear

Posted on by

Spread Group and Peanuts Worldwide are kicking off the new year with a range of baby products and designs. The collection will be offered across the whole of the EU and the UK, and will feature the lovable beagle Snoopy on baby-grows, tiny t-shirts and warm hats.

Sven Burscher, Spread Group’s Head of Licensing, says: “This partnership expands Spread Group’s offering with lovely designs for the Peanuts baby demographics. It gives the brand and its fans the option of print-on-demand, which offers a range of designs in a style, size and colour to suit them. Peanuts has positivity associated with the brand we are very excited to have Snoopy and the gang in our portfolio!”

Tara Botwick, Vice President of Territory Management, EMEA for Peanuts Worldwide, adds: “We are looking forward to growing our baby offerings in Europe, as we know that parents and grandparents want to share their love of Peanuts with the next generation. Expanding our print-on-demand business is important as we continue to reach new audiences and Spread Group is a key licensee in that category.”

Spreadshirt’s Marketplace will also host a showroom of the designs featuring Charles M. Schulz’s classic characters. More designs will be added as they come on-stream, and the collection will also include apparel for teenagers and adults.