An expanded direct-to-consumer and retail merchandising platform, more broadcast and streaming partners, and more new content development will all be at the heart of Anderson Entertainment’s 2021 plans for expansion.

Detailing a line-up of activity for the year ahead, the firm – founded by Gerry Anderson, the man behind the iconic Thunderbirds and Space:1999 – has earmarked 2021 to be “an exciting and busy year” for its merchandising and licensing activity.

This strategy will be led by the company’s highly successful e-commerce site, the Gerry Anderson Store, which boasts an expanding list both of licensee-supplied product and new items developed and created by Anderson Entertainment.

With 2020 sales from the Official Gerry Anderson Store having already eclipsed the 2019 figure, Anderson Entertainment is now building on the strength of its direct-to-consumer business and working with new partners. This year will also see many more products – and product categories – launching on the store’s site and through other online and physical retail outlets. 

This expansion will be enabled by a new cross-category licence that Anderson Entertainment recently signed with ITV Studios, the underlying rightsholder for many classic Gerry Anderson properties.

This licence allows Anderson Entertainment to build on the global recognition of the Gerry Anderson portfolio with expanded product ranges and to build sales opportunities with other retail partners. 

On the content side, classic shows will land across more streaming platforms as well as linear TV, DVD and Blu-Ray. New productions will also be a strong focus.

The popular audio drama hit First Action Bureau – developed and produced during the spring lockdown – is now on CD and a new series is planned. Firestorm and the imminent reboot of Terrahawks lead a growing slate of series under development or in production, many of which will be announced later this year.

A new corporate website was launched in mid-January at anderson-entertainment.co.uk which has been redesigned for easier navigation, highlighting the company’s classic and new content, along with its ongoing IP development, consumer products and services.

Jamie Anderson, MD of Anderson Entertainment, said: “We’ve spent a number of years establishing a strong merchandise offering, expanding into new platforms and developing new IP. Anderson Entertainment is now perfectly placed to build on the success of this coordinated strategy. It’s going to be a very exciting 2021.”