Tag Archives: spongebob squarepants

Spread Group signs up five iconic Paramount properties

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Spread Group has signed a deal with Paramount Consumer Products to produce print-on-demand products for the European market for five iconic properties: Flashdance, Top Gun, Star Trek, Garfield and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Sustainability is at the heart of the partnership. The Spread Group’s print-on-demand offering means an item is only printed after it has been ordered. This limits waste because there’s no over-stocking and leftover sizes.

The first designs will include I Feel the Need for Speed Top Gun t-shirts, Flashdance logo and What a Feeling! hoodies, Garfield LASAGNA lunchboxes and Saturday Night Fever posters. The designs will be a mixture of classic images and newly created designs produced by Spread Group.

Customisation is also made easy with print-on-demand. Fans have the freedom to add a design to a product in a size, colour, and style of their choice.

Sven Burscher, Spread Group’s Head of Licensing, says: “This partnership means Spread Group can offer a huge variety of themes to a wide audience. The Paramount Global brands cover iconic movies and cartoons for a large demographic. There’s a coming-of-age moment for everyone!

“Our print-on-demand offering means the brands and their fans can customise their creations to suit them, whilst retaining brand integrity. It also limits waste, which is better for the planet.”

Fans will be able to add images and quotes to t-shirts, hoodies, caps, bags, aprons, mugs, water bottles, lunchboxes, pillowcases, posters and stickers, depending on the brand. Designs will also be localised – for example, Garfield quotes in German, French and English.

The licence covers Germany, Austria, Switzerland, France and the UK.

 

 

ViacomCBS teams with Asda Opticians for film and TV-branded eyewear

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ViacomCBS Consumer Products UK has announced a new partnership with Asda Opticians and optical wholesaler Alexander Parker Ltd to launch branded optical ranges for spectacle wearers of all ages. The new collections will include branded glasses showcasing some of ViacomCBS’s most iconic properties including PAW Patrol (produced by Spin Master Entertainment), SpongeBob SquarePants and Paramount movie classics such as Grease and Baywatch.

This first-time partnership with Asda Opticians comprises of two ranges of colourful eyewear for kids and adults which are rolling out across more than 130 Asda stores across the UK. The “Kids”collection, featuring Nickelodeon properties such as children’s favourites PAW Patrol, launched this autumn with SpongeBob SquarePants launching on 30 January 2022. The “In the Movies” adult range also launched this autumn and spotlighted some of Paramount Pictures’ classic movies including Grease, Footloose, Top Gun and Baywatch.

The “In the Movies” collection is priced at £80 for one pair, even if lenses need to be varifocal or if consumers need to have thinned lenses. This range also includes sun tints for adults; a second pair includes buy2 save £40 pricing. The “Kids” collection is free with an NHS voucher*, and any of the kids’ frames can be used for prescription sunglasses for just £15.

*NHS vouchers for glasses will only be issued following an eye test if a prescription is required. For more information, visit www.opticians.asda.com.

 

Fanattik nets SpongeBob SquarePants in first partnership with animated property

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The pop culture specialist, Fanattik has signed a pan-European gift licensing partnership with ViacomCBS Consumer Products that will bring Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants into new home decor, barware, gifts and collectables.

The new collection of collectables and products will be available from September this year across gift and toy stores throughou Europe.

Fanattik managing director, Anthony Marks, said: “An internationally beloved and timeless brand, SpongeBob SquarePants is one of the most watched programmes in the world with 100 million global viewers monthly and a feature film on the way in 2021. This was a brand the whole team wanted to have in the Fanattik portfolio.”

Fanattik has received multiple awards and enjoyed ‘phenomenal growth’ over the past three years with multiple pan-European licensing agreements now signed up to the portfolio. Its partnership with Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob marks the first time the company has partnered with an animated show.

“With half of all viewers being adults, we are going to make sure the products we create appeal to the original fans as well as new ones. Each item will have that Fanattik twist which makes our pieces stand out from anything else in the market,” said Melissa Tudor, head of product development.

Mark Kingston, senior vice president, international, ViacomCBS Consumer Products, added: “SpongeBob continues to permeate pop culture with boundless positivity and fun. We’re excited to expand this iconic franchise in the gift license space through a partnership with Fanattik, a company which shares many of the same fun brand tenants as our favourite absorbent sponge. True to SpongeBob form this product is sure to deliver happiness.”

Since its launch July 17, 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has reigned as the number one kids’ animated series on TV, while generating a universe of beloved characters, pop culture catchphrases and memes, theatrical releases, consumer products, a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical and a global fan base.

SpongeBob SquarePants is the most widely distributed property in ViacomCBS Networks International history, seen in more than 170 countries and territories, translated in more than 30 languages, and averaging more than 100 million total viewers every month.

Meanwhile, Fanattik works with retailers and partners of all levels across Europe. Retailers not already working with the team can find out how to do so by contacting Luiz Ferreira, head of sales on luiz@fanattik.co.uk

ViacomCBS Consumer Products promotes key executives across its leadership team

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ViacomCBS Consumer Products has promoted a swathe of key executives across its leadership team, a move that follows a period of success and growth in the consumer products division across franchises including SpongeBob SquarePants, Blue’s Clues & You, Star Trek, South Park, MTV, and more.

Lourdes Arocho has been promoted to senior vice president, Paramount Pictures Licensing, Global Games and Publishing for ViacomCBS Consumer Products, where she will lead the global strategies and partnerships for these businesses. Meanwhile, Chris Groll is promoted to senior vice president, consumer products design, ViacomCBS, a critical role in liaising with the creative community on brand extensions across all ViacomCBS franchises globally.

Elsewhere, Priya Mukhedkar takes on the role of senior vice president, packaged goods, ViacomCBS Consumer Products, overseeing CPG in the US and expanding her scope to include global promotions and all seasonal and celebrations businesses.

“I want to congratulate Lourdes, Chris, and Priya on their well-deserved promotions and the tremendous leadership that they have shown for their teams,” said Pam Kaufman, president, global consumer products, ViacomCBS. “As they step into their new positions, these roles serve as cornerstones that are crucial to delivering the most innovative global consumer products campaigns for our adored characters and iconic franchises.”

In her expanded role as SVP, Paramount Pictures Licensing, Global Games and Publishing, Arocho will bring her strong industry relationships, strategic growth plans, and proven global partnership management to VCP’s gaming, publishing, and Paramount licensing programs. She has previously launched numerous successful partnerships, retail programs and products driving significant growth for the company’s biggest franchises. Arocho is based in Los Angeles and reports to Pam Kaufman.

Groll has been promoted to senior vice president, consumer products design, ViacomCBS. In this new role, Groll will build on more than a decade of experience in consumer products design. Through his leadership, he has ensured that the consumer products organization is working with forward thinking, best in class designers that reflect current trends, while expanding perspectives on design at a global level.

Groll will continue to oversee his expanding team, and play a key role working with the ViacomCBS content teams to translate the company’s top IP into innovative VCP brand extensions. He is based in New York reporting to David Chustz, executive vice president, global creative group, ViacomCBS.

Finally, as SVP, packaged goods, ViacomCBS Consumer Products, Mukhedkar will continue to oversee all CPG businesses in the US and add global oversight of the promotions and seasonal business.

Since joining ViacomCBS in 2018, Mukhedkar has built strategic alliances with major consumer products brands and is the driving force behind some of our most iconic partnerships. She joined ViacomCBS from The Walt Disney Company where she was responsible for growing the Star Wars and Marvel consumer products business in several categories. She worked across Consumer Products Licensing, Disney Parks and Studios.

ViacomCBS lands slate of CEE partners for PAW Patrol, SpongeBob, Shimmer & Shine and more

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WildBrain CPLG has secured a wave of new and extended FMCG partnerships in Central and Eastern Europe across ViacomCBS’ portfolio of popular animated brands including PAW Patrol, SpongeBob SquarePants, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Shimmer & Shine and Bubble Guppies.

The pan-regional deals brokered by the WildBrain CPLG CEE team include those with Foodcare for a range of PAW Patrol instant porridge, hot cereals, and instant cocoa, an oral care range from GSK, and an extended offering of fruit and vegetable juices and pouches from Hortus to include Jurajska Junior PAW Patrol water.

In addition, long-term licensee Dairy4Fun continues to significantly grow the business across Europe with its range of children’s desserts and snacks featuring PAW Patrol, SpongeBob SquarePants and Blaze and the Monster Machines.

In Poland, WildBrain CPLG has secured a deal with the market’s largest ice cream manufacturer, Koral, for a range featuring PAW Patrol and SpongeBob SquarePants. The partnership marks Koral’s first licensed offering and the range’s recent launch was supported by an extensive outdoor marketing campaign, including branded trucks. Alongside this, a new deal with Cerbona in Hungary saw a range of breakfast cereals featuring SpongeBob SquarePants recently launched at local retailers Auchan, Spar, Tesco HU and CBA.

Additionally, Cerbona is gearing up to roll out the range into new territories, including Czech Republic and Romania from this summer.

Meanwhile, in Serbia, WildBrain CPLG has signed beverage market leader KNJAZ MILOS (part of the Pepsi Group) for a flavoured water featuring Blaze and the Monster Machines, and Shimmer & Shine, with PAW Patrol joining the offering from August 2021. Also in Serbia, Plazma is celebrating ongoing success with its range of PAW Patrol snacks and cereal.

Slawomir Ekiert, managing director CEE and Nordics at WildBrain CPLG, said: “We’re seeing significant growth within the FMCG category across Central and Eastern Europe, which is largely being driven by beloved kids’ entertainment properties.

“ViacomCBS’s engaging slate of animated IP is ideally placed to captialise on the vast business potential FMCG partnerships offer, as demonstrated by this robust line-up of new and expanded deals. For 2021 and beyond, we’ll be focused on further boosting our footprint within the FMCG space and setting the standard for licensed products across our portfolio of entertainment and lifestyle properties, in both the CEE region and wider European market.”

SpongeBob gets into fintech as Viacom partners with Osper on prepaid debit cards for young people

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SpongeBob, Nickelodeon Slime, and JoJo Siwa are just some of the ViacomCBS children’s brands making the move into the fintech space thanks to a new partnership with the parent-managed debit card company for young people, Osper.

Under the pairing, popular IP from the ViacomCBS stable will feature across a series of prepaid debit cards for under 18 year olds, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Nickelodeon’s Slime, and SpongeBob Squarepants. Both Osper and ViacomCBS Consumer Products UK will also work together on a range of co-branded financial education assets for kids.

The move arrives as contactless payments now represent the dominant form of payment on the high street and the belief that young people risk being financially excluded from the shift if they are limited to using cash. Osper allows young people access to their own contactless prepaid debt card, which can be topped up, monitored, and managed by parents via an app.

Osper also automatically blocks payments for age restricted services and gives the option to turn off online spending, giving parents full control of their children’s spending.

“While young people are at the forefront of many of the world’s positive changes, they too face real challenges from the fast pace of change around them,” said Venetia Davie, vice president, ViacomCBS Consumer Products UK & Ireland.

“We believe passionately in supporting today’s children and this partnership is part of that commitment. We’re delighted to be working with Osper to use the reach and engagement of globally recognised properties such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles to help give young people the education and tools necessary to deal with money in an increasingly contactless and digital world.”

Giovanni Santini, CEO of Osper, added: “By the age of eight, two things are happening – children are already learning lifelong financial behaviours, and they’re enthused, informed and entertained by world class content from Nickelodeon.

“At Osper we have always been focused on giving young people access to payments that are secure and safe – both online and contactless – combined with the knowledge and education needed to understand money and finance. This partnership will be transformative in increasing the accessibility of young people to develop positive financial habits that will shape their view of money for the rest of their lives.

“We’re proud to be working with not just a world-leading kids’ entertainment brand, but with a team who share the same values and ambition.”

Edoardo Volta, head of fintech UK and Ireland at Mastercard, said: “Young people today are digital natives and most take a ‘digital first’ approach to whatever they are doing, and this is no different for payments. So it is more important than ever that they have the right tools to stay in control of their money and make payments safely, securely and conveniently.”

The partnership will see Osper and ViacomCBS Consumer Products working together to deliver co-branded educational materials to help children understand money and develop positive financial habits.

Osper customers will also be able to apply for their own prepaid debit card featuring some of Nickelodeon’s most iconic kids’ brands such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Nickelodeon Slime and Jojo Siwa. Reaching over 13 million homes in the UK, Nickelodeon will promote these co-branded offers across its TV, online and social channels.

SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol to boost presence across Japan in major new Rakuten partnership for Nickelodeon

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SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will each be bolstering their presence across the Japanese market thanks to a new partnership between ViacomCBS Networks International and Rakuten Group.

The long-term agreement will kick off with the launch of Nick+ – Nickelodeon’s kids’ streaming service – on Rakuten’s video on demand platform, Rakuten TV across Japan, covering mobile, web, and Smart TV devices.

The pairing will also include the creation of a dedicated Nickelodeon zone on Japan’s e-commerce platform. Rakuten Ichiba.

“This long-term agreement with Rakuten, a key player in the media and e-commerce industry, connects the world of streaming to the world of consumer products for the first time. The integration of Nick+ and the Nickelodeon digital storefront into the Rakuten Ecosystem will enable us to create an interconnected Nickelodeon experience for consumers and leverage strategic cross-platform promotional opportunities,” said Raffaele Annecchino, president and CEO of ViacomCBS Networks International.

“This innovative deal is testament to ViacomCBS’ expertise in developing unique and versatile partnerships and it will allow us to explore additional collaboration opportunities outside of Asia.”

Koji Ando, Rakuten group managing executive officer and senior vice president of Rakuten’s communications and energy company, added: “We are very excited to partner with ViacomCBS Networks International to bring their iconic brands and top-tier content to new audiences through our streaming and e-commerce platforms.

“Through these new initiatives, families across the country will have even more reasons to engage with our services and enjoy the rich customer experience of the Rakuten Ecosystem. We look forward to building on this partnership to deliver even more entertaining content and initiatives in the future.”

Nick+, a subscription service, is planned for launch on Rakuten TV on April 28, 2021, bringing many of the most popular series from the Nickelodeon library to Japanese audiences. Kids and families will be able to watch on demand favorite shows like SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Bubble Guppies, Dora the Explorer, Blue’s Clues & You!, Deer Squad, The Loud House, Game Shakers, The Thundermans and more.

In addition to hit kids and family entertainment via the Nick+ service, Rakuten will host the first Nickelodeon digital storefront in Asia on the Rakuten Ichiba internet shopping mall in Japan. Showcasing a collection of select Nickelodeon products from multiple merchants, Japanese audiences will be able to purchase products featuring some of the brand’s favourite characters from franchises such as SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on the new dedicated e-commerce zone on Rakuten Ichiba.

Products will cover multiple categories, including fashion, stationery and collectibles.

Nick+ will be available on Rakuten TV’s official site and mobile app, STB/dongle, web and Smart TV devices as of April 28, while the digital Nickelodeon storefront on Rakuten Ichiba is planned for launch in May 2021.

SpongeBob spin-off The Patrick Star Show to land with 13 episodes this summer

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Nickelodeon has lifted the lid on the long-awaited SpongeBob SquarePants spin-off to be centered on the series’ popular character, Patrick, confirming that The Patrick Star Show will be landed with 13 initial episodes this summer.

Patrick Star – SpongeBob’s ever loyal best friend – will be the focus of the series that will introduce viewers to an extended Star family that includes Patrick’s younger sister and executive producer Squidina, Patrick’s parents Cecil and Bunny, and GrandPat, Patrick’s grandfather and the brains of the family.

The show will also witness the return of fan-favourite, Squidward as it introduces a wider clan, including Squidward’s grandmother while established characters including SpongeBob, Squidward, Sandy, MR Krabs, and Plankton will all be making special guest appearances throughout the series.

“Nickelodeon is diving deeper into Bikini Bottom to give fans a look at our lovable young adult Patrick Star and his entire family with a sitcom only he could imagine up,” said Ramsey Naito, president, Nickelodeon Animation. “This second original spin-off allows us to expand our reach, tell new stories and connect with our audience around the world who continue to love these characters.”

The Patrick Star Show is the second expansion of the SpongeBob universe. The first is Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years (a CG-animated prequel about the main character’s adventures at summer camp as a young kid), which premieres on Paramount+.

Nickelodeon and Paramount+ offer sneak peek at Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years

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Nickelodeon and Paramount+ have released a sneak peek of the new Paramount+ Original series, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years, the first SpongeBob SquarePants spin-off.

The CG animated prequel follows a ten year old SpongeBob SquarePants and his friends as they spend their summer building underwater campfires, catching wild jellyfish, and swimming in Lake Yuckymuck. Produced by Nickelodeon Animation Studio, the series is landing on Paramount+ soon.

Following the season’s run on the ViacomCBS subscription VOD service, it will air on Nickelodeon later this year.

The sneak peek was first offered during a special halftime presentation of the NFL Wild Card Game on Nickelodeon.

Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years features Tom Kenny (SpongeBob), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward), Clancy Brown (Mr. Krabs), Carolyn Lawrence (Sandy) and Mr. Lawrence (Plankton) reprising their iconic roles. Carlos Alazraqui (The Casagrandes) and Kate Higgins (Blaze and the Monster Machines) join as new characters Nobby and Narlene, narwhal siblings who live in the woods surrounding the camp.

Since its launch July 17, 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has reigned as the number-one animated series on TV for the last 18 years, while generating a universe of beloved characters, pop culture catchphrases and memes, theatrical releases, consumer products, a Tony Award-winning Broadway musical and a global fan base.

SpongeBob SquarePants is the most widely distributed property in ViacomCBS Networks International history, seen in more than 170 countries and territories, translated into more than 30 languages, and averaging more than 100 million total viewers every month.

Nickelodeon teams with the NFL and King Saladeen for SpongeBob SquarePants Junk Food clothing range

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ViacomCBS Consumer Products has struck up a new partnership with the NFL and Junk Food Clothing to launch an NFL x SpongeBob SquarePants Junk Food Collection by King Saladeen. The collection will feature apparel designed by the popular Philadelphia artist, King Saladeen.

Launching today, the collection of styles includes short sleeve t-shirts and hooded fleeces for adults and children by King Saladeen, inspired by the popular animated duo, SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star with designs and logos of the NFL and its clubs.

The launch arrives in support of the special slime-filled presentation of the NFL Wild Card Game on Nickelodeon, airing Sunday, January 10th.

“We are thrilled to produce a collection of apparel in partnership with Nickelodeon, Junk Food Clothing and King Saladeen,” said Rhiannon Madden, VP of consumer products, NFL. “The collection showcases a unique combination of styles and inspirations that will surely excite fans of all ages ahead of the NFL Wild Card Game on Nickelodeon.”

Jose Castro, senior vice president, licensing collaborations and specialty retail, ViacomCBS, added: “The partnership between the NFL, SpongeBob SquarePants, Junk Food and King Saladeen represents the best in fan culture.

“The collection channels the fun, frenetic and fantastical feelings when art, sports and pop culture collide.”

King Saladeen, said: “This collaboration is the perfect mix of Art & Sports to start a brand-new fan in both worlds. They both teach patience and Teamwork while having fun; Every kid needs to experience that. Hopefully this sparks a new level of creativity for the next generation.”

The collection is now available at NFLShop.com, SpongeBobShop.com, Fanatics.com, JunkfoodClothing.com, participating Lid’s stores, and King Saladeen’s online store.