Royaltie$, April 2013 by aNb Media

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Vol. 8, No. 2, April 2013

Building Brands for a Digital World

New Trends Add Flavor to Food & Beverage

Barbie (2-in-1)

Barbie in The Pink Shoes movie

Ballerina Dress

BarbieÂŽ as Kristyn Farraday doll changes from dance fashion to recital costume!

Available on DVD and Blu-Ray February 26, 2013.

Movie-inspired dress allows girls to recreate movie magic!

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APRIL 2013

Vol. 8, No. 2

Features

12 BRANDS: DELIVERING THE TOTAL EXPERIENCE by Nancy Lombardi

14 BRAND BUILDING FOR A DIGITAL WORLD by Jennifer Lynch

16 PRODUCT PRESENTATION: APP & DIGITAL LICENSING by Jennifer Lynch

18 'MUST-SEE TV' MORPHS INTO 'TV EVERYWHERE' by Nancy Lombardi

20 PRODUCT PRESENTATION: TV & MOVIE LICENSING by Nancy Lombardi

24 NEW TRENDS ADD FLAVOR TO FOOD & BEVERAGE by Jennifer Lynch

26 PRODUCT PRESENTATION: FOOD & BEVERAGE LICENSING by Jennifer Lynch

Departments 4 6

10 28 32 34

Observations & Opinions The TICKER Real Deal

Royaltie$ Marketplace: Boo–The World’s Cutest Dog You’re Hired

Calendar of Events Endcap

ON THIS PAGE CLOCKWISE FROM THE TOP: SCREEN SHOT FROM DESPICABLE ME 2; PLANTS VS. ZOMBIES HEADPHONES FROM JAZWARES; CUT THE ROPE AUGMENTED REALITY TAG; JACKSON, A NEW CHUGGINGTON CHARACTER; BOO ABC: A TO Z WITH THE WORLD’S CUTEST DOG FROM CHRONICLE BOOKS ON THE COVER FROM LEFT: TALKING FRIENDS’ TALKING AND POKING TOM FROM CUDDLE BARN; OM NOM FROM CUT THE ROPE; TAMAGOTCHI L.I.F.E. TOY MODE; PLANTS VS. ZOMBIES TWO-INCH DIGGER FIGURE FROM JAZWARES; ANNOYING ORANGE; SENSAI FROM FRUIT NINJA; ANGRY BIRDS TOONS SCREEN SHOT COVER BY JENNIFER LYNCH

APRIL 2013 • VOL. 8, NO. 2

Respecting Brand Loyalty

top me if you’ve heard this one before: a licensing agent walks into a bar and says, “I have found the perfect product for the perfect license only the brand owner won’t let me pull the trigger.” This happens more often than you think. Agents who represent brands know that those properties carry with them a double-edged sword. On one side are the consumers who are fiercely loyal to their favorite brands. Everyone knows consumers that fit this description. Maybe they’ve purchase 12 different pickup trucks over the years and each time the truck was a Ford. Or there are the folks who wouldn’t consider riding anything else but a Harley Davidson and have every accessory and

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR DONNA MOORE DONNA@ANBMEDIA.COM CONTROLLER MARY GROGAN MARY@ANBMEDIA.COM EDITOR IN CHIEF JIM SILVER JIM@ANBMEDIA.COM

T-shirt ever made with the Harley brand on it. What about most likely guarantee sales to its core group of fans at the

EDITOR LAURIE LEAHEY LAURIE@ANBMEDIA.COM

The good news about that coveted consumer loyalty is that lending a beloved brand to a quality product will

very least. It might also make buyers out of consumers that may not be in the core group but recognize the brand for its reputation prompting them to make the purchase. Sounds easy, right?

On the flip side, there is, what appears to be, the overly protective brand owners. While the idea of licensing their brands as added income is appealing, they will do everything to protect that brand because of those fiercely loyal customers. The idea of upsetting even one fan and the potential trickledown effect is terrifying to them. Brands that have been on the scene for decades could damage their reputations by allowing inferior products into the marketplace with their names attached to them. Therefore any product that is to be considered for licensing should and will endure careful scrutiny to guarantee that the brand will not lose its luster in the eyes of its core consumers. Trust is the key factor when trying to maintain brand loyalty. That means even though all the stars seem to be aligned to marry a license with a brand, the deal still could get squashed just because of something as little as a gut feeling from the property owner.

ASSOCIATE PUBLISHER BOB GLASER BOB@ANBMEDIA.COM

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR NANCY LOMBARDI NANCY@ANBMEDIA.COM

those who live for Disney?

by Andy Krinner

PUBLISHER ANDY KRINNER ANDY@ANBMEDIA.COM

EDITOR AT LARGE CHRISTOPHER BYRNE CHRISB@ANBMEDIA.COM

ASSISTANT EDITOR JENNIFER LYNCH JENNIFER@ANBMEDIA.COM WEB MASTER ERIK KIECKHAFER ERIK@ANBMEDIA.COM WEB CONTENT MANAGER BRENDAN SANABRIA BRENDAN@ANBMEDIA.COM PUBLIC RELATIONS REPRESENTATIVE JOSSLYNNE WELCH LITZKY PUBLIC RELATIONS, 320 SINATRA DR., HOBOKEN, N.J. 07030 (201) 222–9118 EXT. 13 • JWELCH@LITZKYPR.COM

INTERESTED IN A SUBSCRIPTION? CONTACT SUBSCRIPTIONS@ANBMEDIA.COM ANB

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ROYALTIE$ APRIL 2013

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A RECAP

OF I NDUSTRY

HEADLINES

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FOX KICKS

OFF

NEW ECOMMERCE STRATEGY

Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products announced the launch of a new e-commerce initiative, www.Foxshop.com, which will offer fans official brand-specific shops. The shops will roll out throughout the year, featuring on-demand product offering and licensed merchandise authentic to each Fox property. Through an on-demand model, Fox is working to incorporate customizable merchandise so consumers can personalize their purchase, resulting in one-of-a-kind creations. To kick off the launch, fans of New Girl, Glee, American Dad, and Family Guy can now purchase all-new merchandise, view show content, and interact with their favorite brands across various social media platforms on the shows’ individual shopping hubs. In addition to fan-oriented merchandise, the shops will also offer products that are reflective of what a shows’ characters may wear or use.

AMERICAN KENNEL CLUB APPOINTS 4LICENSING

The American Kennel Club (AKC) has tapped 4Licensing as the exclusive worldwide licensing agent for its portfolio of brands. The two companies have worked together since 2003 to bring the brand to retail. The AKC already has multi-year deals in a range of categories including pet toys and treats with Pet Brands, dog kennels and furniture with Jewett-Cameron, and dog beds and accessories with European Home Designs.

TIME WARNER TO SPIN OFF TIME INC. DIVISION

The Time Warner, Inc., board of directors has authorized management to proceed with plans for the complete legal and structural separation of Time Inc. from Time Warner. Following the proposed transaction, Time Inc. will be an independent, publicly traded company. Time Warner aims to complete the proposed transaction by the end of the calendar year. The proposed transaction will be structured as tax-free to Time Warner stockholders. The transaction is contingent on the satisfaction of a number of conditions, including completion of the review process by the Securities and Exchange Commission of required filings under applicable securities regulations and the final approval of transaction terms by Time Warner’s Board of Directors.

FUHU TEAMS WITH NICKELODEON

FOR NABI JR. TABLET AND ACCESSORIES

Nickelodeon and Fuhu, Inc., announced a multi-year deal to produce and distribute Nickelodeon-themed tablet accessories and nabi Jr. tablets pre-loaded with the network’s content. The first release of the partnership is the recently launched nabi Jr. touch screen tablet (pictured), filled with educational apps, games, and videos, from Nickelodeon preschool series including Dora the Explorer, Team Umizoomi, and Bubble Guppies. This spring, a line of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles-inspired mobile tablet accessories, such as character bumpers, Kinabis, and stands, will be available nationwide.

KOHL’S ANNOUNCES LATEST DESIGNATION DESIGN COLLABORATION

Kohl’s Department Stores has announced that Catherine Malandrino will be the third designer for its DesigNation limited-edition collections. Malandrino’s womenswear collection will draw influence from her home city of Paris, France. The line, which will include dresses, skirts, pants, shirts, sweaters, and outerwear, will be available exclusively at Kohl’s this fall.

ROYALTIE$ APRIL 2013

HSN AND HGTV PARTNER

FOR

OUTDOOR HOME CATEGORY

HSN and HGTV announced the debut of HGTV Home Outdoor Living, only at HSN. The multi-year partnership is designed to leverage the full potential of the HSN and HGTV brands, with HGTV becoming the face for HSN’s outdoor living category. The partnership will include original content that will be integrated across the digital and on-air assets of both companies. HGTV Home Outdoor Living at HSN will feature top HGTV experts, including designer John Gidding (Curb Appeal), who will offer advice and showcase an assortment of HGTV-curated outdoor products, including exclusive HGTV Home-branded items. Products will include outdoor equipment, plants, lighting, water accessories, outdoor entertaining, garden tools and outdoor solutions. The HGTV HOME Plant Collection also debuted on HSN in March, offering a variety of annuals, planters, and nutrients.

WBCP INTRODUCES BATMAN CLASSIC LICENSING PROGRAM

Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) officially launched the Batman Classic Television Series licensing program, inspired by the 1960s Batman television show, last month at an event co-hosted with licensee Junk Food Clothing at the comic store Meltdown Comics in Hollywood, Calif. On display during the event was the lineup from Junk Food, which includes a range of men’s and women’s T-shirts featuring live-action imagery and inspired graphics from the TV series. Also shown during the event was Mattel’s 2013 San Diego Comic-Con exclusive—a six-inch figure Batusi Batman. Mattel also showcased its lineup of the never-before-seen six-inch figure of The Joker, along with the six-inch figure assortment of Batman, Robin, The Riddler, The Penguin, Surfing Batman, and a collector’s Batman The Mattel 2013 San Diego Comic-Con classic TV series Batmobile, as well as the Mattel vintage-styled Batman Ken and Catwoman Barbie. Exclusive is a six-inch figure Batusi Batman from the Batman Classic TV Series line. Mezco introduces Batman and Robin in the signature Batmobile depicted as Mez-itz mini-figures. Other partners showcasing product at the event included Rubie’s Costume Co., Mezco, CSS Industries, New Era, and Mead. Warner Bros.’ DC Entertainment also unveiled art for its all-new digital comic book series Batman ’66, launching this summer. Inspired by the classic TV series, the digital comic book features many fan-favorite characters. It is expected to be available in monthly print issues.

BLUE’S CLUES CREATOR LAUNCHES NEW MEDIA COMPANY YUMMICO

Traci Paige Johnson, one of the creator of the preschool television series Blue’s Clues and co-creator of SuperWhy, and Caroline Baron, award-winning producer of films such as Capote and Monsoon Wedding, have teamed up to launch the new interactive children’s media company yummico. yummico produces entertaining media for preschoolers across multiple platforms, with a focus on digital games, interactive shows, apps, and ebooks as well as traditional narrative animation, print books, and other consumer products. The new company kicks off with the musical food adventure series Yummiloo, which aims to make trying new foods fun and to set a foundation for a lifetime of healthy eating. The series features the Yum Yums, a band of creatures who live in a world made entirely of food. Yummiloo uses storybased games to help kids discover the basics of food identification and nutrition. The first app, Yummiloo Rainbow Power, is an interactive game produced in collaboration with Night and Day Studios. It is now available in iTunes Store.

SOFIA VERGARA HEADS TO HOMEWARE

Actress Sofia Vergara has partnered with retailer Rooms To Go to create her first furniture collection. The launch of the Sofia Vergara Collection will include living room, bedroom, and dining room sets and accessories. The collection will be available this fall.

ROYALTIE$ APRIL 2013

MARIE CLAIRE AND RICHLINE GROUP

PrivateCollection&Co., a brand architecture company, has signed on as a licensing agent for the Marie Claire brand in the U.S. and Mexico. It has also announced its first licensing deal, granting Richline Group the exclusive right to manufacture, market, and distribute jewelry in the U.S. under the Marie Claire brand. In Asia and Australia, Marie Claire is a leading brand in fashion, beauty, and home décor, generating more than $350 million at retail each year. PrivateCollection&Co is working to expand this success to the American market by establishing key licensing and distribution agreements with companies such as Richline Group, a Berkshire Hathaway Company.

DISCOVERY AND OLAES

Discovery Communications announced a new partnership with Olaes Enterprises, Inc., for an Animal Planetbranded young men’s and boys’ apparel line. The new line is the latest addition to a range of Animal Planet lifestyle and pet product offerings.

CUPCAKES AND CASHMERE AND BRAND CENTRAL

Cupcakes and Cashmere, a blog written by Emily Schuman that offers daily doses of inspiration about fashion, food, interior design, travel, and beauty, has signed Brand Central LLC as its exclusive licensing agency. Brand Central will work to translate the Cupcakes and Cashmere brand into products that delivers Schuman’s point of view in a variety of categories. Since its launch more than four years ago, Cupcakes and Cashmere has emassed more than five million page views per month and more than three million unique visitors. Schuman has collaborated with several leading fashion and beauty brands including Forever 21, Juicy Couture, Style Mint, and Coach. She is also the best-selling author of Cupcakes and Cashmere: A Guide for Defining Your Style, Reinventing Your Space, and Entertaining with Ease and currently serves as the exclusive guest blogger for Estée Lauder.

Emily Schuman

RHINO ENTERTAINMENT AND SPORTIQE

Rhino Entertainment, a division of Warner Music Group, has entered a deal with apparel brand Sportiqe to launch the first Grateful Dead by Sportiqe collection, featuring vintage-inspired designs with Grateful Dead-inspired artwork. Another component of the partnership will include the release of a capsule collection with the National Basketball Association (NBA). The line will merge Grateful Dead imagery with NBA team logos. For its retail debut, Sportiqe will offer the Grateful Dead by Sportiqe collection with the following teams represented: Los Angeles, New York, Brooklyn, Boston, Chicago, Miami, and Golden State.

G&W SIGNED FOR ERIC CARLE APPAREL

The Joester Loria Group brokered an apparel deal for The World of Eric Carle with G&W Industries. The company will create a line for newborn to 4T, which includes layettes, playwear, active wear, swimwear, and more. Newborn and infant apparel and accessories consisting of knits, plush, fleece, and velour will launch this fall. Toddler apparel will be added to the collection in 2014.

ROYALTIE$ APRIL 2013

BIG TENT ENTERTAINMENT PARTNERS WITH ROCK REBEL, BAIT

Big Tent Entertainment has signed new apparel and accessory deals for Domo. Rock Rebel will introduce its new line of Domo-inspired fashion handbags this spring in various styles including fashion totes, bowler bags, framed handbags, and clutches. The bags will be available at RockRebelShop.com and across all retail tiers in the U.S. and Canada. Also launching this spring is an exclusive Domo and Bait collaboration of apparel and accessories, including T-shirts, crewnecks, hoodies, footwear, socks, hats, keychains, cast metal lapel pins, and plush. The line will be available exclusively at the Bait flagship store in Diamond Bar, Calif., and online at BAITme.com and PYS.com.

THE HOBBIT STRATEGO

Spin Master Games and Warner Bros. Consumer Products have teamed up to create Stratego The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug Game based on The Hobbit Trilogy, including The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, as well as the second and third films, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and The Hobbit: There and Back Again, which are productions of New Line Cinema and MGM.

IMG GROUP AND TURNER CN ENTERPRISES

Ilyas & Mustafa Galadari Group (IMG Group) partnered with Turner CN Enterprises to bring a dedicated Cartoon Network Zone to the IMG Theme Park in Dubai, UAE. The collaboration will deliver the world’s first themed attractions for The Amazing World of Gumball, Adventure Time, and LazyTown. The IMG Theme Park will also feature the world’s largest Ben 10 retail store and the first-ever Ben 10 5-D ride, along with branded restaurants and immersive experiences throughout the park.

WONDERFORGE SIGNS WITH NICK, DISNEY

WonderForge has signed a multi-year licensing agreement to develop games based on Nickelodeon’s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series. The new line of Wonder Forge games will be available at retail beginning this spring. In a separate announcement, WonderForge announced a new deal with Disney for preschool games featuring Mickey Mouse, Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, and others.

JAKKS IN DEAL WITH NINTENDO FOR TOYS AND COSTUMES

Jakks Pacific, Inc., has been granted rights in major toy categories by Nintendo of America, Inc., to manufacture, market, and distribute a line of toys and related consumer products based on the library of Nintendo characters. In addition, Jakks’ Halloween costume division, Disguise, Inc., has been given rights to offer Halloween costumes and accessories based on Nintendo properties. Some of the characters expected to be featured are Mario and Luigi, Donkey Kong, Princess Peach, and Zelda. The licensing agreement allows Jakks Pacific to manufacture, distribute, and market toys, games, playthings, novelties, plush, key chains, and costumes worldwide (excluding Japan and Korea). Jakks is expected to launch the line at retailers nationwide in spring 2014. Disguise plans to launch Halloween costumes and accessories for the 2013 Halloween season.

ROYALTIE$ APRIL 2013

KNOCKOUT LICENSING ’S BOO–THE WORLD ’S CUTEST DOG BY JENNIFER LYNCH

here is something about an adorable dog and the internet that makes for a winning combination, particularly if that dog happens to be a 7-year-old Pomeranian named Boo. Officially dubbed “The World’s Cutest Dog,” Boo is an internet sensation first unleashed onto the pop culture scene after his owner created a Facebook page for the pup in 2009. Since then, Boo has amassed more than 6.7 million Facebook fans as of press time with a celebrity status that has led to appearances on Good Morning America, Anderson Cooper 360’s RidicuList, QVC, and other programs. Knockout Licensing came on board in April 2012 as the global licensing agent to help deliver Boo to his fans in new ways. Among the first licensees for the property was Chronicle Books for publishing. And after seeing the success of its first book Boo: The Life of the World’s Cutest Dog in the marketplace, Chronicle has added to its lineup with two additional books this year, including Little Dog in the Big City and Boo ABC: A to Z with the World’s Cutest Dog, as well as a 2013 Boo–The World’s Cutest Dog wall calendar. The first book has also been translated into 10 languages. Given Boo’s strong following around the world, Knockout is now in discussions not only with domestic licensees but also with potential global manufacturers and partners regarding licensing or representation overseas. Boo signed his first international licensee in late 2012. UK-based Paladone Products, Ltd., has been granted rights to produce and sell a wide range of Boo novelty items that will include mugs, magnets, pin badges, shopping totes, pencil cases and toppers, coin Boo celebrating his seventh birthday this year with his best friend Buddy. Image is courtesy purses, umbrellas, passport covers, and more. of Boo’s Facebook page.

ROYALTIE$ APRIL 2013

Fast Facts

• Boo celebrated his seventh birthday on March 16. • Boo’s previously anonymous owner was revealed last year as Irene Ahn, who works as a finance lead at Facebook. • Boo also lives with his best friend and fellow Pomeranian Buddy. • Boo has served as the official spokespet for brands such as Dr. Dre BEATS and Virgin Atlantic.

Chronicle Books

Boo’s publisher Chronicle Books is launching the newest addition in the Boo book series, Boo ABC: A to Z with the World’s Cutest Dog, this May. This follows the recently launched Boo: Paper Doll Set as well as two earlier books. Chronicle also publishes Boo wall calendars.

Department 56

Department 56 will offer an officially licensed line of Boo holiday ornaments. Items will launch in June and be available in stores in time for holiday 2013.

Gund

Gund delivers Boo—The World’s Cutest Dog to plush form in an eight-inch version of the Pomeranian (pictured) as well as costumed Itty Bitty Boo mini-plush sizes. Two of the newest additions in the line include Itty Bitty Birthday Boo donning a birthday hat and Itty Bitty Jogging Suit Boo, which wears a little jogging suit.

H.E.R. Accessories

H.E.R. Accessories’ officially licensed Boo costume jewelry line includes Boo bracelets, charm necklaces, and, of course, dog tags.

FouFou Dog

Canada’s FouFou Dog manufactures and markets a wide range of Boo-branded products, including luggage tags, keychains, My Pet Blankie roll-up, plush pet blankets, and other small accessories.

Accessory Innovations

Timed to the 2013 back-to-school season, Accessory Innovations will launch a detailed Boo backpack and insulated lunch tote, small Boo cross-body front flap bag, a Boo universal wallet, and other accessories.

ROYALTIE$ APRIL 2013

Brands: Delivering the Total Experience BY

NANCY LOMBARDI

hobani. The name is derived from the Greek word meaning “shepherd.” That simple word—now a brand—has revolutionized yogurt, an ancient food staple. Chobani has sent multi-billion dollar global food brands scrambling to create their own version of a “Greek-style” yogurt. Tide. This premiere laundry detergent has been used by all demographics for generations. A January article in New York Magazine showed that, “In a 2009 survey, Tide ranked in the top three brand names that consumers at all income levels were least likely to give up regardless of the recession alongside Kraft and Coca-Cola. According to research firm SymphonyIRI Group, Tide is now a $1.7 billion business representing more than 30 percent of the liquid detergent market.” There are certainly less expensive types of yogurt and laundry detergent on the market. Yet these two brands have remained strong despite some of the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression. In fact, Chobani launched just as the economy was spiraling downward. So what sets these two brands apart from so many other consumer products on shelf? The answer, according to Bill Leider, corporate brand strategist and author of Brand Delusions, is that both companies fit the criteria of what truly defines a brand. “A brand is a widely held set of beliefs and expectations of what you deliver and how you deliver it, validated by customer’s experiences,” Leider says. “What that means is the brand goes beyond image, definition, and recognition. It’s a total experience.” Procter & Gamble’s Tide laundry detergent fulfills that experience on many levels.

ROYALTIE$ APRIL 2013

Introduced in 1946, its iconic orange-and-yellow bull’s eye logo and distinctive fresh scent are known globally and it has now been used for generations. “Brands trigger emotional connections with consumers,” says Debra Restler, associate vice-president, business development and marketing at Beanstalk, which has Procter & Gamble as a client. “With older, iconic brands, consumer brand loyalty is often passed down from generation to generation.” No other laundry brand holds the cachet of Tide. No other brand commands its premium price, which often costs 50 percent more than the average liquid detergent, according to the article in New York Magazine, yet it outsells Gain, its closest competitor in market share by two to one. (Both are Procter & Gamble brands.) Chobani, which has only been on the market since 2007, has managed to create a halo effect around anything deemed “Greek,” which is ironic considering Chobani’s founder is Turkish immigrant Hamdi Ulukaya. And, life in Greece is less than idyllic these days. In 2005, Ulukaya purchased a factory in New York state from Kraft and began making yogurt the way it’s consumed in Turkey. In 2007, the first shipment made its way to New York shelves. Chobani is priced higher than the other pre-existing American-style yogurts on the market. But its introduction demonstrated that people will pay more for a better product and overall better experience. Less than seven years later, global player Dannon has answered the competition with its own version of Greek yogurt called Oikos while Yoplait introduced Yoplait Greek. But Chobani remains the gold standard in “Greek yogurt.” Chobani became a leader because “an inno-

vative new player answered an unmet consumer need,” says Michael Dresner, CEO of Brand² Squared Licensing, a division of Peppercomm. “That item ultimately becomes a new and exciting viable brand.” Chobani became a brand and Tide remains a leader because both examples demonstrate that customers don’t simply buy a brand name—they buy experiences. The results of their purchase can be felt by the consumer on a physical level, a financial level, and on an experiential level. The consumer feels that they have reached a level of status by using a certain product, according to Leider.

THE GREAT RECESSION AND RISE OF PRIVATE LABEL

Yet for most Americans the idea of image and status shifted over the past few years as the recession forced most consumers to rethink even their most basic purchases. The recession was a game changer that touched every aspect of American life, except perhaps for those at the very top-end for whom money is no object. Beanstalk, whose clients include Procter & Gamble, Black & Decker, Honda, and Cover Girl, among many others, agrees. “During the heart of the recession, I think there was a withdrawal of affluent consumers shopping for luxury brands,” says Beanstalk’s Restler. “It’s not that they weren’t shopping for luxury brands, but they were doing so privately through other channels. Luxury retailers also responded by adjusting their product categories to average income consumers in order to appear to be more economical and not dissuade consumers. The economy is sometimes not enough to deter consumers from seeking out their favorite brands.”

But for the majority of consumers—the proverbial “99 percent”— spending became an enormous concern as unemployment, underemployment, and uncertainly gripped the nation. Those interviewed agreed that consumers were still searching for their favorite brands while shopping but they were not always in a position to purchase. As a result, they increasingly began comparing those favorite brands with private label products on all the key attributes—style, price, value, quality, and service. Many were forced to make decisions based on price alone—at least until the economy bounces back. Many of these consumers have developed a trust and affinity for certain store brands. A host of private label products have now become brands in their own right. Some examples include Costco’s Kirkland Signature brand, Whole Foods 365 Everyday Value as well as Trader Joe’s and Target’s multiple product lines. These labels have emerged as having a certain level of quality that elevates them above the typical “store brand” items. It is most likely because these are not typical retailers; these are all stores that cater to higher-income shoppers. These retailers, which invested in their store brands long before the recession, established a reputation for quality, value, or emotional appeal along with lower prices. Not surprisingly, those brands emerged with a significant advantage during the recession, according to brand expert Leider.

BACK ON THE (ECONOMIC) TRACK?

Despite the many challenges ahead, the U.S. economy is showing signs of recovery. Yet, those signs seem to be most pronounced on the East and West Coasts. Anecdotally, the economic climate in New York City has improved with more consumers, once again, enjoying restaurants and shopping. However, for other parts of the U.S., the picture is not as bright. The U.S. is in the midst of a jobless recovery, according to Leider. “A lot of the jobs that have returned are lower paying jobs and the middleincome jobs have disappeared,” he says. “Most of those middle-income jobs are not coming back.” This means that as consumers are adjusting to the new economic normal, the licensing industry will also have to adapt to this new reality in how it positions its brands as well as how it works with manufacturers and retailers. Those interviewed believe that manufacturers will have to become more creative in delivering value for the price. That is something that Chobani was able to master from its “European-style” packaging, for

example, to its new SoHo yogurt store location in New York City. As has been discussed in many instances in ROYALTIE$, “value” is more than just low price. Companies will have to dissect and rebuild the total experience they are delivering. This can mean rethinking anything and everything from the product itself to its packaging, added features, services, and so on. “Companies will have to be creative to deliver products at a price that the consumer of today and tomorrow can afford to pay,” says Leider. Brand owners have to take a fresh approach and make sure that their brands are constructed, presented, and executed properly, according to Rob Frankel, branding expert and author of The Revenge of Brand X: How to Build a Big Time Brand on the Web or Anywhere Else. “The more reasons you give people to purchase your brand, the less important price becomes as the purchasing criteria,” says Frankel. “But the opposite is also true. If you give a consumer nothing else, then price is all they will go on.” Tide and Chobani are just two examples of how consumers look beyond price to see the value in a product. Yet, on the flip side, the continued growth of dollar stores—such as Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, and Dollar General—shows that when your brand doesn’t stand out price is all that will matter.

Brand Delusions by Bill Leider

Brand Delusions is a fictionalized account of a kitchenware company confronting its internal misconceptions about its brand identity. In this business book, Leider creates characters within the company who offer divergent views on what constitutes a brand and why their particular company is having so many undiagnosed problems trying to stay ahead of the competition. Brand Delusions points out the difference between a “brand” and “branding,” while challenging the myth that a brand is merely the result of “branding” efforts and ad campaigns. Brand Delusions is based on lessons learned over Leider’s career. He has created strategies for Thermador, KPMG, Toshiba, and Oracle, among others.

ROYALTIE$ APRIL 2013

Brand Building for a Digital World

BY JENNIFER LYNCH

onsumers today live in two worlds, says Puneet Mehta, CEO of MyCityWay, a mobile developer whose technology has been incorporated into apps for companies such as BMW, Macy’s, and New York Daily News. The first world is the physical, the one visible to the human eye. The second is a world of digital data that we never see but interact with on a daily basis. This is the world that consumers increasingly rely on to navigate the physical world. With the right approach, brand owners can readily integrate their message with the goal of profitably merging these two worlds. “Not that long ago if you had a creative idea, as an independent producer, writer, or entrepreneur, your only hope was to get a studio, producer, or distributor interested to fund it,” says Elie Dekel, president of Saban Brands. “And if that didn’t happen you couldn’t get it started. But with user-generated content today, good ideas can be developed in a new medium that completely bypasses the traditional route. It’s a whole new paradigm.” This paradigm is accompanied by numerous pluses and minuses. There is still a lot of ambiguity that surrounds the digital space. Even the definition of a digital brand alone can be as narrowly restricted to mobile apps or broadly encompass online social networks, the YouTube-based Annoying Orange, web-sensation Moshi Monsters, and more. Russell Binder, president of Striker Entertainment, likened the uncertain terrain of brand building in the digital space to the dawn of the video game era. “In the beginning, anyone could make a 16-bit video game in his garage for the Super Nintendo and Atari systems, but as the gamer got more sophisticated so did the game developer,” he says. “Suddenly budgets and expectations were really high. We’re seeing the evolution of app development getting there.” 2012 marked the year that digital licensing became more widely accepted, and thus provided some feedback about what worked and what didn’t. What worked was Angry Birds. What didn’t work was the assumption made by many that any digital brand could easily duplicate its success. “I think retail has woken up to the fact that just because a product is based on an app doesn’t mean the product will be successful [at retail],” says Marc Mostman, partner at Striker Entertainment, which helped Rovio to launch the licensing program for Angry Birds. [Editor’s note: Rovio now manages its consumer products program in-house.] “Regardless of how many user downloads you have, just as with movies and television, not all lend themselves to a consumer products program.”

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Rovio Entertainment launched its Angry Birds Toons animated series last month.

An Applicable Approach

This year, a lot of those same apps that jumped into the licensing pool headfirst have fallen by the wayside. Retailers are more wary about a digital brand’s ability to be successful at retail, and those brands left standing remain because, like Angry Birds, they took a strategic approach. Part of that approach has proven that many qualities that make a traditional entertainment brand strong still apply to digital brands, including creating fresh content and new experiences for consumers. “If people aren’t passionate about the brand and if that brand doesn’t continue to be relevant then it doesn’t matter how nice any licensed product is,” says Brennan Townley, director of brand licensing at PopCap, a division of Electronic Arts. PopCap is currently taking a game-by-game approach to licensing its brands such as Bejeweled and Plants vs. Zombies. Some brands are creating these new experiences through video content that can deepen the storylines of their character IP. And much of this content is delivered through their apps or other digital channels. ZeptoLab’s Cut the Rope launched its webisodes series last year in response to constant questions from fans about its main character Om Nom. This year, its picked up two more seasons and partnered with Sony Pictures to develop a live-action game show based on the app as well as launch interactive augmented-reality experiences through toys. “Because of the digital nature of our character, we can do things in terms of consumer interaction that differentiates us from traditional brands,” says Tanya Haider, vice-president of global licensing and merchandising at ZeptoLab.

Likewise Disney Interactive’s Where’s My Water? launched its YouTube series last fall and last month Rovio Entertainment’s Angry Birds Toons channel premiered across all its game titles and Comcast video-on-demand platforms in the U.S.

High Speeds Pose Risks

But delivering consistently fresh digital content can be a double-edged sword. While the faster speed of content delivery is great for consumer engagement, it can prove tricky for licensors. “Since mobile became a viable platform in developing new brands, there has been a lot of conversation about whether it would completely displace the licensing model because of the amount of content coming through the pipeline,” says ZeptoLab’s Haider. “This has proven not to be the case.” However finding partners that can respond quickly to the pace of digital is key to translating these brands at retail. “Retailers today like to jump on fads that are working while they can,” says Saban’s Dekel. “But because things move so fast in digital, it’s very difficult for a retailer and a manufacturing chain to align with that. You need properties that have critical mass, a distinct market position, and certain proof of concept to sustain a merchandise program.” In order to build out its multiplatform digital strategy, Saban Brands acquired two rising digital companies: KidZui, an in-web browser that provides curated kid-safe content and has tracked kids’ interests in the space for nearly six years, and The Playforge, a mobile social game developer and one of the first iOS developers to sell virtual currency redeemable for virtual goods through its mobile game, Zombie Farm.

The new Tamagotchi app features two modes: toy mode (left), replicating the original 16-bit character, and app mode, which features an updated look.

Classic Brands Go Digital

Additionally, traditional brands are amping up their digital strategies by licensing into mobile through acquisitions and partnerships that allow them to deepen a 360-degree approach to brand building. For traditional brands looking to build a relationship quickly in advance of a product, TV show, or film’s launch, the digital can be very attractive. “Brands already want to be part of this organic experience,” says MyCityWay’s Mehta. “Digital allows them to create a personalized interface to deliver a message exactly at the right time, at the right location. And when you are able to tie the physical world to digital a brand’s message becomes that much more powerful.” At the same time, entire economies can now be built around digital relationships that never have to touch physical product. “How these businesses work, whether it be virtual merchandise or in-app purchases and upgrades, is an important aspect of how an IP can monetize,” says Saban’s Dekel. “It is creating whole new category to the licensing business.”

Entertainment companies are looking at ways to monetize their IPs in similar ways, either through partnerships that integrate their own characters into existing successful games (Fruit Ninja: Puss in Boots and Angry Birds Star Wars), creating cross-screen experiences (American Idol app), or creating gaming experiences. Fox’s The Simpsons: Tapped Out game for iOS, created by EA Mobile, has monetized the latter model by giving players the opportunity to power up more quickly in the game by purchasing additional virtual money, or donuts. Digital can also breathe new life into classic brands. In the past year alone companies have used the space to reintroduce brands to a new generation, including Topps’ Bazooka Gum, RRKidz’ Reading Rainbow, and most recently Namco Bandai’s Tamagotchi. Sync Beatz licensed the Tamagotchi brand to revive the 1990s electronic pet and pop culture phenom in app form through Tamagotchi L.i.f.e. The app launched on Android in February and last month on iOS. It’s taking an approach to appeal to both old and new fans by introducing new Tamagotchi characters and integrating social media. “Today’s audiences live within this technology so we’re making sure we’re accessible where they are,” says Shin Ueno, CMO for Sync Beatz. And this means building brands across all cylinders. A product line will be introduced once the digital brand has been established. Consumers are savvy and will continue to become more engaged with the digital world. In turn, they will expect more from brands that inhabit that world. Retailers and the licensing community will have to work harder to stay a step ahead as many struggle to gain a better understanding of how to navigate this digital space.

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Digital Brand Licensing BY JENNIFER LYNCH

While the low barrier for content creation in the digital space can offer endless opportunities, the barriers for licensing these types of brands are still high. Below is a sampling of some of the latest successful licensing initiatives in the space.

ZEPTOLAB

Fans of ZeptoLab’s Cut the Rope can unlock a new augmented reality game, Om Nom: Candy Flick, via a special tag found on a variety of new Om Nom plush toys from toy partner Round 5. Round 5 also introduced the newest versions of Om Nom through a variety of plush, buildable playsets, and collectible micro figures, now available at Toys “R” Us stores in the U.S. and Canada. Additional toy licensees launching new product for spring/summer include MEGA Brands Puzzles, Toy Galaxy, Sakar, Kellytoy, and Innovative Concepts. The program is also set to grow in categories such as apparel, accessories, publishing, home, food and confectionery, footwear, electronics, and more. Studio Licensing and Established Brands are the assigned agents for North America.

six-inch convertible plush Om Nom

ROVIO ENTERTAINMENT

Rovio Entertainment and the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex have teamed up to launch the first interactive Angry Birds attraction in the U.S. Designed to bring to life the space adventures of the Angry Birds, Angry Birds Space Encounter features a life-sized slingshot, maze, laser obstacle course, live Angry Birds Space tournaments, photo opportunities, and merchandise. The 4,485-square-foot Angry Birds Space Encounter attraction is now open in Cape Canaveral, Fla. The collaboration between NASA and Rovio began when the two organizations partnered to create the app game Angry Birds Space in 2012.

HALFBRICK STUDIOS

Halfbrick Studios and HAP Consulting have signed Exim Licensing Group as a sub-agent for the Fruit Ninja licensing program for the Latin America region. Exim will be responsible for implementing a strategy with Halfbrick Studios, distributors, and key partners for a program that spans the region.

THE COLLECTIVE

The Collective has partnered with Play Visions to launch new lines, including stickers and temporary tattoos, inspired by Annoying Orange later this year. The deal was brokered by The Joester Loria Group, the North American licensing agent for Annoying Orange, on behalf of its client, The Collective.

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POP CAP

PopCap, a division of Electronic Arts, has teamed with Hasbro to bring some of its app gaming properties to face-to-face games. Through this agreement, Hasbro has obtained the license to develop and distribute a wide range of physical games based on PopCap’s properties, including Bejeweled (pictured right).

OUTFIT7

Outfit7, the global entertainment company behind the popular Talking Friends apps, has partnered with Paper House Productions for a full collection of classic and 3-D stickers, magnets, and wall décor featuring animated friends Talking Tom and Talking Ben. The deal was brokered by Talking Friends’ global brand licensing agency Beanstalk.

MIND CANDY

Kid-driven social network Moshi Monsters teamed with UK retailers to offer a range of Easterthemed product deals now through April 21. Argos stores are offering exclusive in-game spaceship items via a code accessible on the Argos Moshi Monsters homepage or in a Moshi Monsters flyer instore. The Entertainer stores are rewarding Moshi Monsters customers with coupons to redeem a free in-game Easter jack-in-the-box bunny, with any Moshi Monsters purchase. Sainsbury’s is offering a range of Moshi Monsters clothing, including hats, swimsuits and T-shirts. To mark the arrival into Sainsbury’s larger stores, fans will be gifted with 500 free rox to spend in the game when they buy any Moshi Monsters item (excluding food).

SESAME WORKSHOP

Created by Publications International in coordination with Sesame Workshop, Look and Find Elmo on Sesame Street is a new children’s app for ages 2–6 that aids in their development in observation and memory skills. The app is currently available for iPhone and iPad in the Apple App Store. The app features six different look-and-find scenes, the Super Duper hidden stickers and sticker book, Look-Look memory game, parent tips from the Sesame Street education experts, and more.

JIM HENSON COMPANY

Jim Henson Company has teamed with Cupcake Digital to create interactive mobile appisodes based on Fraggle Rock, which celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. Episodes will be developed into enhanced story experiences featuring the adventures of the Fraggles, Doozers, and Gorgs. The series of apps is slated for development and release in 2013 and will be available for iOS, Android, NOOK, and Kindle Fire platforms. Each app includes features such as three modes of reading, professional narration, opportunities for shared screen time for parents and kids, and more.

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‘Must-See TV’ Morphs into ‘TV Everywhere’ BY

NANCY LOMBARDI

ost of us can vividly remember the days when one had to plan an evening around watching a specific TV show. It may be hard to imagine now but there really was life before the VCR, before TiVo, before DVR, and before OnDemand viewing. At one time, viewing a certain TV show— when it actually aired—was part of the collective American experience. Did you watch the Beatles on the The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964? EdSullivan.com estimates that 73 million people tuned in for this TV milestone. Or are you part of the generation that watched the final episode of M*A*S*H? An estimated 125 million people watched in February 1983, according to Wikipedia. Perhaps you belong to the generation that watched the finale of Seinfeld? In May 1998, an estimated 76 million people tuned in for what was dubbed by NBC at that time as its “Must-See TV” lineup. The 1940s kicked off a revolutionary time for television and its impact on American culture. The 1949 Sears, Roebuck & Co. catalog was the first to sell television sets. By 1960, 19 percent of U.S. households owned a TV. By May 1994, 99 percent of U.S. households owned at least one television set, according to statistics on pbs.org’s The American Experience. We are now in the midst of another viewing revolution as the concepts of both “second screen” and “television everywhere” are changing the viewing habits of everyone, particularly children. Today’s younger generation of viewers has no concept of tuning in for what was once known as “Must-See TV.” Instead they watch what they want, when they want it, and even where they want, which is increasingly on the go.

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While this rapid change may be scaring some in the television and film industry, “It’s a pattern repeated time and again in the media space,” says Scott Maddux, general manger of AWE, a division of Bottle Rocket. “When VCRs arrived, movie theaters got nervous. But in the end [new technologies] become additive platforms. iTunes launched years ago and the music industry was scared to death but, in the end, more music was consumed. These transformative technologies and distribution channels are additives to consumption.” Those interviewed agree that consumers of all ages are increasing their viewing across multiple platforms and deepening their relationship with a chosen property. “We are finding that kids are watching as much or more linear television,” says Nancy Kanter, senior vice-president, original programming and general manager, Disney Junior Worldwide. “Our ratings demonstrate that. They are consuming content across digital platforms as well and this is additive and supplemental rather than cannibalizing TV.” This shift is happening in two distinct ways affecting the viewing habits of kids through adults. The first change is the concept of “second screen.” That refers to apps on mobile devices and tablets that sync with the program a viewer is watching. This focuses on concurrent viewing behavior as viewers watch a program in their home and, at the same time, use the show’s corresponding app on their device. This typically gives the viewer one of two options. One is content driven where users can unlock bonus material. The other is a social component. It’s the ability to engage with other fans on Twitter and Facebook.

The other movement that is changing viewing habits is called “TV everywhere.” This movement has more broad support from the networks, according to Bottle Rocket’s Maddux, because it’s simply video distribution on a new platform, which, in this case, are mobile devices. “It’s the shows you’d watch on TV that you can now watch on your mobile device,” says Maddux, whose company has created apps for Showtime, The Food Network, BMW, and countless other brands. He explains that of these two options, the TV everywhere concept is an easier one for consumers to comprehend and it’s the one that has exploded in popularity recently. “The second screen concept is still a little challenging for consumers,” says Maddux. “Consumers don’t always get it and there is the distraction factor. Some people like it and some people don’t.” In addition, the TV everywhere movement has been promoted by cable operators, content owners, and networks because it will become a more critical part of the business. It’s an obvious revenue generator, according to Maddux. As part of this shift, content owners are looking beyond the traditional networks for new outlets. “Families love video on demand,” says Joshua Selig, founder and president of Little Airplane Productions. “This bodes well for newcomers such as Netflix, Hulu, and Amazon who aren’t dependent on linear broadcasting. These folks also have a wealth of statistical data to help them create new programs that families are likely to embrace. A recent example of this approach, outside the kids’ space, is Netflix’s House of Cards, which is making waves.” (Editor’s note: House of Cards is an adult drama created by Netflix.)

In February, Netflix and DreamWorks Animation announced that they will create the first-ever Netflix original series for kids. Based on the DreamWorks film Turbo, premiering in theaters this summer, the Netflix series Turbo: F.A.S.T. (Fast Action Stunt Team) will debut exclusively this December where Netflix offers its service globally. In addition DreamWorks Animation feature titles will be made available for Netflix members in the U.S. to watch beginning with the studio’s 2013 film lineup. Netflix may have some additional competition from music service Spotify. BusinessInsider.com reported that Spotify wants to expand by offering video service. The company’s plan is to invest in original content. Amazon Studios, which is part of retail giant Amazon.com, has commissioned a number of content providers to create series for its audience. The Jim Henson Company’s pilot for Amazon is Teeny Tiny Dogs. It is a preschool puppet show about dogs that get dropped off at doggy daycare. The series promotes happiness through friendship, learning, and developing a strong sense of self. User feedback is expected to dictate what will be greenlit, says Melissa Segal, executive vice-president of global consumer products for The Jim Henson Company. “Amazon has ordered several pilots [from a group of content providers] and it is testing many options through its consumer base,” says Segal. One of those pilots is Creative Galaxy from Angela Santomero, co-founder of Out of the Blue Enterprises, and her team. It’s an animated interactive art and adventure series. Amazon Studios has also ordered Out of the Blue’s Sara Solves It. This math pilot was developed by Out

of the Blue in conjunction with WGBH. In a similar vein, Segal says Henson expects to announce a property at Licensing Show that will be introduced first on an app with toys to follow. This strategy has been very successful for others already. Two notable examples are Angry Birds and Cut the Rope. (For a more in-depth look at licensing in the app market, turn to page 14.)

RELUCTANCE AT RETAIL

Those interviewed note that while many of these series may be a success with viewers, challenges will arise if content owners want to turn these kid-targeted shows into licensed properties. The opposition comes mostly from the mass market retailers. Retailers still want to know that a series will air on a major network. Many buyers are reticent to look beyond that and the subsequent TV advertising format for the product line that has been a successful formula for decades. “Retailers care mostly about what channel your show is on, how often it airs, and what your ratings are,” says Little Airplane’s Selig. For example, he says, “At the moment in the U.S., Disney Junior is very hot in the preschool space.” Little Airplane Productions has two series airing on the network, Small Potatoes and 3rd & Bird. But it is Doc McStuffins, Sofia the First, and Jake and the Never Land Pirates that are garnering the most attention for their ratings and popular product lines. But as consumers change their viewing habits, retailers will have to change their habits as well to capture the next sale.

STORYTELLING STILL KEY

This enormous shift in viewing habits is still in its infancy. But a few things are clear. This

change has the potential for enormous opportunity for content providers, networks, and the new service providers. Both Selig and Santomero explained that content in the five- to 15-minute range is gaining in popularity. This creates new opportunities for creators and producers who cannot finance longform series. It also allows content creators to branch out beyond the standard TV schedule, according to Santomero. This change is starting with kids, most notably preschoolers. Those interviewed agree that parents of young children are the earliest adopters of new technology. “The iPad has an educational halo effect with moms,” says Disney’s Kanter. “They know it helps build hand/eye coordination. It helps kids learn to read. It helps with problem solving as well as identifying colors, shapes, and numbers.” While many kids label what they are doing as “watching TV,” what they are really doing is interacting with content, according to Santomero. “They are just using different means to access the content,” she says. For some it is a television, or it’s a computer, tablet, smartphone—or all of these options. However, regardless of the way in which today’s kids, “watch TV,” in the end, “lovable characters and great storytelling always win,” says Selig. Santomero concurs that children are no different than adults in that they want to watch shows where they feel the characters are truly their friends, where they can delve deeper into the story and into character development. Television everywhere, as well as second-screen viewing, invites these options to unfold naturally inviting the viewer to get lost in a fantasy world, a fresh storyline, or a far away destination.

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TV & Movie Licensing BY

NANCY LOMBARDI

As devices become even more ubiquitous, viewers can tune in anytime, anywhere, and on any device to watch their favorite content. It is opening up a host of opportunities for content providers, the big networks, and studios as well as creating new viewing outlets, such as Netflix, Amazon, Hulu, and others. Here is a brief update of properties expected to launch this summer and into 2015. Look for more announcements in June at Licensing Show. Iconix Brand Group, Inc., announced that Peanuts Worldwide, a joint venture with Charles M. Schulz Creative Associates, will release a Peanuts feature film worldwide in 2015. The film is based on creator Charles Schulz’s comic strip. The Peanuts screenplay has been written and will be produced by Craig Schulz, son of Charles Schulz along with his own son, Bryan Schulz, and writer Cornelius Uliano. Twentieth Century Fox and Blue Sky Studios have been chosen by the Schulz family to distribute, produce, and animate the new Peanuts movie.

Iconix Brand Group/Peanuts Worldwide

An all-new season of Strawberry Shortcake’s Berry Bitty Adventures kicked off in February on The Hub. The series features Strawberry Shortcake and her friends in Berry Bitty City, a tiny world underneath the leaves of a berry patch. The new season kicked off with Strawberry and her friends welcoming a fan-favorite character from the franchise, happygo-lucky animal lover Huckleberry Pie (shown). The series is produced by American Greetings Properties.

American Greetings Properties

Sony Pictures Consumer Products (SPCP) has a full slate of announced films for 2013 and into 2014. The Smurfs 2 will be released on July 31 and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs 2: Revenge of the Leftovers will be released on September 27. Looking ahead into 2014, The Amazing Spider-Man 2 is scheduled for release on May 2, 2014. A major initiative for SPCP is Popeye, which is set for release on September 26, 2014. This animated film is the origin story of Popeye the Sailor. It will tell the story of Popeye’s first sea adventure, how he meets Olive Oyl, and Popeye’s mission to find his father. Along the way he fights his nemesis, the evil Sea Hag, in an epic battle for the fate of the Seven Seas. SPCP is also looking ahead to Bond 24 and Bond 25, Hotel Transylvania 2, The Smurfs 3, and Alf.

Sony Pictures Consumer Products

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Universal Partnerships & Licensing

Universal’s Despicable Me 2 launches this summer featuring the return of former super-villain Gru (voiced by Steve Carell), his girls, the unpredictable minions, and the addition of new characters. Universal Pictures will launch a worldwide marketing campaign to support the film. Digital and social media platforms are expected to play a large role. A worldwide merchandising campaign will launch across all categories with Thinkway Toys as the master toy licensee. Additional licensees include Ceaco, Hasbro, Rubie’s Costume Co., Scholastic, and Cra-Z-Art. Global promotional partners will feature multi-million dollar media support. Jurassic Park 4, scheduled for release on June 13, 2014, is Steven Spielberg’s next installment of the film series. Hasbro is the master toy licensee. Despicable Me’s minions are getting their own movie called Minions, which is scheduled for release December 19, 2014.

Sing It, Laurie!, the new animated musical preschool series co-created by children’s recording artist Laurie Berkner and Little Airplane Productions’ Josh Selig began airing on Sprout on March 25. Starring Berkner’s voice and featuring her original music written for the series, Sing It, Laurie! is about a little girl who uses her music and songs to help her better understand the world. The series also stars Grammy Award-nominated recording artist Lisa Loeb who performs the roles of twin sisters Mellie and Nellie. Partners on the series include independent music label Razor & Tie and Tsumanga Studios, a games developer and publisher.

Little Airplane Productions

Season four of Chuggington launches on Disney Junior in the fourth quarter and new characters are joining the cast. Jackman (shown), is the leader of Chug Patrol and a new mentor to Wilson. Hanzo, leader of the Speed Fleet, is a high-speed bullet train and Koko’s new mentor. Zack is the head of the Chuggineers, the engineering crew of Chuggington. This fall a Chuggington TV special is scheduled to air on Disney Junior. The special, Chug Patrol—Ready to Rescue!, introduces the new characters as the trainees move up to the next level. The special will be supported with tentpole activities including Chug Patrol products from TOMY, Anchor Bay, and additional licensees; a destination website; digital games and rewards; the Chug Patrol Ready to Rescue app; retail promotions; and more.

Ludorum

Namco Bandai Games, 41 Entertainment (41e), and Arad Productions announced that they have appointed several new agents for U.S. licensing and promotional efforts for the upcoming Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures TV series, slated to begin broadcast on Disney XD in the fall. Striker Entertainment will be charged with securing licensees in the key categories of apparel, accessories, footwear, health and beauty aids, oral care, and publishing. The CDM Company will handle all consumer promotional efforts. All categories not specifically handled by Striker and CDM will be handled internally by the 41e team. 41e will manage the overall global licensing and merchandising program and has already granted a number of key licenses. Bandai is the master toy licensee for the TV series.

Namco Bandai/41e/Arad Productions

Rovio Entertainment announced that Despicable Me producer John Cohen has signed on as producer of the upcoming Angry Birds movie. David Maisel, former chairman of Marvel Studios and executive producer of Iron Man, will be executive producer of the feature film, which is expected in theaters in the summer of 2016. Following Marvel Studios’ example, Rovio will produce and finance the movie outside the studio system and retain full creative control. The upcoming movie marks Rovio Entertainment’s first foray into feature films. Since its debut in 2009, the Angry Birds game—and its numerous versions—has been downloaded more than one billion times across many platforms, according to Rovio.

Rovio Entertainment

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TV & Movie Licensing Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) has a host of offerings for 2013 and beyond. WBCP introduces Man of Steel on June 14. The Hobbit: Desolation of Smaug will be released on December 13 and The Hobbit: There and Back Again will be released on December 17, 2014. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey opened in December 2012. Licensees for the Man of Steel include Mattel, LEGO, Rubie’s Costume Co., Noble Collection, Kinetix, Junk Food, Bioworld, Converse, and Hallmark, among many others. The Superman property will also see additional licensee support from Cardinal Industries, Jakks Pacific, PPW Toys, Fisher Price, and Wonder Forge. Licensees for The Hobbit include The Bridge Direct and Vivid Group, HarperCollins Publishers, WETA Workshop, Noble Collection, Games Workshop, Ravensburger, Eaglemoss, Rubie’s, United Cutlery, Pressman Toy, and LEGO.

Warner Bros. Consumer Products

The Hub Network announced a slate of new programming for the 2013–2014 television season that includes four new series, two Hub original family movies, and nine returning series. Two new live-action series are set to debut on the network this summer including the new Hub original series Spooksville, which is based on the tween book series from Christopher Pike, and the UK adventure-fantasy series Wizards vs. Aliens. The new programming lineup will also include two animated series. Sabrina: Secrets of a Teenage Witch stars Ashley Tisdale as the iconic teen character reimagined for a new generation. Also debuting is a series called SheZow, which features 12-yearold Guy, a thrill-seeking dude trying to cultivate a macho image who inherits the superhero persona of his deceased aunt— the female superhero SheZow. Two animated Hub original family movies will air including Stan Lee’s Mighty 7 and Transformers Prime Beast Hunters: Predacons Rising, which wraps up the series’ final chapter revealing the fate of Cybertron.

The Hub Network

Max Steel, an intellectual property owned by Mattel, made its television debut in March on Disney XD in the U.S. Fans will also be able to view episodes online at MaxSteel.com and on DisneyXD.com. Max Steel has been a top property in Latin America for a decade. The animated TV series is co-produced by Mattel and FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME). The 26-episode series will roll out in more than 100 territories globally, including Australia, New Zealand, India, China, Hong Kong, Central and Eastern Europe, South and Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East and Turkey, France, Italy, Spain, and more. FME manages worldwide distribution of the series (excluding the U.S.) as well as global home entertainment rights. A website with interactive gameplay will complement the series. Mobile games will be available for iOS and Android devices. Mattel will launch a line of toys, which will include action figures, ride-on and die-cast vehicles, roleplay items, and remote-controlled products. In North America, the UK, Australia, and New Zealand, Mattel has partnered with VIZ Media, for publishing. VIZ Media will publish a Max Steel original graphic novel series, which is expected to launch in the fall.

FremantleMedia Enterprises

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Netflix, Inc., and DreamWorks Animation SKG, Inc., announced in February that they will create the first-ever Netflix original series for kids. Based on the DreamWorks Animation movie Turbo, premiering in theaters this July, the Netflix series Turbo: F.A.S.T. (Fast Action Stunt Team) debuts exclusively in December 2013 in the U.S. and across the globe in the 40 countries where Netflix offers its service. Turbo: F.A.S.T. is an episodic animated series that picks up where the feature film leaves off. In addition to the original series Turbo: F.A.S.T., new DreamWorks Animation feature titles will be made available for Netflix members in the U.S. to watch beginning with the studio’s 2013 film lineup. DreamWorks Animation’s announced lineup includes the following: Mr. Peabody & Sherman—November 7, 2014; How to Train Your Dragon 2—June 20, 2014; Happy Smekday!—November 26, 2014; The Penguins of Madagascar—March 27, 2015; Trolls (working title)—June 5, 2015; B.O.O.: Bureau of Otherwordly Operations—November 6, 2015; Mumbai Musical (working title)—December 19, 2015; Kung Fu Panda 3— March 18, 2016; and How to Train Your Dragon 3—June 18, 2016

DreamWorks

Turbo

Striker Entertainment is representing a host of movie and TV properties. The sequel to The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire is expected to be in theaters November 22. The licensing program will follow a similar path of the first movie, which is a small, controlled program around the theatrical release. It will then expand for the DVD release. The subsequent releases are expected in November 2014 with Mockingjay Part 1 and November 2015 with Mockingjay Part 2. Ender’s Game is a 25 year-old book series that is expected to be developed into a franchise. The first film release from the 11-book sci-fi series is scheduled for November 2013. Current licensees on board include Hybrid for apparel; Concept One for headwear; Insight Edition for publishing; a character guide from Scholastic; puzzles from Cardinal; and posters from Pyramid. Vampire Academy, based on a six-book series, is expected to be in theaters in early 2014. Licensees have not been signed for this live-action film but the property will be a focus for Striker at this year’s Licensing Show. Additional properties that Striker is currently representing include The Walking Dead, Kick-Ass 2, Need for Speed, and Pacific Rim.

Striker Entertainment

Details of Nickelodeon’s new content slate were announced during February upfronts. Nickelodeon’s animation lineup includes Monsters vs. Aliens, which is inspired by DreamWorks Animation’s 2009 film. This series, which is greenlit for 26 episodes, marks the third partnership between Nickelodeon and DreamWorks Animation. Nickelodeon is introducing three new preschool series including Dora and Friends, which is an original, animated Dora the Explorer spin-off. It stars Latina heroine Dora as a 10-year-old who goes on city adventures with a group of new friends. Dora and Friends features a curriculum that fosters a child’s understanding of Spanish, teamwork, music, and community service. The series has been picked up for 20 episodes and will launch on Nickelodeon in 2014. Wallykazam! is Nickelodeon’s first literacy show for preschoolers that embeds the curriculum into a rich narrative story, with the goal of helping kids develop a love of reading. It is currently in production on 26 episodes that will premiere on Nickelodeon in 2014. Blaze and the Monster Machines is an original CG-animated series that introduces preschoolers to the areas of science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM). This is the first preschool show that features a curriculum dedicated to all areas of STEM, according to Nickelodeon. Viewers will join an 8-year-old boy named AJ and his incredible monster truck Blaze on super-sized adventures. The series, which received a 20episode order, will debut on Nickelodeon in 2014.

Nickelodeon

ROYALTIE$ APRIL 2013

Trends Add Flavor to Food & Beverage Licensing BY JENNIFER LYNCH

t one time parents urged their children to “clean their plate.” Most children have taken that mindset into adulthood, which has lead to expanding waistlines. But times are changing. It’s now an age of portion-controlled servings and a push from CPG companies all the way to the White House to change the relationship consumers have with their food. According to the 2013 Healthy Eating Consumer Trends Report released by Technomic, a consulting and research firm serving the food industry, while most consumers do not follow a specific diet, 81 percent now list health as a priority and try to eat healthy most of the time. So for licensors in the food and beverage category, this means finding unique ways to build on this and other closely aligned trends, while still delivering the iconic flavor profiles consumers trust.

But licensors know better than to approach the category from a “dieting” angle. It’s about finding and creating opportunities via product that fuel a healthy lifestyle. One brand looking to do just that is Kellogg’s Special K. Last year The Joester Loria Group (TJLG) signed on as Kellogg’s licensing agent, and this year the company is working to translate Special K’s iconic brand message—What will you gain when you lose?—into product that builds on the idea. At last month’s International Home + Housewares Show in Chicago, new licensee Acme International presented its new line of Special K portion-controlled kitchen tools, which aim to help consumers manage how much they are consuming over the course of the day. Product is anticipated to launch later this year. “We see the hottest trends around health and wellness,” says Ross Mischer, president of Brand Central. “And this entails more than just low calorie and organic products but a variety of growing categories.” There is opportunity in the space for brands that have made locally sourced product and natural ingredients a priority. “Our client, Beekman 1802, represents this movement, by designing a line of food product based on the concept of seasonal farm living in rural America,” says Mischner. “Its collection of food product includes handcrafted food derived from the farm.” Thus far the line has found success at retailers such as Whole Foods and Williams-Sonoma. Focus Brands is also working to leverage the clean eating-trend in supermarkets for its stable of brands such as Moe’s Southwestern Grill and Auntie Anne’s. Clean eating focuses on foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. “People have become much more receptive to clean

Healthy Opportunities

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Beekman 1802 offers a range of product made with locally sourced and natural ingredients.

and local sourcing,” says Chad Scales, senior vice-president of business development at Focus Brands. “I don’t think that’s going to go away. People want to eat the freshest food from locations as close as possible with the least amount of preservative. And this really sits well with the Moe’s mission.” Central to Moe’s menu are all-natural, cage-free chicken; grass-fed beef; steroid-free, grain-fed pork; and organic tofu as well as its freshly made guacamole, which is licensed by Good Foods Group. Auntie Anne’s is leveraging the trend through a safer approach by adding a honey whole-grain pretzel to its program. “We are also experimenting with ancient grains that are better for you and raw formatted,” says Scales. Seeking out these healthier, “better for you” options has also lead many consumers to expand their palettes with more ethnic and exotic selections, particularly through Asian and Hispanic foods. Hispanic foods in the U.S. is a growing priority for many companies because of the growing Latino population. A few years ago when Scales worked at Unilever, he says he saw firsthand the beginning stages of this trend. “From consumer research we found consumers wanted more adventurous offerings but they wanted it in a form that was safe,” he says. “They understood frozen foods and they understood the P.F. Chang’s brand so Unilever was about to bring them some Asian adventure in a way that was familiar.” And finding opportunities to tap into this trend is not limited to food. TJLG is currently in the development stages of extending the flavor profile of beverage brands such as PepsiCo’s Sobe. “The brand has been a leader in

Ethnic Foods Spice Up Brands

flavor fusion and exotic flavor combinations that has driven the growth of the flavored waters and elixirs category,” says Joanne Loria, executive vice-president and COO of TJLG. “These flavor profiles have enjoyed exceptional consumer response and lend themselves to a number of flavor-driven food extensions.” One area where these healthy and more exotic eating trends can be seen most prominently is the freezer aisle. “Frozen food remains one of the key areas where restaurants and other brands can extend effectively,” says Bill Cross, president of Broad Street Licensing Group. “Consumers like convenience, so what you license at retail has to be convenient. There’s been a lot of talk about two- to three-step prep. If consumers can’t pop it in the microwave or put it together quickly they won’t eat it.” Welch’s is capitalizing on the trend of healthy and quick frozen offerings with its lines of frozen fruit and make-at-home smoothies, which are made with low-fat Greek yogurt and Welch’s frozen fruit. “Frozen vegetables and fruits used to be perceived for use only when you’re out of fresh stuff,” says Libby Powell, vice-president of brand management at The Licensing Company. “But new technological innovations have allowed us to package our high-quality fruit and flash freeze it at the peak of freshness.” The smoothies also fit the quick-to-assemble process, by making the kits blender-ready. Additionally, unlike licensing shelf-stable offerings that can require heavy perservatives to replicate the specific flavor profile, the freezer aisle invites healthy alternatives. “The freezing process locks in the quality,” says Focus Brands’

Scales. “And because the buyers of big chains— Walmart, Target, Safeway, etc.—see consumers clamoring for real food credentials in the freezer section, there is real opportunity for brands that have them to move in.”

Freezing off the Competition

Tabletops Unlimited will offer a line of casual dinnerware, serveware, prepware, glassware, cookie jars, and canisters featuring current and vintage Kellogg’s characters. Coca-Cola partnered with designer Thomas Meyerhoffer to modernize its classic Coca-Cola drinkware.

Valen Group client Fazoli’s used its Italian brand equities to develop refrigerated entrees that complement those found in the restaurant, says Janna Markle, vice-president of licensing, The Valen Group. Available in six varieties, the entrees are microwave-ready in about four minutes. Snacking is another space for growth that does not show signs of slowing. This area also easily taps into the convenience and portioncontrolled packaging consumers crave, offering opportunity for brand building and innovation. Diamond Foods’ PopSecret, which recently signed Global Icons as its exclusive licensing agency earlier this year, is looking to capitalize on the popularity of air-popped, low-calorie snacks, says Bill McClinton, senior vice-president of Global Icons. “With Pop Secret, the name lends itself to more than just popcorn,

even though that’s currently all they make,” he says. “We’re looking to leverage the ‘pop’ aspect of the brand in order to compete with the Pop Chips and other air-popped savory and salty snacks out there.” To give an idea of just how powerful the snack space is projected to become, look no further than Kraft, Inc. It saw enough opportunity in the global segment to spin off its slower growing North American grocery business, Kraft Foods Group, last year and restructure the company under the renamed Mondelez International, which focuses solely on its snack brands. But a healthy strategy for food and beverage brands doesn’t have to rely on foodto-food licensing alone. For brands that have a rich heritage, expanding beyond food and beverage can offer even greater opportunities to engage consumers. Brands such as Kellogg’s, PepsiCo’s Mountain Dew, and CocaCola are able to access their exclusive archival art to leverage its message in other categories. “Fashion and accessories represent 60 percent of its licensing business,” says Kate Dwyer, group director of worldwide licensing, The Coca-Cola Company. “That’s clearly been a huge growth engine for us.” And with the 75th anniversary of Dairy Queen approaching in 2015, Global Icons is also looking for unique ways to celebrate the brand in non-food categories. But no matter what route licensors chose to leverage their food and beverage brands, locking the flavor and brand qualities consumers crave into their strategy will always be essential ingredients for success.

Growing Beyond Grocery

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FOOD AND BEVERAGE LICENSING BY JENNIFER LYNCH

Brands under the food and beverage banner with a strong heritage can readily extend beyond in-food licensing. Additionally those that capitalize on trends such as health and wellness and exotic flavor profiles will find opportunities for growth in this space. Below is a sampling of the latest licensed products.

THE VALEN GROUP

Fazoli’s Restaurants and The Valen Group have teamed up for a range of refrigerated, Italian-inspired entrees and sides now available at grocery chains including Schnuck’s, Shop ‘n Save, Dierbergs, A & P, Marsh Foods, and Meijer. The Valen Group assisted Fazoli’s Restaurants in identifying a manufacturing partner and negotiated a license agreement with Retail Innovations to market branded Italian entrees and sides in retail grocery. The line will be rolled out to other national retailers in the next few months. The products can be found in the refrigerated meat section of the grocery store.

GLOBAL ICONS

Global Icons has signed a representation agreement with American Dairy Queen Corporation, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. Under the agreement, Global Icons will support Dairy Queen’s brand initiatives by strategically broadening its name through licensing partnerships that create new consumer engagement and increased market exposure. Leveraging the DQ system’s signature treats, such as the Blizzard Flavor Treat, Peanut Buster Parfait, and Dilly Bar, Global Icons will extend the DQ marks into housewares, kitchen electrics and gadgets, gift and novelty items, and toys and games, among others. The Orange Julius smoothie brand will also be part of the licensing endeavors led by the agency.

THANASI FOODS

Thanasi Foods has teamed with BIGS to create Old Bay Catch of the Day Sunflower Seeds, using Old Bay’s distinctive blend of 18 herbs and spices. The BIGS-Old Bay Catch of the Day Sunflower Seeds are now available in the U.S. in 5.35-ounce resealable bags and 0.07-ounce trial packs. The deal was brokered by Old Bay’s licensing agent Beanstalk.

MONDELEZ

Cinnabon, Inc., has licensed the Oreo brand from Mondelez International to introduce the Oreo Mint Chillatta. The beverage, which blends sweet cream, Oreo cookies, mint flavoring, and chocolate sauce, topped with whipped cream and crumbled Oreo cookie pieces, will be available for a limited time only at participating Cinnabon bakeries.

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KELLOGG’S

The Joester Loria Group brokered a new licensing deal on behalf of Kellogg’s for a new line of Rice Krispies Treats Shaperz with Evriholder Products. Consumers can now make 3-D shapes out of their favorite Rice Krispies treats. The everyday line includes a monster truck and cupcake, while the holiday-themed molds include a Christmas tree, snowman, and Easter-themed bunny and egg. Each includes the Rice Krispies Treats recipe on the back of the package. All Shaperz are BPA free and top rack dishwasher safe.

SEATTLE’S BEST COFFEE

Seattle’s Best Coffee, part of Starbucks Corporation, and specialty food manufacturer Inventure Foods, Inc., are teaming up to launch Seattle’s Best Coffee Frozen Coffee Blends this spring. Each Seattle’s Best Coffee Frozen Coffee Blends will be sold in eight-ounce, stand-up vertical packaging found in the freezer section of grocery stores and mass retailers.

COCA-COLA COMPANY

Japanese designer NIGO unveiled a new line of menswear inspired by vintage Coca-Cola vendor wear from the early 20th century. The collection launched at one of Japan’s most iconic boutiques, Beams, under his new label, Human Made, which is the successor to his Ape collection. Items in the collection include a shop coat (pictured), jacket, a work shirt, cap, shorts, a sweatshirt, and T-shirts. The line features brushed and weathered treatments and stitching true to the 1900s era. Icons such as the Coca-Cola logo from the 1910s will be reissued on items such as the shop coat.

MARVEL ENTERTAINMENT

Funky Monkey Snacks has teamed with Marvel Entertainment for a new line of kid-friendly freeze-dried 100 real fruit snacks. The lineup, now available, features five mainstream fruit varieties packaged in large, resealable bags. Themed after some of Marvel’s most popular and renowned superhero franchises, products include Ultimate Strawberries featuring Spider-Man, Incredible Pineapples featuring the Hulk, Mighty Bananas featuring Thor, Legendary Cinnamon Apples featuring Captain America, and Invincible Strawberry Bananas featuring Iron Man.

SODASTREAM

SodaStream signed an agreement to launch co-branded products with Ocean Spray, which will include regular and diet versions of Ocean Spray Cranberry, Cranberry-Grape, and Cranberry-Raspberry. The new products are expected to be available during the second half of this year in the U.S. and Canada.

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LIMA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEE

BERNARD LEIFER, PRESIDENT, CEO, SG COMPANIES

The board of directors of the International Licensing Industry Merchandisers’ Association (LIMA) has selected Bernard Leifer, president and CEO of The SG Companies, for induction into the LIMA Licensing Industry Hall of Fame. The induction will take place at the annual LIMA Awards Ceremony on June 18, 2013, during Licensing Show in Las Vegas. During his career, Leifer has utilized licensing as a driving force and brandbuilding tool for business expansion and success. In 1953, The SG Companies (formerly S. Goldberg) was the first to acquire a license in the footwear category. Today there are more than 50 licenses in the company’s current portfolio. In 2006, he added apparel through the formation of the SGI Apparel Group. He has given more than 20 years of service to LIMA. He served on the LIMA board of directors for two terms, as well as serving on the executive committee and as LIMA chairman from 2008 to 2010. In addition, Leifer serves as chairman of the American Apparel & Footwear Association. Leifer also supports many causes including the Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation, The Hole in the Wall Gang, Two Ten Foundation, and Habitat for Humanity. He also serves on the board of governors of Hackensack University Medical Center.

THE VALEN GROUP

SEAN HEITKEMPER, DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

The Valen Group announced that Sean Heitkemper has joined the firm as director of business development. He brings a wealth of experience in identifying and developing new client relationships. His background includes more than 15 years winning new client relationships for marketing, branding, and licensing agencies across numerous consumer products companies.

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DHX MEDIA & CPLG

PETER BYRNE, CEO, CPLG

DHX Media announced the appointment of Peter Byrne as CEO of its wholly owned licensing company Copyright Promotions Licensing Group (CPLG). CPLG manages the licensing and merchandising rights for entertainment, sports, and consumer goods brands, including clients such as Twentieth Century Fox, Activision, DreamWorks Animation, Saban Brands, and St Andrews Links. Byrne joins CPLG with a wealth of industry experience in worldwide consumer products. He held senior roles at HIT Entertainment and Twentieth Century Fox. Most recently Byrne ran his own global licensing consultancy working with clients such as Guinness World Records, Aardman Animations, and Jazeera Children’s Channel.

FREMANTLEMEDIA

KEITH HINDLE, CEO, DIGITAL & BRANDED ENTERTAINMENT

FremantleMedia announced the appointment of Keith Hindle as CEO of its newly created Digital & Branded Entertainment division. In his new role, Hindle, who was formerly CEO, Americas at FremantleMedia’s Enterprises arm, will steer FremantleMedia’s growing multiplatform business worldwide with functional responsibility for all digital, sponsorship, social media, and YouTube activity. This includes the company’s original content channels along with apps, secondscreen extensions, and online gaming. Hindle will sit on the operating boards of FremantleMedia’s gaming company Ludia and its transmedia company @radical.media.

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COPCORP

MICHELLE ZAMORA, LICENSING MANAGER

CopCorp announced that Michelle Zamora has been promoted to licensing manager. In her new role, Zamora assumes added responsibilities for managing domestic and international clients while facilitating constructive communications between licensees and licensors. In addition to these responsibilities, Zamora continues to play a key role in ensuring licensee adherence to quality, copyright, and style guide standards throughout the approval process from concept submissions to final production.

TWENTIETH CENTURY FOX CONSUMER PRODUCTS

ROSALIND NOWICKI, EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT, GLOBAL SALES AND RETAIL

Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products announced the appointment of Rosalind Nowicki as executive vicepresident, global sales and retail. In this role, Nowicki will oversee licensing sales and major retail programs on a global scale for Fox’s diverse film and television portfolio, which includes Ice Age, Rio, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Avatar, Sons of Anarchy, The Simpsons, Family Guy, and Fox Sports. Nowicki will manage the global sales and retail divisions as well as the London office. Nowicki joins Fox Consumer Products from 4Kids Entertainment where she was executive vice-president of global marketing and licensing. Prior to 4Kids, Nowicki held posts at Universal Studios, Guess?, and The Walt Disney Company.

ROYALTIE$ APRIL 2013

BEANSTALK

MARC SCHNEIDER, CFO

Beanstalk announced the appointment of Marc Schneider as CFO. He will be responsible for all aspects of Beanstalk’s global finance and operations including overseeing management of the agency’s financial systems and platforms. Schneider will also be the primary liaison to the corporate financial team of Omnicom Group, Beanstalk’s parent company. Schneider will work directly with Michael Stone, Beanstalk’s CEO, and other leaders at Beanstalk to facilitate short-term and long-range strategic planning activities across the company to grow Beanstalk in the U.S. and internationally. Previous posts include CBS, Sesame Workshop, and HIT Entertainment. Most recently, he managed his own consulting practice, Linchpin Consulting Group, providing business development, financial, and management services to diverse companies.

SMC ENTERTAINMENT GROUP

LISA STREFF, EXECUTIVE VICE-PRESIDENT, CONSUMER PRODUCTS

SMC Entertainment Group has promoted Lisa Streff to executive vice-president of consumer products. Streff, who joined the company in 2011, will be responsible for overseeing all divisions of the company, managing TV and home entertainment, all licensing sales and retail development, brand management and marketing, social media, and creative services. She will also spearhead the development of all brand strategies for The Jungle Book, Dance Academy, H20 Just Add Water, and two additional soon-to-be announced properties.

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MAY 6–8

PlayCon

toyassociation.org

Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort & Spa

19–21

SURTEX

surtex.com

Jacob Javits Convention Center

7–9 7–9

19–21 21–23

30–6/1

JUNE

11–13

16–19 18–20

JULY 3–5

14–17 18–21

AUGUST 19–21

All Baby & Child Spring Educational Conference

National Hardware Show

National Stationery Show Sweets & Snacks Expo

OCTOBER 1–3

10–13

15–17 15–18

nationalhardwareshow.com

nationalstationeryshow.com

South Point Hotel, Casino, & Spa

Las Vegas

Jacob Javits Convention Center

New York City

Las Vegas Convention Center

Las Vegas

New York City

sweetsandsnacks.com

McCormick Place

ASTRA Marketplace

e3expo.com

astramarketplace.org

Los Angeles Convention Center

Los Angeles

Licensing Japan

licensing-japan.jp

Tokyo Big Sight

Tokyo

MAGIC Marketplace

magiconline.com

Las Vegas Convention Center

Las Vegas

TIME TO PLAY HOLIDAY SHOWCASE

TIMETOPLAYMAG.COM

METROPOLITAN PAVILION

NEW YORK CITY

TIA Fall Toy Preview

toyassociation.org

Dallas Market Center

Dallas

BookExpo America

Electronic Entertainment Expo (E3) Licensing International Expo

Home & Gift Show

Comic-Con International

SEPTEMBER 26

allbabyandchildsec.com

Scottsdale

New York Comic Con

Brand Licensing Europe ABC Kids Expo

ROYALTIE$ APRIL 2013

bookexpoamerica.com

licensingexpo.com

homeandgift.co.uk comic-con.org

newyorkcomiccon.com

brandlicensing.eu theabcshow.com

Jacob Javits Convention Center

Nashville Convention Center

Mandalay Bay Convention Center

Harrogate International Centre San Diego Convention Center

Jacob Javits Convention Center

Olympia

Las Vegas Convention Center

Chicago

New York City

Nashville

Las Vegas

North Yorkshire San Diego

New York City London

Las Vegas

.com

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P OSTED

BELOW IS A LOOK AT HOW

GENZ’S TECH HABITS Wikia, a media company and home to many of the Web’s largest pop culture communities, released findings from a recent study conducted among its 1,200 U.S. Wikia users age 13–18 in association with Ipsos MediaCT. GenZ: The Limitless Generation Study explored the relationship teens have with technology. GenZers represent 8.3 percent of the total U.S. population according to the 2010 Census. Highlights of the survey include: • All (100 percent) of the GenZ survey respondents are connected for one-plus hours per day, but about half (46 percent) are connected 10-plus hours per day.

• One in four are actively connected (checking email, messages, etc.) within five minutes of waking up in the morning, while nearly 73 percent are connected in an hour or less of waking up. • Nine in 10 of these GenZers (93 percent) say they visit YouTube at least once a week; 54 percent visit multiple times per day; 65 percent say they visit Facebook weekly; and 38 percent visit multiple times per day. Other social media services visited on a weekly basis include Twitter (26 percent), Google+ (26 percent), and Instagram (17 percent).

• GenZ’s influence on their friends and family purchasing decisions vary by category. When it comes to entertainment, they say they influence their parents most for movies and friends most for video games. The study reported that 16 percent say they influence their parents “a lot” when it comes to movies. Meanwhile, 38 percent say they influence their friends “a lot” when it comes to video games.

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NANCY LOMBARDI

A MERICANS ARE

USING TECHNOLOGY.

CONTENT-VIEWING TRENDS

Here is a look at content-viewing trends on mobile devices from QuickPlay’s most recent U.S. survey of mobile subscribers. QuickPlay provides back-end services for content providers that deliver mobile TV.

• 81 percent of users indicate that they watch more mobile TV and/or video on their mobile phone or tablet than a year ago. • 43 percent of current users consume mobile TV and video at least once per week with 23 percent of users reporting daily usage.

• Adoption of mobile TV and/or video services continues to accelerate with 72 percent of current users reporting that they have been using mobile TV and/or video services for less than one year. • 75 percent of tablet owners who have viewed full-length content have a WiFi-only device, which is how most users indicated that they connect to get their video or TV content.

• 63 percent of current users of mobile TV and/or video services use mobile phones and 33 percent use tablets as their primary device for watching content. • Users did express some preference for mobile viewing of episodic television. TV episodes were cited as their most frequently watched programming (38 percent), followed by sports at 28 percent, and news at 19 percent.

• 74 percent of current users are interested in viewing mobile TV and/or video channels that integrate social media such as Facebook or Twitter.

See what’s on the agenda for June

June 2013

• Licensing Show coverage • Outdoor Licensing and Sporting Goods feature • E3 and Video Games features * Distribution: Licensing Show

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Jennifer Coleman jcoleman@4kmedia.com • 212-590-2100

www.yugioh.com

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