Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. American Greetings Entertainment (AGE) rebrands as Cloudco Entertainment following a recent spinoff by the former division of American Greetings into its own stand-alone company. Cloudco now owns kids brands including Care Bears, Holly Hobbie, Madballs, Buddy Thunderstruck, and Tinpo. Long-time owners the Weiss family retains … [Read more...] about Content Kings: Cloudco, Streaming & Services
American Greetings
Internet Changes Dynamics of Kids’ TV
By Marcy Magiera Earlier this month, as much of the television industry was preparing to travel to France for market MIPCOM and its children's programming section, MIPJunior, Netflix announced that it will add seven new original series for older kids to its streaming service beginning this December. The slate, which includes shows based on established brands including LEGO and … [Read more...] about Internet Changes Dynamics of Kids’ TV
Build-A-Bear Lines Up Licensees
Build-A-Bear Workshop’s 400 stores will host a lineup of visiting entertainment/characters licenses well into next year. In residence now, ahead of the July 10 theatrical release of Minions, from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, are Kevin, Bob, and Stuart. In August come four dolls from MGA Entertainment’s Lalaloopsy. Entertainment One’s Peppa Pig will be in … [Read more...] about Build-A-Bear Lines Up Licensees
Who’s News
Ron Garfield is leaving Sony Pictures Television to become the executive vice president and general manager of FremantleMedia North America’s new Buzzr TV digital network, which is scheduled to launch in 17 markets this summer.Anna Kislevitz is appointed Senior Manager Licensing and Merchandising for 41 Entertainment where she will work with key brands like Classic PAC-Man plus … [Read more...] about Who’s News
AG Sells Strawberry Shortcake for $105 Million
American Greetings has finally found a buyer for Strawberry Shortcake. Iconix Brand Group has reportedly agreed to acquire the iconic preschool brand for a cool $105 million. AG launched Strawberry Shortcake back in 1969 and has owned it ever since, developing the property into a global brand with over 350 licensees. According to TLL's Global Market for Licensed Preschool … [Read more...] about AG Sells Strawberry Shortcake for $105 Million
More Preschool Properties Originating Outside U.S.
The $10.6 billion worldwide preschool sector was one of the first within entertainment/character licensing in which properties originating outside the U.S. became part of global culture (see pie chart, below), according to The Licensing Letter’s just-published all-new 2nd edition of “The Global Market for Licensed Preschool Properties.” Because most preschoolers can’t read, … [Read more...] about More Preschool Properties Originating Outside U.S.
Variations on a Retail Theme
Five years ago, Toys 'R' Us opened 350 holiday express pop-up stores during the fourth quarter. The program was vastly scaled back the following year and has pretty much disappeared. And while TRU wasn’t the first to implement a pop-up concept, its efforts in 2009 gave rise to a wide array of much smaller—often single-unit pop-ups—that have been as much about promotion as … [Read more...] about Variations on a Retail Theme