By Glenn Demby 'Tis the season for corporate earnings reports. Highlights from major entertainment licensors Disney, DreamWorks and Time Warner: Hot: Disney's consumer products division which grew 6% to $954 million Not Hot: Spider-Man which was actually down for the quarter Hot: The Avengers, Frozen and Star Wars which drove growth in Disney consumer products Not … [Read more...] about What’s Hot & What’s Not in 2015 Licensed Entertainment Property Sales
Disney
Licensed Properties Steer Touring Shows
Experiential licensing is not limited to theme parks. Touring exhibitions and other location-based attractions can provide both revenue and ongoing exposure to build or maintain relationships with fans. For example, Feld Entertainment, producer of Disney on Ice, reportedly expects to sell more than three million tickets for the full run of its Frozen version of the ice show, … [Read more...] about Licensed Properties Steer Touring Shows
Licensing to Theme Parks Builds Revenue & Brand Exposure
One of the editors of The Licensing Letter was recently at a party on the Universal Studios backlot when some fellow guests began, by their own admission, to "geek out" over the distant spires of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is under construction for a planned opening next year. The attraction, based on the J.K. Rowling books and Warner Bros. movies, is expected … [Read more...] about Licensing to Theme Parks Builds Revenue & Brand Exposure
Who’s News
Phil Knight steps down as Chairman of Nike after 40+ years and recommends current CEO Mark Parker as his successor. The Walt Disney Company taps company veteran Christine M. McCarthy to replace Jay Rasulo as chief financial controller and names Kevin Mayer chief strategy officer. Lucas Church, chairman of Endemol Shine U.K. and the Endemol Shine Group commercial board is … [Read more...] about Who’s News
Disney Reorg Aims to Shore up Video Games
Video games may be the closest thing mighty Disney has to an Achilles’ heel. The merger between Disney Interactive and Disney Consumer Products aims to fix that. The move is hardly unexpected. For years, DCP, which is supposed to focus on “traditional” games, has developed digital products like app-based story books, mobile learning apps like Imagicademy, toys to life like … [Read more...] about Disney Reorg Aims to Shore up Video Games
Marvel Avengers’ Mission: To Get Kids Moving
Walt Disney Consumer Products and toy licensee Hasbro will appeal to families interested in both active play and tech toys with Playmation, a system of toys and wearable devices that uses motion sensors and wireless technology to encourage kids to run around while controlling smart action figure toys from wriststrapped gear. Playmation’s Marvel Avengers will hit stores in … [Read more...] about Marvel Avengers’ Mission: To Get Kids Moving
Who’s News
Leslie Ferraro, a 16-year Disney veteran most recently as EVP of Walt Disney Parks and Resorts, replaces Bob Chapek (current chairman of Parks and Resorts) as president of Disney Consumer Products where she will oversee global operations.Jim Gabel, president of Wolverine’s Performance Group, takes over day-to-day control of the Merrell brand after brand president Gene McCarthy … [Read more...] about Who’s News
Frozen Selling 10 Times Faster Than Last Year
If you thought Frozen was a one-year wonder, forget it. Sales of Frozen licensed merchandise for the year are up 10 times above where they were last year at this time, according to Disney officials during a press conference. Earned licensing revenues for Frozen are up 23% over last year. Of course, the big Frozen surge came at the end of 2014. Even so, the Walt Disney Company … [Read more...] about Frozen Selling 10 Times Faster Than Last Year
Avengers Dress Up Hot Topic
Mall retailer Hot Topic is going all out Avengers as the exclusive merchant for a new fashion line tied to Disney/Marvel’s Avengers: Age of Ultron. A Captain America halter dress, a Thor sailor dress, a Stark Industries bomber jacket, and more from Her Universe and Disney Consumer Products will be available beginning May 12. … [Read more...] about Avengers Dress Up Hot Topic
Fancy Nancy Going From Page to Screen
Disney Junior cut a deal with Harper Collins Children’s Books for rights to a Fancy Nancy animated telepic and series adaptation, targeted to premiere in 2017. The deal also calls for a host of merchandising tie-ins to be handled by Disney Consumer Products, according to Variety. Fancy Nancy is a hugely popular series of children’s books about a little girl who craves the … [Read more...] about Fancy Nancy Going From Page to Screen