Contact the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com. New Media Frontiers At a London event, Viacom CEO Bob Bakish shared that the company is looking at launching a branded AVOD portal that will draw in viewers by providing them with free digital content. Viacom will not, however, "follow Disney down the path of developing a Netflix-type streaming service because of the massive … [Read more...] about Roundup: M&A & Partnerships
Fanatics
NCAA Tournament Scores $20–35 Million in Licensed Retail Sales
According to TLL's Annual Licensing Business Survey, collegiate properties generated $3.6 billion in licensed retail sales in the U.S./Canada in 2017. That marks a 2% increase from 2016, and includes all colleges, universities, and their respective sports teams. More specifically, TLL estimates that retail sales of collegiate properties tied to the NCAA Tournament alone … [Read more...] about NCAA Tournament Scores $20–35 Million in Licensed Retail Sales
Sports-based Brands & Goods Score a Goal
By: Karina Masolova, karina@plainlanguagemedia.com Retail sales of sports-based licensed merchandise grew 3.5% worldwide in 2016—and in the U.S./Canada, growth exceeded 4% to reach $15.4 billion in licensed retail sales. Soccer is one of the fastest-growing segments, growing over 10% year-over-year in retail sales. Fanatics secures a $1 billion investment from Japanese … [Read more...] about Sports-based Brands & Goods Score a Goal
To Join, or Not to Join: Amazon’s Retail Takeover
While some brands are embracing the Amazon marketplace, others are waging war against the ecommerce giant. Brands must make a choice: Deal with the black and/or grey markets, or else become part of the white market. Online/ecommerce grew in distribution channel share by three-tenths of a percentage point last year to reach 11.7% of all licensed sales in the U.S./Canada—or … [Read more...] about To Join, or Not to Join: Amazon’s Retail Takeover
Deals in Short
As always, see the complete list of deals from this last week here. In Japan, a Betty Boop-branded diner opens in Japan through a deal brokered with Food Business Consultant Inc. (FBC) by licensor King Features’ Japanese agent, Copyrights Asia. The location plans to feature merch and special holiday events in the '50s-esque eatery. WildBrain is appointed as the exclusive … [Read more...] about Deals in Short
Mergers & Acquisitions
Toys 'R' Us sells the FAO Schwarz brand to California-based toy manufacturer and distributor ThreeSixty Group. ThreeSixty will develop FAO Schwarz-branded toys and retail experiences, to launch next fall. Target partners with Alibaba to sell goods in China via the Tmall ecommerce marketplace. Viacom's Board of Directors forms a Special Committee of Independent Directors to … [Read more...] about Mergers & Acquisitions
Who’s News
Andrew Cooper is the new President of Sequential Brands Group.HMD global Oy appoints Pekka Rantala CMO. Following NBCUniversal’s acquisition of DreamWorks Animation, Universal Filmed Entertainment Group restructures its management team. Vince Klaseus leads the combined Universal and DreamWorks Animation games, digital and consumer products divisions. Margie Cohn helms the … [Read more...] about Who’s News
Who’s News
Neil Cole steps down as Chairman & CEO of Iconix Brand Group and is succeeded by board member Peter Cuneo on an interim basis. Cole is staying on with Iconix as a special advisor through Sept. 30. Andy Comer is named VP Creative Services for Tommy Bahama and will develop brand strategies across all channels including licensing, wholesale, retail, e-commerce and … [Read more...] about Who’s News
A Niche of Their Own: Touch by Alyssa Milano Is Catalyst For Fast-Growing Off-field Licensed Women’s Sportswear
Women represent the most dynamic seg- ment of the off-field sports apparel market. Women make up nearly half of all self-identified MLB fans and 44% of NFL TV viewers. More women watch the Super Bowl than the Oscars. Not surprisingly, women’s interest in sports is translating into growing sales of licensed women’s sports apparel. Today: Women are the single fastest growing … [Read more...] about A Niche of Their Own: Touch by Alyssa Milano Is Catalyst For Fast-Growing Off-field Licensed Women’s Sportswear
Hornets’ Slam Dunk
With the NBA team’s return to its original Hornets name—and return to Charlotte following a 12 year run as the New Orleans Bobcats—retail sales of licensed merchandise for the team are up 77% so far this year over last, the team’s Peter Guelli tells The New York Times. At Fanatics, which manages most league and team website merchandise sales, Hornets merchandise is up fivefold … [Read more...] about Hornets’ Slam Dunk