companies
Games and girls bring the green in Hasbro’s first quarter
COMPANIES / CONSUMER PRODUCTSWith competing toymaker Mattel off to a solid start in 2013, Rhode Island-based Hasbro saw its revenues rise 2% in its first quarter to US$663.7 million from US648.9 million a year ago. While sales among boy-targeting products dropped 20%, girls toys and a revamped games category were up 23% and 26%, respectively.
LIMA Licensing Award nominees announced
COMPANIES / CONSUMER PRODUCTSThe nominees for the 2013 LIMA International Licensing Excellence have been released in advance of the June’s Licensing Expo in Las Vegas. Kid-related nominees include Marvel’s Avengers, Activision’s Skylanders and Mattel’s Monster High, which are competing for Overall Best Licensed Program of the Year.
New venture aims to take companies from digital world to toy land
COMPANIES / CONSUMER PRODUCTS / INTERACTIVEAs gaming properties like Angry Birds continue their migration to the toy aisles, consultancy groups AT New Media and Virtual World Licensing have launched a new venture designed to offer services to gaming, social and virtual brands that are looking to enter the world of toy licensing.
Disney unveils its kids 2013-14 upfront
BROADCASTING / COMPANIES / TVAt a star-studded presentation held in New York this evening, featuring performances by Bridgit Mendler (star of Good Luck Charlie) and recording artist Ross Lynch – and an impromptu appearance by Crash from Crash & Bernstein (pictured with Gary Marsh) – the House of Mouse unveiled its 2013-14 programming plans for Disney Channel, Disney XD, Disney Junior and Radio Disney.
Rastamouse looks to crowdfunding in global quest
COMPANIES / TVFollowing the recent establishment of Three Stones Media’s Enterprise Investment Scheme (EIS) fund, the company’s CBeebies series Rastamouse will be featured on UK-based equity fundraising platform FundTheGap.
Toca Boca acquires zinc Roe and its Tickle Tap apps
COMPANIES / INTERACTIVE / PEOPLE MOVESChildren’s app developer Toca Boca, the company behind open-ended play apps like Toca Tailor, is growing with the acquisition of Toronto-based zinc Roe and its Tickle Tap app series. The name of the 10-person company will change from zinc Roe to Sago Sago.
BinWeevils gets musical with first album release
COMPANIES / CONSUMER PRODUCTS / INTERACTIVE / NEWSUK-based kids social media platform BinWeevils.com has inked a partnership with Sony Music that will result in the release of the debut album under the brand name on April 1st.
Jakks Pacific posts Q4 loss, cites tablet-driven playtime as factor
COMPANIES / CONSUMER PRODUCTSThe financial struggle continues for Malibu, California-based toyco Jakks Pacific. The company reported that net sales for the fourth quarter of 2012 came in at US$133.5 million, compared to US$141.1 million during the same period in 2011. The reported net loss for the fourth quarter was US$119.5 million.
Kidz Bop live audition tour heads to Six Flags
COMPANIES / CONSUMER PRODUCTS / INTERACTIVEThe world’s largest regional theme park company, Six Flags Entertainment, has joined forces with popular US kids music brand Kidz Bop to kick off a live audition tour to determine the next Kidz Bop star.
The Green Squad heads to Germany
BROADCASTER / COMPANIES / TVParis, France-based prodco Alphanim has appointed Germany’s Lizenzwerft GmbH to rep its animated eco-adventure kids series The Green Squad, which will also make its German TV debut on KI.KA on March 20, 2012.
The definitive kids ent resource.-
McDonald’s, General Mills among Despicable Me 2 marketing minions -
Two-year-old Disney Junior UK brings Appisodes to two-year-olds -
Disney and Lucasfilm announce new Star Wars animated series -
eOne takes all rights to YouTube animated hit Simon’s Cat -
Microsoft unveils its next-generation console -
Children’s Museums: Not just for kids
Photos
MIPCOM 2012 - Toon Goggles MD Stephen Hodge offers insights into new digital funding