Subject:
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LEGO® Group Builds Licensed Portfolio Success with New Deals
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lugnet.mediawatch
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Thu, 27 Oct 2005 01:46:25 GMT
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http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20051026005472&newsLang=en
LEGO® Group Builds Licensed Portfolio Success with New Deals; Global
Construction Toy Category Leader Secures Worldwide Licensing Rights to Leading
Properties
ENFIELD, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 26, 2005--The LEGO Group, manufacturer of
creative play materials for children, today announces procurement of exclusive
worldwide construction toy rights for the entire portfolio of children’s
entertainment powerhouse Nickelodeon, as well as partnership with Warner Bros.
Consumer Products on DC Comics’ classic Batman™ brand.
Nickelodeon
An agreement with Nickelodeon grants master construction toy rights to the
entire catalog of Nickelodeon properties, including Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and
Nickelodeon Movies.
The first two Nick properties coming to life in brick form are “SpongeBob
SquarePants” and the newest network hit, “Avatar: The Last Airbender,” both
rated in the network’s top 10 for boys ages 6-11, according to A.C. Nielsen.
Both lines will be available in August 2006.
Three constructible LEGO® SpongeBob SquarePants playsets feature iconic
character minifigures, role play functionality and gadgets to reflect the
property’s wacky fun and silly pranks in iconic settings like Bikini Bottom and
the Krusty Krab.
LEGO Avatar: The Last Airbender offers two hero models with collectible
minifigures and role play action to recreate popular environs of the animated
series. Planned marketing support includes TV, Web content, LEGO Club, model
tour, co-promotions and retail feature.
“Nickelodeon is thrilled to partner with the LEGO Group across our full list of
properties,” says Sherice Torres, vice president, hard goods - Nickelodeon &
Viacom Consumer Products. “LEGO Group knows how to dazzle kids with imaginative
construction toys and the combined appeal of the Nickelodeon and LEGO brands is
a stamp of approval for kids and parents alike.”
Batman™
Through an agreement with Warner Bros. Consumer Products, LEGO Group acquires
construction toy license for the classic Batman brand, inspired by the pages of
DC Comics’ comic books; Warner Bros. Animation’s hit television series, The
Batman; Warner Bros. Pictures’ blockbuster feature film, Batman Begins, which
debuted in theaters this past summer and any related theatrical releases or
television programs that are produced during the period of this deal.
Beginning in April 2006, LEGO Group will introduce six Batman products featuring
constructible play sets with strong vehicle focus, cool functionality, gadgets
and a library of collectible mini-figures.
The LEGO Batman product line replicates the collectible craze the company
created around its best-selling LEGO Harry Potter(TM) series - where sets are
designed to be combined to further the storyline and role play opportunities.
“Our partnership with the LEGO brand on Harry Potter has been an extremely
successful one and we are excited about building our relationship through
Batman,” said Karen McTier, Executive Vice President of Domestic Licensing,
Global Toys, Publishing and Themed Entertainment for Warner Bros. Consumer
Products. “LEGO Group brings a wealth of creativity and quality to the products
they produce and are uniquely positioned to meet the high level of expectations
we have for Batman, one of our marquis brands.”
LEGO Batman will be supported with TV, print and online ads, Web content, LEGO
Club, targeted events, a model tour and retail promotions.
Continuing Properties
The first licensed property to join the LEGO family in 1999, LEGO Star Wars(TM)
has become one of the best-selling lines in global company history, and
continues in 2006 with seven new playsets representing vehicles from the entire
saga, including the B-Wing Fighter(TM) and Jabba the Hutt(TM)’s Sail Barge.
Ferrari continues to speed off shelves under the LEGO Racers brand of
build-and-race vehicles with three new sets in 2006 featuring authentic Ferrari
styling and racing marks. Award-winning best-seller LEGO DUPLO(R) Thomas &
Friends and thematically well-aligned LEGO DUPLO Bob the Builder welcome new
characters and building opportunities to their LEGO worlds.
“Building upon the success we have had over the years, and particularly in 2005
with Star Wars, we’re thrilled to extend and compliment our existing stable of
top licenses with three more red-hot properties to appeal to children of all
ages,” says Jill Wilfert, vice president, global partnership and alliance
management for LEGO Group. “All-access to the Nickelodeon portfolio allows us to
bring some of the most popular television stories and characters into the LEGO
build-and-play universe for kids, while the classic Batman brand offers a
tremendous opportunity to simultaneously engage boys and adult collectors in a
building experience rich with details, functions and play possibilities.
About the LEGO Group
The LEGO Group, a privately-held, family-owned company based in Billund,
Denmark, is one of the world’s leading manufacturers of play materials for
children. The company is committed to the development of children’s creative and
imaginative abilities, and its employees are guided by the motto adopted in the
1930s by founder Ole Kirk Christiansen: “Only the best is good enough.”
LEGO and the LEGO logo are trademarks of the LEGO Group. © 2005 The LEGO Group.
About Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products
Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) manages the merchandise licensing,
home video, music, book and interactive software businesses for Nickelodeon
brands and characters as well as the properties of Comedy Central, Spike TV and
MTV Networks International, as well as some non-Viacom properties. In addition,
NVCP manages the merchandise, interactive, book, and wireless licensing for
Paramount Pictures properties. The NVCP business represents over $4 billion in
retail sales. Nickelodeon, MTV Networks, Comedy Central and Spike TV are
trademarks of Viacom International Inc.
About Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Consumer Products, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is one of
the leading licensing and retail merchandising organizations in the world.
About DC Comics
DC Comics, a Warner Bros. Entertainment Company, is the largest English-language
publisher of comics in the world and home to such iconic characters as Superman,
Batman, Wonder Woman and the Sandman. These DC Super Heroes and others have
starred in comic books, movies, television series (both animated and
live-action) and cyberspace, thrilling audiences of all ages for generations. DC
Comics’ web site is located at www.dccomics.com.
BATMAN and all related characters and elements are trademarks of and (C) DC
Comics.
HARRY POTTER characters, names and related indicia are trademarks of and (C)
Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc. Harry Potter Publishing Rights (C) JKR
(s05)
(C) 2005 Lucasfilm Ltd. & TM. All rights reserved. Used under authorization.
Ferrari, all associated logos and the distinctive designs are trademarks of
Ferrari S.p.A.
Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends(R) Based on The Railway Series by The
Reverend W. Awdry
(C) 2005 HIT Entertainment PLC and Keith Chapman. The Bob the Builder name and
character and related characters are trademarks of HIT Entertainment PLC. Reg.
U.S. Pat. & Tm. Off. And in the U.K. and in other countries.
-end-
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