The Licensing Letter

Entertainment/Character

Edgy TV a Counterpoint to Top Movie Brands

By Marcy Magiera The following is an excerpt from TLL’s feature story on entertainment/character licensed brands. See the complete run-down here, including retail sales by product category and retail distribution. While “TV licensing in general is up,” as one licensor explains in The Licensing Letter’s Annual Licensing Business Survey, the continuing popularity of edgy TV … [Read more...] about Edgy TV a Counterpoint to Top Movie Brands

Angry Birds Launches With $250 Million in Promotions

In anticipation of the May release of The Angry Birds Movie, Sony Pictures has rallied over 100 partners to deliver an estimated $250 million in promotional value. The new film is expected to provide a healthy boost to licensed sales of video game/online/interactive-based merchandise, which reached almost $5.9 billion in 2015, according to TLL’s Annual Licensing Business … [Read more...] about Angry Birds Launches With $250 Million in Promotions

Studios Talk Up Future Releases at CinemaCon

Theaters from across the U.S. and around the world met in Las Vegas last week for CinemaCon, the official convention of the National Association of Theater Owners. Splashy, star-studded presentations and premiere screenings are norm at CinemaCon and this year was no exception: Disney screened Captain America: Civil War in its entirety, and Warner Bros. trotted out stars … [Read more...] about Studios Talk Up Future Releases at CinemaCon

Turtles Toys Twice as Big as 2014

Licensed Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles figures from Playmates were the top toy of 2014, according to The NPD Group, when the last franchise feature film was in theaters. In an effort to build on that success, the toy lines for this year's TMNT: Out of the Shadows are expected to be twice as big, sources recently told TLL. Nickelodeon last week announced lines from Playmates … [Read more...] about Turtles Toys Twice as Big as 2014

Licensed Housewares at IHHS

Retail sales of licensed housewares goods in the U.S. and Canada grew a 1.5% in 2015 after a flat perfomance in 2014, according to The Licensing Letter’s Annual Licensing Business Survey. And as consumer confidence in the economy grows, sales are only expected to increase. The International Home + Housewares Show (IHHS) in Chicago offers a glimpse of licensing activity in … [Read more...] about Licensed Housewares at IHHS

Store Check: Target at Culver City, CA

By Marcy Magiera A week before Disney’s Zootopia scampered into theaters accompanied by predictions of a $67 million opening weekend, limited merchandise was on the shelf at Target stores. A local Target in Culver City, Calif., gave the new IP a toy aisle endcap, sparsely filled with small action figures, playsets and plush. It was unclear whether the selection was already … [Read more...] about Store Check: Target at Culver City, CA

Entertainment Steals the Show for 2015 Retail Sales

As in 2014, entertainment/character claimed the highest growth rate of any property type (except for the fledgling digital celebrities subcategory) at 8%. It seems hard to believe that entertainment licensing had declined every year from 2008 through 2012. That trend turned around in 2013 with 3.6% growth, followed by 6% growth in 2014. Once again, growth in entertainment … [Read more...] about Entertainment Steals the Show for 2015 Retail Sales

TOTY’s Top Toys Hit the Nostalgic, Tech Sweet Spots

By Karina Masolova The 113th North American International Toy Fair once again played host to the The Toy Industry Association's annual Toy of the Year (TOTY) Awards. Three of the top toys are licensed—sweeping the boy's, girl's and preschool categories—with Doc McStuffins in the top stop for the preschool and overall toy of the year. Unsurprisingly, the top brand was Disney's … [Read more...] about TOTY’s Top Toys Hit the Nostalgic, Tech Sweet Spots

Six New Streaming Shows with Licensing Potential

News of new kids' TV distribution deals made by Netflix and Amazon last week drove home a discussion we have increasingly been having with licensing executives about the ability of digital platforms to launch new properties (as well as boost business for existing brands). While hard data showing a positive causal relationship between viewership on digital platforms and … [Read more...] about Six New Streaming Shows with Licensing Potential