Differential Brands Group will acquire the majority of Hong Kong-based Global Brands Group Holding Ltd.’s North American licensing business for $1.38 billion in an all-cash deal expected to close Q3 2018. The acquisition is expected to boost Differential Brands’ annual revenues up to more than $2.3 billion. The assets at stake comprise all of GBG's North American children’s … [Read more...] about Content Watch: New Series & Activations
Experiential Licensing
Experiential, Content & Alternative Initiatives
FC Barcelona is ending its 17-year partnership with Nike where it ceded its retail and licensing rights to FCBMerchandising. The football club forms a new company to manage its retail, licensing, and merchandising activity. The newly formed Barça Licensing and Merchandising will take over its rights on July 1 and oversee a $77 million merchandising business spanning three of … [Read more...] about Experiential, Content & Alternative Initiatives
Experiential Activations
A new cross-media fitness campaign from Disney and Aspics features a series of "super work-out" videos, in-store activations, and a footwear collection all meant to celebrate the release of Incredibles 2. Mixed martial arts organization UFC and AirAsia, its sponsor and presenting sponsor of UFC Fight Night Singapore, launch the first UFC-branded livery on an AirAsia Airbus … [Read more...] about Experiential Activations
Birthday Cheer
Jim Davis’ Garfield celebrates his 40th birthday this year with a new TV series, book, feature film, and merchandise with the help of Paws, Inc. Later this year, a new animated series of 120 30-second shorts titled Garfield Originals will be released. An animated Garfield movie is also in development with Alcon Entertainment. The sarcastic fat cat is also collaborating with … [Read more...] about Birthday Cheer
Experiential: Live Shows, Tech & Film
This fall, Feld Entertainment and Universal Brand Development bring DreamWorks Trolls The Experience, a 12,000-square-foot 90-minute immersive walkthrough adventure, to New York. The live location-based experience marks the first collaboration in a multi-property relationship that will develop and create other large-scale and mobile pop-up immersive experiences. DreamWorks … [Read more...] about Experiential: Live Shows, Tech & Film
Pop-ups, Social Causes & Documentaries
Epic Rights launches a nostalgic and immersive *NSYNC-centric pop-up experience in Los Angeles to celebrate the 20 year history of the group as well as its new star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. In addition to official merchandise, the location also boasts photo activations and a display of props, wardrobe, and photography. The capsule collection's line of apparel and … [Read more...] about Pop-ups, Social Causes & Documentaries
M&A, Experiential & Legal
Universal Brand Development and Film Concerts Live! launch Jurassic World in Concert; the world premiere features the National Symphony Orchestra performing the complete Jurassic World score live as the 2015 movie is projected in HD onto a massive screen. The opening night will take place on May 30 with a special concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. This is a … [Read more...] about M&A, Experiential & Legal
Experiential, New Media & Partnerships
Asmodee Group launches a new division devoted to developing content based on its owned IP, primarily through strategic partnerships and licensing. Asmodee Entertainment will be the launching ground for new films, TV series, and comics and graphic novels. Already in development is a film based on the board game Catan, which is being adapted by Sony Pictures. DC Entertainment … [Read more...] about Experiential, New Media & Partnerships
M&A & Experiential
American households are loading up on credit card debt, according to data from the Federal Reserve and a related study by WalletHub. By the end of 2017, credit card debt in the U.S. reached $1.01 trillion, beating out the previous record of $984 billion at the end of 2008 and the start of 2009, the tipping point of the Great Recession. Just this past holiday season, WalletHub … [Read more...] about M&A & Experiential
Streaming & Experiential Power Up
DreamWorksTV, a division of Awesomeness that creates family-friendly digital content distributed via YouTube, partners with Amazon to launch its first subscription offering. The individual OTT network will offer exclusive programming including Schneck & Eck Crack The Case, Action Figures In Action, Secret Agent Challenge, and Neighborhood Super Watch. Global streaming … [Read more...] about Streaming & Experiential Power Up