As this story was being written and The Licensing Letter’s semi-annual chart of movies with licensing potential compiled, Star Wars: The Force Awakens was breaking advance ticket sales records two months ahead of its Dec. 18 opening. It’s testament to the power of what may be the world’s most recognizable franchise, but also to the power of franchises in general, who maintain their dominance in our latest chart of upcoming movies with licensing potential…
MOVIE LICENSING 2016–2020
Star Wars Demonstrates Power of Franchises for Licensing, Theaters
October 23, 2015
EXPERIENTIAL LICENSING
WestJet Plane Takes “Frozen” to New Heights
October 23, 2015
Last week, WestJet rolled out a very special airplane, a Boeing 737 featuring images from “Frozen” on the fuselage, overhead bins, headrests and even bathroom mirrors…
Entertainment/Character
Internet Changes Dynamics of Kids’ TV
October 16, 2015
For content owners, the age of Internet TV means more outlets for their programs on subscription services including Netflix, Amazon and Hulu, creating increased exposure and possibly a longer lifecycle in TV and licensing for properties that have their primary exposure on traditional broadcast or cable networks…
Entertainment/Character
Kids’ TV
October 16, 2015
This chart was first published Oct. 21, 2015 in conjunction with an in-depth analysis of kids’ TV…
LITERARY LICENSING
King, Patterson are America’s Favorite Authors
October 9, 2015
In Harris Poll, authors whose work is more prolifically licensed come in at numbers 3 (J.K. Rowling) and 7 (J.R.R. Tolkien). Nevertheless, there is something for the fans of every scribe. Custom printing retailers are full of Stephen King tote bags or Mark Twain coffee mugs…
TOY LICENSING
Little Figures Headed to the Big Screen
October 2, 2015
Germany’s venerable Playmobil toy brand is headed to the movies. Leading European production company ON Entertainment, with partners Wild Bunch and Pathe, has started production on…
BIG DEALS
Licensing By The Numbers
October 2, 2015
Follow the numbers driving the industry.
Featuring: VW scandal, University of Texas, Peppa Pig, Halloween retail, U.K. toy sales, and more…
FAST-FOOD
Are Licensed Toys in Fast-Foods Kids’ Meals an Endangered Species?
October 2, 2015
This week, Wendy’s announced that it will no longer offer licensed toys as part of its kids’ meals. In so doing, Wendy’s became the third fast-food chain since 2011 to discard the proven business model of using licensed toys in kids’ meals to…
Toys and Games
Hulk Car Races Across Retailers’ Holiday Toy Lists
September 18, 2015
On the evening of Labor Day, 105 days before Christmas, Toys ‘R’ Us unveiled its Holiday Hot Toy List for 2015, and was quickly followed by Target and Kmart. It wasn’t, however, the earliest “hot holiday toys” proclamation. That distinction went to…
TV LICENSING
‘Days’ Marks 50 Years with Photobook
September 18, 2015
Ratings are up for once-endangered daytime dramas. Daytime TV families the Bradys, the Hortons and the DiMeras of fictional Midwestern town Salem are about to again be captured the old-fashioned way…