The Licensing Letter

Universal Studios

Massive Universal Studios Theme Park Proposed for the UK

By Gary Symons TLL Editor in Chief Photo above by Prayitno Hadinata Universal Studios plans to build a 192 hectare theme park in England that will bring £53 billion to the UK economy over the next 20 years. The project is being run under Universal Destinations & Experiences, owned by the US telecom company Comcast, and will be built on a site in an area known as … [Read more...] about Massive Universal Studios Theme Park Proposed for the UK

Planned Feature Films with Licensing Potential

Throughout the year, we feature upcoming movie properties with potential for licensing. All of the release dates for movies on the list have been checked against multiple sources, but there is still a high probability dates will change. The further in the future a film is, the more likely its release date is to move. Don't see a property that should be featured here? Contact … [Read more...] about Planned Feature Films with Licensing Potential

Who’s News—7/23/2018

Are you hiring—or being promoted, changing jobs, retiring, launching a new company, or otherwise changing your employment? Email the Editor at karina@plainlanguagemedia.com to announce the news in our next issue of Who's News. TSBA Group is expanding its team with the appointment of Richard Woolf as Intl. Licensing Director. Rainbow appoints a new CEO for its Bardel … [Read more...] about Who’s News—7/23/2018

Place-based Strategy Getting DreamWorks Where it Wants to Go

By Marcy Magiera DreamWorks Animation (DWA) must be as happy as, well, an ogre in a swamp with its strategy to exploit Shrek, Hiccup, Oh, Alex and other characters in location-based licensing. As its DreamWorks DreamPlace holiday attractions roll out in malls across the U.S. and London, the movie studio reported that its consumer product revenues more than doubled in the third … [Read more...] about Place-based Strategy Getting DreamWorks Where it Wants to Go

Star Wars Demonstrates Power of Franchises for Licensing, Theaters

By Marcy Magiera 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. Online ticketing sites Fandango and MovieTickets.com reportedly crashed for some users under the heavy traffic when tickets went … [Read more...] about Star Wars Demonstrates Power of Franchises for Licensing, Theaters

Licensing to Theme Parks Builds Revenue & Brand Exposure

One of the editors of The Licensing Letter was recently at a party on the Universal Studios backlot when some fellow guests began, by their own admission, to "geek out" over the distant spires of The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which is under construction for a planned opening next year. The attraction, based on the J.K. Rowling books and Warner Bros. movies, is expected … [Read more...] about Licensing to Theme Parks Builds Revenue & Brand Exposure

Build-A-Bear Lines Up Licensees

Build-A-Bear Workshop’s 400 stores will host a lineup of visiting entertainment/characters licenses well into next year. In residence now, ahead of the July 10 theatrical release of Minions, from Universal Pictures and Illumination Entertainment, are Kevin, Bob, and Stuart. In August come four dolls from MGA Entertainment’s Lalaloopsy. Entertainment One’s Peppa Pig will be in … [Read more...] about Build-A-Bear Lines Up Licensees

Will Jurrasic World Hatch Licensing Success?

Few things drive sales of licensed toys, apparel, etc., like a blockbuster movie. And at $208.8 million in North America and $524.1 globally, no film has ever grossed more in its opening weekend than Universal’s Jurassic World. Within days of Jurassic World’s June 12 opening, FX networks picked up the TV rights to the dino-sized hit. Of course, all of this is music to the ears … [Read more...] about Will Jurrasic World Hatch Licensing Success?