Catching Up With... Archives - Page 6 of 11

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Catching Up With Maria Doolan, Managing Director of Global Brand and Business Development for Zinkia Entertainment

Zinkia Entertainment, based in Spain, is the creator of Pocoyo. The company’s goal is to create and develop brands with a global entertainment vision. Pocoyo, a hit across Europe for many years, is now gaining traction in the U.S. Based in Madrid, Maria Doolan, managing director of global brand and business development for Zinkia, explains how Pocoyo will compete in the U.S. marketplace for both English- and Spanish-speaking fans.

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Catching Up With Neil Ross Russell, Managing Director, Children’s and Licensing for BBC Worldwide

The preschool TV series In the Night Garden debuted in the UK in 2007 and has been seen in 38 countries, including Canada, Australia, Spain, Poland, and China. In February, U.S. audiences finally got to see what the show is all about. Airing weekdays at 9:30 a.m. EST on The Hub, In the Night Garden offers children a world of engaging characters, playful language, songs, rhymes, and music. The television series is a prelude to a range of licensed products due to launch in the U.S. this year and throughout 2012. Neil Ross Russell, managing director, children’s and licensing for BBC Worldwide, talked more about the new U.S. licensing program.

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Catching Up With Jamie Salter, Chairman and CEO, Authentic Brands Group

Authentic Brands Group is a brand development and licensing company. In conjunction with parent company Leonard Green & Partners, its mandate is to acquire, manage, and build long-term value in prominent consumer brands. President and CEO Jamie Salter discusses how the company started to build its brand stable by acquiring various brands related to mixed martial arts, including TapouT, Silver Star, and Sinister.

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Catching Up With DebySue Wolfcale, Global Director, Brand Marketing for Sony Online Entertainment

Earlier this year, Sony Online Entertainment released DC Universe Online. As publisher and developer of the game for PC and PS3, Sony is immersing fans in the DC world.

The tagline is “YOU are the Next Legend,” as players navigate through their own story fighting to save or rule the DC Universe. Of course, players can don the guises of well-known DC characters in this 30-level game. The game is rated T for Teens, meaning it depicts mild blood, language, violence, and mildly suggestive themes.

Sony Online Entertainment explained some of the marketing and licensing efforts that are underway for the game.

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Catching Up With David Luner, Executive Vice-President of Consumer Products, Interactive and Mobile, FremantleMedia Enterprises North Americas

FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has undergone numerous changes as of late. The company is in acquisition mode. It has made management changes to support FME’s focus on the expansion of third-party brand representation, children’s programming and brand development, live events, digital content creation, and gaming initiatives. David Luner, the newly appointed executive vice-president of consumer products, interactive and mobile, FremantleMedia Enterprises North Americas, spoke with Royaltie$ about the company’s evolution.

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Catching Up With Susan McLain, General Manager of The Baby Einstein Company

In 1996, mother Julie Aigner-Clark shot the first Baby Einstein video in her basement in Georgia. She did this for one simple reason—she wanted to share her love of the arts with her baby. Clark then began producing and selling the videos. By the end of the decade, a line of videos/DVDs, books, and CDs were available at retail. In addition, an online store was launched, which was still a relatively new concept at that time. In 2001, Disney acquired The Baby Einstein Company. Since then the brand has grown by leaps and bounds through licensing. It is now considered one of the must-haves for new parents. However, the brand is evolving to address the needs of a new generation of parents. Once known primarily for its DVDs, Baby Einstein will now be sold as a kit, which will include a DVD, CD, and either a board book or cards (depending on the kit).

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Catching Up With Cindy Bailey, CEO, Art Impressions

Art Impressions represents intellectual property owners such as artists, illustrators, designers, photographers, manufacturers, publishers, and celebrities. Among the properties the agency represents is SO SO Happy. Cindy Bailey, CEO of Art Impressions, discusses launching the property and establishing it in the marketplace.

SO SO Happy is a character-based brand featuring robots, monster-like creatures, and those that fall under the category of “odditees.” The SO SO Happy website describes the brand’s mission as embracing individuality, building self confidence, and inspiring positivity and acceptance among all beings—real or imagined.

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Catching Up With Grant Cleveland, CEO and President of DuneCraft

DuneCraft was founded in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, in January of 2002, by Grant Cleveland, a serial entrepreneur with a background in accounting, finance, horticulture, and internet software development. The company’s first offerings were terrariums designed to grow plants from seeds and have grown to include a full range of plant-related kits as well as science kits. Cleveland, who serves as CEO and president, talks about the growth of his company and its forays into licensing.

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Catching Up With Erin Webb Dippold, Director of Licensing, W!ldbrain

W!ldbrain Entertainment develops television programming, motion pictures, short-form programming, commercial content, and consumer products. The company was recently acquired by DHX Media. Erin Webb Dippold, W!ldbrain’s director of licensing, fills us in on the latest news at W!ldbrain for its popular Yo Gabba Gabba! property, as well as others.