Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products (VNCP) entered a new agreement with pocket.watch to manage licensing in select international markets across all product categories for Ryan’s World, a companion consumer products line featuring Ryan ToysReview and Ryan’s Mystery Playdate, Nickelodeon’s new live-action series created and produced by pocket.watch.
VNCP will represent licensing for the properties across key markets in Europe, the Middle East, Canada and South America. Pocket.watch’s existing portfolio of licensees in markets covered by the deal will be managed by VNCP, effective immediately. All domestic consumer products licensing for Ryan’s World and Ryan’s Mystery Playdate will continue to be managed directly by pocket.watch.
“Ryan is a bonafide star for the YouTube generation, and we are thrilled to expand our partnership with him and with pocket.watch,” said Pam Kaufman, president, Viacom Nickelodeon Consumer Products. “We are incredibly excited to further develop and grow Ryan into a truly global retail brand through our expertise in creative, product development and retail marketing.”
Ryan’s Mystery Playdate was recently greenlit for a second season. The series has already emerged as the No. 1 preschool show on all TV and reached more than 22 million total viewers since its launch in April.
“Viacom has been a great partner for us, and it is incredible to see what we’ve accomplished together in such a short time,” said Chris M. Williams, founder and CEO of pocket.watch. “Pam and her team are some of the best in the business, and we’re thrilled to have them representing Ryan’s World and Ryan’s Mystery Playdate consumer products internationally.”
The pocket.watch management team is made up of studio veterans and visionaries from traditional and digital entertainment including Albie Hecht, Stone Newman, Jon Moonves and David B. Williams. Investors include Viacom, Greycroft, Third Wave Digital and United Talent Agency (UTA), as well as notable strategic angels including Robert Downey Jr. (Team Downey) and Jon Landau.
Viacom led pocket.watch’s $15M Series B investment round in 2018.