Including Cars 3 star Owen Wilson getting the F1 experience at the British Grand Prix.
The Source rounds up more news from the licensing industry across the globe from the week.
The voice of Lightning McQueen – Owen Wilson – was the star of last weekend’s British Grand Prix at Silverstone, attending the event along with the director of Disney-Pixar’s Cars 3 Brian Fee and producer Kevin Reher. As well as getting the F1 experience in a two-seater car around the famous race track, Owen also took part in the start of the race, which was won by Lewis Hamilton. A specially created Cars 3 garage housing life-size models of Lightning McQueen and Jackson Storm and their own pit crew helped to mark the release of the movie, which took around £2.65 million in its opening weekend.
Character Options has renewed its deal to be UK master toy licensee for Doctor Who with BBC Worldwide. The deal will see the development of new products featuring the 12th Doctor, Peter Capaldi, with items expected to hit retail later this year. Products for the 13th Doctor – played by Jodie Whittaker – are planned for autumn 2018. Character Options has held the master toy licence for Doctor Who since the show’s 2005 relaunch. In the last 12 years, the partnership has seen over ten million action figures and almost five million sonic screwdrivers sold.
RHS has revealed the launch of a new stationery gift range from Frances Lincoln Publishers. Entitled RHS Birds, the range includes a journal, pocket notebook set and a writing set. Products will be available from September 7.
Xilam has licensed the third, fourth and fifth seasons of Oggy & the Cockroaches to Disney Channel in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The animated comedy will air on the channel from Monday to Friday at 4.10pm.
Pro-cannabis brand THC has teamed up with Putnam Brands to develop licensed apparel and accessories. The product line will consist of men’s and women’s t-shirts, hoodies, caps, beanies, lighters, phone cases, belts, stickers and enamel pins among other items.
Bravado has confirmed that Christine Calip Victor will join the company in the role of svp business development, business and legal affairs.
The second season of Teletubbies has premiered on Nick Jr in the US, DHX Media has confirmed.
Genius Brands International has promoted two of its key executives. Deb Pierson has been named svp global content distribution and marketing, while Lloyd Mintz has been promoted to svp worldwide consumer products.
The unmistakable face of Betty Boop is now appearing throughout Japan in a campaign for J-esthetic salons. A full range campaign rolled out in April, with media including print and digital ads, posters at transit stations, the subway and trains, shopping centre promotions, social media and billboards. The promotion is due to run through until October.
Zodiak Kids‘ YouTube multi-channel network has now hit over 1.2 million subscribers and had over 20 billion watch time minutes consumed on the platforms. The company has also agreed a partnership with US-based Future Today to bring its flagship channel – ZeeKay – and its preschool hub, ZeeKay Junior, which run on YouTube, for distribution on various OTT platforms.
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