EL CHAVO MAKES ITS DEBUT AT TREND-SETTER HOT TOPIC STARTING DECEMBER 2005
Top rated Spanish-Language Television Show, El Chavo del 8, Taps into Hispanic Consumers with First-Ever Licensed Apparel and Accessory Line in the U.S.
New York (December 16, 2005)El Chavo, one of the most-watched programs on Spanish-language cable television, will make its nationwide debut at Hot Topic with a line of retro-inspired men’s and women’s apparel and accessories beginning this month. With multi-generational, cross-cultural appeal, and 1,300 episodes in existence, the show is extremely well-known within the Latin community. Understanding the show's classic appeal, Hot Topic has jumped on the chance to be the first to launch this line and tap into Hispanic consumers who have been waiting for products to become available here in the U.S.
Distributed and designed by Headline Entertainment, initial product will include El Chavo men’s, women’s and junior’s tees, stickers, pins, key chains and wristbands which were created with a nostalgic feel and will feature familiar phrases from the show. The line will be available at all regional Hot Topic stores with a high Hispanic index such as California, Texas, Arizona, New Mexico, and Puerto Rico among others and across the country at www.hottopic.com> beginning December. Suggested retail price ranges from $1.75 to $4.99 for pins, key chains and wristbands and $18.00 to $19.00 for t-shirts.
United Media, who represents the brand in the U.S. on behalf of Televisa, worked closely with Hot Topic and Headline Entertainment to secure this exclusive launch contract.
"Hot Topic is known for pioneering retro properties for our 12-22 year old customer, properties that bring back warm and fuzzy memories to our teen consumer,” said Cindy Levitt, Vice President of Licensing at Hot Topic. “We were looking for a property with the same appeal for our ever growing Hispanic customer so we turned to our stores for their thoughts and by a landslide El Chavo was the most requested. It really seemed to strike a nerve. We had so many great endearing stories about this and what it has meant to so many of our customers and employees."
“In our search for new and viable Latin properties, Hot Topic turned us on to El Chavo del Ocho,” said Mike Taylor, President of Headline Entertainment. “As we began to do the research it was obvious that we were on to something very exciting. Rarely do you come across a license with a demo this strong that is untapped. That, along with the cache of United Media and Televisa, makes El Chavo a unique opportunity and we are proud to be involved.”
“Hot Topic is a consistent trend-setter in the industry and is the ideal launching pad for El Chavo apparel,” said Joshua Kislevitz, Senior Vice President of Licensing at United Media. “As we continue to build a meaningful licensing program for the brand, teaming up with key partners like Hot Topic, who share the similar goals of tapping into the growing Hispanic population in the U.S., is vital.”
About El Chavo El Chavo, starring Mr. Roberto Gomez Bolaños, is a classic live-action sitcom, celebrating its 35th anniversary of broadcast in Mexico in 2005. Currently a top Spanish-language cable sitcom, the show is broadcasted daily on Galavision with regular time slot Monday through Friday at 6:00pm, and again at 6:30pm. El Chavo has been on air in the U.S. for over 20 years exclusively through Univision and is currently broadcasted in local language throughout Latin American, Russia, Spain, and Angola.
Grupo Televisa S.A.
is the largest media company in the Spanish-speaking world, and a major player in the international entertainment business. It has interests in television production and broadcasting, programming for pay television, international distribution of television programming, direct-to-home satellite services, publishing and publishing distribution, cable television, radio production and broadcasting, professional sports and show business promotions, feature film production and distribution, and the operation of a horizontal Internet portal. Grupo Televisa also has an unconsolidated equity stake in Univision, the leading Spanish-language television company in the United States
United Media (UM)
is a worldwide licensing and syndication company that focuses on building brand equity around a wide range of creative content. The company recently signed Mary Engelbreit Studios, the business behind the popular and prolific artist Mary Engelbreit, to expand and extend the existing licensing program into key areas. It also partnered with Televisa, a leading Spanish speaking media company, to represent the US rights to the company's children's telenovelas, as well as its long-running hit television series "El Chavo" and Bandai America, Inc. on brands including Tamagotchi Connection. United Media licenses and/or syndicates other properties, including, Peanuts, Precious Moments, Raggedy Ann & Andy, Arthur, and Dilbert. United Media is an E.W. Scripps Company.
