Charlie Brown Specials Shine on ABC Last Fall, the PEANUTS specials made their way to a new home on the ABC network. This February, an all new special, "A Charlie Brown Valentine", debuted and marked the first newly creative programming in over eight years. The results were that the three stalwarts of prime-time television specials, "A Charlie Brown Christmas," "A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving," and "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown," along with the new Valentine's Day special, performed incredibly well in the primetime ratings race. In fact, "A Charlie Brown Valentine" stood as the highest rated non-Olympic program in the first half-hour of the night among Women 18-34 and gave ABC its highest Adult 18-49 rating (3.5/10) with entertainment programming in the half-hour in nearly one year.
Over 350 Million Peanuts Books Sold Worldwide!
2002 bodes well for another successful year in PEANUTS publishing. Recent highlights from the program include: Simon & Schuster Four Peanuts children's books rolled out in Fall 2001. The Halloween title enjoyed seven weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and the Valentine's book charted on three best seller lists (NYT, USA Today, Publisher's Weekly). The first print run on the children's Christmas book was 175,000 copies - a hardcover version will be available, Christmas 2002! Ballantine Peanuts 2000, a popular reprint book, sold over 200,000 copies! A holiday reprint book will be available this fall. Back-to-School and Valentine's Day theme books will follow. HarperCollins Peanuts: A Golden Celebration has sold over 200,000 copies. A Charlie Brown Christmas: The Making of a Tradition sold in excess of 150,000 copies in its first season. Pantheon Peanuts: The Art Of Charles M. Schulz hit stores in September 2001 selling 140,000 copies during the Christmas 2001 season.
Precious Moments continues its Global Expansion Since taking on worldwide representation of PRECIOUS MOMENTS in 2001, United Media continues to grow this successful evergreen brand. Dominating the $21 billion gift and collectibles market, PRECIOUS MOMENTS products are now widely available to consumers in mass market channels - generating over $500 million in annual retail sales!
PRECIOUS MOMENTS is expanding to international markets with licensees signed on in Asia, Europe and Mexico. Plans under way for consumer awareness initiatives. New international licensees include:
Nova Textil (Mexico)
Infant Blankets
Vianney S.A. (Mexico)
Bedding -comforters, crib sets, curtains, pillows
Carnaval de Mexico (Mexico)
Apparel
Manterol (Europe)
Blankets
Philand Industries (Philippines)
Stationery
Young Art (Korea)
Stationery - planners and photo albums
Peter Rabbit hops into Wal*Mart In late February, Wal*Mart, the world's number one retailing chain, launched Peter Rabbit as the exclusive infant and toddler brand for Baby Days 2002. Featuring apparel, feeding products, furniture, stationery, and accessories, the program hit stores just in time for the 100th Anniversary Celebration of Beatrix Potter's timeless classic story, The Tale of Peter Rabbit. Licensees for the Peter Rabbit Wal*Mart program include Mayfair (playwear), Heyman Corporation (layette, underwear), Waterbury (sleepwear), Rashti & Rashti (gift sets), Dorel Juvenile Group (hard goods, furniture), Kids II (soft toys), CR Gibson (Stationery), Luv n' Care (feeding products, accessories), Crown Crafts (bedding), and Delta (bassinettes).
The Smithsonian Celebrates 100th Anniversary of Peter Rabbit with Exhibit and Collectible Gift Sales
In 1902, Beatrix Potter initiated what is today a customary and multi-billion dollar business practice - the licensing and merchandising of children's characters. What started with a patent for the first Peter Rabbit doll, is now an extensive merchandising program 100 years later. In February, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History kicked off a multi-media exhibition which features original manuscripts and drawings from all 23 of Beatrix Potter's books, participatory activities for all ages, and an extensive array of gift and collectibles available for purchase in the exhibit's gift shop. Retail sales have been reported as excellent thus far. The exhibit will run through May and will travel to the Children's Museum of Manhattan for the remainder of the summer.
SHE'S IN! Raggedy fans successfully rally to induct their favorite red-haired doll into the National Toy Hall of Fame Raggedy Fans started 2002 with a new cause celebre, which happily led to the lovable doll's induction into the Toy Hall of Fame this past March. The battle cry first went out last year following the record-size celebration for Raggedy's 85th birthday at the Raggedy Ann Festival in Arcola, Ill. In reaction to a feeling of injustice (the doll had been passed up four years in a row), the Johnny Gruelle Raggedy Ann and Andy Museum spearheaded a grass roots effort for Raggedy Ann's inclusion on the new Hall of Fame inductee list. Petitions were circulated through February 15, 2002, and over 15,000 signatures and letters were received!
The media also picked up on Raggedy's cause! Television placements and on-air hits reached more than 150 million consumers. Newspapers across the world participated in the campaign as well, more than 135 million media impressions were garnered.
DILBERT AND THE WAY OF THE WEASEL offers Dilbert fans a new and improved update to the theories uncovered in the #1 New York Times bestseller, The Dilbert Principle
This October, HarperBusiness will publish a new book by Dilbert creator and best-selling author, Scott Adams. The book, titled DILBERT AND THE WAY OF THE WEASEL, will be available for sale in most major retail and specialty booksellers and is the first major hardcover Dilbert book from Adams in four years. DILBERT AND THE WAY OF THE WEASEL was written in response to Adams' nagging feeling that he had to finish investigating the theories he uncovered in his 1996 national best-seller, The Dilbert Principle. In a nutshell, Adam summarizes the "Dilbert Principle" by stating, "A retarded chimpanzee can drink a case of beer and still perform most management functions." To Adams, this hypothesis first appeared comprehensive. However, in DILBERT AND THE WAY OF THE WEASEL, he continues to explore the theory, and the result is a new and improved dialogue that explains not just the nature of management --- but also humanity.
United Media Partners with the LEGO Company to Represent arthurTM Last October, the LEGO Company appointed United Media to develop licensing programs in the US and Canada for arthur: Defenders of the Outer Dimension, a new television series currently airing on Fox Kids Network. Combining exciting live action with cutting-edge CGI, 3D backgrounds, and stunning special effects, the 26 half-hour episodes series targets boys ages 6-11 years old. LEGO is the master toy licensee and plans to introduce innovative new action figure toy lines, as well as new action-adventure video games for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo GameCube, Playstation 2, and PCs. Major licensees have already made commitments in key categories, including publishing, apparel, footwear, accessories, sporting goods, and bedding. Categories still open include back-to-school, gifts, novelties and housewares.
2 GRRRLS Lets You Be the Girl You Wanna Be United Media and 2 GRRRLS, Inc., the Minnesota-based art brand specializing in creative gifts, bath & body, home furnishings and boutique items for both the young and young-hearted, have entered into a long-term agreement in which United Media will represent 2GRRRLS internationally. United Media's international division will handle all licensing sales, retail contacts, promotion and brand management for the property. The following agents have recently been assigned: Copyright Promotions (France, Germany, Spain, Portugal), PSL (United Kingdom), RM Enterprises (Asia), Haven Licensing (Australia), International Trading Consultants (Brazil), and TYCOON Enterprises (Latin America excluding Argentina). UMKK will manage the 2 GRRRLS brand in Japan.
Last Fall, the PEANUTS specials made their way to a new home on the ABC network. This February, an all new special, "
Four Peanuts children's books rolled out in Fall 2001. The Halloween title enjoyed seven weeks on the New York Times bestseller list and the Valentine's book charted on three best seller lists (NYT, USA Today, Publisher's Weekly). The first print run on the children's Christmas book was 175,000 copies - a hardcover version will be available, Christmas 2002!
Since taking on worldwide representation of 
In late February, Wal*Mart, the world's number one retailing chain, 
Raggedy Fans started 2002 with a new cause celebre, which happily led to the lovable doll's 
This October, 
Last October, the LEGO Company appointed United Media to develop licensing programs in the US and Canada for arthur: Defenders of the Outer Dimension, a new television series currently airing on Fox Kids Network. Combining exciting live action with cutting-edge CGI, 3D backgrounds, and stunning special effects, the 26 half-hour episodes series targets boys ages 6-11 years old. LEGO is the master toy licensee and plans to introduce innovative new action figure toy lines, as well as new action-adventure video games for the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo GameCube, Playstation 2, and PCs. Major licensees have already made commitments in key categories, including publishing, apparel, footwear, accessories, sporting goods, and bedding. Categories still open include back-to-school, gifts, novelties and housewares.
United Media and