Licensing International 2007 kicks off on June 19th at the Jacob Javits Center in New York City. Be sure to stop by United Media's booth (# 3239) to check out what's happening with our entire portfolio of brands. Each property has a great story to tell and opportunities for growth.
Domestic
ISAAC MIZRAHI, BETSEY JOHNSON AND OTHER TOP DESIGNERS SIGN ON TO CREATE PEANUTS INSPIRED DESIGNS AT THIS SEPTEMBER’S FASHION WEEK IN BRYANT PARK
To paraphrase Charles Schulz, ‘Happiness is a warm puppy—in a Mizrahi original.’ Yes, for the first time ever, America’s most beloved beagle—Snoopy—will make the scene at this September’s Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week when MetLife presents “Snoopy in Fashion,” a fashion benefit for Dress for Success. Fashion icons Isaac Mizrahi and Betsey Johnson were the first designers to sign on for the groundbreaking event in which leading fashion designers will create outfits inspired by the Peanuts comic strip.
RAGGEDY ANN AND ME! A CLASSIC MADE NEW
Everyone’s favorite red-headed rag doll gets a make over! Watch out for an all new updated look for Raggedy Ann set to launch spring/fall 2008. Targeting girls 4-7, the Raggedy Ann and Me! merchandise program will launch with new dolls created by Russ Berrie and a series of books by Simon & Schuster.
MORE WAYS TO HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE
Fans of the hit movie Dirty Dancing can cha-cha, meringue, and tango in two new ways. Dirty Dancing, the stage musical, which enjoyed enthusiastic acclaim in Australia and Germany, recently premiered in London, where it set the UK record for pre-opening ticket sales, and currently has a growing advance of more than $30 million. The stage show also is scheduled to open in Madrid in October; Toronto (the North American premiere) in November; and Holland in March 2008. A US tour will launch in 2008. True enthusiasts can also experience Dirty Dancing on a whole new level as they interact with animated characters of Baby and Johnny in Codemasters’ first ever Dirty Dancing video game, set to launch fourth quarter of this year.
FANCY NANCY’S BESTSELLING BOOK DEUX (THAT’S FANCY FOR TWO!)
The princess of glam, Fancy Nancy, has done it again with another New York Times best seller. The Posh Puppy, by Jane O’Connor and Robin Preiss Glasser, debuted in the #1 spot on the best sellers list and has held its place for over six consecutive weeks. The first HarperCollins book in the series, Fancy Nancy has maintained a top ten position on the best sellers list for over 70 weeks.
IRON CHEF AMERICA HITS THE LOTTERY
Entering its fifth season, Iron Chef America is one of the hottest shows on Food Network, attracting 6.4 million viewers on a weekly basis. Iron Chef America’s television success extends into its licensing program with two new partners; Pollard Banknotes for lottery tickets and American Distribution Company for storage containers and disposable products.
BANK ON PRECIOUS MOMENTS
Bank of America has released Precious Moments inspired debit cards to great success. Launched in April, the cards feature the beloved teardrop-eyed children and are ranked third among groups endorsing debit cards.
NEWS FROM CUBICLELAND
Dilbert fans rejoice! New from Running Press is the recently released gift book by Scott Adams entitled, Dilbert’s Guide to the Rest of Your Life: Dispatches from Cubicleland. And soon to be available to illuminate your office (or any room for that matter) are Repacorp’s fluorescent ceiling Dilbert light covers. Innovative Design is also launching must-have stationery and desk covers.
EL CHAVO IS BAKING UP SOMETHING DELICIOSO
New to the El Chavo roster of licensees is DecoPac, Inc. who signed on to bring the characters from the popular Hispanic sitcom to baked goods with a new line of cake decorating kits, including cake toppers, edible decorations, 3-D plastic lay-ons, and printed cake boards.
AND THE WINNER IS…PEARLS BEFORE SWINE
Pearls Before Swine, created by Stephan Pastis, has been named Best Newspaper Comic Strip of the year by the National Cartoonists Society at its 61st Annual Reuben Awards. At its heart, Pearls Before Swine is the comic strip tale of two friends: a megalomaniacal Rat who thinks he knows it all and a slow-witted Pig who doesn’t know any better. Together, this pair offers caustic commentary on humanity’s quest for the unattainable. Pearls Before Swine appears in over 400 newspapers and a plethora of compilation books published by Andrews McMeel, the most recent of which is Da Brudderhood of Zeeba Zeeba Eata.
International News
SNOOPY DOMINATES IN KEY EUROPEAN RETAILERS
As Peanuts celebrates its ten years of partnership with department store powerhouse H&M, the entire Peanuts retail experience in Europe deserves kudos. Retailers including H&M, Marks and Spencer and C&A alone account for 2600 doors featuring the popular characters. In addition, new direct-to-retail partner, Oysho, based in Spain, just opened its 261 stores to Snoopy. Fans truly can find Snoopy and the rest of the Peanuts gang at all their favorite shops in Europe.
SNOOPY SNACKS
Chinese snack food company Nanjing Fang Zhiyuan Food Company Limited is developing a new line of Snoopy branded snack food and beverages to be launched third quarter of this year. The snack foods donning the Snoopy image will be marketed throughout China with an extensive advertising campaign over the next five years.
KOREA TAKES SNOOPY BACK TO SCHOOL AND ON THE OPEN ROAD
Snoopy and the rest of the gang will head back to the classroom in Korea when Taeyang I.S. Co Limited introduces a new Peanuts back-to-school and stationery line this fall. Auto accessories by Ilkyung Malsan are scheduled to hit the open roads this June.
VINTAGE PEANUTS HITS A HOMERUN IN JAPAN
Apparel partner Grace batted it out of the ballpark with its new line of vintage inspired clothing featuring Peanuts and Major League Baseball. The collection is now available in select high-end shops throughout Japan such as Stomp Stamp and Back Drop.
MORE NEWS ON PEANUTS IN FASHION
Known for its fashions across the world, Peanuts continues to demonstrate strength in the apparel category across numerous territories including South Africa, Latin America and Eastern Europe. In Poland, the Peanuts intimate apparel line by The Cookie Company has recently been expanded to include new styles. Confecciones Andrea in Chile will showcase its new spring line this fall, and Elena Salem will roll out its children and adult apparel this summer to department, mass, and specialty stores in Argentina. South Africa also welcomes Charlie Brown and the rest of the Peanuts gang with a new infant apparel and bedding line by Baird Consulting CC (Dom Bene).
JAPAN DOWNLOADS IT’S HAPPY BUNNY
Sony Digital Entertainment has partnered with United Media to bring It’s Happy Bunny to the mobile users of Japan. Now fans of the sarcastic little bunny can download images, photo borders and wallpaper among other options to their mobile handsets. It’s Happy Bunny downloads will be available from CHARAMAX, the character site from Sony Digital Entertainment, starting this month.
ISAAC MIZRAHI, BETSEY JOHNSON AND OTHER TOP DESIGNERS SIGN ON TO CREATE PEANUTS INSPIRED DESIGNS AT THIS SEPTEMBER’S FASHION WEEK IN BRYANT PARK 
RAGGEDY ANN AND ME! A CLASSIC MADE NEW 
MORE WAYS TO HAVE THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE
FANCY NANCY’S BESTSELLING BOOK DEUX (THAT’S FANCY FOR TWO!)
IRON CHEF AMERICA HITS THE LOTTERY
BANK ON PRECIOUS MOMENTS
NEWS FROM CUBICLELAND
EL CHAVO IS BAKING UP SOMETHING DELICIOSO
AND THE WINNER IS…PEARLS BEFORE SWINE
SNOOPY DOMINATES IN KEY EUROPEAN RETAILERS
SNOOPY SNACKS
KOREA TAKES SNOOPY BACK TO SCHOOL AND ON THE OPEN ROAD
VINTAGE PEANUTS HITS A HOMERUN IN JAPAN
MORE NEWS ON PEANUTS IN FASHION
JAPAN DOWNLOADS IT’S HAPPY BUNNY