February, 2008 hoops&yoyo and Maxine Characters Join UM's Licensing Fold United Media will serve as the exclusive merchandise licensing agent for Hallmark's playfully irreverent hoops&yoyo, as well as the ever popular "say it like it is" character Maxine. With its unique graphic look and viral appeal, hoops&yoyo have quickly become Hallmark.com's highest performing e-cards. Seizing on the success of the brand and recognizing the opportunity for growth and longevity, UM's plans for hoops&yoyo include a fall 2008 roll out. Building upon Hallmark's core business of e-cards and sound cards, the company will target a broad range of product categories with an initial focus on toy, apparel & accessories, online interactive games, and room décor. Instantly recognizable to anyone who appreciates a person who really speaks what's on his or her mind, Maxine has experienced demonstrated success in the industry for over 20 years. Leveraging its position as a hilariously frank, but endearing property, UM will continue to nurture and expand the offerings for Maxine as a true evergreen. The Easter Beagle Presents Canine Couture Peanuts and new DVD partner, Warner Home Video will team up this March to celebrate the launch of the remastered deluxe edition of It's the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown by hosting a canine fashion show at Palm Beach Fashion Week. Snoopy (a.k.a The Easter Beagle) will once again put his paw on the catwalk for a good cause - but this time alongside the furry best of the Sunshine State and beyond. The news comes on the heels of Warner's successful and first Peanuts release, Be My Valentine, Charlie Brown. Join The Club! Precious Moments Inc. and United Media are now licensing the Precious Girls Club, a unique brand extension of the Precious Moments brand targeting Girls 4-8 and Moms of Girls 4-8. The Precious Girls Club creates a fun world for little girls based on Christian values that celebrate being a "Precious" little girl. Trend right execution, compelling message-driven back stories, and a significant online presence combine to make Precious Girls Club a special property. Nominated: A Fancy Equivalent to Fabulous Madame Alexander's Fancy Nancy cloth doll has been nominated for Doll of the Year by Doll Reader magazine! Consumers will get a chance to cast their votes in the summer issue, and the winners will be announced at the end of the summer. These fabulously fancy dolls had a successful launch at FAO Schwarz and will now roll out to other distribution channels. Fancy Nancy games from Briarpatch and University Games such as playing cards and Colorforms are now available in Barnes & Noble and Borders. United Media has also signed on JLA to develop a line of Fancy Nancy room décor and bedding. Coming this month HarperCollins is releasing its third Fancy Nancy picture book Bonjour, Butterfly and from its I Can Read imprint, Fancy Nancy and the Boy from Paris and Fancy Nancy at the Museum. All New El Chavo Animated Series Launches in the U.S. January 20, 2008 kicked off the premier of the all new El Chavo animated series in Spanish on Galavision. With 52 episodes total, 26 airing this season, the new show will air several times throughout the day and over the weekends. The most loved character in Spanish language live-action television is now the most loved animated character! STARZ Brings Raggedy Ann & Andy Back to the Screen Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing has partnered with Starz Media to distribute "Raggedy Ann and Me!". A full-service production and distribution company whose units produce such popular animation programs as "Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!," the Emmy®-winning "Eloise," as well as "The Simpsons" and "King of the Hill," Starz Media will release its first series of videos based on this new and updated look for the popular rag doll Raggedy Ann. The new brand extension will target girls three and up, exposing a whole new generation to a character they can go on countless adventures with and share the magic and power of imagination. Paradise Press is also releasing Raggedy Ann & Andy coloring books for spring 2008, and Morgan Home will soon release a bedding line based on the classic look. Mary Engelbreit's Sweet Little Valentines Looking for the perfect Valentine's Day card to send your sweetheart? Visit a store near you or www.maryengelbreit.com to see a selection of boxed cards brought to you by Punch Studios. Also, the February/March issue of Mary Engelbreit's Home Companion magazine brings you 47 ways to put a little love in your rooms. Pick up the latest edition on newsstands or visit www.homecompanionmag.com. New fabric partner Moda gets on board to release a line of Mary Engelbreit fabrics and kitchen linens featuring her new designs and showcasing her skill as an artist and designer. Mary Engelbreit's photo borders, now available at Walgreens in-store and online, have hit a home run with plans to release upcoming photo borders for Mother's Day and Father's Day. Iron Chef America Makes Its Way Into Kitchens A line of Iron Chef America textiles will soon make its way to kitchens across the country. The collection will launch with pot holders, oven mitts, kitchen towels, aprons and silicon grabbers. For those who would rather watch chefs rather then be one, Mirrotek has developed a line of appetizers inspired by the Iron Chefs. Look to find appetizers, tea sticks, ribs, desserts and breads now selling throughout the country in fine food and grocery channels. Dirty Dancing Expands in the U.K. Dirty Dancing's licensing program continues to thrive in the U.K. BCI has created an extensive line of daywear, sleepwear and sportswear with placement in such stores as New Look. Pearls Before Swine Gets Cuddly Pearls Before Swine, the award winning comic strip that follows the adventures of an egotistical rat, a dimwitted pig, put upon zebra, wise cracking goat, and a few dopey crocodiles has just signed a deal with Aurora for plush. Soon the interaction between these odd characters and their dry, witty and sometimes dark take on the familiar will be brought to life in the form of soft, cuddly plush. In other news, Pearls Before Swine creator Stephan Pastis recently appeared on MSNBC’s The Big Idea with Donny Deutsch where he discussed his entry into the highly competitive comic profession, the challenges he faced and the approach he took that helped make Pearls the success it is today. 25 Years of Gliding Down the Slopes with Snoopy Japanese partner ANA is currently celebrating the 25th anniversary of its SKI & SNOWBOARD HOKKAIDO campaign featuring the Peanuts characters. Stamps featuring various posters created for the campaigns from 1992 through 2006 are in the works, as well as plans for Snoopy appearances throughout the month of March. In The Spotlight: Brazil United Media recently closed a deal with Rede Record, one of the leading free television stations in Brazil, to broadcast the library of Peanuts television specials. Initially aired weekly, the specials performed so well that they are now being aired daily, creating great momentum for the Peanuts brand and local DVD partners, ConCast and Editora Darr. Other new partners in Brazil include Productos Erlan for Easter chocolate eggs and bon bons, Bali Blue for beachwear and KG Line for fashionable backpacks. Snoopy Shopping Fun in Europe Snoopy was the best performing character product on bid-up TV, a UK shopping network, with products including nightwear, socks and underwear from Powerplay. New lines are being developed for 2008. In Spain, Snoopy appeared at El Corte Ingles, the country’s largest department store chain, over the holiday season where he greeted families while they shopped and dined. Pippi Longstocking Sails In To Japan United Media has partnered with Plus Licens to represent the art behind the popular character Pippi Longstocking in Japan. UMKK's licensing program for Pippi will focus on the illustrations by Ingrid Vang Nyman from the original Swedish books by Pippi creator Astrid Lindgren. Look for product in market this year. News From China Guangzhou Lechao recently launched a line of Snoopy branded diapers in China. Due to the overwhelming response from retailers, plans are underway to extend the line to include additional diaper sizes and pull up pants in 2008. Home | Why United Media | Why Licensing | Brands | Press Releases | Newsletter | Contact Us | Careers ©2008 United Media, Inc. United Media Licensing 200 Madison Avenue / New York, NY 10016 / 212.293.8500 United Media is an E.W. Scripps company.