Kids Marketing Report articles from March 2000

Kids Marketing Report archives from March 2000

Creator of Lara Croft sees share price plummet.(Eidos Interactive PLC)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Eidos Interactive, the firm responsible for Lara Croft, the heroine of the Tomb Raider games, has had a bit of a rocky ride recently. Shares in the company have had over [pounds]200m wiped off them, leaving the firm worth [pounds]385m....

Rugrats set to ride again with launch of second PlayStation game.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Everyone's favourite toddlers, The Rugrats, are the stars of a second PlayStation game. The growing numbers of pre-teen games console owners are thought to be eagerly awaiting the launch of the game on 7 April 2000. Rugrats began...

BLOOMGARDEN BONUS.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Kirk Bloomgarden has been appointed chief executive of Copyright Promotions Licensing Group.

WESCO WINS.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Wesco has been celebrating winning the European 'Licensed Product of the Year' award with its Only Fools and Horses Talking Alarm Clock. The firm has also been appointed as the licensee for Kevin and Perry from BBC's Harry Enfield series, the...

BARNEY BONANZA.(Universal Picture new video and sound recordings)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Universal Pictures has announced the launch of its latest Barney products. Barney's Sing & Dance video and Barney's I Love to Sing audio cassette are due to be launched on 3 April.

BECAUSE MOTHER CARES.(Egmont World new book series Baby Power)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Baby Power, a range of books published by Egmont World, is the only book series included in the learning promotion currently underway in Mothercare stores.

HOSPITAL RANGE DUE.(Animal Hospital television program licensed products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Animal Hospital is back on our screens, but this time is coming from Manchester and not London. A range of licensed products from the show including tents, beach and garden products and plush is due to be launched in the spring. The show...

PETS ON THE WEB.(Petsonthebrain.com)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Petsonthebrain.com is a new site set to launch this spring. The site will carry home shopping, entertainment and advice. The launch of the site will be supported by advertising, direct mail and a CRM initiative

WHIZZ-KIDS STRATEGY.(Conran Design Group and Brandsmith)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Conran Design Group and Brandsmiths have created an integrated branding and communication strategy for Whizz- Kids, the UK's fastest growing children's charity.

NEW CEO AT EGMONT.(Julie Goldsmith)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Julie Goldsmith will be the next chief executive of Egmont UK. lan Findlay, who currently holds the post, is to retire from the position on 30 June.

Fox chases girl viewers.(Fox Kids UK launches TV programming aimed specifically at girls)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Fox Kids, one of the world's leading providers of children's entertainment, has unveiled its line-up for spring 2000. The schedule includes the largest ever raft of new shows, including 13 new series of which five are UK premieres and nine...

Worldwide successes for the BBC.(BBC Worldwide)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Tweenies has become the UK's most successful new pre-school brand of 1999 and is set to be one of BBG Worldwide's bestselling programmes. Since its UK debut in September Tweenies has been rated the number one children's series and sales...

Launch planned for games portal.(Games.com)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Hasbro has unveiled plans to launch a games portal Games.com. The launch is set to take place in mid-2000 and will offer a line-up of at least 50 branded games, most of which will be multi-player Java games. Games.com is planned to carry...

Nick awards line-up.(entertainment industry - awards nomination)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Nickelodeon has released the nominations for its 13th annual Kids' Choice Awards. The awards ceremony is due to take place on 15 April at The Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles and will premiere on Nickelodeon US that night. Subsequent...

Leisure software industry set to rise.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2000... The European Leisure Software Publishers Association (ELSPA), the governing body for software publishers, has published the Interactive Leisure Software Report. The report states that nearly [pounds]600m was spent last year in the UK on...

NEW GRANADA MAN.(Charlie Donaldson appointed head of licensing at Granada Media Consumer Products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Charlie Donaldson has been appointed as head of licensing at Granada Media Consumer Products. Donaldson was previously manager of international licensing at Carlton International Media.

GET WOODY.(new video compilation from Universal Pictures stars Woody Woodpecker)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Woody Woodpecker is the star of a new video compilation released by Universal Pictures. The firm is also set to release Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein, a feature-length animated film starring the singing chipmunk brothers.

FAIRWEATHER IN OZ.(Nickelodeon Australia hires Ian Fairweather)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Ian Fairweather has been named as the new general manager at Nickelodeon Australia. Nickelodeon is the number one pay-TV channel for kids 5-12 and has the highest traffic among Australia's homegrown children's web sites.

BAGPUSS BACK IN TOWN.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Licensing By Design has announced new signings for the Bagpuss licensing programme. Portico Design will produce ceramic mugs for Boots and a 2001 calendar. BC International is set to produce clothing and BV Leisure will make a double sided...

DIG IT MAN.(Fox Kids Europe's rights for new television series Digimon)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Fox Kids Europe has recently signed a deal to get exclusive rights to new hit series Digimon in the UK and France.

JAZZY OFFICE & NAME.(JazzyBooks changes name and address)(JazzyMedia)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... JazzyBooks is on the move. The firm is set to move into new offices on Great Portland Street, central London and change its name to JazzyMedia.

POPPETS GO LIVE.(Paynes new web site)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Paynes Poppets is back online with a newly redesigned web site. The site contains games where kids can compete to win a years supply of Poppets.

NORTON WIN.(Norton and Co contract with Olop Leisure)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Olop Leisure has appointed Norton & Co to handle all its press and Public Relations activity in the UK from March 2000.

LICENCE THE CLANGERS.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Licensing By Design has announced new licensees for the cult TV show The Clangers. Golden Bear is to make toys, Lightweight Designs greetings cards and gift wrap, Pyramid posters and postcards, Portico a 2001 calendar, and resin figurines...

DRIFTER PROMOTION.
March 1, 2000... Drifter has launched a pop star promotion. One winner will get to meet and greet a top pop star whilst 2,000 CDs will be given away as prizes.

CLOTHES MILL.(Little Mill children's clothing store opens in Scotland)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Little Mill, an outlet retailing designer children's wear, has opened at Killearn near Glasgow.

GENERATION WHY NOT.(NOP Family and SLAM{UK} research Generation Y)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... NOP Family and SLAM have teamed up to research what they are calling Generation Y -- 1000 higher education students and graduates.

CHARITY BOOSTED.(Egmont UK publishing NSPCC characters)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Egmont World has teamed up with NSPCC to produce a new series of books based on NSPCC Happy Kids characters. The charity stands to make a minimum of [pounds]10,000 from the deal.

PRIMARY PUBLICATION.(The Times (London) monthy, TES Primary)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... TES Primary is a new monthly title aimed at teachers, which has been produced for the last two years as a supplement to The Times Educational section.

TO THE MAX.(Promotions Licensing Group licenses Sony Corp.'s Max Steel)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Max Steel, Sony's new character, is being licensed by Copyright Promotions Licensing Group. Products are set to rollout in time for autumn/winter 2000.

PULL IT OUT OF THE HAT.(Magic Hat contract with Worldpop.com)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Magic Hat, McCann Erickson's youth agency, has created a [pounds]1.5m advertising campaign for Internet music site Worldpop. The campaign will cover radio, press, posters and postcards.

BOOTS FOR KIDS.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Boots is to launch a range of toilteries aimed at kids called Fresh and a range of fun cosmetics and bath products called Glitterbabes

Kids set to get resources thanks to voucher scheme.(Tesco Stores Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Tesco is relaunching its Computers for Schools programme, for the ninth consecutive year. When the scheme launched in 1992 around 10,000 schools were involved with the venture. In the space of nine years, that figure has doubled to...

Harry is a pot of gold for book trade.(best seller)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2000... Harry Potter is the best-selling children's book title across both hardback and paperback formats, according to latest figures from Whitaker Book-Track. The latest figures, which look at the period between 18 June 1999 and 1 January...

Web sites target teen girls.(Wowgo.com Inc.; Unilever Group; Procter and Gamble Co.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Teenage girls are proving to be a popular market in the UK with both established players and start-ups. Two new sites aimed at teenage girls are expected to launch shortly, following announcements from the two FCMG giants Unilever and Procter...

European student portal to go live.(C2day)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... C2day, a pan-European portal for students, has launched with a German site, and teaser sites in Britain, Spain, Italy, and France. The portal is the product of a merger between the British start-up Sosstudent, and German firm, Campus2day. ...

Child-friendly ISP makes UK debut.(internet service provider k.net)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... KZUK.net has launched what it claims to be the UK's first dedicated children's ISP. The firm believes the ISP will appeal to parents who have the safety of their children in mind, and quotes an NOP survey that says 33% of kids using the net...

LINK IN BED WITH BEEB.(Link Licensing, British Broadcasting Corporation Ltd.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Link Licensing is to co-produce a new series called There's A Viking in my Bed with the BBC for delivery in autumn 2000.

MTV NEW SHOW.(Little Bill)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... MTV Network International is launching Little Bill, the channel's latest animated offering at MIP TV 2000.

FISHER RESOURCE.(Starting Out With Fisher-Price)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Fisher-Price has launched an educational resource called 'Starting out with Fisher-Price' aimed at outlining the importance of play and offering teachers resources.

CBBC IS FAVE.(TV channel)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... According to the latest Childwise Monitor report, CBBC is the most popular TV channel amongst children.

STEP OFF ON RIGHT FOOT.(Start-Rite Shoes marketing campaign)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Start-Rite Shoes is launching a [pounds]1m campaign through Grey. Media has been bought by MediaCom.

NEW BRAND IN TOWN.(Happy Kids products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... NSPCC is to launch a range of children's products to be sold through high street retailers. The range will be branded Happy Kids after the charity's mascot characters.

OUTING FOR HOOPY.(KP Foods Hula Hoops advertising)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... KP Foods brand Hula Hoops has returned to the air with two ads aimed at 12 to 16 year olds and featuring new character Hoopy McHula.

CHEETOS RELAUNCH.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Walkers is to spend [pounds]3m relaunching its Cheetos brand for the third time.

LEARNFREE ADS.(TSL Education Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... TSL Education is spending [pounds]1m on a TV campaign to promote its new online educational resource, Learnfree.co.uk. The ads have been created by First City. They were shot in Romford, Essex using local children.

TOP MAG.(Top of the Pops magazine relaunch)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Top of the Pops magazine is to be relaunched in an attempt to capture a greater share of the grewing teen market.

Stop watching TV, start playing it!(Static (United Kingdom))
March 1, 2000... Static argues interactive TV has amazing potential for those bold enough to try For our parents' generation television was a revelation. It was exciting, stimulating and very real. It brought distant people and lands, new cultures, the...

The long and the short of innovating in the kids' confectionery market.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... lan Hayes of CLK explains why it is necessary to view the confectionery market through a number of different lenses in order to recognise a brand's real potential As a market confectionery is under siege. Snacking as an activity is...

Is it time to go pack to the future?(Innovations in packaging)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Pete Green argues that product presentation is of paramount importance The way that consumers relate to brands is evolving. New media and its side-effects on traditional media is making the browsing and purchasing relationship...

A beginner's guide to the world of licensing.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... In the first of a series of articles on licensing, Ken Kemp explains some of the basic licensing terms When I meet people for the first time and I say that I am a marketing consultant specialising in licensing (or intellectual property),...

SPIELBERG TURNS DOWN HARRY POTTER.(Steven Spielberg)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Steven Spielberg has rejected an offer to direct the new Harry Potter movie, after agreeing to work on Stanley Kubrick's last project Al (Artificial Intelligence). A new director for the Harry Potter movie will be announced soon.

BRITT ALLCROFT BUYS PRODUCTION CO.(Media Merchants)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... The Britt Allcroft company (which produces Thomas the Tank Engine, Sooty and Captain Pugwash), announced this month that it has bought Media Merchants, a television production company which produces the ITV hit series, Art Attack and is...

HIT FAILS IN TAKEOVER BID.(HIT Entertainment PLC fails with Britt Allcroft Co.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Further news from The Britt Allcroft Company, it has rejected a takeover approach from HIT Entertainment after extensive talks.

CHARLIE'S ANGELS' DECEMBER LAUNCH.(Copyright Promotions Licensing Group)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Copyright Promotions Group has announced that the new Charlie's Angels movie starring Drew Barrymore, Cameron Diaz and Lucy Lui will be released in the UK on 12 December 2000.

LINK RETAINS BARBIE DEAL.(Link Licensing and Mattel agreement on licensing Barbie doll)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Link Licensing is pleased to announce that Mattel has signed an agreement for it to continue the licensing programme for the next four years for Barbie. Mayuri Amin has been promoted to director of Barbie Licensing and Peter Woodhead,...

JIM HENSON ACQUIRED BY EM TV.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... EM.TV has announced that it has acquired the whole of The Jim Henson Company, which is well established in the entertainment industry and produces some of the most well known family brands including The Muppets, Sesame Street and Fraggle...

STAR TREK AND SABRINA WINS.(Viacom Consumer Products contract with Copyright Promotions Group)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Copyright Promotions Group has been appointed to handle licensing for Viacom Consumer Products. The portfolio includes the classic Star Trek, and the popular girls show, Sabrina: the Teenage Witch.

FURBY HAS OVER 100 LICENSEES.(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Furby, after being voted toy of the year, now has over 100 licensees worldwide. The licensed products range from apparel and shoes, stationery, toothbrushes, transfers, t-shirts, key-rings and bedding.

PLUSH PERCY FOR AUTUMN.(A&A Soft Toys licensing for Percy the Park Keeper toys)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... A&A Soft Toys has won the licence for Percy The Park Keeper for a range of plush toys. The range will be unveiled in September.

The brave new branded high street.(Informer Interactive Research)(children as consumers)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Informer Interactive Research argues that retailers must take heed of youth spending as it will dictate the trends of the future and will need them to evolve to survive The local high street is dead or so they say. Gone are the days when...

Live & Kicking is barely breathing.(television programs for children ratings)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2000... February ratings show how best to grab the post-school audience What makes children in 2000 turn on their TVs in big numbers? If you look at the audience for children's programmes and rate them accordingly, then it would appear to be Blue...

Kids and millennium celebrations.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2000... Rosemary Duff of SMRC Childwise looks at the New Year's fun enjoyed by youngsters Controversy about the Millennium Dome continues to dominate news headlines, with journalists and the public at large taking opposing views as to the...

The Millennium Dome: a kid's view.
March 1, 2000... When it comes to the Dome, children go for zones with high levels of interactivity and 'edutainment', according to research conducted You can't open a newspaper or flip on the telly without encountering some serious Dome duping. Everyone...

Muller Yogz.(Brand awareness)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
March 1, 2000... In terms of awareness, Muller Yogz jelly dessert (43%) and Yoo-Hoo chocolate-flavoured drink (38%) were known by some two fifths of children - as measured in Carrick James New Brands survey of November-December 1999. About one in seven...

BENDICKS (MAYFAIR).(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Campino sugar confectionery Bendicks is to launch a new sugar confectionery product which comes in two variants: strawberries & cream; and oranges & cream. The company is confident that it will be a bigger seller than Werthers...

BERNARD MATTHEWS FOODS.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Invaders frozen poultry products Bernard Matthews is set to launch Invaders -- three dimensional, unbreaded, spicy tomato-coated turkey pieces. The product is said to resemble friendly aliens from deep space and comes in bright,...

BIRDS EYE WALL'S.(new ice cream products)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Wall's ice creams ice creams For summer 2000, Wall's is planning a number of new launches into the wrapped impulse ice cream sector: Magnum Double chocolate, Solero Ice, Tropical Calippo, Strawberry Calippo and five new kids ice...

BRITVIC.(Britvic Soft Drinks Ltd.)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... IceBlast frozen drink Britvic is to launch IceBlast, a frozen carbonated drink targeted at eight to 15 year olds which can be eaten like ice cream. The firm has invested over [pounds]1m in machinery for the product which comes in...

BRITVIC SOFT DRINKS.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Fruit Shoot fruit drinks Britvic is to launch two new products aimed at kids. The first is Fruit Shoot which will be available in Orange & Peach and Blackcurrant & Apple flavours. The drink will be available in a plastic bottle with...

CHUPA CHUPS.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Chupa Chups childrens confectionery Chupa Chups is planning the launch of a new Surprise lollipop which contains a toy. The launch will be supported by a [pounds]250,000 marketing campaign said to include TV ads and sampling...

CO-OP.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Co-op Fair Trade Divine Milk Chocolate chocolate countlines Co-op has launched the first own-label Fairtrade product, Fair Trade Divine Milk Chocolate. The launch is in conjunction with The Day Chocolate Company, makers of...

F DUERR & SON.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Duerrs Dips dip snack Duerrs is to move into the lunchbox sector with a new product: Duerrs Dips. The dips will be available in two flavours -- strawberry and chocolate -- and both packs come with six sweet finger biscuits. ...

KRAFT JACOBS SUCHARD.(Kraft Foods Inc.)(Brief Article)
March 1, 2000... Dairylea Strip Cheese savoury snack countlines Kraft is set to introduce a countline version of its kids' snack Dairylea Strip Cheese. The brand will be backed by a [pounds]2m TV advertising campaing which is due to break in April....

NUTRICIA.(Nutricia Dairy and Drinks)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Cow & Gate baby food Nutricia is to introduce a new product in to its Cow & Gate range of baby products. Olvarit Organic will appear from next month, a range containing organic recipes with no GM ingredients or pesticides. Nutricia...

OLOP.(paint ball gun)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Supa Splat paintball game Olop claims that its new product is set to be the sensation of the summer. Supa Splat, the rapid-fire paintball repeater, can shoot 16 paintballs in 10 seconds. Paintballs are fired by blowing into the tube....

ST IVEL.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... St Ivel Cheese Mates cheese snack product St Ivel has launched Cheese Mates, a Sesame Street-branded product aimed at young children. The firm claims the product contains no added ingredients. Marketing controller: Ed Roberts...

STAFFORD MILLER.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Sensodyne toothbrushes Stafford Miller is to introduce two new toothbrushes to its range of children's brushes. Popular characters from Toy Story and Teletubbies will feature on the new products in the Sensodyne range. The Toy Story...

UMBRO.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Umbro Hypotonic Sports Drink sports drink Umbro plans to launch a new sports drink called Umbro Hypotonic Sports Drink. The brand will be positioned as the next generation of sports drinks. The scientific formula claims to rehydrate...

UNICHEM.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... UniChem baby products UniChem is to introduce a new strawberry-flavoured paracetamol suspension and baby lotion, shampoo, bubble bath and baby oil to its own-brand range. Sales and marketing director: Martyn Ward Design: Not...

WT FOODS GROUP.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Nurishment ice cream WT Foods Group is to expand its energy milk drink brand with the launch of a new ice cream. Nurishment ice cream comes in four flavours: vanilla, chocolate, strawberry and mango. The product is said to have an...

KINNERTON CONFECTIONERY.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Kinnerton Confectionery Christmas tree decorations Kinnerton has unveiled its range of Christmas 2000 products. The range of products contain characters such as Barbie, Tweenies, The Simpsons, Thomas the Tank Engine and Mr Men and...

PRINCES SOFT DRINKS.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Jucee soft drinks Princes Soft Drinks is to launch its Jucee range of drinks for the first time in cans. The range comprises Orangeade, Lemonade, Tropical, Cola, Lemon & Lime and Cherryade varieties and will now be packaged in 330ml...

VIMTO SOFT DRINKS.(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
March 1, 2000... Vimto non-alcoholic drinks Vimto Soft Drinks has repackaged its entire range and added BB Soda to its portfolio. The Vimto range also has a new variant-Vimto Citrus made from grape, orange, lemon and pink grapefruit. The Vimto brand...