Kids Marketing Report articles from May 2000

Kids Marketing Report archives from May 2000

Preventing illegal use of licensed properties online.(IBnet PLC new service called Homer)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Internet surveillance company IBNet has launched an Internet monitoring service dubbed 'Homer' after uncovering a disturbing amount of cartoon character and brand licensing abuses on the Internet. "We have identified numerous illegal...

Encouraging children to play safely.(The Child Accident Prevention Trust safety campaign)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... The Child Accident Prevention Trust (CAPT) has launched a new initiative, Safe Kids at Play, to reduce the number of children being seriously injured at play, whilst at the same time promoting the need for increased activity levels amongst...

CUSTOMISED LEGO.(LEGO Group online shopping site)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Lego is planning to sell customised products through its Internet site by the end of the year. Potential products include a family photo made up of Logo bricks.

VAMPIRE COLLECTIBLES.(Downpace's new action figures)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Downpace has launched fully-moveable collectible action figures of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, shy Willow, brooding Angel and The Master. The Buffy TV series on BBC 2 and Sky have combined audience figures of 4.5 million a week. Buffy is due...

3DO WIN FOR BASTION.(marketing contract)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Marketing and communications agency Bastion has won a six-figure PR account from computer games publisher 3D0 Europe to promote its range of multiplatform games.

TV AD FOR BATTLETANX.(3D0 advertising campaign)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... 3D0 is promoting its console title, Battletanx: Global Assault with a TV campaign through youth marketing agency Third Planet International.

YAZOO ON-PACK PROMO.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Campina is backing its Yazoo milkshake brand with an on-pack promotion offering free tickets to kids to restaurants across the country.

LOGISTIX TRACKS FRENCH.(market surveys of French children)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Logistix Kids Worldwide has, become the first company to introduce regular extensive tracking of kids' trends in France. A national panel of French kids, from seven to 14 years old, will be quizzed every three months.

RALEIGH ONLINE.(new web site launched)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Raleigh has launched a newly-designed web site that gives details of its entire bike range and related products. The site was created by IS Solutions.

AUSSIE KIDS GET ONLINE.(computer usage statistics)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2000... In Australia, where half of all homes have at least one PC and one in four have Internet access, 51% of children aged five to 17 frequently used a home computer in 1998 for both work and play: 84% said they used it for learning and study...

BBC goes to Hollywood.(BBC Worldwide Ltd. to publish Warner Bros. books)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... BBC Worldwide has secured its first ever deal with a major Hollywood studio, to publish books in the UK. The deal with Warner Bros. Consumer Products is for over 150 books with the world-renowned cartoon characters, Looney Tunes, Baby...

New channel for classic cartoons.(Turner Broadcasting launches Boomerang)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2000... Turner Broadcasting has launched Boomerang, a brand new animation channel from the Cartoon Network stable, featuring classic cartoons from the Hanna-Barbera library. The move will free up space on the Cartoon Network channel itself to...

Mattel to be toy licensee for all Nick properties.(Nickelodeon)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Mattel has signed a new multiyear worldwide licensing agreement with Nickelodeon to renew and expand its current toy licence agreement. The deal will make Mattel master toy licensee of all Nickelodeon entertainment properties -- domestic...

Ratings increase for Fox Kids UK reflects its strategy of expansion.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Fox Kids Europe, the panEuropean integrated children's entertainment company, has seen its UK ratings over the last year among all children increase by 30% and ratings among the 4-9s increase by 50% (comparing the period January-March 1999...

TV FOR INTERNET ACCESS.(forecast)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... The Henley Centre forecasts that by 2002, television will overtake computers as the most popular way to surf the Internet. Families will aspire to have a TV in every room, providing web access from every corner of the home.

WIRED FOR SCHOOL.
May 1, 2000... The trend toward Internet-based learning and the growth of home schooling will converge, and architects will start including wired classrooms in their plans for new homes.

BARBIE COMES TO LIFE.(Live Barbie doll actors sign autographs.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... To celebrate the launch of its new Barbie book range, Dorling Kindersley has arranged for the world's favourite doll to come to life at Waterstone's bookshops nationwide. Children will make tiaras from Barbie's Fun-to-Make Activity Book and...

RELEASE OF CHICKEN RUN.(Animated feature from producers of Wallace and Gromit)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Aardman Animation, creator of the Academy Award winning Wallace & Gromit, releases its first feature film 'Chicken Run', on 30 June 2000. The film tells the story of four chickens determined not to end up wrapped in pastry. Toy Options is the...

WCW TO RENT ON VIDEO.(Pay per view contests from World Championship Wrestling.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... More mayhem is unleashed from the non-stop crazy world of WCW. 'Souled Out Pay Per View Special' has been released to buy and rent on VHS. Catch the biggest and best stars of WCW in this full on 'no rules, no referee, last man standing' wall...

PD*3 PICKS UP SEGA.(Sega Enterprises Ltd. advertising contract.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... PD*3 has picked up the [pounds]1m ambient media account for Sega games, including Tomb Raider: The Last Revelation.

LUCOZADE FOR LARA.(Fictional character Lara Croft advertises for Lucozade Energy.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Tomb Raider character Lara Croft has teamed up with Lucozade Energy once again in a multimedia campaign for the brand, encompassing TV and outdoor poster executions. The ads were created by Ogilvy & Mather.

BIG FOOTBALL SPONSOR.(Bigsave.com)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Internet superstore Bigsave.com has signed a one-year deal to sponsor Football Latest, an hour-long programme shown three times a day on Sky Sports.

WANTED: TV AD EDITOR.(Gameplay gives consumers chance to edit TV ad)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Recently relaunched games portal, Gameplay is offering consumers the chance to edit a TV ad. Different executions from Gameplay's debut TV campaign can be uploaded onto its web site, allowing visitors to arrange them in different ways. The...

ADIDAS ONLINE.(Adidas AG marketing)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Adidas has signed a multi-million pound global marketing deal with US-based SportsLine.com and European Internet sports content provider Sports.com to sell its sportswear products on the Internet.

WALL'S CARTOON TIE-IN.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Wall's Ice Cream has signed a five-month sponsorship deal with Cartoon Network. The deal will see Wall's Tom and Jerry ice lollies linked to the channel's Tom and Jerry cartoons while Wall's Twister will back the screening of The Mask.

REEBOK FOR LIVERPOOL.(Reebok signs sponsorship deal with Liverpool FC)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Reebok has signed a [pounds]21m three-year kit sponsorship deal with Liverpool FC. The new agreement updates the final year of Reebok's existing deal and introduces a two-year extension.

EA CONSOLIDATES.(Electronic Arts (EA))(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Electronic Arts (EA), Europe's largest video games seller, is consolidating its titles under two corporate banners: EA Sports and EA Games. The company will introduce an online arm early next year.

UK AGENT FOR FIFA.(Promotional Partners Worldwide handles World Cup for the International Federation of Association Football.)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... FIFA, the global football body, has appointed UK-based Promotional Partners Worldwide as its licensing and promotions agency for the 2002 World Cup tournament in Japan and Korea.

Cartoon Network teams up with Orange Arrows.(strategic alliance)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Cartoon Network has entered a strategic alliance with the Orange Arrows Formula One team. The deal, which began at the start of the Grand Prix season, will see the famous Cartoon Network chequered logo on the sides and tail fins of the...

And launches football game online.(cartoons caracters are going to play football online for the title "euro toon thousand")(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... As Euro 2UUIJ gets under way, Cartoon Network has announced its own online version of the European Cup. The competition features the TV channel's favourite cartoon characters who will play against each other for the title of 'Euro Toon...

Looking for a real Homer Simpson.(Clinton Cards promotion)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Homer Simpson, the world's best-known patriarch, is the focus of the biggest ever Father's Day promotion to be launched by Clinton Cards, the UK's largest greetings card retailer. All 692 Clinton Cards retail stores will take part in the...

Guardian educates online.(launches educational resource site with Educational Interactive Solutions)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Building on its heritage in the education market, the Guardian has launched a startup, Learn.co.uk -- an educational resource site for pupils, teachers and parents. Learn.co.uk will provide a comprehensive resource for online learning...

Electronic cash accounts on the up.(Rools.com marketing to teenagers)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... A host of online services are attempting to tap into the annual [pounds]25bn spending power of teenagers by launching products which enable young people to shop online without a credit card. Rools.com is hoping to attract a significant...

Cartoon content for new BT portal.(Cartoon Network agreement with British Telecommunications PLC)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Cartoon Network is set to provide BT's broadband Internet portal with interactive cartoons when it launches in July. The new service will contain streaming video of the channel's most popular cartoons, as well as new cartoons developed...

VIRTUAL HOME FOR COMIC.(Beanotown.com)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... From the UK's favourite comic The Beano, a new online community is being created as virtual home for the mischievous Dennis and Gnasher, along with their cheeky Beano pals. Beanotown.com, which is going live on 15 July, will offer e-commerce...

WOWGO TO GO OFFLINE.(Internet portal for teenage girls)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Wowgo, the teenage girl portal, backed by Unilever, Durlacher and the Eureka Interactive Fund, is set to officially launch this month. David Peller, founder and CEO of the site, says offline services including TV and radio programmes,...

LEARNING CHANNEL.(Freeserve PLC new online service www.freeserve.com/learning)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Freeserve has launched a learning channel, as part of the drive to boost the content on its portal. The channel offers homework help, revision guides and a reference centre which provides learning tools such as an encyclopedia, atlas,...

WEB SITE FOR OVALTINE.(Novartis AG's range of milk drinks)(marketing)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Novartis has launched a web site for its Ovaltine Power range of milk drinks, targeting kids aged six to 14. Web activity will be linked to a promotional roadshow featuring a bus with a web terminal.

KIDS BRANDS GO DIGITAL.(Freeserve PLC and British Sky Broadcasting Group PLC invest in teenage portal mykindaplace.com)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Freeserve and BSkyB have invested into a UK teen portal, mykindaplace.com aimed at girls aged 11-18. The site will focus on showbiz, health and beauty, fashion, entertainment and chat. The site is likely to investigate the possibility of...

Music and CDs top the list for self-purchase among older kids.(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2000... Rosemary Duff examines what children are spending their pocket money on Children aged between five and 16 years command a disposable weekly income of about [pounds]5.50 per head (Wall's Pocket Money Monitor, 1999), which gives a combined...

Towards a new future for kids online.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Alex Nketiah on how tomorrow's children will use the emerging digital platforms In its early days the Internet was about being able to provide information and was run by people for people. There were no brands with a story to sell and it...

Pokemon is most popular web site.(MMXI Europe reports)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Lucy Green reveals how the Pokemon phenomenon has spread to the Internet According to the latest figures from MMXI Europe, Pokemon is officially the favourite Internet site for children around the world. The March 2000 research from...

LUSCIOUS LICENCES FOR MEIKLEJOHN.(Meiklejohn Graphics Licensing)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Meiklejohn Graphics Licensing has announced that it has developed two new properties for licensing. Luscious is a new property for teenage girls and it has also produced a new pre-school property called Floppy Dog and that Cat.

LCI CATCHES MARVEL SUPERHEROES.(Leisure Concepts International licensing)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Leisure Concepts International will be handling licensing for Marvel Superheroes, which also includes the new live-action film The X-Men, due out this August, and starring former Star Trek captain, Patrick Stewart.

CITV LANDS BUTT UGLY MARTIANS.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Just Licensing reports that CITV will be showing its new 3D computer animated series, Butt Ugly Martians. The series is aimed at boys aged 4-7 and will be screened from the Autumn.

BBC SIDES WITH VIKINGS.(television program)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Link Licensing has confirmed that its TV property, There's a Viking in my Bed is to be shown on BBC1 in Winter 2000

BLUES CLUES COMES TO THE UK.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... The Licensing Company has recently announced that it is handling licensing for the pre-school property, Blues Clues. It is currently stripped on Nick Jnr and is awaiting confirmation for a terrestrial broadcaster.

TOYS FOR BEAR IN THE BIG BLUE HOUSE.(Mattel to launch product)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Jim Henson Consumer Products reports that Mattel will be launching its product for Bear in the Big Blue House exclusively at Hamley's on 24 June. There will also be a number of other licensed products available including toiletries, videos,...

SPORTING MAGAZINE FOR BAM.(Brand Asset Management licensing programs)(Product Support)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2000... Brand Asset Management has announced that it will be developing licensing programmes for the magazines, Match magazine, Performance Bikes and Golf World.

PROBRANDS CATCH CUBEEZ!(Probrands International acquires licensing rights to children's TV program)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Probrands International (which is now part of Entertainment Rights) has acquired the licensing rights to new pre-school property The Cubeez, aimed at stimulating children's mind through the use of colour, music and visual images. The series...

LAUNCH DATE FOR ROBOT WARS.(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Logistix Kids Retail, holders of the master toy licence for top TV show Robot Wars, can reveal that its first toy range will be smashing its way into stores in October to take advantage of the Christmas market. The range will include...

A beginner's guide to the world of licensing.(terminology)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Ken Kemp continues his review of licensing terms If you've been following my previous two articles on licensing terminology, let me assure you that we're progressing and there are not too many more issues to look at. * Exclusivity --...

New Brands Track.(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2000... The two new products asked about in New Brands Track, part of Carrick James monthly national omnibus survey for 7-14 year olds, were The Simpson snacks from Bensons Crisps and Tweenies Pasta Shapes from Heinz. Awareness for both The...

New packs for Bassett's embodies brand values of its confectionery.
May 1, 2000... Mark Gandy and Dave Beard outline the 'total branding' approach to confectionery So, what do we mean by 'total branding'? Let's start with packaging design. On a functional level, packaging design is there to contain, to protect in...

Searching for the 'Euro child'.(marketing products to European children)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2000... Kate Eden examines whether European children share any unifying characteristics to help guide marketers in the development of pan-European kids' brands? Europe has 64 million kids under the age of 14 and spends a vast amount on...

Pokemon and SMTV Live fight over top slot.(ratings for children's television programs)(Brief Article)(Statistical Data Included)
May 1, 2000... Veteran shows like Blue Peter, Newsround and Grange Hill (are) holding on in the face of an overwhelming assault from Pokemon The six weeks prior to Easter provide a clear indication of how children's viewing preferences are developing in...

CADBURY.(adds variant to Miniature Heroes brand)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Cadbury's Miniature Heroes chocolate assortments Cadbury is extending its range of Miniature Heroes by adding a Nuts about Caramel variant in June. A TV ad for the brand is due in the autumn. Cadbury has a 13.2% share of the...

CHIVERS HARTLEY.(introduces jam packaged especially for children)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... That's Fruit squeezable jam Chivers Hartley has launched a range of squeezable jams aimed at children. That's Fruit is a smooth extra jam without bits and comes in a gualapack foil pouch, usually associated with soft drinks. The...

HERTA.(new hot dogs launched)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2000... Herta Max/Herta Dinky children's hot dogs Herta has launched two new products in a bid to dominate the hot dog market. Max is a large hot dog aimed at teenage boys, while Dinky Dog is aimed at younger children. Design: Hill...

HL FOODS.(Bob the Builder character to sell pasta)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... HP Bob the Builder canned pasta shapes HL Foods has hired the services of popular children's TV character Bob the Builder for its new range of HP pasta shapes. The canned pasta product contains added vitamins and minerals. HL Foods...

HP Jellikins.(HP Foods new shaped canned pasta)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... canned shape pasta Jellikins, the animated pre-school children's TV programme running on GMTV, is the latest addition to HP's pasta shapes range. The pasta shapes, with added itamins and minerals, come in a 213g can. Design: IBH...

JAMES ROBERTSON & SONS.
May 1, 2000... Robertson's Squeezable Jam James Robertson & Sons has launched a new range of squeezable jams. The new Robertson's jam comes in a clear polypropylene bottle with flip top lid. The range includes strawberry and raspberry seedless jams....

MARS.(Mars Ltd. M and M's new mini format)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... M&M's Minis chocolate confectionery Mars has extended its M&M's brand with a new mini format, to challenge Nestl[acute{e}]'s Mini Smarties. M&M Minis will launch in June in a tube containing 115 sweets. Mars claims the sweets offer...

MARS CONFECTIONERY.(Starburst Smilers)(Starburst Factor X)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Starburst sugar confectionery Mars has introduced a new flavour -- blackcurrant -- to its Starburst packs. The first new flavour for the brand in 30 years, it joins the existing flavours of orange, strawberry and newly combined...

MCVITIE'S.(BN range of biscuits for children)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... McVitie's BN children's biscuits McVitie's has launched a new vanilla ice cream flavour to its BN children's biscuit brand. Targeted at children aged 4-10 and mothers, the sandwich biscuit with vanilla ice cream flavour filling...

NESTLE FOOD DIVISION.(Nesquik ready-to-drink milkshakes)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Nesquik ready-to-drink milkshake Nestl[acute{e}] has extended its Nesquik brand with a new chilled range of ready-to-drink milkshakes. The shakes come in two flavours: chocolate and strawberry. A [pounds]1.3m TV advertising campaign...

NESTLE ROWNTREE.(Christmas confectionery products for children)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Nestl[acute{e}] children's Christmas confectionery Nestl[acute{e}] Rowntree has launched a range of confectionery for kids this Christmas. Winnie the Pooh, Buzz Lightyear, the Dinosaurs appear on selection boxes, as does the Premier...

PORK FARMS BOWYERS.(introduces new Extreme salami sticks)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Extreme salami sticks Pork Farms Bowyers has launched a range of strongly-flavoured salami sticks, Extreme, to take on Van den Bergh's Peperami brand. The Extreme sticks come in three flavours: Barbecue; Tikka; and Chilli. Packaging...

SWIZZELS MATLOW.(new pocket packs)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Swizzels sweets Swizzels Matlow has launched a range of 10p pocket-money packs featuring three of its key brands: Love Hearts; Parma Violets and Fizzers. Design: In-house Advertising: None planned PR: In-house

T&T BEVERAGES.(new non-carbonated juice drinks)(Brief Article)(Product Announcement)
May 1, 2000... T&T Juice Drinks soft drink T&T Beverages has launched a range of soft drinks made from spring water and real fruit ingredients. Claiming to be the UK's first range of non-carbonated juice drinks in a can, Juice Drinks flavours...

TREBOR BASSETT.(new confectionery selection box)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Bassett's & Beyond/Bassett's Fundays sugar confectionery Trebor Bassett has launched its first sugar confectionery selection box --Bassett's & Beyond Christmas Selection - for Christmas 2000. Jelly Babies appear in packs with...

VIRGIN COLA.(introduces new soft drink mini-V)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... mini-V carbonated drink Virgin Cola is planning to launch a new version of its soft drink targeted at young children. mini-V is said to contain 30% less sugar than standard, and is free from caffeine and sweeteners. If popular, it...

COCO-COLA ENTERPRISES.(new packaging)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Coca-Cola carbonated drink Coca-Cola has introduced a new packaging design for its flagship brand. New packaging features the 'Enjoy' strapline, which is at the centre of Coke's marketing strategy for this year. The new look will...

YOPLAIT DAIRY CREST.(new package design)(Brief Article)
May 1, 2000... Wildlife children's yoghurt and fromage frais Yaplait Dairy Crest has relaunched its Wildlife brand with redesigned packaging that emphasises the brand's support for London Zoo's Conservation in Action programme. Interactive games and...