Archive notice: This article was originally published on June 5, 2008. Links and embedded videos are preserved as part of the historical record.
The leading British toy company will produce THE OWL plush figures. Beyond this licensing agreement, the animated series is continuing its success with new television and home-video deals worldwide.
Italy’s Mediaset and Spain’s RTVE are among the additional partners secured to broadcast THE OWL. The series’ presence in Spain is also being strengthened by Tribanda Pictures’ acquisition of the home-video rights.
THE OWL is also becoming increasingly prominent in new media. The individual short episodes are already available through Verizon Mobile Network in the United States and, from this month, through the British mobile operator “3.” Other leading British mobile operators will follow in July.
Having already been sold in more than 185 countries, THE OWL continues to gain momentum. In the United Kingdom, the series consistently achieves impressive ratings on the BBC children’s channel CBBC. Just one month after its launch, THE OWL recorded the third-highest ratings among all television channels in the United Kingdom. Ratings in France are so strong that broadcaster France 3 decided to launch a special children’s block called “Chouette Toowam,” in which THE OWL guides viewers through the schedule and introduces other series.
$$$$
The partnership with Vivid marks an excellent start for THE OWL’s licensing and merchandising programme. Emma Sherski, Vivid’s marketing and licensing director, commented: “THE OWL has an incredible charm that appeals to the mischievous side of every viewer. We immediately compared the character and its potential with global hits such as Flat Eric and Crazy Frog.” Discussing launch plans, Sherski added: “We are working to begin production of a range of plush toys quickly so that we can reach markets such as the United Kingdom, France, the United States and Scandinavia by Christmas, where THE OWL is already a hit.”
The 52 one-minute episodes of the humorous show depict the daring escapades of a lively pink owl who is unfortunately unable to avoid a disastrous ending in every episode.
Bernd Conrad, TV-Loonland’s head of licensing and merchandising, said: “We are delighted to be working with Vivid. Once again, Vivid is demonstrating that it is an innovative company with the right instincts—THE OWL has great potential, and the product range is certain to be a major success in international markets.”
Further Links:
- Further information
