Growing Family of Kids Brands Shows Off FME’s Playful Side

FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME), the commercial and brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, today announced its key brands and objectives for the licensing industry’s biggest event of the year, Licensing International Expo 2011 in Las Vegas. The global FME licensing team will be representing Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific and the Americas, and will be showcasing a range of key properties.

Headlining the product slate will be global super brands The X Factor, Idols, Got Talent, and Rebecca Bonbon. The international success of these brands continues to drive huge interest with licensees globally. The X Factor airs in 20 territories, and will launch the highly anticipated US version this fall, Got Talent shows in 42 territories, and Idols is broadcast in 44 territories. Rebecca Bonbon continues to grow with new merchandising deals across Europe and Asia Pacific on the heels of its retail success in North America.

FME’s Children’s & Family Entertainment division brings a robust slate of global licensing opportunities including boys’ action/adventure animated series Monsuno (a joint venture between FME, Dentsu and JAKKS Pacific launching in late 2011), tween horror/comedy My Babysitter’s a Vampire, preschool fantasy adventure animated series designed to encourage children’s movement, Tree Fu Tom, and The Aquabats Super Show, a hybrid of concert footage, live action skits and animation featuring the popular rock band from the award winning producers of “Yo Gabba Gabba.” Finally, FME’s development deal with Terri, Bindi and Robert Irwin and the Australia Zoo continues to generate excitement in the kids space.

In addition to these global brands, FME’s regional licensing teams will bring a number of major brands from around the globe to Las Vegas.

The FME Americas licensing team represents a range of successful brands including the hit US entertainment show American Idol, which will culminate its hugely successful 10th anniversary season on 25 May 2011. The team will showcase third party brands Golden Boy, a fashion and lifestyle brand from boxing superstar Oscar De La Hoya, and Rebecca Bonbon, who continues to grow in North America with the recent announcement of Jennette McCurdy, teen star of Nickelodeon’s iCarly, as spokesperson. FME Americas will also be focusing on its portfolio of game shows including The Price is Right, Family Feud, Hole in the Wall, Let’s Make A Deal and Press Your Luck amongst others. FME continues to grow these classic favorites with new audiences on new media platforms.

Throughout EMEA, FME represents a range of successful TV and non-TV brands including Grand Designs, the hit British program following individuals as they design and build the home of their dreams; third party brands American Chopper, Deadliest Catch, LA Ink and Miami Ink for Discovery Communications; international teen brands H20: Just Add Water, The Elephant Princess and Dance Academy for ZDF Enterprises; graphic character properties Mashimaro, a Korean property that has gone from cult favorite to mainstream merchandise in that market; and Bang on the Door, a UK multi-character brand aimed at both boys and girls with over 20 years of global success behind it. Key priorities also include long-running German soap Gute Zeiten, Schlechte Zeiten, the famous French game show Question Pour Un Champion, and game show classics The Price is Right and Family Fortunes.

FME's Asia Pacific team brings the region's leading brands to Las Vegas, including Grand Designs Australia, based on the UK format of the worldwide hit home renovation series. FME will also be looking to attract licensees for its portfolio of CBS Consumer Products, among them the hugely popular Australia's Next Top Model brand. In a major development for this property, FME recently announced the imminent launch of an exclusive Australia's Next Top Model fashion line for leading retailer Factorie with licensee Casco Blu. FME's exclusive representation of CBS Consumer Products in Australia and New Zealand also includes NCIS, CSI, Dexter and classic TV titles including Happy Days, Cheers, Beverly Hills 90210 and Mighty Mouse. Through its partnership with DreamWorks Animation, FME is also the promotional representative in Australia and New Zealand for the highly anticipated comedy adventure Puss in Boots, due in theatres this December, which tells the origin-story of the feline scene-stealer from the Shrek movies – the no. 1 animated film franchise of all time.

David Ellender, Global CEO, FME, commented “We have a fantastic portfolio of global super brands, entertainment icons, and third party properties which we are able to implement strategically on a local, regional and global basis. In addition, new developments from our recently created Children’s & Family Entertainment division are bringing new opportunities to licensees in both traditional and new media categories.”