Classic Media and World Events Productions announced new consumer products partners in the U.S.  for the relaunch of the Voltron franchise.

Voltron will return to defend the universe with the all-new animated series, Voltron Force, set to debut on Nicktoons this summer, with consumer products in development from The Bentex Group, Inc., via their Extreme Concepts division (t-shirts/tops) and their Dreamwave division (swimwear/sleepwear), Rubie’s Costume Company (costumes), VIZ Media (kid’s graphic novels for Voltron Force) and Dynamic Forces (new comic books and graphic novels for classic Voltron).

The new partners join Mattel, which is developing master toy lines based on classic Voltron and new Voltron Force, and THQ, which will produce video games based on the Voltron franchise.

Through a new deal with Major League Baseball Properties, Team Grill has extended its line of professional-grade gas grills to include MLB-branded grills. The first two branded grills to debut will feature the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox, with more available soon.

Team Grill products are sold through select retail outlets, including specialty BBQ stores, outdoor living stores, and through online retailers including teamgrill.com, Amazon.com and Sears.com.

Check out the website for a complete list of teams, models, and features, and this YouTube channel to watch demos of the products in the line in action.

Haim Saban, who launched the Power Rangers TV series in the ‘90s, has bought back the rights to the property. Disney has owned the Power Rangers since 2001, and Saban has now regained control of the brand in exchange for a reported $100 million.

In a new deal between Saban and children’s television network Nickelodeon, the network will begin airing past episodes of Power Rangers, along with 20 new episodes to be produced by Saban.

The acquisition is being made under Saban Brands, Saban’s new company aimed at acquiring entertainment and consumer brands. “I think this property has significant legs going forward if it’s in an environment where it is nurtured and supported as opposed to being part of a huge portfolio,” says Saban.

Watch the opening theme song and video  of the original Power Rangers here.

Shout! Factory and Marvel Animation have expanded their partnership to bring the Marvel Knights Animation series to the U.S. home entertainment marketplace. The announcement was made today by Shout! Factory founding partners Richard Foos, Bob Emmer, and Garson Foos; and Marvel Animation President Eric Rollman.

Under the multi-year agreement, Shout! Factory will be the exclusive U.S. home entertainment distributor with licensing rights to Marvel Knights Animation properties, including Astonishing X-Men: Gifted, Black Panther, Iron Man: Extremis, Spider-Woman, and others to be announced soon.

Early this year, Shout! Factory announced an agreement with Marvel Animation to be the exclusive U.S. home entertainment distributor to Marvel’s animated series, The Super Hero Squad Show.

In other Marvel news, Marvel Entertainment and Paramount Pictures have teamed with Burger King for an Iron Man 2-themed Kids’ Meal promotion in advance of the movie’s May 7 release.

Each Kids’ Meal will come with one of eight Iron Man 2 toys.Kids can collect up to eight Iron Man 2 toys, including four targeted towards girls and four for boys. Additionally, kids can find an Iron Man 2 Zoom Space game online at www.ClubBK.com.

To hold you over until May 7, here’s the Iron Man 2 trailer:

F.A.B./Starpoint has announced a licensing agreement with the NBA, for products including backpacks, messenger bags, and lunch kits for back-to-school 2011. The colors, images, and graphics of the NBA will  be highlighted in the line, targeted at boys ages 5-18. The products will be distributed to mass, mid-tier, specialty, office supply, and sporting goods channels.

“The addition of the NBA to our roster of boy’s best-in-class licensing properties helps expand the age demographic for products that F.A.B./Starpoint offers to the market,” says Steve Russo, president and CEO of the company. “The franchise has an incredible appeal to young boys that is both positive and inspiring.”

World Wrestling Entertainment announced today a multi-year agreement that brings Friday Night SmackDown to the SyFy network beginning October 1 at 8:00 pm EST. The program, which debuted more than 10 years ago, is one of the longest-running, weekly episodic shows on television.

Syfy’s original Friday night drama series will move to Tuesday night. WWE NXT will leave Syfy in October as Friday Night SmackDown joins the schedule.

“WWE is the ultimate in imagination-based sports entertainment. The fantastical thrills of Friday Night SmackDown provide an ideal addition to the Syfy slate, as it targets the younger male and female demographics, which are the fastest growing categories for WWE,” says Dave Howe, president of Syfy.

Friday Night SmackDown averages more than 3.4 million viewers a week and is currently the most-watched TV program on Friday nights among males under 55.

To celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the Boy Scouts of America, several new licensees and products have been announced.

Taylor Brands has launched the Schrade Old Timer and Schrade Uncle Henry pocketknife collection in a variety of different styles. Using BSA photography, Taylor Brands has designed a unique collector’s tin for each collection. Additionally, all the pocketknives have stainless steel blades with the BSA 100^th anniversary logo etched on the blade and bone handles.

W. R. Case is preparing to launch a family of six BSA pocketknives next month. Each knife comes in a variety of different styles from the Peanut to the Hobo. All are made with a standard jigged navy blue bone handle featuring the Boy Scouts of America logo on both the handle and steel blade.

Lladro, maker of porcelain art, joins the celebration with a new collectible figurine. The Classic Scout is a 9×4 porcelain piece inspired by the illustrations of Norman Rockwell and the uniform worn in the 1970s.

Each Lladro BSA 100^th anniversary Classic Scout figurine collectible includes a certificate of authenticity in the box and is available now for purchase at Lladro Boutiques, lladro.com, and select retail stores.

Available in spring 2010, Manual Woodworkers and Weavers will introduce an officially licensed line of personalized BSA fleece blankets at participating Walmart stores. To personalize the blanket, customers can visit any Walmart photography kiosk to upload a photo. Once submitted, the image is sent to a photographic studio and delivered to Manual Woodworkers and Weavers to create the final product.
Customers will be able to choose among a variety of different BSA designs to customize their blanket including Cub Scouts designs, Boy Scouts designs, and an Eagle Scout design.

Sykel Enterprises has created a 48×60 officially licensed fabric print. The fabric print is made from 100 percent polyester and has an anti-pill face.

Product is available in the fabric departments of most Walmart stores, Mary Jo’s Cloth Store, Hancock Fabric Stores, and other fabric stores throughout the U.S.

Finally, Hybrid Apparel, LLC, a private label and licensing distributor of men’s, women’s, and children’s apparel; and Camfour, Inc., a wholesale distributor of fire arms, hunting, and shooting supplies, will each produce BSA-branded merchandise.

Spidey’s feet just got happier.

Marvel Entertainment today expanded its partnership with Reebok with a collection of children’s sneakers featuring Spider-Man at Finish Line.

This new line expands on Marvel’s relationship with Reebok, which initially launched with a collection of children’s sneakers featuring Iron Man and The Incredible Hulk in spring 2008 and was followed by a collection of Spider-Man sneakers at Finish Line in 2009. Building on that success, the new line of co-branded sneakers will be available at Finish Line stores nationwide beginning in spring 2010.

The sneakers are designed exclusively for Finish Line, and Reebok and Finish Line are supporting the Marvel introduction with in-store signage and graphics.