Source: NickMom press release

Earlier this month, Nickelodeon announced that General Mills, Target, and Reckitt Benckiser have signed on as charter sponsors for NickMom, Nickelodeon’s new multiplatform content destination that targets moms. The just-announced deals will include brand integration, content development, and sponsorships across the new NickMom TV block, launching this fall on Nick Jr. The deal also includes NickMom.com, which launched last year.

The NickMom nightly television block will feature a mix of original long- and short-form humor-based programming, including talk shows, stand-up and sketch comedy, hidden camera television shows, and more. NickMom.com, a blog that debuted last November, currently features editorial franchises, photos, and video. Throughout this year, Nickelodeon expects the site to grow, complete with more editorial, photos, videos, gaming, and a community, becoming a fully integrated website timed to the TV launch.

Nickelodeon has picked up 26 episodes of the stand-up comedy series NickMom Night Out for the television block. The series features comedians such as Judy Gold, Corey Kahaney, B Phlat, and Deena Blizzard. Also announced were more than 50 projects in development. The programs span TV and digital, and include work from stand-up comedian and actress Caroline Rhea, actor/author Annabelle Gurwitch, and Madeleine Smithberg of Mad Cow Productions.

Click here for NickMom’s development slate.

Nickelodeon has also announced that Bronwen O’Keefe has been named senior vice president of NickMom. In this newly created position, O’Keefe will spearhead the creation and development of all television and online content for NickMom.

O’Keefe will be responsible for managing the content creation, editorial, and programming development, in addition to overseeing the planning and execution of all linear and digital content for NickMom. She will also work with senior management to set and champion the creative strategy for NickMom.

A 15-year Nickelodeon veteran, O’Keefe was most recently senior vice president of event and original programming, where she was responsible for overseeing the production of network television events, specials, and shows such as Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards, TeenNick HALO Awards, Worldwide Day of Play, Speed Racer, Kappa Mikey, The Secret World of Alex Mack, and Degrassi, among others.

Bart Simpson made his New York Fashion Week debut last week. Bart Simpson-inspired fashions walked down the runway at fashion designer Jeremy Scott’s February 15 show at MILK Studios. Scott, known for designing outrageous pieces and inspired by the spirit and personality of The Simpsons, created a collection of limited-edition pieces for the fashion show. Scott has designed for stars in music and Hollywood, including Madonna, Katy Perry, and Lady Gaga.

Countless licensed products made their debut at American International Toy Fair, held February 12-15 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. Our roundup below summarizes just a portion of the new and expanding licensing programs for popular properties showcased at Toy Fair.

Ludorum’s Licensees Ride the Rails at American International Toy Fair

Chuggington will continue riding the rails into toy stores and onto TV screens this year with support from Ludorum’s licensees and Disney Junior, which will premiere the third season of Chuggington to coincide with the launch of the 24-hour Disney Junior channel on March 23. Disney now holds the rights to 46 episodes. Several of Ludorum’s licensees for Chuggington unveiled new products at the American International Toy Fair, held February 12-15 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City. Read more…

U.S. Partners Find Waldo at Toy Fair

Classic Media signed new consumer products partners for Where’s Waldo? in the U.S. The new Where’s Waldo? program will hit retail timed to Waldo’s 25th anniversary, which commences this fall. Read more…

Moshi Monsters Mania to Hit U.S. Retail

Moshi Monsters fans will soon be able to hold their virtual characters in their hands, hug them in their arms, and wear them on their bodies. Mind Candy, the entertainment firm behind the global children’s property, is launching a huge Moshi Monsters merchandising program in the U.S., set to hit mass-market and specialty stores nationwide beginning Q1. Read more…

Classic Media and Pressman Toy Introduce Tinga Tinga Tales Board Games

Pressman Toy Corporation signed a licensing deal with Classic Media to develop games based on the new preschool series Tinga Tinga Tales. Pressman Toy’s games will be available at mass and specialty retailers nationwide in August. Read more…

Mr. Potato Head Rises at Toy Fair

Warner Bros. Consumer Products announced new partnerships timed to coincide with Toy Fair. WBCP awarded The Bridge Direct, Inc. the master toy license for Looney Tunes. WBCP also partnered with Wonder Forge for preschool products, which will include DC Super Friends. Both companies previewed their lines at the American International Toy Fair. WBCP also partnered with PPW Toys, under a licensing agreement with Hasbro, Inc., to launch a line of Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head figures. Read more…

Official Marvel Colognes and Perfume Launch at Toy Fair

Jads International, LLC debuted its line of Marvel prestige colognes and perfumes at Toy Fair in New York City. The Avengers Cologne Set, Black Widow Perfume, Infinity Formula for Men, and Mischief Cologne will be available to the public in April in the U.S. and Canada. Read more…

New Tetris-Themed Products Introduced at Toy Fair

The Tetris Company, LLC, the exclusive licensor of the Tetris brand, and its merchandising agent, Licensing Works!, announced several new Tetris-themed products from licensees Techno Source, Paladone, and Fundex, which showcased their new Tetris products at Toy Fair. Read more…

Jakks Pacific Sings a New Tune with Deal for Toys Inspired by Songify App

Jacks Pacific signed a license agreement with Khush, a developer of intelligent music applications, to create a new product inspired by the Songify app. Songify, developed in part by YouTube sensations The Gregory Brothers along with Khush, launched this past summer as the first mobile app that turns speech into music instantly. Jakks Pacific plans to bring the technology to the toy aisle this summer. Read more…

Hasbro Scores a Direct “Hit” with Gaming and Toys from Universal Pictures’ Battleship

Hasbro, Inc. will turn one of its timeless brands into a multimedia entertainment property this year with the release of Universal Pictures’ epic action-adventure Battleship. Hasbro will augment the experience of the film with an action-packed line of Battleship-themed toys—both in the gaming realm, where the Battleship brand originated, and in a brand new line of Kre-O building sets—as well as an expansive line of licensed goods, several of which debuted at Toy Fair. Read more…

Jakks Pacific Sings a New Tune with Deal for Toys Inspired by Songify App

Jacks Pacific signed a license agreement with Khush, a developer of intelligent music applications, to create a new product inspired by the Songify app. Songify, developed in part by YouTube sensations The Gregory Brothers along with Khush, launched this past summer as the first mobile app that turns speech into music instantly. Jakks Pacific plans to bring the technology to the toy aisle this summer. Read more…

Nickelodeon and Partners Unveil New Products at Toy Fair

Nickelodeon unveiled products for both new and established properties at Toy Fair, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Winx Club, Team Umizoomi, Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Victorious. Read more…

Nickelodeon unveiled products for both new and established properties at Toy Fair, including Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Winx Club, Team Umizoomi, Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, and Victorious.

Playmates Toys showed a new line of toys inspired by Nickelodeon’s new CG-animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. Playmates Toys’ lineup includes basic, deluxe, and collectible action figures, as well as Ninja gear, play sets, and vehicles.

Jakks Pacific and its Creative Designs International (CDI) and Disguise Halloween divisions debuted products for Winx, including a new line of dolls, play sets, accessories, dress-up, role-play items, and Halloween costumes based on the series. Building on the Winx Club doll line from Jakks, Creative Designs International has created an assortment of role-play dresses and fairy wings for girls who want to transform themselves into their favorite Winx Club member. The Jakks Pacific, CDI, and Disguise product lines are scheduled to launch this fall to coincide with the premiere of the brand new CG episodes of Winx Club on Nickelodeon.

Nickelodeon and Fisher-Price introduced new toy lines for preschool series Team Umizoomi and Dora the Explorer. Team Umizoomi products from Fisher-Price include figures, basic and learning plush, bath toys, and vehicles. Building on the past success of Fisher-Price toys inspired by Dora, new products for 2012 will include a dollhouse, play sets, dolls, role-play toys, and more.

SpongeBob SquarePants is the inspiration for new toys from Fisher-Price’s Imaginext brand. The new line includes play sets, vehicles, and figures where SpongeBob is featured in the Imaginext look. SpongeBob is also the inspiration for two new building sets from The Lego Group, which debuted at Toy Fair.

Victorious master toy licensee Spin Master, Ltd. unveiled new products for the live-action comedy series. The new line will feature fashion dolls and role play, including a new Tori Singing Doll featuring the song, “Best Friend’s Brother.” Feature dolls for additional Victorious characters, including Trina (Daniella Monet), Cat (Ariana Grande), and Jade (Elizabeth Gillies), are also included.

Jakks Pacific, Inc. signed a licensing agreement with AMC to manufacture, distribute, and market Deluxe Plug It In & Play TV Games based on The Walking Dead, the original drama series on AMC. The Walking Dead Deluxe TV Games line is expected to launch at retail nationwide next fall. The Walking Dead Deluxe TV Games from Jakks features a realistic pump-and-shoot shotgun controller that plugs into the A/V jacks of any standard TV, and contains multiple games in each controller.

Jakks also signed an exclusive licensing agreement with Marvel Entertainment, LLC for a line of plush products based on the Marvel Super Hero Squad that ties into the new Marvel virtual online world, HeroUp.com. The product line is expected to include collectible plush, plush clip-ons, and large plush with online components. The line is expected to launch at specialty retailers this spring with broad distribution in mass retail channels starting in 2013. Under the same agreement, Jakks has the rights to manufacture, distribute, and market skill and action games inspired by Marvel classic characters, slated to launch this spring.

In our Brand Licensing Europe issue, we talked about the difficulty of breaking into the Russian market. Now Disney has done it.

According to a report in The New York Times by Brooks Barnes, Disney will purchase 49 percent of SevenTV, a broadcast network reaching three-quarters of Russian television households. United TV Holding Russia will remain the majority owner of the channel, which will be rebranded as a Disney Channel and feature classic Disney children’s shows and new programs created in Russia.

This is potentially huge news for a licensing industry that has gained a foothold in western Europe but struggled to find its way against local brands in Russia. The backstory to this deal is probably incredible, and it obviously remains to be seen if this is a harbinger of things to come or whether Disney, with its considerable muscle, managed to place itself far enough ahead of a curve that we won’t see similar deals in the coming years.

Either way, it’ll be interesting.

—Bryan Joiner

Zombies!

The Walking Dead on AMC has been a hit, and now The Walking Dead board game is lurching onto store shelves from Cryptozoic Entertainment. The game lets players take on the role of characters in the series including Rick Grimes, Shane Walsh, or any of the other survivors as they scrounge for weapons to overcome dangerous encounters on their way to the Center for Disease Control.

The game is designed to  support 1-4 players, ages 15 and up. More information here. AMC’s The Walking Dead is the most watched drama series in basic cable history in the adults 18-49 demographic. It is based on a comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics.

Zombies!

Following last night’s episode of Dexter, Showtime Licensing & Merchandising launched a companion site that played heavily within the story’s plot line. BuyThisTreasure.com will serve as a sister commerce site to the SHO.com store, selling product directly related to one of the series’ most famous killers.

The products that will be sold include:

Episode Tie-In: In the show Masuka’s intern steals a prosthetic arm, a piece of evidence from season one’s Ice Truck Killer, and auctions it on the fictional auction site Buy This Treasure. Showtime has recreated the site based on the graphics seen on the show and will feature SHO.com store items themed around the Ice Truck Killer. The highlighted item is the “Thumb Drive” – a USB memory stick encased in a fake thumb. The prosthetic arm from the episode is also on the site, but the “auction” will “end” when it’s clicked – just like what happened to Masuka when he tried to reclaim the stolen evidence in the show.

Twentieth Century Fox Television has named entertainment marketing executive Jeffrey Godsick to the position of president, Fox Consumer Products. Godsick will oversee all of Fox’s consumer products activities and staff, reporting to Twentieth Century Fox Chairmen Gary Newman and Dana Walden, and starts immediately. Robert Marick, EVP of Consumer Products, remains on board, reporting to Godsick.

Godsick will oversee the worldwide licensing of Fox’s portfolio of film and television properties across platforms including interactive gaming, themed entertainment, television promotions, literary publishing, and a wide array of consumer product categories. Headquartered in the operating unit’s West Coast office, Godsick will manage both its Los Angeles and London-based operations.

Previously, Godsick held several senior marketing positions at Twentieth Century Fox’s feature film division, most recently as senior executive vice president. He began his tenure at Fox in 1995, as SVP, publicity, and was upped to EVP of marketing a few years later. He left the studio in 2006 to become president of Fox-Walden, where he oversaw all aspects of the campaigns for the company’s slate of feature films. Godsick returned to Fox in 2008 as EVP, before his promotion earlier this year to senior executive vice president. Throughout the years, Godsick has played key roles in the studio’s campaigns for Rise of the Planet of the Apes, X-Men: First Class, Rio, Avatar, the Ice Age films, the Star Wars films, the original X-Men film trilogy, Moulin Rouge, Independence Day, and many others.  Before joining Fox, Godsick was a senior executive at Rogers and Cowan, where he oversaw all domestic and international film operations as well as the firm’s London office.

Godsick began his career at Columbia Pictures as an assistant field manager, working on the films The Karate Kid and Ghostbusters, among many others. A graduate of Tulane University, Godsick sits on the board of trustees of Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, is a member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and is a member of the advisory committee of the Los Angeles Film Festival.

Today, Discovery Communications, Exhibits Development Group announced the launch of MythBusters: The Explosive Exhibition, in partnership with the Museum of Science and Industry, Chicago and Geoffrey M. Curley + Associates. The exhibition, set to debut March 15, will explore the truth behind popular myths by mixing scientific method with curiosity and old-fashioned ingenuity, creating a hands-on interactive experience for guests of all ages.

The Discovery Channel’s Emmy-nominated series, co-hosted by Adam Savage and Jamie Hyneman, has taken science to a new level, mixing their extensive backgrounds in special effects and curiosity to test every myth for its falsity or truth, and can now be enjoyed by the masses.

In the exhibit, guest will learn about myths, the MythBusters, and what experimenting is all about by participating in a series of fun, hands-on experiences and live demonstrations. Experiments will cover topics such as flight, friction, gravity, speed, and combustion.

The exhibit will also showcase a Blueprint Room, based off the real-life operations room of MythBusters; a Workshop Room, where guests turn into investigators and use real science to test myths and answer a series of challenging questions; and the Live MythBusters Demonstration Stage, which gives guests the opportunity to view and participate in live science demonstrations that dissect myths with the help of MythBusting facilitators.

Tickets for the exhibition at MSI go on sale December 1 and will also tour 14 additional cities in the U.S. and Canada. For an extensive list, visit www.exhibitsdevelopment.com.

—Ericka Johnson