Top 100 Global Licensors - License
 

Top 100 Global Licensors

Source: License! Global

19. MGA Entertainment

$2B (PRIVATE)
LEAH MARKS, VICE PRESIDENT OF LICENSING AND ENTERTAINMENT, +1.818.894.2525

The MGA Family has a host of bratty kids that drove retail sales during 2008, including Bratz, Bratz Kids, Lil Bratz, Lil Angelz and Little Tikes. Toward the end of last year, however, MGA was ordered by the U.S. District Court to stop creating the Bratz dolls because it violated Mattel's copyrights. The two companies are still in court battling over which has the rights to sell Bratz products and what amount of damages MGA may owe Mattel. MGA is looking to develop two new fashion doll brands in 2009.

20. Rainbow

$2B (PRIVATE)
FRIDERICO GATTI, SALES DIRECTOR, +39 071 75067500

Series four of the "Winx Club" animated television series will launch in spring 2009 in some major European countries, with international roll out by autumn 2009. Season four will kickstart a new licensing program with a fashionable style guide to support the introduction of a new Winx girl, Roxy and six new fairy pets. There also will be new publishing titles related to season four. Winx Club is launching an MMO game in autumn 2009 at http://winxclub.com/. Winx Club Movie released internationally in 2008 and in 2009, and a DVD is to follow. For Maya, a monthly fashion magazine is launching in spring 2009, followed by a second Maya hardcover novel. New property in the portfolio is animated television series "Huntik," which premiered worldwide in January. The licensing program included the launch of a monthly comic magazine with a 120,000 circulation in February, a figurines pack sold from newsstands launched in February and Panini stickers launching this spring. Huntik trading cards are launching in summer 2009, the toy line launches for Christmas 2009, and DS, Wii and MMO RPG gaming launches are planned for 2010. Retail partners include Carrefour, Auchan, Italy Toys Center, Italy API petrol stations, Sonae and Toys "R" Us.

21. BBC WORLDWIDE

$1.9B (PUBLIC SERVICE BROADCASTING)
ANNA HEWITT, HEAD OF INTERNATIONAL LICENSING; RICHARD HOLLIS, HEAD OF U.K. LICENSING, +44 (0) 20 8433 2000

Top international properties in 2008 included In the Night Garden and Doctor Who (U.K.), Planet Earth (U.S.), Top Gear, Charlie and Lola and Teletubbies. In DVD, Planet Earth, Doctor Who, Gavin and Stacey, Little Britain and Top Gear were key sales drivers. BBCW Children's and Licensing outlined key strategies: adult licensing, a brand-focused structure and improved infrastructure to maximize content and expansion in the U.S. Core children's brands include In the Night Garden, where the focus will be on maintaining its U.K. position, building on initial success in Canada and Australia and rolling out to Spain, France and Holland. New children's properties for BBC Worldwide include Little Airplane's 3rd & Bird!—product launching in spring 2010—and Handle and Spout's Harry and Toto, with product launching in autumn 2009. BBCW is currently recruiting U.K. licensees. In adult licensing, Top Gear surpassed achievement year-on-year in 2008 in the U.K. with 23 licensees on board. In 2009, international licensing will get the spotlight as television and format sales of the program roll out across the world. U.S. retailers supportive of BBC's Planet Earth merchandise were Walmart and Toys "R" Us. In the U.K., BBCW has increased the number of direct-to-retail licenses.


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