ITV

Category: Kids

  • Disney unveils ‘Hannah Montana’ merchandise in US

    Disney unveils ‘Hannah Montana’ merchandise in US

    MUMBAI: Disney Consumer Products has unveiled a new line of products inspired by Hannah Montana in an assortment of apparel, home décor, stationery, games, electronics, and personal care items.

    The first items will be launched this month including a collection of apparel, handbags and accessories available at Macy’s department stores in the US. Especially designed for tween girls (sizes 7 – 16), the new line features lifestyle sportswear pieces incorporating key fashion trends and style direction taken from lead character Miley Stewart’s duality (by day girl next door, by night pop star princess). The prices for the products will range from $20-$39 SRP, informs an official release.

    “Hannah Montana has resonated with kids and tweens with its relatable stories, sense of humour and its charming characters,” said Disney Consumer Products TV Licensing vice president Lisa Avent. “This new line of merchandise will extend the series beyond TV into a full lifestyle brand offering many ways for tween girls to celebrate their sense of style – be it casual or glamorous pop star.”

    Also available this month is an assortment of stationery and self-expression items including posters, bookmarks, greeting cards, gift wrap and party goods at retailers nationwide such as Wal-Mart and Party City.

    A series of junior novels launched earlier this year and will also expand in the spring. In 2007, Hannah Montana fans can look for a new line of cosmetics at Club Libby Lu. In addition, a collection of Hannah Montana fashion dolls will also be available at retailers nationwide. Home décor, consumer electronics, video games and toys will launch later in the year, while apparel and accessories will expand to other retailers including Dillard’s, adds the release.

    Hannah Montana is a live-action comedy series that follows typical tween Miley Stewart, who lives with her older brother and widowed dad, a songwriter. But unbeknownst to her friends and classmates, Miley has a secret double life – she is the world famous pop star Hannah Montana. Combining a stage persona with creative costuming, Miley discovers she can have the best of both worlds – the fame and fortune of a well-known singer and the fun of middle school with her best friends Lilly and Oliver, whom she has entrusted with her secret identity.

  • Disney unveils ‘Hannah Montana’ merchandise in US













    MUMBAI: Disney Consumer Products has unveiled a new line of products inspired by Hannah Montana in an assortment of apparel, home décor, stationery, games, electronics, and personal care items.


    The first items will be launched this month including a collection of apparel, handbags and accessories available at Macy‘s department stores in the US. Especially designed for tween girls (sizes 7 – 16), the new line features lifestyle sportswear pieces incorporating key fashion trends and style direction taken from lead character Miley Stewart‘s duality (by day girl next door, by night pop star princess). The prices for the products will range from $20-$39 SRP, informs an official release.



    “Hannah Montana has resonated with kids and tweens with its relatable stories, sense of humour and its charming characters,” said Disney Consumer Products TV Licensing vice president Lisa Avent. “This new line of merchandise will extend the series beyond TV into a full lifestyle brand offering many ways for tween girls to celebrate their sense of style – be it casual or glamorous pop star.”


    Also available this month is an assortment of stationery and self-expression items including posters, bookmarks, greeting cards, gift wrap and party goods at retailers nationwide such as Wal-Mart and Party City.


    A series of junior novels launched earlier this year and will also expand in the spring. In 2007, Hannah Montana fans can look for a new line of cosmetics at Club Libby Lu. In addition, a collection of Hannah Montana fashion dolls will also be available at retailers nationwide. Home décor, consumer electronics, video games and toys will launch later in the year, while apparel and accessories will expand to other retailers including Dillard‘s, adds the release.


    Hannah Montana is a live-action comedy series that follows typical tween Miley Stewart, who lives with her older brother and widowed dad, a songwriter. But unbeknownst to her friends and classmates, Miley has a secret double life – she is the world famous pop star Hannah Montana. Combining a stage persona with creative costuming, Miley discovers she can have the best of both worlds – the fame and fortune of a well-known singer and the fun of middle school with her best friends Lilly and Oliver, whom she has entrusted with her secret identity.

  • Toonz joins forces with Paramount Home Entertainment and Commotion Pictures to produce Dragonlance













    MUMBAI: Toonz Animation India, India‘s animation studio, has signed a contract with Paramount Home Entertainment (PHE) and Commotion Pictures to produce an animated feature film titled Dragonlance.


    The animated feature film to be produced by Toonz, PHE and Commotion pictures is based on Hasbro‘s Dungeons and Dragons property. The film will be distributed theatrically in India by Toonz, and on DVD in the U.S. and internationally (except for Asia) by Paramount Home Entertainment. Commotion Pictures‘ producer Steve Stabler and Paramount Pictures former marketing president Arthur Cohen will produce the film, asserts an official release.


    Commenting on the deal, Toonz Animation India CEO P. Jayakumar said, “We are thrilled to have entered into an agreement with accomplished producers like Steve Stabler and Arthur Cohen. This is an incredible opportunity to create an exciting film with global appeal and iconic characters.”



    Dragonlance will feature the voice of Keifer Sutherland (24), Lucy Lawless (Xena: Warrior Princess), Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville) and Michelle Trachtenberg (Ice Princess, Buffy the Vampire Slayer).


    Paramount Home Entertainment senior vice president worldwide acquisitions and DVD premieres Ellen Pittleman added, “We‘re very excited to bring the wildly popular world of Dungeons and Dragons to the screen. We are confident that Commotion Pictures and Toonz will do the property justice to the delight of fans around the world.”


    Dragonlance is based on Dragons of Autumn Twilight, the first novel in the bestselling Dragonlance fantasy franchise, published by Wizards of the Coast. Though the gods have long battled for control of this beautiful sword-and sorcery world, it has always been the heroic deeds of mortals that decide its fate.


    The story begins as Tanis Half-Elven meets up with his old friends Flint Gireforge (a grumpy dwarven warrior), Tasslehoff Burrfoot (a tiny and inquisitive rogue), Raislin Majere (the dark, mysterious human wizard) and Sturm Brightblad (valiant human knight). Reunited after an unsuccessful five-year journey to seek out signs of the old gods, these companions are thrown into a conflict over a legendary blue crystal staff, wielded by the barbarian princess Goldmoon

  • Disney’s ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest’ DVD premiere sells 5 mn units in US

    Disney’s ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest’ DVD premiere sells 5 mn units in US

    MUMBAI: Walt Disney Pictures’ Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest has sold nearly 5 million units on DVD in North America on its first day of release, as announced by Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment president Bob Chapek. This would put the Johnny Depp starrer on track to become the No.1 selling “live-action” DVD of all time.

    “We could not be more thrilled with the incredible success of Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” commented Chapek. “This franchise is a genuine treasure for us and we are ecstatic that the momentum generated at theatrical has continued with the DVD release. Consumers have an insatiable appetite for all things Pirates Of The Caribbean.”

    ” is officially on track to become the #1 selling DVD of the YPirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chestear. This, coupled with the recent extraordinary successes of Cars and the Platinum release of The Little Mermaid, continues to illustrate the enduring appeal of Disney branded movies in the DVD industry. It is our commitment to fans of Disney movies to do everything possible to keep their favorite DVDs in stock throughout the holiday season,” he continued.

    The Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest’s theatrical opening weekend was the biggest in U.S. box-office history, and continues with a worldwide box-office gross of over a billion dollars to date, making it Disney’s most successful movie of all time, informs an official release.

    This fete now poises Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment to finish the 2006 year owning three of the top three DVD releases of the year with Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Cars and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

  • MarketWatch names Disney’s Iger as ‘CEO of the Year’

    MarketWatch names Disney’s Iger as ‘CEO of the Year’

    MUMBAI: MarketWatch.com, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Dow Jones & Company and a provider of business news, financial information and analytical tools, has announced that Robert A. Iger, president and chief executive of The Walt Disney Company, has been selected as its “CEO of the Year” for 2006.

    Iger, who was appointed to the post of chief executive on 1 October 2005, was selected by MarketWatch senior editors from a field of five candidates nominated by MarketWatch journalists. The other candidates were Ginger Graham of Amylin Pharmaceuticals Inc., Lawrence Kellner of Continental Airlines Inc., Steve Sanger of General Mills Inc., and Jeffrey Sprecher of IntercontinentalExchange.

    An official release issued stated that Iger was selected based on four criteria: performance for customers over the last year, performance for shareholders, performance for employees and corporate governance initiatives.

    “All of our finalists had outstanding years and the debate over who should win was brisk,” said, MarketWatch.com editor-in-chief David Callaway. “But Bob Iger stood above the rest. Not just for how he helped boost Disney’s share price after several tough years, but for how he mended fences with dissident partners, reformed the management culture, and presided over the $7 billion buyout of Pixar, which arguably returned Disney to its animation roots.”

    Iger’s award will be presented at a ceremony hosted by MarketWatch and Dow Jones editors and executives early in 2007. Past winners include Meg Whitman of eBay, Raymond Mason of Legg Mason and Ed Zander of Motorola, adds the release.

    Separately, MarketWatch announced that Ramesh Pandey of XeChem International Inc. has been named “CEO of the Year” for 2006 by MarketWatch users. Besides participating in a poll, MarketWatch users actively tapped social networking sites, message boards and other viral online tools to encourage voting for their favourite nominees.

  • Disney’s ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest’ DVD premiere sells 5 mn units in US

    Disney’s ‘Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest’ DVD premiere sells 5 mn units in US

    MUMBAI: Walt Disney Pictures’ Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest has sold nearly 5 million units on DVD in North America on its first day of release, as announced by Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment president Bob Chapek. This would put the Johnny Depp starrer on track to become the No.1 selling “live-action” DVD of all time.

    “We could not be more thrilled with the incredible success of Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest,” commented Chapek. “This franchise is a genuine treasure for us and we are ecstatic that the momentum generated at theatrical has continued with the DVD release. Consumers have an insatiable appetite for all things Pirates Of The Caribbean.”

    ” is officially on track to become the #1 selling DVD of the YPirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chestear. This, coupled with the recent extraordinary successes of Cars and the Platinum release of The Little Mermaid, continues to illustrate the enduring appeal of Disney branded movies in the DVD industry. It is our commitment to fans of Disney movies to do everything possible to keep their favorite DVDs in stock throughout the holiday season,” he continued.

    The Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest’s theatrical opening weekend was the biggest in U.S. box-office history, and continues with a worldwide box-office gross of over a billion dollars to date, making it Disney’s most successful movie of all time, informs an official release.

    This fete now poises Buena Vista Worldwide Home Entertainment to finish the 2006 year owning three of the top three DVD releases of the year with Pirates Of The Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest, Cars and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe.

  • Nickelodeon Preschool unifies Nick Jr. & Noggin creative & management teams

    Nickelodeon Preschool unifies Nick Jr. & Noggin creative & management teams

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon Television executive VP/GM Tom Ascheim has announced that Nick Jr. and Noggin will blend their creative and management teams to live as one unified group — Nickelodeon Preschool.

    The new preschool team will be led by Brown Johnson who has been named Nickelodeon Preschool executive vice president, executive creative director and Noggin general manager. Additionally, it was announced that Teri Weiss has been promoted to senior vice president, development and production for Nickelodeon Preschool and Angela Leaney has been named senior vice president, creative director, Nickelodeon Preschool.

    Johnson, a 19-year veteran of Nickelodeon, has been the driving force behind Nick Jr. and its preschool properties including Blue’s Clues, Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, The Wonder Pets!, The Backyardigans, among others. In her new role, Johnson will oversee development and production for all preschool programming across Nickelodeon networks, including Nick Jr., Nickelodeon’s programming block dedicated to preschoolers and Noggin, Nickelodeon’s commercial-free digital educational network for preschoolers, states an official release.

    “Brown has pioneered genuinely interactive TV and created a place where parents and kids will find the most diverse, unique programs and characters around,” said Ascheim. “Under her leadership, Nickelodeon Preschool will continue these traditions and invent new ways for the audience to play along, new ways for parents to feel great about our brands.”

    Weiss will report to Johnson and expand her role to develop and produce the next generation of series.

    In addition, Leaney will also report to Johnson and will bring her branding experience and creative eye to Nick Jr. and Noggin. In addition, Leaney will partner with Nickelodeon marketing and Nickelodeon digital to continue to build both brands.

  • Mega Brands inks intl. toy deal with Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products

    MUMBAI: Mega Brands Inc., toys, games and puzzle providers, has entered into a multi-year international licensing partnership with Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products to develop construction toys based on Nick Jr.‘s preschool character brands.


    As per the agreement, Mega Brands obtains the rights to develop an assortment of construction toys including buildable playsets and vehicles based on Nickelodeon‘s preschool brands, including Go Diego Go!, The Backyardigans and Dora the Explorer, informs an official release.



    The new licensed product offerings will launch in 2007 beginning with the United States and Canada with an expansion to additional markets including the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Latin America later in the year and others in 2008.


    The deal was announced by, Mega Brands executive VP Vic Bertrand, Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products senior vice president/Hard Goods Sherice Torres and Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products senior vice president/International Tanya Haider.


    “Nickelodeon and MEGA Brands share a common commitment to providing families with programming and products that foster imagination, education and social development,” said Bertrand. “We are excited to help bring Nickelodeon‘s loveable characters to life for children across the globe through the power of block building. These are tremendous properties for expanding our system of blocks as Dora, Diego, and The Backyardigans characters open up new play patterns of building activities for children.”



    “As NVCP builds on the tremendous success of Dora the Explorer internationally and rolls out Nick Jr.‘s hit properties, Go, Diego, Go! And The Backyardigans to new markets in 2007, it is the perfect time to extend our preschool portfolio into the construction toy category by partnering worldwide with MEGA Brands,” added Haider.

  • Mega Brands inks intl. toy deal with Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products

    Mega Brands inks intl. toy deal with Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products

    MUMBAI: Mega Brands Inc., toys, games and puzzle providers, has entered into a multi-year international licensing partnership with Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products to develop construction toys based on Nick Jr.’s preschool character brands.

    As per the agreement, Mega Brands obtains the rights to develop an assortment of construction toys including buildable playsets and vehicles based on Nickelodeon’s preschool brands, including Go Diego Go!, The Backyardigans and Dora the Explorer, informs an official release.

    The new licensed product offerings will launch in 2007 beginning with the United States and Canada with an expansion to additional markets including the United Kingdom, France, Australia, and Latin America later in the year and others in 2008.

    The deal was announced by, Mega Brands executive VP Vic Bertrand, Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products senior vice president/Hard Goods Sherice Torres and Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products senior vice president/International Tanya Haider.

    “Nickelodeon and MEGA Brands share a common commitment to providing families with programming and products that foster imagination, education and social development,” said Bertrand. “We are excited to help bring Nickelodeon’s loveable characters to life for children across the globe through the power of block building. These are tremendous properties for expanding our system of blocks as Dora, Diego, and The Backyardigans characters open up new play patterns of building activities for children.”

    “As NVCP builds on the tremendous success of Dora the Explorer internationally and rolls out Nick Jr.’s hit properties, Go, Diego, Go! And The Backyardigans to new markets in 2007, it is the perfect time to extend our preschool portfolio into the construction toy category by partnering worldwide with MEGA Brands,” added Haider.

  • ‘Britannia Tiger Hungamthon’ ropes in Ajay Jadeja to kick off the event

    ‘Britannia Tiger Hungamthon’ ropes in Ajay Jadeja to kick off the event

    MUMBAI: The second season Hungama TV’s kid’s marathon just got bigger. The Hungamthon this time round has roped in former Indian cricketer Ajay Jadeja to flag off the event, for which Britannia Tiger has come on board as the official brand sponsor. With the addition of a third city this year, the Britannia Tiger Hungamthon ’06-07 will be held on 7, 14 and 28 January in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata respectively.

    To add star power to the event, the cast of UTV produced film Hattrick – Rimmi Sen and Kunal Kapoor will extend their support to the runners.

    Hungama TV has tied-up with sports association Athletic Federation of India to ensure appropriate adjudication for the entire event. This year the race will be divided into two categories of the ‘Masters’ and ‘Blasters.’ The applicable age for participants is between 8-15 years, while the Masters will consist of 8 – 12 year olds who would run for 2 km, the Blasters will include 13 – 15 year olds who would run for 3 km.

    The entire event will not be telecast but snippets of it will be shown in Feburary next year.

    To ensure participation, an on going school contact program across 100 schools each in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata was rolled out in November. The channel states that last year the distribtution of forms to the various schools claims to have garnered maximum response from the kids. Additionally, this will be supported by a mass media promotion comprising of print, radio and internet. The channel has tied up with Times NIE and TTIS as print partners and ABP and Telegraph to promote the event in Kolkata. The radio partners are Red FM 93.5 and Total Sports Asia the event partners.

    What’s more, this year the event has lured more advertisers including Set Wet Nottee and Bournvita as co-presenting sponsors, the associate sponsors are Boomer, Dabur Chyawanprash, Sustacal, Haldiram’s Chips and Dukes Waffy. The water partner is Oxyrich and the Multiplex partners are Cinemax and PVR Cinemas.

    Speaking about the Britannia Tiger Hungamthon, UTV senior vice president marketing and communications Siddharth Roy Kapur said that much like last year the event would have a carnival feel with a holding area for parents and kids that will have food and games stalls. “In addition to the Hungama characters interacting with the kids, there will also be a live band performing at the venue.”

    Application forms are available at Cinemax chain in Mumbai and PVR chain in New Delhi as well as on the website www.hungamatv.com.