W!ldbrain Entertainment develops television programming, motion pictures, short-form programming, commercial content, and consumer products. The company was recently acquired by DHX Media. Erin Webb Dippold, W!ldbrain’s director of licensing, fills us in on the latest news at W!ldbrain for its popular Yo Gabba Gabba! property, as well as others.
Saban Brands, a subsidiary of Saban Capital Group, was formed in 2010. Founder Haim Saban quickly brought Elie Dekel on board as president of Saban Brands. As many in the industry may remember, Dekel previously worked with Saban as president of Saban Consumer Products/Fox Family Worldwide. The first order of business was to re-acquire the Power Rangers property, which Saban had originally brought to the U.S. in 1993. The property was a powerhouse throughout the 1990s. The latest owner of the property was Disney, which acquired it when it purchased Fox Family Worldwide, a company Saban co-owned. Dekel discusses building Saban Brands’ portfolio and executive team, as well as the enduring Power Rangers, which has a new series—Power Rangers Samurai. It began airing on Nickelodeon on February 7.