Hub Announced Lineup for Upfronts
In preparation for its first advertiser upfront before its October launch, The Hub announced a series of new programming pickups that includes a wide range of original, premiere, and acquired series and specials. The Hub, which will be available to 60 million U.S. households at launch, is a joint venture television network between Discovery Communications and Hasbro, Inc.
Scheduling details were also announced: preschool (ages 2–5; 9AM–1PM); kids afternoon/kids prime (ages 6–12; 1–6PM); Family Prime Access (6–7PM); and Family Prime (7–11PM).
Among the animated and live-action series is a slate of original series along with acquired programming. Some of the Hub original series include Dan Vs., Family Game Night, G.I. Joe Renegades, Pound Puppies, R.L. Stine’s The Haunting Hour, and The 99.
Additional series to air on the Hub include Fraggle Rock, Maryoku Yummy, Meerkat Manor, Strawberry Shortcake, The WotWots, and Twisted Whiskers.
The recently announced series will join The Hub’s previously named original series Transformers Prime and My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic, both from Hasbro Studios.
Foreman’s First Foray into Hardware Industry
The Bridge Direct, Inc., led by toy industry veteran Jay Foreman, was chosen as one of the manufacturers who brought outstanding innovation to the recent National Hardware Show in Las Vegas. Out of tens of thousands of products from more than 2,000 exhibiting companies, The Bridge’s Raptor Strap—a unique, “safer bungee” cord—was one of the products selected and honored with a Retailers’ Choice Award as one of the most “Outstanding and Innovative New Products” by Hardware Retailing magazine’s panel of industry judges.
The Raptor Strap is part of The Bridge’s new Raptor Brand line of “tie-down” securing products, which are expected at retail by early next year.
The company plans to showcase its Raptor Brand line at upcoming trade shows for the auto, camping, and outdoor industries. Visit www.raptorbrands.com.
SportBrandProtect.com to Help the Global Sports Market
SportsBrandProtect.com, goes live this week as part of the Chief Marketing Officer (CMO) Council’s latest thought leadership initiative, “Doing Away with Foul Play in Sports Marketing.”
The campaign takes a hard look at brand degradation resulting from online trademark violations, property rights theft, and ticket and merchandise scams in the global sports market.
For example, FIFA, the global football governing body, has filed 2,500 legal actions to defend its corporate partners, who provide sponsorships that are critical to funding the nearly $1.5 billion cost of the World Cup, which starts June 11 in South Africa. This highlights an underlying theme of mega-sports events such as the World Cup: the need for better education, practices, and infrastructure in the fight against licensing violations, brand fraud, and trademark infringement, according to CMO.
With future global sporting events such as the upcoming Commonwealth Games in Delhi targeted for analytics, SportsBrandProtect.com will be a destination for marketers looking to safeguard investments, realize better returns, and optimize the event experience for fans and organizers alike.
Look for insights and perspectives from an authoritative advisory board and faculty drawn from sports leagues, associations, sponsors, sporting goods manufacturers, academia, and consulting groups. These include the NFL, CFL, NBA, MLS, PGA, FIFA, Premier League, Canadian Olympic Committee, ABSA Bank, Mizuno, Puma, MasterCard, and others.
Beverly Hills Country Club Enters Indian Market
Brand Sense Partners, LLC (bsp) and Masterbrand Licensing International, LLC have appointed New Delhi-based License India to manage the brand extension program in India for Beverly Hills Country Club (BHCC). Bsp and its in-house fashion and apparel group, the POP studio, will continue to provide global strategic and creative oversight for the BHCC brand.
“India’s domestic market is a great opportunity for the iconic Beverly Hills Country Club lifestyle brand,” said Ramez Toubassy, president of bsp, in a statement. “We are thrilled to be working with License India who has helped establish numerous global brands in the Indian marketplace.”
Plans call for License India to extend the brand into apparel, fashion accessories, high-end social expression products, and gift items targeting consumers in India’s most populated and fashion-forward cities.
Paramount Apparel Signs Agreement with Hawaiian Tropic
Paramount Apparel International, Inc., (PAi) announced the signing of a new agreement with Hawaiian Tropic to design, manufacture, and sell straw hats, fedoras, visors, and ball caps, throughout the United States. The new collection will be launched next month.
The Hawaiian Tropic license continues to build PAi’s extensive headwear and accessories portfolio that includes brands such as True Religion, Robert Graham, A-Kurtz, Ben Sherman, and Greg Norman.
Hawaiian Tropic is a leading manufacturer of sun care products and has recently developed licensing partnerships in key categories.