FME Gears Up for Licensing International Expo

LONDON: FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) is heading to the Licensing International Expo 2011 in Las Vegas, focusing on products for key brands such as The X Factor, Idols, Got Talent and Rebecca Bonbon, along with kids’ properties.

The international success of these brands has boosted interest with licensees. The X Factor airs in 20 territories, and is launching in the U.S. this fall. Got Talent is in 42 territories, while Idols broadcasts in 44 markets. Rebecca Bonbon recently scored merchandising deals across Europe and the Asia Pacific, on the back of its retail success in North America.

The FME Children’s & Family Entertainment division is also seeking out new licensing opportunities worldwide. The group is focusing on properties such as the boys action-adventure animated series Monsuno, as well as the tween horror/comedy My Babysitter’s a Vampire. There’s also the preschool fantasy series Tree Fu Tom and The Aquabats Super Show, which combines concert footage, live-action skits and animation. FME’s development deal with Terri, Bindi and Robert Irwin and the Australia Zoo continues to be a priority in this arena as well.

The FME Americas licensing team will be on hand with a number of hit U.S. brands. This includes American Idol, as well as the third-party brands Golden Boy and Rebecca Bonbon. Game shows are also in the mix, with The Price is Right, Family Feud, Hole in the Wall, Let’s Make a Deal and Press Your Luck.

Activities across EMEA will be represented. This includes non-TV brands such as Grand Designs. Also, the EMEA team will be repping the third-party properties American Chopper, Deadliest Catch, LA Ink and Miami Ink for Discovery Communications; H20: Just Add Water, The Elephant Princess and Dance Academy for ZDF Enterprises; graphic character properties Mashimaro from Korea; and Bang on the Door, a British multi-character brand. Other key properties include the Germany soap Gute Zeiten, Schlechte Zeiten, the famous French game show Question Pour Un Champion and game-show classics The Price is Right and Family Fortunes.

The Asia-Pacific team will be focused on Grand Designs Australia. It will also be looking for deals on its portfolio of CBS Consumer Products, including Australia’s Next Top Model. FME’s exclusive representation of CBS Consumer Products in Australia and New Zealand also includes NCIS, CSI, Dexter and classic TV titles such as Happy Days, Cheers, Beverly Hills 90210 and Mighty Mouse. Through its partnership with DreamWorks Animation, FME is also the promotional representative in Australia and New Zealand for Puss in Boots, due in theaters this December,.

David Ellender, the global CEO of FME, commented, “We have a fantastic portfolio of global super brands, entertainment icons, and third party properties which we are able to implement strategically on a local, regional and global basis. In addition, new developments from our recently created Children’s & Family Entertainment division are bringing new opportunities to licensees in both traditional and new media categories.”