FremantleMedia Signs Retail Promotions for The X Factor

LONDON,
November 27: FremantleMedia Licensing Worldwide (FLW), the licensing division
of FremantleMedia, has secured several direct-to-retail promotion deals with
major U.K. chains Comet, Superdrug and Argos for the series The X Factor.

This marks the
first time that FLW has inked promotion arrangements of this kind, which it
says are now part of its growth strategy.

The promotion
with Comet is running nationwide in more than 250 stores in November and
December, 2006, and features a range of The X Factor-branded karaoke machines, developed by
Acoustic Solutions, in designated promotional bays. Marketing is via the
distribution of 8 million flyers in national newspapers and 2 million in-store
flyers.

Superdrug is
running an in-store nationwide promotional competition in November for The X
Factor in which fans
can win tickets to The X
Factor live tour.
The promotional competition will be displayed in promotional bays and will
accompany a series of The X Factor software products, which have been developed by
Magix AG.

The promotion
with Argos has launched with a competition offering fans the chance to win The
X Factor live tour
tickets.

“We are
delighted to announce our first direct-to-retail promotional deals and to be
working with such highly respected nationwide retailers,” says Dominic Burns,
the VP of licensing, U.K. at FLW.” Establishing stronger retail relationships
is the next step in our strategy for continued growth and promotional deals
such as these really to use the power of our brands in a unique way and allow
our licensees to achieve maximum cut-through in a retail environment.”

The third
series of The X Factor
is the highest rated show on ITV1 this year for 16-34 year olds. The series
currently attracts an average of 7.9 million viewers.