3rd & Bird! Gets New Licensees

LONDON: BBC Worldwide has signed two new licensees to develop and distribute the preschool property 3rd & Bird! into the U.K. toy market. 

DanJam is working on a line of wooden toys and MV Sports for wheeled toys, with product set to launch in 2010. DanJam’s 3rd & Bird! range will include wooden stacking toys, pull along vehicles, play sets and musical instruments. MV Sports will develop a range of 3rd & Bird! inspired wheeled toys, including trikes, scooters, and ride-ons.

Julie Kekwick, the senior licensing manager for toys for BBC Worldwide, said, "3rd & Bird! is proving extremely popular on CBeebies at the moment which is a great platform to gauge interest in the property. With a raft of new licensees signed up to develop the brand further into toys and other apparel, we’re confident 3rd & Bird! is going to shake a few feathers in the preschool licensing arena."

Warren Traeger, the director of DanJam Toys, commented, "Following the success of the wooden In the Night Garden range in 2008, we are thrilled to be partnering with BBC Worldwide again on 3rd & Bird! It’s such a fun and vibrant brand that it lends itself perfectly to the development of wooden toys. With a planned retail launch of spring 2010, we look forward to presenting the initial range to customers later in 2009."

Added Phil Ratcliffe, the sales and marketing director for MV Sports, "MV are delighted once again, to be working with BBC Worldwide on this exciting new property. For MV, 3rd & Bird! ticks all the right boxes in terms of television platform, licensing potential and intrinsic appeal. Our product range will reflect the charm, humor and musical attributes of this great new preschool show."