HIT’s Barney Scores New Licensee

NORTH HILLS, July 1:
Imperial Toy has secured the rights for a new line of bubble and sandbox toys
based on HIT Entertainment’s preschool property Barney for spring 2009.

Imperial will manufacture
and market a complete bubble toy line, including battery-operated and
dip-and-blow bubble toys. A highlight will be the battery-operated Barney
Bubble Bellie. This is the newest addition to Imperial’s lineup of HIT
properties, which already includes Thomas & Friends and Bob the Builder bubble and sand toys.

“Barney and bubbles are two timeless favorites,” said Tim
Thompson, the senior VP of marketing at Imperial Toy. “Many of today’s parents
grew up enjoying Barney & Friends and can now share their love for the dino-mite dinosaur with their
own kids.”

“Imperial Toy has done a
fantastic job with this year’s launch of Bob the Builder and Thomas & Friends sand toys and bubble products,” added Rick
Glankler, the VP of consumer products for HIT Entertainment. “We are confident
that the Barney line will be
equally successful, providing Barney fans with innovative toys for warm-weather fun.”

—By Kristin
Brzoznowski