JTMG, WGBH Ink Licensing Agreement

SAN FRANCISCO/BOSTON, December 4: Joy Tashjian Marketing
Group (JTMG) has been named the exclusive licensing representative for three
WGBH brands: Antiques Roadshow, PEEP
and the Big Wide World and Fetch!
with Ruff Ruffman.

Working under the guidance of David Bernstein, the VP and
general manager of WGBH Enterprises, and WGBH’s director of licensing, Mary
Cahill Farella, JTMG will be responsible for the licensing and merchandising
for Antiques Roadshow, PEEP and the Big Wide World and Fetch! with Ruff Ruffman. Targeted at children aged 6 to 10, Fetch!
with Ruff Ruffman is a new reality game
show that poses math and science challenges to kid contestants. The Emmy
award-winning animated series PEEP and the Big Wide World is narrated by actress Joan Cusack and serves to
introduce science to preschoolers. Antiques Roadshow is the highest-rated prime-time series on PBS, and
centers on determining the real monetary value of people’s prized possessions.

WGBH’s publishing partner for PEEP and the Big Wide World
is Soundprints/Studio Mouse. JTMG will add
a number of licensees to the Antiques Roadshow roster, which already includes Dale Tiffany, whose
lighting products are featured at Lowes. Other licensees for Antiques
Roadshow include Craftex for fabrics and
bedding, Flexsteel for furniture, Workman Publishing in the publishing genre,
WGBH Boston Video for digital distribution, Belvoir with a subscription newsletter
and Steiff North America for a line of collectible plush bears.

“We are excited to begin our association with Joy Tashjian
and JTMG,” said Bernstein. “Joy’s enthusiasm for public broadcasting and
experience with entertainment properties makes her a great ambassador for our
programming. We look forward to building effective and long-lasting licensing
programs together.”

“WGBH is synonymous with original programming of the
highest-possible quality for a wide range of audiences,” added Tashjian. “The production
track record of WGBH is unparalleled in public television, and WGBH is
recognized for successfully carrying out its educational mandate with
programming that entertains as much as it enlightens. WGBH’s many brands bring
tremendous value to licensees and retailers.”

—By Kristin Brzoznowski