Studio B's Yvon of the Yukon

TV Kids Weekly, July
11, 2006

NAME: Yvon of the Yukon

ORIGIN: The series is based on an original idea.

CREATORS: Ian James Corlett and Studio B Productions.

TV SHOW: Studio B has produced three seasons of this animated series
totalling 52 22-minute episodes. Targeting 9- to 13-year-old boys, Yvon of
the Yukon stars the dim-witted Yvon
Ducharme, a 17th century French explorer. After being accidentally frozen in a
block of Arctic ice, the dysfunctional but loveable Frenchman finds himself in
the “modern” town of Upyermukluk where his goal—conquering the New World—just
don’t seem to fit.

COMMISSIONING BROADCASTERS: YTV in Canada and the BBC in the U.K. The first season
launched on June 14, 2000.

TV SALES: Yvon of the Yukon
has sold to eight other territories: Spain/Portugal, Australia, Latin America,
Japan, Russia, Singapore, South Africa and Thailand.

MAJOR TOY LICENSEES: VooDoo Entertainment launched Yvon of the Yukon at Licensing 2006 International and meetings with some of
the major toy companies are being scheduled to discuss a range of toy products
featuring Yvon Ducharme, his friend Tommy Tukyuk and the full cast of
characters including Tommy’s dog Mutt.

OTHER PRODUCTS: As Yvon lives in his underwear, underwear will be an
obvious licensed category, along with tees and sweatshirts, pyjamas, knitted
hats, gloves, scarves, bedding, slumber bags, toiletries, backpacks,
stationery, food snacks, games, night lights, Halloween costumes, gifts and
novelties, greeting cards, publishing and more. Certain promotional and
cross-licensing opportunities will also be explored to expand the licensing
program across additional genres, including tie-ins with DVD and mobile
content.

STRATEGY FOR ROLL OUT: Studio B has appointed VooDoo Entertainment’s CEO Sandie
Hatch as its licensing agent. Hatch, a seasoned professional in the area of
licensing and merchandising, will be developing merchandising and licensing
programs for Yvon of the Yukon. The
most important part of the strategy for introducing products connected to Yvon has been to let the TV series develop awareness among
young viewers.

“Studio B, which is the creator
and co-producer of the show, wanted to have Yvon on the air to gain that audience so that when we do roll
out the merchandising program there is already a high awareness,” says Hatch. "Yvon has won five Leo awards and has been nominated for three
Gemini Awards, so it certainly has that following now. It’s seen in more than
14 countries around the world and it has a fan site. Now is the time to launch
a merchandising program.”

Hatch and Studio B are targeting
spring 2007 for the rollout of the underwear and apparel line. “The DVD will be
released in July 2007 and we may do some cross promotions with ice cream, food,
snacks and cheese,” she says. “We would introduce toys and games in the fall of
2007.”

"The initial response was
great,” says Hatch of the licensing and merchandising community's reaction to the
property at the Licensing Show. “Besides the obvious category of underwear,
other categories discussed at our booth at the show included an apparel line,
knitted hats, toys and games, food snacks, backpacks and a line of gift and
novelties. In the coming weeks we shall be following up with all the companies
we met with the intent of concluding some licensing agreements for Yvon of
the Yukon shortly.”

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