Paramount Home Entertainment has gained worldwide distribution rights to Hasbro’s wide range of direct-to-video titles based on Hasbro’s portfolio of entertainment brands.
Hasbro will develop and produce content and Paramount will market and distribute the titles through its children’s entertainment channels. The initial slate of brands include G.I. Joe, Transformers, Tonka, Duel Masters, Secret Central, Weebles and Candy Land.
The first two titles, G.I. Joe: Valor vs. Venom and Tonka Tough Truck Adventures: The Biggest Show on Wheels are scheduled to hit retail this September. In October, Transformers Energon and Have you Heard? Secret Central will launch. Titles based on the remaining properties will be released in the spring of 2005.
In other licensing news, Federation Internationale de Football Association has appointed Warner Bros. Consumer Products as its sole and exclusive worldwide licensing representative for the 2006 FIFA World Cup Germany in all markets outside Europe and Japan.
Under the deal, Warner Bros. Consumer Products (WBCP) offices outside of Europe and Japan will take charge of licensing, merchandising and retail programs supporting the 2006 FIFA World Cup. WBCP will license the rights to use the Official 2006 FIFA World Cup Event Emblem, Official Mascot and World Cup Trophy for sports apparel and accessories, balls, footwear, bags, toys, games, headwear, pennants and other products.
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