Successful growth of merchandising activities

Telepool GmbH announces the appointment of Michael Pettke in the newly created role of Director Home Entertainment DVD.

1996 Pettke started his home entertainment career heading up Concorde Home Entertainment before he joined MAWA Film & Medien where he worked as COO for the international DVD business.

Since January 2006 Jens Puppe has been supporting Telepool’s publishing team with JP Publishing International. With years of experience working for EM.TV AG and MM Merchandising Media GmbH Mr Puppe is a great asset to the team. Prior to Telepool he oversaw the publishing business as management assistant for a subsidiary of ProSiebenSat1 Medien AG. He worked on popular properties such as Pumuckl and the Smurfs granting rights for licensed books and magazines.

As subsidiary of the TV channels BR, SWR, MDR and SF DRS the Telepool GmbH is constantly expanding their brand portfolio, mainly targeting 3-13 year-olds. Up to now, they have licensed rights to more than 40 manufactures to produced high-quality educational products for popular children’s properties including “The little King”, “Lotte” and “Our little Sandman”.

Their marketing focus is set on the development of integrated licensing concepts, thus directly tying together the channels’ broadcasting expertise with DVD sales, online activities, printed media and traditional merchandising. To underline this approach Telepool has recently founded a new bureau in Leipzig. So they are able to work closely with the editorial MDR offices on the localization and exploitation of programming contents.

We are excited to have two such experienced business professionals on board. Mr Pettke and Mr Puppe will play key roles in growing our ancillary rights business,” said Patrick Metyas, who established Telepool’s “classical” merchandising business in 2006. The new team is rounded out by business economist Sandra Veits as Sales Assistant who will be responsible for print media, DVD and merchandising.

Telepool GmbH has recently named several new licensees. Carl Herding GmbH has been licensed the rights to create bed linens and nightwear to accompany “The little King” by Hedwig Munck. The Tushita GmbH from Duisburg will publish greeting cards and calendars on His Majesty.

Plush specialist Heunec from Neustadt will add high-quality glove puppets to their already successful range of Sandman products. Fischer Eis GmbH based in Gelenau has also acquired rights on the Sandman and his Friends. “Magical Forest Ice Cream” is planned to launch in May this year.

The Würstchen- and Konservenfabrik GmbH in Halberstadt is currently developing a full range of sausages and convenience goods while Frado-Trend from Lauta has already presented their Sandman candles on relevant trade fairs in January and February.