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Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP), a division of Viacom Inc (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), has signed two international consumer electronics licensing deals with leading electronic companies, The Linmark Group in Hong Kong and Sakar International based in the US. These deals mark the first time Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products has extended its successful Consumer Electronic lines outside the US. The announcement was made today by Jean-Philippe Randisi, Senior Vice President & Managing Director, NVCP International, to coincide with NVCP’s presence at Licensing International Expo. The broad and accessible ranges will be inspired by Nickelodeon’s hit properties including animation icon, SpongeBob SquarePants; pre-school hit shows Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, Ni-Hao Kai-Lan and The Backyardigans (in Latin America only); plus tween live-action programme, iCarly. The lines will roll-out across 59 territories around the world including markets such as Australia, China, France, Germany, India, Mexico, Netherlands, Spain and the UK. “Research tells us that children are not only comfortable with increasingly sophisticated technology at an ever younger age, but they demand it comes packaged to reflect their personalities and features their favourite characters,” commented Jean-Philippe Randisi. “The Linmark Group and Sakar International are two of the leading consumer electronics companies in the world and these deals underline our ongoing commitment to innovation and the expansion of the electronics category within our international business.” The partnership between NVCP and Hong Kong-based The Linmark Group will see over twenty SKUs hit retail shelves from Autumn 2009. Examples of SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer branded electronic products, largely priced at a consumer-friendly $20 USD or less, include custom tooled and rendered 7” and keychain digital photo frames, MP3 players, portable and compact DVD players, portable stereo systems, a foreign language translator, sandwich toaster and waffle maker. NVCP’s deal with New Jersey-based Sakar International will introduce kids around the world to branded digital cameras and PC accessories across multiple Nickelodeon properties. iCarly, the first-ever scripted series to incorporate kid-created original content into a live action tween show, lends itself perfectly to products such as Web cams, video cameras, walkie talkies and DVD players, while pre-school show, The Backyardigans, will be featured on a range of gaming accessories. Michel Bourlon, CEO The Linmark Group said: “We are excited and honoured to be a partner with Nickelodeon in introducing a broad range of exciting and creative yet affordable Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants consumer electronics and small domestic appliances for the international markets with which we have been entrusted. With over 1.1 billion youth under the age of 18 in our partnership territories, the undeniable strength and appeal of Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants globally and Linmark’s global development, sourcing and distribution expertise, we feel a great sense of synergy, shared vision and confidence in the partnership’s future success.” “This license gives us the opportunity to work with iconic Nickelodeon properties like SpongeBob SquarePants, as well as newer shows directed at the tween audience,” said Liza Abrams, Sakar Vice President of Licensing. “What’s also noteworthy is the sheer number of properties and SKUs for which we are responsible. The fact that Nickelodeon entrusted us with this volume of work is a reflection of the success of our licensed programs over the last few years.” |