Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Disney opens new media lab
With online content delivery gaining more traction and diverting viewers of all ages from partaking in old-school TV time, the house of mouse has decided to dig more deeply into how audiences are responding to the rapidly proliferating newTubes of the world and the messages from their sponsors. To that end, Disney's media networks division has opened up an emerging media and advertising research lab. (more)

HIT and Thirteen/WNET New York team up
HIT Entertainment's US arm and Thirteen/WNET New York have inked a long-term strategic partnership for station representation and new project development. (more)

BKN inks new Speed Racer deal
BKN is waving the checkered flag on an agreement with Speed Racer Enterprises to handle all licensing and merchandising activity in Europe, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Middle East for Speed Racer: The Next Generation and Speed Racer Classic. (more)

Erky Perky scores more broadcast partners
Toronto, Canada-based CCI Entertainment's Erky Perky continues its trek around the globe with several more freshly minted TV deals. (more)

One-liners: Noteworthy news nuggets
• Mexican net Televisa has purchased free-TV rights to Taffy Entertainment's Growing Up Creepie and superhero series The Fantastic Four. The deal was completed in partnership with Hola Entertainment, Taffy's Latin American agent.

• Toys 'R' Us and the Toys 'R' Us Children's Fund's April-long nationwide in-store fundraising campaign to benefit Autism Speaks, the nation's largest autism advocacy organization, raised more than US$1.5 million. All Toys'R'Us stores from coast-to-coast and www.Toysrus.com collected cash donations to help fund crucial autism research and advocacy.

• Toronto, Canada-based producer and distributor Tricon Films & Television and Corus Entertainment's YTV have announced that Adamo Ruggiero from Degrassi: The Next Generation will be the host of new reality series The Next Star premiering Friday, July 18.

People moves: Chorion bolsters L&M ranks
In anticipation of Noddy's 60th and the launch of The Mr. Men Show, Chorion is expanding its London-based retail and licensing teams. David Walton joins the IP house as senior retail manager for Europe, while Melanie Humberstone-Garley has been bumped up to UK territory manager. (more)

People moves: Hasbro hires big-screen exec
Toy titan Pawtucket, Rhode Island-based Hasbro has tapped Bennett Schneir to take on the newly created position of SVP and MD of motion pictures. (more)

People moves: Nickelodeon Oz names new research director
Kirsty Bloore is taking up the newly created position of research director at Nickelodeon Australia. (more)

• Wal-Mart reports 6.9% profits, but outlook still cautious (Associated Press)
• Do-Gooder marketers do the soft sell (AdWeek)
• HBO comes to iTunes with variable pricing (Wired)
• EA attempts to stay relevant with Skate It franchise (GizmoRepublic)