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Marvel and Star Wars now to stream only on Disney Streamline platform

Do you remember that some time ago, Disney announced the setting up of its own streaming platform. This would sideline Netflix, the current major streamlining service.

Now, with the Disney streamline service nearing operation, Marvel and Star Wars titles will be streamed exclusively on the new platform when it launches in late 2019, according to Disney CEO Bob Iger.

“I have described a very rich, treasure trove of content for this app,” Iger said at the Bank of America Merrill Lynch 2017 Media, Communications & Entertainment Conference in Los Angeles on Thursday. “We’re going to launch big, and we’re going to launch hot.”

In addition to Disney, Marvel and Star Wars movies, the upcoming branded service will also have four to five original Disney series as well as three to four exclusive Disney movies, Iger said. It will also have its existing television library. There is also a chance that international versions of the service will launch before the U.S. launch due to streaming rights clearances. Iger did not announce how much the service will cost.

Disney first announced its own streaming service during its latest earnings report in August. As a result, the company said it would be pulling its movies from Netflix starting in 2019.

Over the next year and a half to two years, Iger said, he plans to focus on the direct-to-consumer streaming products the company announced a few weeks back — which includes an ESPN streaming platform in addition to the Disney service — and the transition process to onboard the next CEO.

 

Turner teams up with Rajgreen Group of Companies to set up amusement park Amaazia in Surat

In a good news for India, Turner International India has inked a brand licensing deal with Rajgreen Group of Companies to launch India’s first Cartoon Network-branded amusement park Amaazia located in Surat. The park, which has been conceptualised and designed by the Australia’s Sanderson Group, is scheduled to open for public in 2019.

Amaazia will be Cartoon Network’s first branded amusement part in India. The named Network has already launched amusement park in Thailand and Dubai. Turner’s internationally loved Cartoon Network characters, including Ben 10 The Powerpuff Girls and Adventure Time will be part of Amaazia’s amusement park section.

The family entertainment destination will host 33 theme-based attractions as well as 20 unique water-slides, using state-of-the-art technology. Designed to be an immersive entertainment destination, Amaazia will be spread across an expansive area of 61,000 sq. mt.

Turner India South Asi Managing Director Siddharth Jain said, “India is a priority market for Turner and our partnership with Rajgreen Group will enable millions of Cartoon Network fans to interact and have fun with their favorite characters like never before.”

Rajgreen Group has invested around Rs 450 crore in the theme park. It aims to attract approximately one million visitors in its first year of operations and grow steadily into a top entertainment destination in the country.

 

Disney in a move to buy out 21st Century Fox

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In order to buy a majority stake of Rupert Murdoch’s entertainment empire, Disney was recently in talks with 21st Century Fox, it is reported.

Many have speculated that the talks underline the transition from traditional media to online streaming with the theoretical deal bringing Fox’s cable networks including FX under Disney’s streaming umbrella.

Many fans were in support of the idea, speculating that it would finally allow Marvel’s X-Men characters to be brought into the MCU stable, opening up the doors for the beloved characters to appear in future Avengers films.

The controversial deal would see two of the largest media companies come together in a move that would reshape the media landscape and for sure raise more than a few eyebrows by regulators.

Sources have claimed that Fox is putting itself up for sale with interest from the likes of Verizon and Amazon also doing the rounds.

Though the talks have reportedly ended, but neither company has released an official statement.

 

Green Cures & Botanical Distribution Festival on Nov 11 and 12

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Green Cures & Botanical Distribution Inc. will be holding its annual Harvest Festival from November 11 and November 12 in San Bernardino.

This is where High Times will also be holding its annual Harvest Festival where hundreds of entrees have been sent in to try to win one of the legendary Cannabis Cups.

Purple Haze Properties will be exhibiting and will have their various celebrity licensed cannabis lines for sale for attendees. They will have Money B from Digital Underground and various members of the Hip Hop group Tha Alkaholiks present to support the cannabis products launched by licensees of Purple Haze Properties.

“I am really excited for The Cup and hopefully end the year with an award. We entered our ‘Jimi’s Stardust’ in the Infused Cannabis Category as well as our amazing “Jimi’s Hashteroids” in the non-solvent hash category,” said Andrew Pitsicalis, spokesperson and CEO of Purple Haze Properties.

Legendary bands like George Clinton and the P-Funkadelics, Naughty by Nature, Bone Thugs & Harmony, and others will be jamming at The Cup this weekend.

Purple Haze properties has also paired as a Cannabis Agent for UAA (Universal Attractions Agency), with a massive roster of celebrities that will be going PHP this year.

Purple Haze Properties, LLC was founded through a partnership between Andrew Pitsicalis and Leon Hendrix, blood brother to the legendary guitar icon Jimi Hendrix. It is is the premier source for Jimi Hendrix cannabis related products as well as a premiere celebrity licensing company for the Cannabis Industry.

 

AMC launches The Walking Dead wines in association with Lot 18

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In what now appears an established path in the world of brand extensions, Television network AMC has launched The Walking Dead wines in partnership with Lot18

It was once rated a hit television series, but perhaps a supplementary barometer is now whether or not that show has become worthy of its own wine range.

Following in the recent footsteps of Game of Thrones, Outlander and The Bachelor, AMC’s The Walking Dead is the latest to get the customised wine treatment.

Wine labels for those last two shows were sourced and created by New York-based Lot18, the same retailer and merchant that has sourced three red wines based on main characters in The Walking Dead. Its announcement was timed to coincide with the new season of the show being launched in the US.

The wines, all from California include:

  • Negan – California Bourbon Barrel Red Blend, made up of 73% Merlot, 18% Zinfandel and 9% Petite Sirah
  • Daryl Dixon – 2016 California Cabernet Sauvignon
  • Rick Grimes – 2016 California Petite Sirah

‘Like Daryl’s crossbow, this is a wine you can count on to always hit the mark,’ said Lot18 of the California Cabernet in the range. It said that the wines were only available for a limited time on its website, with each bottle priced at $22. Three bottles cost $59.

Based on the comic book series written by Robert Kirkman and published by Image Comics, The Walking Dead is one of the most watched dramas on US television and is now in its eighth season. It is based around a group of survivors following the zombie apocalypse.

 

 

Franchise India in collaboration with Chicken Xpress and Snap Fitness

Years in India, Franchise India is collaborating with two new brands viz Chicken Xpress and Snap Fitness in order to help them create and expand their footprint in the country through the franchise model.

Chicken Xpress, the South Africa based food company, is partnering with Franchise India to open 500 stores across India over the next 5 years through the franchise model.

The food company is investing Rs. 100 crore to create its presence in the Indian market with the help of Ichak dana – the India based convenience food company.

Chicken Xpress is based on the concept of Ubuntu that means human kindness or humanity towards others. The brand wants to extend the same philosophy in India with its Trust The Flava mantra.

In the fitness sector, Franchise India has joined hands with Snap Fitness, the world’s premier 24/7 fitness franchise brand.

The fitness company will be opening 100 new fitness centers in India over the next 5 years. Currently, the company has 60+ fitness centers in India and 2500 across the globe.

Founded in 2003 by Peter Taunton, Snap Fitness offers Thought to Finish support to the entrepreneurs so that they can make best use of the brand’s expertise in the fitness business.

Snap Fitness provides entrepreneurs an exciting business opportunity with turnkey systems, financing options with low investments, and world-class support.

Commenting on the two collaborations, Gaurav Marya, Chairman, Franchise India said, “Franchise India takes pride in its expertise in providing a structure to develop, grow and expand various business models and is built around the idea of profitable and sustainable growth through partnering. These two collaborations bring exciting opportunities for the two brands as well as the Indian market. Our experience in the franchise domain and understanding of the Indian market coupled with the expertise of Chicken Xpress and Snap fitness in their respective domain, will be a great asset in creating the presence of these two brands in the country.”

Franchise India is Asia’s largest integrated Franchise and Retail Solution provider established in the year 1999, with an absolute authority on Franchising, Retailing and Licensing in India.

Founded and led by Marya, the company is a leading business brokerage, which facilitates buying and selling of businesses across Nation.

Years in India, Franchise India is collaborating with two new brands viz Chicken Xpress and Snap Fitness in order to help them create and expand their footprint in the country through the franchise model.

Chicken Xpress, the South Africa based food company, is partnering with Franchise India to open 500 stores across India over the next 5 years through the franchise model.

The food company is investing Rs. 100 crore to create its presence in the Indian market with the help of Ichak dana – the India based convenience food company.

Chicken Xpress is based on the concept of Ubuntu that means human kindness or humanity towards others. The brand wants to extend the same philosophy in India with its Trust The Flava mantra.

In the fitness sector, Franchise India has joined hands with Snap Fitness, the world’s premier 24/7 fitness franchise brand.

The fitness company will be opening 100 new fitness centers in India over the next 5 years. Currently, the company has 60+ fitness centers in India and 2500 across the globe.

Founded in 2003 by Peter Taunton, Snap Fitness offers Thought to Finish support to the entrepreneurs so that they can make best use of the brand’s expertise in the fitness business.

Snap Fitness provides entrepreneurs an exciting business opportunity with turnkey systems, financing options with low investments, and world-class support.

Commenting on the two collaborations, Gaurav Marya, Chairman, Franchise India said, “Franchise India takes pride in its expertise in providing a structure to develop, grow and expand various business models and is built around the idea of profitable and sustainable growth through partnering. These two collaborations bring exciting opportunities for the two brands as well as the Indian market. Our experience in the franchise domain and understanding of the Indian market coupled with the expertise of Chicken Xpress and Snap fitness in their respective domain, will be a great asset in creating the presence of these two brands in the country.”

Franchise India is Asia’s largest integrated Franchise and Retail Solution provider established in the year 1999, with an absolute authority on Franchising, Retailing and Licensing in India.

Founded and led by Marya, the company is a leading business brokerage, which facilitates buying and selling of businesses across Nation.

 

Mattel delays release of Hello Barbie Hologram

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Mattel’s Hello Barbie Hologram, a voice assistant matching with a walking, talking and dancing Barbie character projection will not be released as planned for the 2017 holiday season, it is understood. The animated toy will be held until 2018 due to additional testing of the platform.

Though it was a tough decision to hold the tech-forward toy back, Michelle Chidoni, vice president of global brand communications at Mattel, said that the company wants to conduct more tests. The new release date is yet to be determined, anticipated to be in 2018.

Mattel unveiled the Hello Barbie Hologram as its newest venture into tech meets toys last February. It includes a floating image of Barbie projected in a pink box that awakens when a user says Hello Barbie.

The animated Barbie can set reminders, check the weather and play music and games. Her skin and clothes can all be customized.

Aardman has appointed Sinco as master toy licensee for the UK and Eire

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UK-based animation studio Aardman has appointed Sinco as master toy licensee for the UK and Eire.

The toymaker’s initial master toy partnership covers the  Studio’s Shaun the Sheep and Timmy Time properties. Certain international manufacturing rights are also included in the deal.

The first range will be unveiled at Hong Kong Toy Show in January with the first products hitting shelves in fall 2018.

As master toy licensee in the territory, Sinco will produce plush, figurines, playsets, vehicles, games and puzzles as well as arts & crafts products.

 

Additionally, the deal will see Sinco develop a toy collection to coincide with the theatrical release of Shaun the Sheep Movie 2 in 2019.

These products will sit alongside classic Shaun the Sheep items and the entire range will be supported by a marketing program that includes TV advertising.

Last year, Aardman tapped Start Licensing to represent its key brands in the UK. The independent licensing agency manages the UK-based consumer products programs for Shaun the Sheep, Wallace & Gromit, Morph and Timmy Time.

In addition to taking on management of Aardman’s existing licensing programs, Start Licensing has also been asked to generate new business for the studio.

Van Gogh Museum is getting into licensing

The Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam is developing its first ever licensing programme.

In the programme, the museum will be working with Licensing Link in the UK to develop ranges in the key lifestyle categories that capture the inspiration and DNA of the impressionist master.

Besides working with the biggest collection of masterpieces globally and all Van Gogh’s letters, partners are encouraged to use their own creativity to deliver contemporary designs for their products utilising the assets.

 

 

Westlife Development declares unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30

Westlife Development Limited owner of the Master Franchisee of McDonald’s restaurants in west and south India has come out with its unaudited financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017.

The results were taken on record by the Board of Directors at a meeting held on November 7.

The company reported a same store sales growth (SSSG) of 8.4%, making it the ninth consecutive quarter of positive sales growth.

Revenues grew by 12.8% to Rs. 2,646.7 million. Net profit rose 190.1% to Rs. 20.7 million, while cash profit swelled to a five-year-high of Rs. 207.8 million.

Operating profit surged 59.6% to Rs. 193.6 million and operating profit margins expanded by 214 basis points to 7.3%.

Commenting on the financial results for the quarter ended September 30, 2017, Amit Jatia, Vice-Chairman of Westlife Development Limited said, “I am delighted to announce that the company has delivered excellent set of numbers, both in terms of growth in sales as well as profits.

Our growth has been driven by the robust performance of the everyday value platform and strong momentum in brand extensions like McCafe, McDelivery and McBreakfast. The implementation of ROP (Restaurant Operating Platform) 2.0 has ensured that new restaurants break-even in a shorter span of time, this has aided margin expansion and lead to strong cash flow and profit growth.

Our modern and re-imaged restaurants have taken the customer experience several notches higher and more customers are walking into our stores to experience the new ambiance as well as the products. We genuinely believe that our strong financial numbers are a reflection of the customer’s confidence in our brand. We will continue to work towards improving the customer experience across all touch points.”

The investments made by the company in its brand extensions are paying off. McCafe is fast becoming the preferred beverage destinations as it continues to add new and exciting beverages across all categories. Currently there are 136 McCafe’s operational in West and South.

The McCafe campaign that went live during the quarter has not only added to its brand appeal but has also aided margin growth.