NEWS
TOTAL LICENSING
BULLDOG LICENSING ANNOUNCES LATEST DEALS FOR
THUMB WRESTLING FEDERATION: TWF
Bulldog Licensing has announced the latest deals for its Thumb Wrestling Federation: TWF property, with Aykroyds TDP
signed on apparel and Sambro on toy distribution across the UK. A highly successful live-action comedy series that de-
buted on the BBC in September 07, TWF appears consistently in the top ten most watched kids’ shows in the UK, this
week achieving two shows tying for the third most-watched spot.
Created by Animation Collective, the leading independent creator of children’s entertainment in the US, TWF airs on
Monday and Thursday afternoons during BBC One’s CBBC Slot and twice on BBC Two’s popular Saturday morning “TMi”
programme. The BBC has bought all three finished seasons of the series, while the fourth is currently in
production.
Building on a classic play pattern seen in playgrounds everywhere, Sambro is creating a range of thumb
wrestlers masks, which Bulldog believes will be the craze product of next year. Sambro is also creating a toy
wrestling ring, based on the original TWF ring, so children can wrestle like their favourite characters in the
show. “We have some great product concepts that will really bring the fun and humour of the show straight
to the retailers’ shelves,” said Nikki Samuels, Director of Sambro.
Aykroyds TDP are creating a range of nightwear and underwear based on the series’ excellent artwork as
well as a range of adult-focused t-shirts to capture the ‘student’ market. With its 4:25pm weekday broadcast
slot on the BBC and its sense of humour, Bulldog are hopeful that the show will become a ‘cult’ hit among
students. David Aykroyd, Joint Managing Director of Aykroyds and TDP, is delighted to have signed up TWF
for nightwear and underwear. “We believe this is a strong brand that boys will want to be a part of and have
high hopes for retail sales in Q3/4 2008,” says Aykroyd.
Commenting on the licensing programme, Rob Corney, Managing Director of Bulldog Licensing says, “TWF
is a fantastic opportunity for UK licensees and we are working with a number of licensees across a wide
range of categories, details of which will be announced soon. The classic play pattern of thumb wrestling at the heart of
the show makes it perfect for merchandise and the humour works across a wide age range. The viewing figures remind
us that this is precisely the type of property we believe will succeed at UK retail.”
“We couldn’t be more excited by the early ratings success of TWF on the BBC,” noted Larry Schwarz, the creator of
TWF and CEO of US-based Animation Collective, the show’s producer. “Bulldog Licensing has brought on two of the UK’s
top licensees whose early development work has really captured the fun of TWF. We couldn’t be more thrilled.”
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