The Woody Woodpecker Show is set to debut on the Fox Kids Network this month and, knock on wood, Manley Toy Quest will make a bundle with its two-year licensing agreement with Universal Studios Consumer Products.

Under the terms of the agreement, Manley has the rights to design, manufacture, market and distribute toys based on the crazy woodpecker character. Plans are already in the works for yo-yos, electronic games and other products. Manley hopes sales of the merchandise will be buoyed not only by the new series, but by plans to feature Woody in promotional partnerships, new media, theme parks and video versions of some of the new programs that will be released by Universal Studios Home Video in 1999.

Woody Woodpecker will join a stable of star properties for which Manley holds

licenses, including Babe, Curious George, Crash Bandicoot, and BASEketball. The new products are to be exhibited at Toy Fair `99 and launched next spring.