Barney flies with HIT and Fisher-Price

Fisher-Price, the preschool powerhouse that forever changed the face of Sesame Street toys with 1996’s must-have toy Tickle Me Elmo, is banking on Barney to deliver the green next year. HIT Entertainment has granted the toyco a master toy license, effective in 2002, to develop a line of infant and preschool toys, electronic learning aids, games and puzzles for the Barney and Barney for Baby brands. HIT acquired all rights to Lyrick’s famed purple dinosaur in the recent purchase of the company.

Fox takes Richie Rich to Europe

Fox Kids Europe’s consumer products division, Saban Consumer Products Europe, has purchased the pan-European agency rights to The Harvey Entertainment Company’s property portfolio. Under terms of the agreement, Fox has

distribution rights for all merchandising and promotional categories, excluding home video, TV and theatrical films, and will work with the company’s licensing agent Hearst Entertainment.

United Media moves Canadian licensing to New York

With the recent acquisitions of Precious Moments and Beatrix Potter’s Peter Rabbit properties, United Media has decided to manage Canadian operations out of its New York office. EMG Licensing, which previously handled United Media properties in Canada, will continue to represent Peanuts.

Mickey goes direct to Kmart

Marking Disney Consumer Products’ first mass-market direct-to-retail agreement in the U.S. and an effort to augment traditional licensing strategies, Kmart is set to develop, produce and sell a line of Disney-branded children’s apparel in all Kmart stores throughout the U.S. and Puerto Rico. The line will include apparel carrying the Disney name with no character art, in addition to character clothing.