ITV Studios Global Entertainment Appoints Spotlight Licensing

to Manage Victoria Licensing Program Across North America

NEW YORK (May 12, 2017) – Spotlight Licensing and Brand Management, Inc. (spotlightlicensing.com), has been appointed by ITV Studios Global Entertainment to manage the North American licensing program for the lavish British historical television drama Victoria.
“We are looking forward to working with Spotlight Licensing to secure appropriate North American partners for a wide range of beautiful products which our millions of Victoria fans in the United States and Canada will love,” says Trudi Hayward, SVP, Head of Global Merchandise for ITV Studios Global Entertainment.
Victoria, which is co-produced by Mammoth Screen and Masterpiece for ITV in the UK,stars Jenna Coleman in the title role of Queen Victoria. The series draws on real-life events and the Queen’s own exhaustive diaries to tell the dramatic and surprising story of one of history’s greatest and most beloved monarchs.
The series airs on PBS MASTERPIECE in the U.S. (in the Sunday night time slot previously occupied by Downton Abbey). In Canada, the series can be seen on Vision TV and SRC. Victoria was an immediate ratings hit in Britain (becoming ITV’s top-rated drama of 2016) and the United States (drawing more than 6 million viewers when it premiered on PBS Masterpiece in January 2017). Season 1 – which chronicled the early life of Queen Victoria from her accession to the throne at the age of 18 through to her courtship and marriage to Prince Albert (played by Tom Hughes) – is now also available for streaming on Amazon.
“Victoria is a popular and critically-acclaimed television series with a fascinating story, a wonderfully talented cast, and absolutely gorgeous costumes and scenery so we are very excited about launching Victoria for licensing in America not only as a popular entertainment property for calendars, puzzles, mugs, t-shirts and the like but also as a quintessentially British brand for home furnishings, jewelry, tea, and other inspired-by goods,” says Spotlight Licensing President Carole Postal.
For more information about the North American licensing program for Victoria, visit Spotlight Licensing and Brand Management at booth A196 during Licensing International Expo (May 23-25 in Las Vegas).

About Victoria

Achieving the highest overnight share in the UK for a new drama in 2016, and a second series already recommissioned, Victoria, created and written by acclaimed novelist Daisy Goodwin, marks the start of a landmark account of the life of one of history’s greatest monarchs. With cinematic production values and an ensemble cast of award-winning talent, Victoria draws on real-life events and the Queen’s own exhaustive diaries to paint a vivid portrait of her transformation from an impulsive eighteen- year-old to her early years as wife, mother and head of a global empire. Rich and character-driven, stretching from the upper echelons of the royal court to the below-stairs staff, this is a story of passionate affairs, power struggles and unrequited love, at the centre of which stands the new Queen – a strong, complex and willful woman who must, somehow, become an enduring icon.

About Spotlight Licensing

Spotlight Licensing and Brand Management, Inc. (spotlightlicensing.com) is a New York City based boutique licensing agency specializing in representation of Entertainment, Art/Design, and Digital properties as well as Corporate and Character Brands. As agency president, Carole Postal brings extensive industry experience, trend licensing acumen, and retail expertise to Spotlight Licensing. Prior to founding Spotlight Licensing, Carole ran CopCorp Licensing and Knockout Licensing. Under Carole’s leadership, CopCorp built a reputation within the licensing industry for creating successful licensing programs for trend-licensing non-media properties including billion-dollar brand Jim Benton’s It’s Happy Bunny and international fashion brand Pink Cookie, as well as its skillful handling of entertainment properties such as Thomas The Tank Engine and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus. At Knockout Licensing, Carole gained industry recognition for innovative and strategic management of entertainment properties including Downton Abbey and Outlander.

About ITV Studios Global Entertainment

ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) is one of the world’s leading international TV distribution, home entertainment, publishing, merchandising and licensing businesses. ITVS GE distributes celebrated content across all genres from both its in-house production business, ITV Studios, and in collaboration with leading producers from around the world.
Part of ITV PLC, which includes the UK’s largest commercial broadcaster, ITV Studios Global Entertainment has offices in London, Hong Kong, Los Angeles and Sydney.
Press Contact:
Ken Wong
ken@spotlightlicensing.com