MALIBU, Calif. & NEW YORK — Leading U.S. toymaker JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK), announced today it has been appointed as the North American Master Toy Licensee by Univision Communications Inc., the leading media company serving Hispanic America, to manufacture, distribute and market a line of toys inspired by “El Chavo,” the highly popular comedy series that airs in the U.S. and Spanish-speaking countries worldwide.
The “El Chavo” product line from JAKKS Pacific will include action figures, plush, dolls, role play products, dress up, seasonal toys, table top games and novelty items that celebrate the world of “El Chavo” including a variety of characters seen in “El Chavo Animado,” the animated series airing on the Univision Network, Sundays at 4 p.m. ET/PT. JAKKS is expected to launch the “El Chavo” product line in Fall 2013.
“We are continually looking to expand our product offerings with best-in-class partners, and we realized an opportunity to introduce a Spanish-language property that has an enormous fan base,” said Stephen Berman, President and CEO, JAKKS Pacific, Inc. “With millions of viewers around the world every day, and loved by generations of Latinos, ‘El Chavo’ is the perfect property to develop toys and other products around. Our product line will bring to life the charm of the characters and their community, allowing old and new fans the opportunity to immerse themselves in the captivating and loveable world of ‘El Chavo.'”
“With a rich history of successfully bringing popular entertainment properties to life and strong nationwide distribution at retail, JAKKS was the right licensing partner to enlist as we bring ‘El Chavo Animado’ to the ever-growing population of Hispanic youth,” said Francisco Arenas, Vice President Consumer Products, Univision Communications Inc. “The new ‘El Chavo’ product line will include some of the most innovative and popular toys of today while connecting Hispanic consumers with their heritage.”
The most-watched television sitcom in Mexican history, “El Chavo” was made famous by comic Roberto Gómez Bolaños over four decades ago. The show has delighted audiences across all of Latin America, Spain and the U.S. for over 25 years – reaching more than 350 million viewers worldwide. Showcasing one of the most adored characters in Spanish-language television, “El Chavo Animado” on Univision will bring the nostalgia and popularity of the original series to a new generation.
“We are excited to finally bring ‘El Chavo’ to every home in the United States,” said Maca Rotter, executive director, Televisa Consumer Products, the entity which holds the rights for “El Chavo” in Mexico. “Transmitting the excitement and personality of this beloved character to every child is our goal.”
About Univision Communications Inc.
Univision Communications Inc. (UCI) is the leading media company serving Hispanic America. Its assets include Univision Network, one of the top five networks in the U.S. regardless of language and the most-watched Spanish-language broadcast television network in the country reaching 96% of U.S. Hispanic households; TeleFutura Network, a general-interest Spanish-language broadcast television network reaching 88% of U.S. Hispanic households; Univision Cable Networks, including Galavisión, the country’s leading Spanish-language cable network, as well as Univision tlnovelas, a new 24-hour cable network dedicated to novelas, Univision Deportes Network, a new 24-hour cable network dedicated to sports, ForoTV, a new 24-hour Spanish-language cable network dedicated to news, and an additional suite of six cable offerings – De Película, De Película Clásico, Bandamax, Ritmoson, Telehit and Clásico TV; Univision Studios, which produces and co-produces reality shows, dramatic series and other programming formats for the Company’s platforms; Univision Television Group, which owns and/or operates 62 television stations in major U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Radio, the leading Hispanic radio group which owns and/or operates 69 radio stations in 16 of the top 25 U.S. Hispanic markets and Puerto Rico; Univision Interactive Media, a network of national and local online and mobile sites including Univision.com, which continues to be the #1 most-visited Spanish-language website among U.S. online Hispanics, Univision Móvil, a longstanding industry-leader with unique, relevant mobile products and services, and Univision Partner Group, a specialized advertising and publisher network. Headquartered in New York City, UCI has television network operations in Miami and television and radio stations and sales offices in major cities throughout the United States. For more information, please visit Univision.net.
About JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) is a leading designer and marketer of toys and consumer products with a wide range of products that feature popular brands and children’s toy licenses. JAKKS’ diverse portfolio includes Action Figures, Electronics, Dolls, Dress-Up, Role Play, Halloween Costumes, Kids Furniture, Vehicles, Plush, Art Activity Kits, Seasonal Products, Infant/Pre-School, Construction Toys, Ride-On Vehicles, Wagons, Inflatable Environments and Tents, Impulse Toys and Pet Products sold under various proprietary brands including JAKKS Pacific®, Creative Designs InternationalTM, Road Champs®, Funnoodle®, JAKKS PetsTM, Plug It In & Play TV GamesTM, Kids Only!®, Tollytots®, Disguise®, Moose Mountain® and Maui ®. JAKKS is also the creator of the underlying Monsuno® property and toy line. JAKKS is an award-winning licensee of several hundred nationally and internationally known trademarks including Nickelodeon®, Warner Bros.®, Ultimate Fighting Championship®, Hello Kitty®, Graco® and Cabbage Patch Kids®. www.jakks.com
About Grupo Televisa
Grupo Televisa, S.A.B., is the largest media company in the Spanish-speaking world and a major participant in the international entertainment business. Televisa Consumer Products it´s a division of Grupo Televisa’s Interactive Media VicePresidency. Created in July of 2003, its purpose is to exploit the potential of Grupo Televisa’s productions, and capitalize on the emotional connection with the brand beyond the TV screen. TCP’s solid portfolio of brands offers business opportunities to its commercial partners. In order to understand the market in a closer way and its consumers in each region, the company has offices in Europe and works with local representatives in Latin America and now in the United States, through Univision Consumer Products.
JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
Chad Nishimura
310-455-6235
chadn@jakks.net
or
Univision
Marielena Santana
212-455-5233
msantana@univision.net