NEW YORK (January 28, 2014) – Knockout Licensing Co-Presidents Carole Postal and Tamra Knepfer today announced that their agency has been appointed by ABC Studios to launch and manage the licensing program for the hit Nashville™ television show.
Nashville is a critically acclaimed American television drama series co-produced by ABC Studios and Lionsgate Television Group.  The show follows the lives of country music legend Rayna Jaymes (played by actress Connie Britton), ambitious pop starlet Juliette Barnes (played by actress Hayden Panettiere), and their intertwined circles of fellow musicians, business associates, family, and friends – including naïve but promising singer-songwriter Scarlett O’Connor (played by Clare Bowen) and talented but troubled musician Deacon Claybourne (played by Charles Esten) among others – as they navigate life on tour and the sometimes Machiavellian musical and political landscape of country music capital Nashville, Tennessee. Now in its second season, Nashville airs Wednesday nights on ABC in the USA.
“As not only a fan of the show but a licensing professional, I see enormous potential here for fan-based merchandise as well as lifestyle product inspired by the show,” says Knepfer. “Nashville is a winning combination.  It combines the popularity of a hit television series with phenomenal music and drama, the star power of Hayden Panettiere and Connie Britton, and style – from the flash of sequins and rhinestones under the showbiz spotlight to ‘down home,’ authentic trend-right country-western inspiration.”
Knockout Licensing is actively seeking licensees and retail partners to launch the brand in key product categories including Apparel, Accessories/Bags, Health & Beauty Aids (including Cosmetics and Fragrance), Jewelry, Social Expressions, Gift & Novelty, and other brand-appropriate products.

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About ABC Studios
ABC Studios is a leader in the development, production and strategic distribution of entertainment content across broadcast and emerging digital platforms. The studio is the key content provider for the ABC Entertainment Group, having produced multiple seasons of hit series, including “Scandal,” “Once Upon a Time,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” “Desperate Housewives,” “Lost,” “Castle” and “Revenge”; as well as “Army Wives” for Lifetime and “Criminal Minds” for CBS.
About Knockout Licensing
Knockout Licensing (www.knockoutlicensing.com) is a full-service licensing agency for big name brands including the popular and critically acclaimed teledrama Downton Abbey™; social media canine celebrity Boo, The World’s Cutest Dog™; the adorable Lil’panda™ who always has a positive message to share; the popular preschool television show Justin Time; and the publishing sensation Fifty Shades of Grey.  Formed in 2012, Knockout Licensing is a joint venture between CopCorp Licensing and TK Brand Group.  Together Carole Postal, President of CopCorp Licensing and Tamra Knepfer, President of TK Brand Group, combine forces as Co-Presidents of Knockout Licensing, bringing decades of experience to their agency.