Post by RitaLittlewood on Mar 29, 2005 20:43:02 GMT
From Media Guardian:
Dr Who set for toyshop invasion
Stephen Brook
Tuesday March 29, 2005
Doctor Who might save the world from the Daleks when the series returns to television on Saturday night but the gravel-voiced villains will spearhead a massive BBC invasion of toy stores - with at least 70 different products planned.
BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the corporation, plans a merchandising bonanza for the famous programme and at the top of the list is a £30 remote-controlled Dalek made by Character Options, the company behind last Christmas's runaway toy hit, Robosapien.
Character Options has been appointed "master toy licensee" for the science fiction series and will also produce a toy version of the Doctor's trusty sonic screwdriver.
So seriously does the BBC take the sales potential of the new series that it has even appointed a "brand manager" to the programme, to advise on overseas sales and merchandising options.
The BBC said yesterday that the 70 different products, which will include novels, a CD based on a Radio 2 documentary, DVDs, a children's stickerbook, birthday cards, watches and clocks, were not excessive.
"With a big Hollywood property you would be talking about hundreds and hundreds [of products]," a BBC spokesman said.
The new merchandise will follow in a long line of spin-off products - already the latest edition of Radio Times offers readers a chance to buy a Tardis DVD/CD cabinet, Cyberman collectors' plates and a K-9 cookie jar.
A PlayStation game is in development but not confirmed. The BBC website will offer exclusive downloads and Doctor Who ringtones.
Books and DVDs will start to appear from May while the series is still on air, but the electronic toys will not appear until the autumn.
"Merchandise is usually planned a year in advance so to get things out for this autumn is extremely quick," a BBC spokesman said.
"What the BBC tends to steer away from is 'brand flapping', where you tend to put the logo on a product that has been made anyway," he said.
Doctor Who junk food will not be on the menu.
"The BBC doesn't do salty pasta shapes or all year around confectionary," the spokesman said
The programme has been sold to CBC in Canada, Prime TV in New Zealand and Sky Italia's entertainment channel Jimmy.
Production sources said that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, which is currently broadcasting every Doctor Who episode since the beginning, would shortly buy the series after it has viewed all 13 completed episodes.
Four DVDs of the series will be released from May to September followed by a box set "in stunning Tardis packaging" released in time for Christmas.
Action figures of a leather-jacketed Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor and Billy Piper's Rose, are also expected.
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Sod the box set. Have to get that DVD cabinet though since I've got the original (far too small - it should be dimensionally transcendental
) video one. I haven't got a Playstation but anything's bound to be better than the pathetic Destiny of the Doctors CD-Rom Ant kept plugging! "Brand flapping"? Have they seen the crap out there already? Oh goody, a cheaper remote-controlled Dalek. Never did get round to getting the other one. Sonic screwdriver and Dalek - what a great birthday and Christmas I'm going to have! ;D
Patsy
Dr Who set for toyshop invasion
Stephen Brook
Tuesday March 29, 2005
Doctor Who might save the world from the Daleks when the series returns to television on Saturday night but the gravel-voiced villains will spearhead a massive BBC invasion of toy stores - with at least 70 different products planned.
BBC Worldwide, the commercial arm of the corporation, plans a merchandising bonanza for the famous programme and at the top of the list is a £30 remote-controlled Dalek made by Character Options, the company behind last Christmas's runaway toy hit, Robosapien.
Character Options has been appointed "master toy licensee" for the science fiction series and will also produce a toy version of the Doctor's trusty sonic screwdriver.
So seriously does the BBC take the sales potential of the new series that it has even appointed a "brand manager" to the programme, to advise on overseas sales and merchandising options.
The BBC said yesterday that the 70 different products, which will include novels, a CD based on a Radio 2 documentary, DVDs, a children's stickerbook, birthday cards, watches and clocks, were not excessive.
"With a big Hollywood property you would be talking about hundreds and hundreds [of products]," a BBC spokesman said.
The new merchandise will follow in a long line of spin-off products - already the latest edition of Radio Times offers readers a chance to buy a Tardis DVD/CD cabinet, Cyberman collectors' plates and a K-9 cookie jar.
A PlayStation game is in development but not confirmed. The BBC website will offer exclusive downloads and Doctor Who ringtones.
Books and DVDs will start to appear from May while the series is still on air, but the electronic toys will not appear until the autumn.
"Merchandise is usually planned a year in advance so to get things out for this autumn is extremely quick," a BBC spokesman said.
"What the BBC tends to steer away from is 'brand flapping', where you tend to put the logo on a product that has been made anyway," he said.
Doctor Who junk food will not be on the menu.
"The BBC doesn't do salty pasta shapes or all year around confectionary," the spokesman said
The programme has been sold to CBC in Canada, Prime TV in New Zealand and Sky Italia's entertainment channel Jimmy.
Production sources said that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, which is currently broadcasting every Doctor Who episode since the beginning, would shortly buy the series after it has viewed all 13 completed episodes.
Four DVDs of the series will be released from May to September followed by a box set "in stunning Tardis packaging" released in time for Christmas.
Action figures of a leather-jacketed Christopher Eccleston as the Doctor and Billy Piper's Rose, are also expected.
-----------------------------------
Sod the box set. Have to get that DVD cabinet though since I've got the original (far too small - it should be dimensionally transcendental
) video one. I haven't got a Playstation but anything's bound to be better than the pathetic Destiny of the Doctors CD-Rom Ant kept plugging! "Brand flapping"? Have they seen the crap out there already? Oh goody, a cheaper remote-controlled Dalek. Never did get round to getting the other one. Sonic screwdriver and Dalek - what a great birthday and Christmas I'm going to have! ;DPatsy
