Corrie Merchandise

[RitaLittlewood]

From Media Guardian:

ITV to sell Coronation Street beer in range of soap spin-off merchandiseComments () Leigh Holmwood in Cannes guardian.co.uk, Tuesday October 14 2008 07.21 BST

ITV is to cash in on the popularity of Coronation Street by launching a range of spin-off products, such as Newton & Ridley beer and Rovers Return pub grub, that could make it millions of pounds.

The commercial broadcaster, which has announced it is to cut nearly 1,000 jobs because of the economic downturn, is developing a wide range of brand extensions of the popular soap in the runup to its 50th anniversary in 2010.

ITV has already trademarked Newton & Ridley, the fictional beer served in the Rovers Return pub, in preparation for its use on a range of products and also plans Corrie-themed restaurants, tea sets and clothing lines.

A range of underwear bearing the name of the Coronation Street factory, Underworld, is also in the pipeline.

ITV held talks with nearly 250 potential manufacturers at an industry licensing show at the beginning of the month, and the first products are expected in the shops in the middle of next year.

Brands also linked to Coronation Street products include Hovis and Marmite.

"This is a huge change for ITV, but it is not just about the money. It is about how you grow the brand over the long term," said Gustavo Antonioni, the commercial brands director at ITV Global Entertainment.

Speaking to MediaGuardian.co.uk at the Mipcom international programming market in Cannes, he added: "This isn't about going out there and licensing the heck out of things."

Spin-offs are also planned from ITV rural soap Emmerdale such as Woolpack-branded drinks, named after the show's pub, a gardening club and clothing ranges.

Antonioni, who previously worked for Warner Bros and Disney, said ITV had to see the soaps as commercials from which to make money.

"Our business is about creating a TV commercial that is aired a couple of times a week that people can engage with," he added.

ITV is also planning a series of events in the runup to Coronation Street's 50th anniversary in December 2010.

The broadcaster has even created a logo featuring the famous flying ducks that graced much-loved character Hilda Ogden's front room.

"There are going to be several events throughout the year to celebrate the anniversary," Antonioni said.

"These will include a combination of tapping into past talent as well as celebrations for viewers."

In addition to the launch of spin-off products, ITV is also planning to reopen the Coronation Street set in Manchester to the public with behind-the-scenes tours.

Antonioni said that ITV also had global plans for Coronation Street spin-offs.

"The UK is our biggest market right now, but we can take this [the range of spin-offs] wherever we sell the show," he added.

Meanwhile, ITV is to release a new 90-minute episode of the soap on DVD featuring characters Cilla and Les in South Africa.

The DVD special is due to hit shops in early December in time for the Christmas market.

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This isn't new. You could get Newton & Ridley's in the 90s. I've still got some unopened. You could get all sorts and even Betty's Hotpot was in the supermarket. Like sci-fi merchandise, there's a niche market. Except sci-fi has more fans so makes more money. They're onto a loser here otherwise they wouldn't have stopped making anything.

Patsy

[RitaLittlewood]

From the Stage:

Fancy a pint? ITV does!
By Mark Wright on October 14, 2008 4:53 PM

My favourite story of the day that seems to have filtered over from the Mipcom international TV conference in Cannes is that ITV is seeking to roll out increased brand merchandising from Coronation Street. It seems this could be an attempt to seek brand new revenue streams from within programming as advertising revenues dwindle and wither as time ticks on.

My first question is: why has it taken so long? Coronation Street is far and away the most recognisable brand that ITV has on its slate (The X Factor possibly excepted), and it does seem rife to strip mine for merchandising opportunities. While it seems no deals have yet been sealed, the word is that ITV execs have made presentations to the trade and had preliminary meetings with manufacturers to discuss the possibility of, amongst other things, Newton and Ridley beer. Indeed, according to the Guardian, ITV has already trademarked Newton & Ridley, the name of the fictional brewery in the soap that supplies the Rovers Return with alcohol.

Also on the slate for merchandising, ahead of Corrie’s 50th Anniversary in 2010, are themed restaurants, tea sets and, no doubt, a range of Betty’s Hot Pot ready meals (although I swear they tried that once before, or was that just my imagination).

Best of all is the elastic-potential of a range of Underworld erm… underwear. Can you imagine popping down to Anne Summers and picking up a small item for your beloved for Christmas? Or some tasteful boxer briefs for the man in your life, perhaps with a variety of Corrie characters festooned all over them? Pick your favourites or collect the set!

It’s quite odd that for a commercial company, ITV have been singularly quite lax at exploiting its back catalogue and current shows for merchandising possibilities. This sudden spurt of effort to merchandise Coronation Street seems to have come out of nowhere, as if a light bulb went on somewhere and some bright exec thought: “Ah-ha! Betty’s Hot Pot!”. And then you have the BBC, a public funded organisation, which has a separate company to squeeze every last penny from its vast creative output.

I’m not sure how successful Coronation Street merchandise could be - would Newton and Ridley bitter ever replace a can of Boddies as your Saturday night tipple, or would it be nothing more than a novelty purchase?

Of course, the possibilities could be endless if you go by the Doctor Who model. What about collectible Coronation Street Frubes, or Ken Barlow Shaker-Makers? Personally, I’m holding out for a range of action figures, and if I’m a very good boy, perhaps that Kabin playset will be in my stocking on Christmas morning. (Rita and Norris figures sold separately…)

[sallywebster]

I remember those Betty hotpots in supermarkets.

There also used to be a whole shop full of Corrie stuff at the Granada Studios Tours. Everything from videos, Newton and Ridley glasses, pens etc.

I hope they do reopen the tours tho, id definately go.

[Deborah]

It'll be interesting to see what items they do come out with.

I hope they open the tours as well. I know a lot of people who would love to walk on those cobbles.