Following the announcement that PorchLight Ent. has licensed its award-winning animated series JAY JAY THE JET PLANE to The Nine Network Australia, as well as inking an exclusive agreement with Target Australia Pty Ltd. for an expansive in-store JAY JAY product line, the company has now signed Gaffney International Licensing Pty Ltd. to rep the little preschool pal throughout Australia and New Zealand. Additionally, Roadshow Ent. has JAY JAYs licensing flight plan as the DVD/VHS distributor throughout the region. Gaffney will now liaise with Target Australia, Nine Network, Roadshow and future licensing partners.
According to William Baumann, series exec producer and PorchLights coo, Fred Gaffney was one of the first international kids licensing executives to recognize the appeal of JAY JAY, and its wonderful to have such a highly regarded licensing executive representing JAY JAY in the key markets of Australia an New Zealand. The Gaffney organization has an enormously successful track record in the licensing arena and we are confident that they will contribute significantly to JAY JAYs on-going success internationally.
As well as Gaffneys responsibility to secure licensing agreements for activity and early leaning books, educational toys, puzzles and other JAY JAY licensed product, Gaffney will additionally guide the marketing program for this award winning pre-school brand. Planned marketing activities include cross promotions with leading packaged goods and retail companies, Jay Jay character meet and greets at Target stores, and the installation of Jay Jay and Snuffy ride-ons at airports and other highly-trafficked locations in Australia and New Zealand.
Roadshow will distribute the 80 episodes of JAY JAY THE JET PLANE for home entertainment. Roadshow, working with Gaffney and Target, is initiating a launch campaign to coincide with Targets in-store launch in November. Following the Target launch campaign, Roadshow will then broaden its distribution to other retailers throughout Australia and New Zealand.
Established in 1977, Gaffney International Licensing (www.gaffney.com.au) has played a major role in the growth of the Australian licensing industry. The company is responsible for in excess of $500 million dollars of licensed product retail sales. In addition to its Australian operations, Gaffney International Licensing has a representative office in New Zealand and a network of strategic alliances with licensing agents in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Gaffney International Licensing has a team of 30 licensing professionals, with a particular expertise in the areas of children's entertainment and corporate licensing. Head office is located in Melbourne, with support offices in Sydney and Auckland.
Roadshow Ent. (www.roadshow.com.au) is a leader in the distribution of rental and sell-through video and DVD, establishing new records of revenue and profitability in the Asia-Pacific marketplace. With exclusive distribution agreements for ABC Enterprises and BBC Worldwide, Roadshow also represents some of the industry's leading high profile movie suppliers such as New Line Cinema and Village Roadshow Pictures.
PorchLight Ent. (www.porchlight.com) is a multi-faceted company focused on the production and distribution of high-quality family entertainment.
Bill Desowitz, former editor of VFXWorld, is currently the Crafts Editor of IndieWire.
