Scholastic Media unveils out-of-this-world plans for the highly-anticipated show for preschoolers, which premieres July 12 on Sprout.
New York – Scholastic Media brings to Licensing Expo exciting opportunities for new initiatives and partnerships. Leading the way is Astroblast!, an animated, interplanetary comedic television series for preschoolers that premieres July 12, 2014 on Sprout. In addition, merchandise assortments for the Scholastic brand, the trusted name with more than 90 years of equity, include a back-to-school program at Walmart. Scholastic Media will showcase its brands at Licensing Expo 2014, June 17-19, at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas, Booth L153.
“We’re very excited to be attending Licensing Show 2014 with exceptional brands ready for licensing,” said Leslye Schaefer, SVP Marketing and Consumer Products, Scholastic Media, the media and entertainment division of Scholastic. “We’re particularly pleased to showcase our newest TV show, Astroblast!, our first collaboration with Sprout, which will provide children with out-of-this-world adventures on and off the screen.”
Astroblast!, based on the Scholastic books by award-winning author and illustrator Bob Kolar, provides a galaxy of options for licensed offerings. Created and produced by Scholastic Media and Sprout, the new show follows the adventures of a crew of friendly and funny animal characters, Comet, Halley, Radar, Sputnik, Jet, and Sal, who run the Astroblast Space Station – the coolest hangout in the galaxy. The animated series for preschoolers features rich, humorous stories and an irresistible cast of characters, helping to impart simple, age-appropriate messages about friendship, self-awareness and nutrition along with other themes that support a child’s social, emotional and physical development.
Astroblast! is Sprout’s highest priority launch of the year. The 24-hour preschool network, which was fully acquired by NBCU Cable Entertainment in 2013, is putting in place an extensive marketing and promotional campaign to support the July launch of the series.
Scholastic Media is currently reviewing opportunities for Astroblast! in the following consumer products categories: toys, games and puzzles; children’s apparel and accessories; and room decor and bedding.
In addition, Scholastic Media is expanding the scope of its licensing program for the celebrated Scholastic brand, led by a back-to-school initiative at Walmart via Tara Toys. The line-up includes nearly 30 educational learning products such as: sequencing puzzles, pocket charts, matching games, learning clipboards, learning cards, and preschool learning games.
Other 2014 Scholastic brand introductions include:
- Scholastic for Baby produced by Baby King, featuring 30 skus that will roll out to drug and grocery stores nationwide. The products include bibs, teethers, rattles, soft books, soft toys, bath toys and baby’s first grooming kits.
- Assorted wooden toys from Cross Strategy Products consisting of 12 new skus of puzzles and learning activities debuting this summer at national mass-market, drug store and grocery outlets.
- Continuation of the ongoing exclusive DTR program of Scholastic branded writing implements – crayons, markers, pens and pencils, glue, clay and art supplies – at all Office Depot and OfficeMax stores nationwide.
Source: Scholastic Media
Formerly Editor-in-Chief of Animation World Network, Jennifer Wolfe has worked in the Media & Entertainment industry as a writer and PR professional since 2003.
