files/pictures/picture-35.jpgPress Release from m4e AG
Höhenkirchen/Munich: The comeback of the brand “BEYBLADE: Metal Fusion” marketed by the brand management and media company m4e AG and toy manufacturer Hasbro is in full swing. The speedy, colourful spinning tops are the number one toy in the German charts (NPD Eurotoys, KW 45, Total Market Top Items Units). Since September many more than 500,000 spinning tops have already been sold, with some traders reporting they had completely sold out, and Hasbro can only just satisfy the high demand from the traders and “BEYBLADE” fans.
‘The enthusiasm from the young fans goes far beyond even our boldest expectations! “BEYBLADE” is a mega-topic whose world of brands we will even further expand in 2011.’ comments Markus Großweischede, marketing director of Hasbro Germany, about the sales success of his products. A new toy-products line with further spinning tops including accessories will be on the market by the autumn of 2011.
The animation series from d-rights Inc. and Nelvana Enterprises, which has been broadcast weekdays since 13th September on the German Nickelodeon programme, achieved top viewing figures of up to 35% in the target group (boys, 6-13 years, according to the GfK/AKF consumer research group TV panel) and is watched daily by up to 110,000 children. The 51 episodes of the current season will be repeated from February 2011 by Nickelodeon and the broadcaster has a keen interest in broadcasting a new season with a further 51 episodes from September 2011. The toys and the TV series are promoted all year round via TV advertising and online presence (e.g.
www.beybladebattles.com ).
The licensing programme for “BEYBLADE: Metal Fusion” continues to further expand: Since October 2010 Egmont vgs is successfully publishing the Manga comic books to the series, Konami has had games, developed by HUDSON SOFT, out for Nintendo DS and Wii since mid-November which after two weeks are on position 6 respectively position 10 in their charts (media control GfK International), and in January 2011 Panini will bring the magazine onto the market. In the spring of 2011, textiles and accessories by Van der Erve and a home & living collection by Belltex will follow, and by midyear a separate “BEYBLADE” shoe-line by Leomil comes onto the market.
