Kids’ WB and Sony Announce Marketing for “The Spectacular Spider-Man”
[via press release]
Kids’ WB!, Sony Pictures Television & Marvel Spin Wide Marketing Web For All-New “The Spectacular Spider-Man” TV Series
(September 24, 2007 – Burbank, CA) – Kids’ WB!, Sony Pictures Television (SPT) and Marvel Studios have launched an extensive marketing and promotional campaign to support the Spring 2008 premiere of the highly-anticipated “The Spectacular Spider-Man” television series. The all-new animated series will air within the Kids’ WB! lineup on The CW Network, the No. 1 rated Saturday morning kids broadcast slate.
“The Spectacular Spider-Man” picks up the original web-slinger’s mythology at the beginning of his hero’s journey as a not-so-typical 16-year-old entering his junior year of high school. Peter Parker must conceal his secret identity, confront the multi-leveled pressures of teenage life at home and school, and all the while combat even bigger Super Villains than ever before. Based on Marvel Entertainment’s popular Super Hero, “The Spectacular Spider-Man” is produced by Culver Entertainment, a Sony Pictures Television Company.
The marketing and promotional campaign will reach its targeted audience through an array of on-air, in-school, online and retail activities. Initial elements in the program have already begun to appear via fanboy convention participation (WonderCon, Comic-Con) and Kids’ WB! on-air teasers. The primary effort began Saturday, September 22 during the premiere of the Kids’ WB! 2007 fall lineup. These initiatives include:
• Starting in early 2008, Sony Pictures Television and Kids’ WB!/The CW Network will launch an in-school Milk Media Campaign in 85% of all U.S. schools. The campaign will include localized tune-in information that will be featured on “The Spectacular Spider-Man” branded posters and book covers in the top 8-10 markets, as well as branding on nearly 40 million milk cartons.
• Kids’ WB! hosted “The Spectacular Spider-Man” sweepstakes, giving away 100 not-yet-released Activision “Friend or Foe” video games every hour on September 22. The “Friend or Foe” games will not be available at retail until October.
• A Kids’ WB! on-air teaser campaign for the series has begun to run regularly until the series premieres in early 2008.
• An extensive “kid focused” online campaign – featuring “The Spectacular Spider-Man,” – will be accessible at www.kidswb.com.
• A trailer for the series is featured on Sony Home Entertainment’s Spider-Man 3 DVD available at Wal-Mart beginning October 30.
“This is a blockbuster series that we believe will become a centerpiece of the Kids’ WB! lineup, and our aggressive marketing efforts, in conjunction with our partners at Sony and Marvel, are reflective of our belief in the quality of the show and its obvious fit within our action-oriented lineup,” said by Kids’ WB! Senior Vice President and General Manager Betsy McGowen.
“Once again, the outstanding stories of Spider-Man have given us an incredible opportunity to work with our partners at Kids’ WB! and Marvel in spreading the word that this show will have a life on television, in stores and beyond. By hitting every level of the marketing landscape, we are focusing on bringing as much exposure in every possible way that will continue to keep Spider-Man front and center for years to come,” said Sony Pictures Television Executive Vice President of Marketing, Robert Oswaks.
Spider-Man Merchandising L.P. is currently in discussions with industry leaders in most major product categories, as well with key retailers, to develop a full licensing and merchandising program to support the series and introduce this highly-anticipated new Spider-Man brand into the marketplace. Several deals are currently being finalized.
Spider-Man Merchandising, LP, the limited partnership comprised of Marvel Entertainment, Inc. and Sony Pictures Consumer Products Inc., oversees the licensing and merchandising activities for Columbia Pictures’ Spider-Man™ feature films and animated series based on the Marvel character.
Culver Entertainment is a Sony Pictures Television company. Sony Pictures Television is one of the television industry’s leading content providers. It produces and distributes programming in every genre, including series, telefilms, theatrical releases and family entertainment for network and cable television, as well as first-run and off-network series for syndication. With more than 25 programs on the air, SPT boasts a program slate that includes the top-rated daytime dramas and game shows, landmark off-network series, original animated series and critically acclaimed primetime dramas, comedies and telefilms. SPT (www.sonypicturestelevision.com) is a Sony Pictures Entertainment company.
With a library of over 5,000 high-profile characters built over more than sixty years of comic book publishing, Marvel Entertainment, Inc. is one of the world’s most prominent character-based entertainment companies. Marvel utilizes its character franchises in licensing, entertainment (via Marvel Studios), publishing (via Marvel Comics) and toys, with emphasis on feature films, home DVD, consumer products, video games, action figures and role-playing toys, television and promotions. Marvel’s strategy is to leverage its franchises in a growing array of opportunities around the world. For more information visit www.marvel.com.
A leader in children’s programming, Kids’ WB! provides a unique destination for kids. Now airing on The CW Network, Kids’ WB! has been the broadcast home for such cornerstone hits as the blockbusters “Pokémon” and “Yu-Gi-Oh!,” Emmy® Award-winners “The Batman” and “Xiaolin Showdown,” culturally diverse series “Jackie Chan Adventures” and “¡Mucha Lucha! Gigante,” and breakout hits “Shaggy & Scooby-Doo Get A Clue!” and “Legion of Super Heroes,” among other favorites. Kids and their parents can find more information about Kids’ WB! programming online at www.KidsWB.com.
Spider-Man, the Character: TM & © 2007 Marvel Characters, Inc. The Spectacular Spider-Man, the animated series: © 2007 Adelaide Productions, Inc. All rights reserved. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.
Super Hero(es) and Super Villain(s) are co-owned registered trademarks.