Post by Collector's Connection on Oct 28, 2004 3:30:16 GMT -5
JAKKS Pacific to Produce Wheel of Fortune(R) and Jeopardy!(R) TV Games
MALIBU, Calif., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
(Nasdaq: JAKK) announced that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Consumer Products, Inc. and Sony Pictures Television to develop
TV Games based on classic game shows, Wheel of Fortune(R) and Jeopardy!(R).
JAKKS Pacific's award-winning TV Games are plug-it-in and play gaming systems that contain multiple games in one single controller.
"Now fans can take their own chance at the wheel with their Wheel of Fortune(R) TV Games unit, or dare to take the daily double with Jeopardy!(R) TV Games," said Jennifer Richmond, Senior Vice President, Licensing and Media, JAKKS Pacific, Inc. "This is the first time that classic game shows will be offered as part of our TV Games line, and we are excited to partner with Sony
Pictures Consumer Products, Inc. to bring the high stakes challenge of two of the biggest game shows to fans everywhere."
"JAKKS' TV Games line has been hugely successful and will be an excellent
platform for classic favorites like Jeopardy!(R) and Wheel of Fortune!(R)," said Al Ovadia, Executive Vice President, Sony Pictures Consumer Products,
Inc.
The TV Games(TM) product is a plug-it-in and play gaming system that contains multiple games in one single controller. All that is needed are
batteries and a TV -- no videogame consoles or gaming cartridges are required.
Simply plug the TV Games(TM) product into the A/V jacks of any standard television set, turn it on and play! The lightweight, compact, all-inclusive controller houses a combination of videogames with all of the hardware built right in. This technology allows gaming fans to enjoy a number of videogames with just one single purchase.
Wheel of Fortune(R) TV Games and Jeopardy!(R) TV Games are expected to launch at retailers nationwide in Fall 2005, with a suggested retail price of
approximately $20.00. They will be available in the U.S. and other English- speaking territories. For more information on JAKKS Pacific's TV Games(TM)
line, please go to www.jakkstvgames.com.
Honored as one of TV Guide's "50 Greatest Game Shows of All Time," Wheel of Fortune airs in 209 markets representing more than 99% of the U.S. Wheel of Fortune's reach goes far beyond the U.S., with the series being broadcast across the globe in such countries as Singapore, Canada, Japan and Jamaica.
Merv Griffin is the creator of Wheel of Fortune. The series is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, and is
distributed domestically by King World Productions, Inc. The U.S. episodes are distributed internationally by CBS Broadcast International (CBI). King World International Productions, a subsidiary of CBI, sells and produces
format versions worldwide.
Jeopardy!, America's Favorite Quiz Show(R), was recently listed among "The Greatest Game Shows of All Time" by TV Guide. The series has been the
#1-rated quiz show in syndication for 76 consecutive ratings periods, and airs on stations representing more than 99% of the U.S. With an estimated 11
million viewers daily, Jeopardy! continues to attract an audience that outdelivers most of what airs on the networks in prime time.
Jeopardy! is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, and is distributed domestically by King World Productions, Inc. The series is also distributed internationally by CBS
Paramount International Television.
About Sony Pictures Consumer Products, Inc.
Sony Pictures Consumer Products (SPCP), based in Los Angeles and London, handles the merchandising and branding efforts for some of the most recognized
properties in film and television and, through Spider-Man Merchandising, L.P., a limited partnership with Marvel Enterprises, the Spider-Man(TM) motion
pictures. SPCP properties include such titles as the upcoming space adventure Zathura, the highly anticipated epic motion picture based on the popular
novel, Memoirs of a Geisha, television properties such as "Astro Boy(TM)" and "Jackie Chan Adventures(TM)", Sony Pictures Animation's first full length feature, Open Season and the big screen adaptations of classic television favorites "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie".
SPCP is a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE). SPE is a division of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content
creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment
acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of
filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at www.sonypictures.com
About JAKKS Pacific, Inc.:
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. is a multi-brand company that designs and markets a broad range of toys and leisure products. The product categories include:
Action Figures, Arts & Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre-
School, Plush, Construction Toys and Dolls. The products are sold under various brand names including Play Along(R), Flying Colors(R), Road Champs(R), Remco(R), Child Guidance(R), Pentech(R), Trendmasters(R), Toymax(R),
Funnoodle(R), Go Fly a Kite(R) and ColorWorkshop(TM). The Company also participates in a joint venture with THQ Inc. that has exclusive worldwide rights to publish and market World Wrestling Entertainment(TM) video games.
For further information, visit www.jakkspacific.com.
This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about JAKKS' business based, in part, on assumptions made by its management.
These statements are not guarantees of JAKKS' future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict.
Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous
factors, including, but not limited to, those described above and the following: changes in demand for JAKKS' products, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing and difficulties encountered in the integration of acquired businesses. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which
they are made, and JAKKS does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of
this release.
CONTACTS:
Genna Goldberg Yvonne Soderberg
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. Sony Consumer Products
(310) 455-6235 (310) 244-5223
gennag@jakks.net yvonne_soderberg@spe.sony.com
MALIBU, Calif., Oct. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- JAKKS Pacific, Inc.
(Nasdaq: JAKK) announced that it has entered into a licensing agreement with Sony Pictures Consumer Products, Inc. and Sony Pictures Television to develop
TV Games based on classic game shows, Wheel of Fortune(R) and Jeopardy!(R).
JAKKS Pacific's award-winning TV Games are plug-it-in and play gaming systems that contain multiple games in one single controller.
"Now fans can take their own chance at the wheel with their Wheel of Fortune(R) TV Games unit, or dare to take the daily double with Jeopardy!(R) TV Games," said Jennifer Richmond, Senior Vice President, Licensing and Media, JAKKS Pacific, Inc. "This is the first time that classic game shows will be offered as part of our TV Games line, and we are excited to partner with Sony
Pictures Consumer Products, Inc. to bring the high stakes challenge of two of the biggest game shows to fans everywhere."
"JAKKS' TV Games line has been hugely successful and will be an excellent
platform for classic favorites like Jeopardy!(R) and Wheel of Fortune!(R)," said Al Ovadia, Executive Vice President, Sony Pictures Consumer Products,
Inc.
The TV Games(TM) product is a plug-it-in and play gaming system that contains multiple games in one single controller. All that is needed are
batteries and a TV -- no videogame consoles or gaming cartridges are required.
Simply plug the TV Games(TM) product into the A/V jacks of any standard television set, turn it on and play! The lightweight, compact, all-inclusive controller houses a combination of videogames with all of the hardware built right in. This technology allows gaming fans to enjoy a number of videogames with just one single purchase.
Wheel of Fortune(R) TV Games and Jeopardy!(R) TV Games are expected to launch at retailers nationwide in Fall 2005, with a suggested retail price of
approximately $20.00. They will be available in the U.S. and other English- speaking territories. For more information on JAKKS Pacific's TV Games(TM)
line, please go to www.jakkstvgames.com.
Honored as one of TV Guide's "50 Greatest Game Shows of All Time," Wheel of Fortune airs in 209 markets representing more than 99% of the U.S. Wheel of Fortune's reach goes far beyond the U.S., with the series being broadcast across the globe in such countries as Singapore, Canada, Japan and Jamaica.
Merv Griffin is the creator of Wheel of Fortune. The series is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, and is
distributed domestically by King World Productions, Inc. The U.S. episodes are distributed internationally by CBS Broadcast International (CBI). King World International Productions, a subsidiary of CBI, sells and produces
format versions worldwide.
Jeopardy!, America's Favorite Quiz Show(R), was recently listed among "The Greatest Game Shows of All Time" by TV Guide. The series has been the
#1-rated quiz show in syndication for 76 consecutive ratings periods, and airs on stations representing more than 99% of the U.S. With an estimated 11
million viewers daily, Jeopardy! continues to attract an audience that outdelivers most of what airs on the networks in prime time.
Jeopardy! is produced by Sony Pictures Television, a Sony Pictures Entertainment Company, and is distributed domestically by King World Productions, Inc. The series is also distributed internationally by CBS
Paramount International Television.
About Sony Pictures Consumer Products, Inc.
Sony Pictures Consumer Products (SPCP), based in Los Angeles and London, handles the merchandising and branding efforts for some of the most recognized
properties in film and television and, through Spider-Man Merchandising, L.P., a limited partnership with Marvel Enterprises, the Spider-Man(TM) motion
pictures. SPCP properties include such titles as the upcoming space adventure Zathura, the highly anticipated epic motion picture based on the popular
novel, Memoirs of a Geisha, television properties such as "Astro Boy(TM)" and "Jackie Chan Adventures(TM)", Sony Pictures Animation's first full length feature, Open Season and the big screen adaptations of classic television favorites "Bewitched" and "I Dream of Jeannie".
SPCP is a division of Sony Pictures Entertainment (SPE). SPE is a division of Sony Corporation of America (SCA), a subsidiary of Tokyo-based Sony Corporation. SPE's global operations encompass motion picture production and distribution; television production and distribution; digital content
creation and distribution; worldwide channel investments; home entertainment
acquisition and distribution; operation of studio facilities; development of new entertainment products, services and technologies; and distribution of
filmed entertainment in 67 countries. Sony Pictures Entertainment can be found on the World Wide Web at www.sonypictures.com
About JAKKS Pacific, Inc.:
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. is a multi-brand company that designs and markets a broad range of toys and leisure products. The product categories include:
Action Figures, Arts & Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments, Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre-
School, Plush, Construction Toys and Dolls. The products are sold under various brand names including Play Along(R), Flying Colors(R), Road Champs(R), Remco(R), Child Guidance(R), Pentech(R), Trendmasters(R), Toymax(R),
Funnoodle(R), Go Fly a Kite(R) and ColorWorkshop(TM). The Company also participates in a joint venture with THQ Inc. that has exclusive worldwide rights to publish and market World Wrestling Entertainment(TM) video games.
For further information, visit www.jakkspacific.com.
This press release contains statements that are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995.
These statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections about JAKKS' business based, in part, on assumptions made by its management.
These statements are not guarantees of JAKKS' future performance and involve risks, uncertainties and assumptions that are difficult to predict.
Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements due to numerous
factors, including, but not limited to, those described above and the following: changes in demand for JAKKS' products, product mix, the timing of customer orders and deliveries, the impact of competitive products and pricing and difficulties encountered in the integration of acquired businesses. The forward-looking statements contained herein speak only as of the date on which
they are made, and JAKKS does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statement to reflect events or circumstances after the date of
this release.
CONTACTS:
Genna Goldberg Yvonne Soderberg
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. Sony Consumer Products
(310) 455-6235 (310) 244-5223
gennag@jakks.net yvonne_soderberg@spe.sony.com