EM.TV to Sell Muppets to Jim Henson's Children for $89 Million

[Fozzie Bear]

Oh? SS characters were purchased beFORE MF? I didn't realize that? If so, that puts a whole different light on things.

It's highly likely, then, that they might cross over or have a presence at MF2!!

I wasn't against their coming, but didn't think it would happen. I would hope they could.

Elmo was SO funny at the last MF!!

I'd love to see Oscar and Pepe in conversation, as it was just mentioned; or some other conversations:

Fozzie, Bobo, and Baby Bear(s)
Kermit/Grover (Reunion)

 

[beaker]

Originally posted by Fozzie Bear
Oh? SS characters were purchased beFORE MF? I didn't realize that? If so, that puts a whole different light on things.

It's highly likely, then, that they might cross over or have a presence at MF2!!

I wasn't against their coming, but didn't think it would happen. I would hope they could.

Elmo was SO funny at the last MF!!

I'd love to see Oscar and Pepe in conversation, as it was just mentioned; or some other conversations:

Oh Oscar and Pepe would be too cool interacting. Last weve *Really* seen SS and TMS interacting was 1987's MFC.

Yeah, CTW(SW) was sold off from JHC before MF1...so there is precendent. Honestly, CTW is so ingrained with JHC its no big deal...the JHC not actually owning CTW I believe is just a formality.

But man...England, Cairo, BArstow California...it doesnt matter where it's held...Im *all* about MF 2.0!

 

[Luke]

Originally posted by Chilly Down
I don't think they weren't planning on having it for the next MF so much as plans have never gotten far enough along for them to really talk about it.

The plans for MF2 were pretty solid and Henson were gunning to do it right upto the last possible moment. They knew exactly what was happening at the second Muppetfest. Maybe if they weren't planning a show it was a budget issue in order to get the thing green lighted at that difficult time.

As for Sesame/Henson crossovers, yes Elmo did appear at the first Muppetfest after the sale, but that was just ONE muppet and they had booked Clash anyway. He has hardly any classic Muppet characters to do so i'm sure SW was more than happy for him to slip on Elmo - it's all free promotion for them. However when you're talking about a whole Sesame theme it would just be so unlikely - the whole idea of Muppetfest is that it's about HENSON and the Sesame characters like it or not aren't Henson anymore aside from in our hearts.

Muppetfest is about marketing, promotion and public relations - when you are all talking about Henson needing to concentrate on these areas does it really make any sense to do that for another companies benefit ? Ain't no TV company in the world - not even with the relationship of SW and JHC that's gonna be stupid enough to do that when they can do it for themselves. Unless as Chilly said, if SW were to co-fund the event which is another ballgame and not a bad idea at all.

Obviously there isn't bad feeling between the companies, there will always be a connection there, and yes, SW's puppeteers all come from Henson, but the management side of it is quite different - they are now two seperate companies and properties - and people forget how Sesame Workshop actively sought to end the clause in their contract which stopped them competing with Henson and producing pure entertainment programming. Tradition only goes so far and i would bet my last penny that these two companies act the same as any other two TV companies business wise. It is no formality - the Henson Company are well known to be very tough on what their characters do and what they participate in.

It's lovely that you guys make the industry sound so warm and squishy. If we are going to debate the companies future seriously though - we need a reality check. If it's all tea and crumpets by the fire then why do you think Palisades can't get the Muppets to do much promotion for the figures when you'd think Henson would be eager to have the Muppets continously promote such great stuff - especially when it's struggling. Why can't Palisades get any of the other licensee's to join together so they can afford to pay what Henson want for Muppet appearances and things ? Business is Business kids, even with those fuzzy friendly Muppet chappies and those fine folks at the Henson Company we all adore !

 

[frogboy4]

A future Muppet Fest could easily incorporate Sesame Street. Sesame Workshop could co-sponsor the event. I think it's far-fetched to think Sesame characters wouldn't be there. After all it would be a Muppet Fest, not a Henson Company Fest. I'd think the companies and performers would want to include all the Muppets they can. We'll just have to wait and see, but I find the appearance of Sesame characters highly likely. I just wouldn’t want them to be “the” focus.

 

[Luke]

Yeah i'm sure Sesame would be touched upon - one or two puppets, maybe a little Sesame clip video, a few props. That's just organised and legally cleared like a guest appearing on a talk show. However a whole Sesame theme, and making the show itself a big part of the day is complete lunacy. Unless of course as you say, Sesame Workshop co-funded it - which isn't a bad idea and would solve a lot of the problems not least the financial ones. Last i heard some Germans ran away with all the money !

 

[Zack the Dog]

Luke i have to disagree, the Sesame characters may not be owned by the Henson company anymore but they will always be Henson more then just in are hearts, they are still Muppet characters. I would think there are close relationships still. Couldn't Sesame Workshop Sell sesame products at the fest and profit of it? would the fest make more money with more children being there? I would hope the fest isn't just based on SS street but it would be great for it to be part of the fest.


Zack,

 

[frogboy4]

I'm wondering just how much cash the Henson family has left over after this deal? If you break it down to 680 M and half of it in stock options that leaves 340 M. Take away legal fees and taxes and it's probably 160M. Then you have whatever expenses they had in the last few years. So do you think they barely broke even to pay for the company, or are they still fairly solid? It's important to know because I feel it directly affects the status of the company.

 

[Luke]

Zack - aside from the traditional connection between Muppets and Sesame as i mentioned, the only other connections are that the New York Workshop are retained to maintain and build puppets (just like Creature Shop do for movie clients) and also i guess either the same puppeteers are hired freelance, or the same puppeteers are hired directly from the Henson Company. I don't know how their contracts work but Henson do have a puppetry co-ordinator at Sesame so i guess it's the latter - Secret Squirrel would know. The library and the merchandise are totally seperate now as are the character rights. Henson have absolutely nothing to do with any of that. Do they even use the term 'Muppet' now on Sesame Street or on the merchandise tags ? I've not seen it all in ages. Anyway, yes it would be great for Sesame to be a part of Muppetfest, but for them to have anything more than a brief appearance i would think there would have to be co-sponsorship or something which is a great idea. The point i'm trying to make is that it isn't as easy as Kermit going over to Elmo's house and saying "Hi Ho Elmo, Wanna bring your annoying little squeaky self over to New York next year so Dr Bunsen can try some experimentation on you ?" which is how some people (looks at Cory) make it sound. There are a lot more technicalities to it than that and i'm sure both companies protect their brand and identities vigourously - weighing up the pro's and con's of any move they make whether it's an appearance at Muppetfest or a sing-a-long with Rosie !

Jamie - I'd think the Henson kids are pretty solid to be honest with you. I know when they sold their shares and it was before the market completely crashed. Most likely they have other interests and investments anyway. The question is more - after sinking in $89 Million do people really think they would put even more of their personal fortunes into the companys bank accounts so they could make something like a movie or re-hire lots more staff ? I doubt it, they aren't likely to put all their eggs in one basket incase things don't do too well - The Henson Company has gotta survive on the bare minimums and will depend on funding from the strategic partnerships they are seeking and the money it makes from licensing and distribution. It's a shame they don't sell Chaplin and re-invest the money back into the Henson Company - all they've ever done there is rent it out for music and videos. It's amazing they have studios like that yet they go elsewhere to shoot and record things because it's more financially sound to have all the other stuff going on there and a small indie like them doesn't need anything but the New York base. Inflated and unneccasary costs have always been an issue at Henson and was something EMTV tried desperately to change.

 

[beaker]

Originally posted by Luke
and the Sesame characters like it or not aren't Henson anymore aside from in our hearts.

c'mon Luke, I doubt hardly anyone on here all the sudden thinks of Sesame characters as some sort of seperate totally unrelated fracnhise property. Sesame Street is just as part of Muppetdom as Fraggle Rock, Muppet Show, Bear int he Big Blue House, etc.

Originally posted by Luke
ZackDo they even use the term 'Muppet' now on Sesame Street or on the merchandise tags ? I've not seen it all in ages.

Yeah, ever since EMTV sold off CTW they are no longer Muppets.

Putting some sort of revisionist red line there is just silly. Think of it as two huge worlds under the same tent, just with different heading.

As for a Sesame Street 'theme'...noone is saying that...we just want say Telly, Oscar, Zoe, etc there...there doesnt have to be some huge Sesame takeover, just an acknowlegement. Not sure why some view Sesame as some completely different thing...we aint talking Dark Crystal and Muppet Show now.

As far as I am concerned, and most folks on here...its not just 'in our hearts', Sesame Street is, has, and will always be an intregal part of the Muppet universe no matter what some corrupt German media company did.

 

[Jennifer12]

Now its getting surreal.... Sesame Street characters no longer muppets....next thing you know, someone will be saying Yoda has been consumed by CGI....