JHC and HIT establish worldwide distribution and production venture

[Bean Bunny]

I guess Hit will have to edit Kermit out of the specials, unless they pay Disney a fee to use him.

 

[BoyRaisin2]

Out of interest why can you automatically understand why Disney could not use the Jim Henson brand name ? EMTV never bought the Jim Henson brand name, just the company (which included his name in the title) yet their agreement with the Henson family still allowed them to use his name. The Henson's could have easily made EMTV change the name. The reason why Disney are not using the name 'Jim Henson' is either because they do not want to, or the Henson's do not want them to. If both parties wanted i'm sure it could be arranged.

So the Henson Family/Legacy, not the Company, own the "Jim Henson" brand name and logo? Well, in that case, there's no excuse.

 

[McFraggle]

I am hopeful that this will mean Fraggle Rock will at the very least become syndicated again in re-runs. Also, just wondering will Disney have to edit the Sesame Street characters out of the Muppet movies.

 

[Jennifer12]

I am hopeful that this will mean Fraggle Rock will at the very least become syndicated again in re-runs. Also, just wondering will Disney have to edit the Sesame Street characters out of the Muppet movies.

That would be sort of extreme, wouldn't it? If you're talking about the Muppet movies that are already out on video, DVD, etc, Disney would gain absolutley nothing by spending all the money to edit existing work. The characters are in the movies. End of story.

It would also be horribly Orwellian..........

Jen

 

[McFraggle]

I agree with you that it would be extreme, but you never know. At least the Fraggles and the other family brands will be more focused on.

 

[Luke]

So the Henson Family/Legacy, not the Company, own the "Jim Henson" brand name and logo? Well, in that case, there's no excuse.

Yup, you are correct sir. The name belongs to the Henson Legacy. All this name business is either because Disney don't want to use it (or pay to use it) and probably want to make it clear they now own the characters, or that the Henson people think having Disney projects labelled "Jim Henson's Muppets" would get confused with their own projects. Eitherway it could have been different, which is why it ticks me off. The whole Jim Henson thing stands for quality and tradition, and with both Henson and Disney camps going on about how the characters are timeless and "evergreen" i would have thought it was something they could have used to emphasise that.

 

[Luke]

I'd imagine that Kevin Clash and the rest of the puppeteers are paid on a contracted per-project basis. Sesame Street pays him to do Elmo, and Disney would pay him to preform Clifford. Kind of like a movie star.

I'm not totally sure but from what i gathered thats not correct. All the Muppeteers are retained exclusively by the Henson Company but work for them on a freelance basis. When another company (Sesame, Disney) want to use them they hire them out through the Henson Company. This is the reason why you rarely see the Muppeteers working on non-Henson related projects. At least thats what i think, if its wrong i'm sure one of the puppeteers around here will correct me. I think Sesame have their own talent pool but also hire people like Clash and Oz from Henson.

 

[BoyRaisin2]

All this name business is either because Disney don't want to use it (or pay to use it) and probably want to make it clear they now own the characters, or that the Henson people think having Disney projects labelled "Jim Henson's Muppets" would get confused with their own projects.

Exactly what I was thinking, which is why I can understand (to a certain extent) why they might not want to use it. But since "Jim Henson" is technically not owned by a corporate foe, why not use it?

At least it'll really only affect the merchandise.

 

[dwayne1115]

So your saying

So Jim Henson's name wont be used just disney. I think that sucks. That can't be true.

 

[BoyRaisin2]

Interesting...

Kid label in with Henson
April 2, 2004 3:14pm
Daily Variety

LONDON --- Preschool specialist HIT Entertainment has signed a five-year distribution pact with Jim Henson, increasing the prospects of its plan to launch a dedicated digital children's channel in the U.S.

The 440-hour catalog includes prime kids fare such as "Fraggle Rock," "The Hoobs" and the Emmy- winning "Jim Henson's Mother Goose" stories.

Deal does not include "The Muppets" or "Bear in the Big Blue House," recently acquired by Disney.

The kids' specialist announced a co-production arrangement to kick off with a skein based on Russell Hoban's Frances series of badger books.

HIT topper Peter Orton, who once led Henson's sales division, said the deal brought together a formidable portfolio of preschool properties.

HIT insiders said a final decision on the launch of a preschool web in the U.S. will be made by fall. If the net is successful, an international rollout is likely to follow.