Can Ruff Ruffman Make Money on PBS

I have never heard of Ruff Ruffman. I would think that you were making it up if you mentioned it to me, but this character is apparently extremely popular. Why haven't I heard of him? Because he's on PBS so he can't be turned into a huge, lucrative brand like those on Disney and Nickelodeon...or can he? The Boston Globe reports that Ruff Ruffman is more popular than the Jonas brothers and "High School Musical" with 6-to-8-year olds. The article mentions that PBS tends to be highly watched by children who haven't started elementary school, but once they do, viewership is lost to cable channels and the Internet. PBS is working on taking measures to keep viewers after school starts. On top of this, we don't know who Ruffman is because the creators are very cautious to take the lovable, educational character and turn it into a full fledged money-making machine. They don't want parents to lose respect for the value of the character. This sounds like a great beginning position to be in. It's like you have a huge diamond that needs to be polished and you want to make sure the right person shines it so it doesn't get damaged. No matter what, you still have a diamond. With the right brand managers and marketing moves, there's no reason why Ruffman can't make tons of money and remain a valuable brand to parents.

Gods in Children's Cartoons

Could you imagine turning on Disney and finding a cartoon of Jesus Christ as a 9-year-old boy? He's skateboarding, going to school, hanging with his buddies and helping to fight off demons and evil just like a superhero. To many, this would be considered sacrilege, but in India, it's a hit. A recent article explained that Krishna, Ganesha, and Hanuman are a few of the characters that are outranking Popeye and Tom and Jerry in cartoons in India. Perhaps this popularity is comparable to Greek mythology and its presentation to children in films such as Disney's Hercules. We do have a cartoon that airs on basic cable that caters to Christians, but no character is supposed to be Jesus. Veggietales uses fun, cartoon vegetables to tell stories from the bible, but what's going on in India is different. The popularity of these cartoons is significant because young Indian children are being exposed to their own country's culture in their entertainment as opposed to getting imports like Popeye that reflect American sensibilities. The article mentions that from a financial standpoint, these cartoons are great for the market because the brands are already familiar. As opposed to the creation of a character like Spongebob, people must see him and understand his values and personality so that he becomes a lovable brand. When they use religious symbols to create a brand, they can't go wrong! Of course they love little Krishna for their kids. This is a very strong idea for India, but I question whether a move like this would be accepted in the Christian/American world.

Oooh, Disney's in Trouble

Stephen Slesinger, Inc. sued Disney over royalties for the Winnie the Pooh brand and won. This story was finalized yesterday and it details that Disney claimed their agreement with Slesinger was unclear, however a US District Court Judge disagreed. The article reports that Pooh makes up 25% of Disney's global retails sales in consumer products. That's a lot of money that Slesinger has been missing out on. Slesinger is credited with having given Pooh his red shirt and developing the brand since its beginnings as a book. Slesinger is now entitled to 1.5% to 2.5% of Winnie the Pooh's earnings so congrats on your win, Slesinger. You're rich!

Big Bird, Elmo and the Gang Turn 40

We all remember tuning into Bert and Ernie, Elmo, and Big Bird in the mornings when we were young. For the past 40 years, kids in more than 140 countries have shared in the same childhood experience. Sesame Street recently announced that it would be giving the program and new look and format to excite audiences. Apparently, Sesame Street has been constantly updating their programming to include changes changes in technology over of the years. They have said that they are the most well-researched show in television history which can explain the 122 Emmy's they have won. And don't forget toys like Tickle-me-elmo who has been the toy to get over the years. This shows just how influential and lucrative the Sesame Street Brand is. I can remember tuning into Sesame Street when I was a kid and loving it. It was funny, light, and educational, but of course I didn't care that I was learning when I was laughing. Sesame Street holds a fond place in many of our hearts. Happy Birthday, Sesame Street. Keep up the good work!