CPLG - Copyright Promotions Licensing Group

NEW MOVIE GALVANISES STAR TREK FRANCHISE PHENOMENON

London, UK, May 2009 - CPLG, Europe's leading rights agency ,is delighted to announce its comprehensive licensing and promotions programme for Star Trek as the buzz increases around tomorrow's release of the new movie directed by J.J. Abrams.  

CPLG is the European licensing agent for CBS Consumer Products, which owns the Star Trek brand. Reflecting the distinction of this evergreen franchise and the anticipation of the new movie, CPLG's licensing programme encompasses the existing, ardent fanbase as well as considering the new generation of fans. 

Vivid Imaginations leads the way, distributing Playmates master toy line across the UK. Its range of figures, role play, accessories and playsets is complemented by deals including Underground Toys, which will be producing talking keychains; Halsall for wheeled toys; and Brothers Entertainment Merchandise which has been signed to produce U.S.S. Enterprise bottle openers and keychains. Mobile phone accessories are being designed and produced by Lazerbilt, and Zap has come on board for bedding and blankets.

CPLG has also brokered a deal for the "Haynes Enterprise Manual," a unique collaboration between long-standing master publishing partner Simon & Schuster and Haynes Publishing, which will be brought to market in 2010. Recognising Haynes' unique approach to global phenomena such as Star Trek, Simon & Schuster gave their blessing to the collaboration in an unprecedented move.

In turn, Haynes has created the ultimate guide to the Enterprise, applying its famous ‘step-by-step' approach of stripping the mothership down to its essentials and reassembling it with detailed illustrations under the expert guidance of editors, consultants and artists. The Manual is set to be a must buy for existing fans as well as those coming to the franchise through the new movie. Commenting on the deal, Susan Bolsover, CPLG's Category Director for Publishing and Paper product says: "This fantastic collaboration is a milestone for the Star Trek franchise and comes at a time when the brand is experiencing heightened awareness. Haynes' unique style will bring something new and exciting to the world of Star Trek."

CPLG has also brokered an exciting deal with Toshiba, which will use the new Star Trek movie in its marketing campaign for the company's TVs, laptops and DVD players.  In addition to advertising and POS materials, which will feature iconic movie stills, Toshiba is developing up to five exclusive designs for its laptops and portable DVD players, available to buy as part of a new product package or to be fitted to existing product.  For added incentive to consumers, those purchasing a Toshiba product will automatically be entered into a competition to win a Zero Gravity Flight over the Nevada Desert - the ultimate Star Trek experience.

Commenting on the programme, Vickie O'Malley, CPLG Managing Director says: "We're very proud of the programme to accompany this new era for Star Trek. The movie is simply fantastic and the prospects for a new franchise couldn't be better. Along with CBS, we're looking forward to an outstanding future for Star Trek."

A global institution with a staggering 98 percent of consumer awareness, the Star Trek franchise has been an influential force since it first aired in 1966.  NASA named its first space shuttle Enterprise following a public petition campaign in the States, while the noun ‘Klingon' appears in The Oxford English Dictionary, joining other Star Trek terms such as ‘warp drive' and ‘dilithium.'. Star Trek has also been the inspiration for many facets of daily modern life, which at the time were regarded as totally visionary: motion-activated sliding doors, computers with speech recognition, non-invasive medical instruments, diagnostic imaging (MRI and CAT scans) and laser surgery, to name a few.

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For further information please contact Camilla Leask or Jane Garner, kilogrammedia

e: cleask@kilog.co.uk / jgarner@kilog.co.uk tel: +44 (0) 1279 778919

Editor's Notes:

About CPLG

CPLG (Copyright Promotions Licensing Group Limited) is one of the world's leading entertainment, sports and brand licensing and merchandising agencies with over 30 years' experience in the industry.  With dedicated teams in seven offices across Europe and international agencies servicing the rest of the world, Copyright Promotions has a structure that is unique in the licensing industry today.  www.cplg.com

About CBS Consumer Products

CBS Consumer Products, a unit of CBS Entertainment, manages worldwide licensing and merchandising for a diverse slate of television brands and series from CBS, CBS Paramount Network Television and CBS Television Distribution, as well as from the company's extensive library of titles.  Additionally, the group oversees the CBS Retail Store and online sales of programming merchandise.  For more information, visit www.CBS.com.