World
Leader in Wrestling Toys JAKKS Pacific®
Signs TNA for Worldwide Master Toy License
JAKKS Announces Succession
Plan for its Wrestling Toy Program
February 13, 2008 -- Malibu, CA –
The world leader in wrestling toys, JAKKS
Pacific Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK), today announced
that it signed an exclusive five year worldwide
Master Toy License with TNA (Total Nonstop
Action) Entertainment LLC for TNA
Wrestling, with a planned launch expected
to commence in 2010.
JAKKS’ new TNA Master
Toy License includes all styles of action
figures, playsets, accessories and role
play toys as well as collectible items based
on TNA Wrestling’s top talent which
includes wrestling megastars Kurt Angle,
Booker T, Christian Cage, Samoa Joe, A.J.
Styles, Kevin Nash, Team 3D and other wrestlers
who have chosen to align with the world’s
fastest growing wrestling league, TNA Wrestling.
TNA has been increasing
in popularity since its inception in 2002.
“TNA iMPACT” airs every Thursday
night from 9:00 – 11:00 PM, ET/PT
on Spike TV (available in 96.1 million homes
and is a division of MTV Networks). Through
a combination of televised programming,
pay-per view and live events, TNA is also
available in over 110 countries around the
globe. For instance, the United Kingdom,
historically JAKKS’ strongest international
territory for wrestling toys, is also TNA’s
strongest international territory, with
programming having just moved from Bravo
II to the main Bravo channel.
“TNA’s stellar
and growing arsenal of top world famous
wrestlers, impressive ratings increases,
aggressive live touring event schedule,
and mounting exposure worldwide, coupled
with JAKKS’ expertise as the world’s
leading wrestling toy maker, bodes well
for this new wrestling toy line to create
a perfect storm,” said JAKKS’
Chairman and CEO Jack Friedman. “By
the time 2010 arrives, TNA should be able
to increase its market share even more significantly,
and fans should be even more receptive to
a new and exciting wrestling toy line.”
“TNA fans have come
to expect the very best in professional
wrestling in everything we do, and JAKKS
represents the top of the line in pro wrestling
action figures,” said Dixie Carter,
President of TNA Wrestling. “We could
not be more thrilled to have the world’s
leading wrestling toymaker join the fastest
growing professional wrestling brand in
the world. We believe that JAKKS’
strength in the wrestling action figure
genre will help continue TNA's reinvention
of pro wrestling."
About
TNA Wrestling
TNA Wrestling delivers a distinct brand
of high-risk, athletic entertainment. TNA's
roster includes the biggest names in Wrestling
today, such as Kurt Angle, Booker T, Kevin
Nash and Christian Cage, as well as the
hottest new stars in the business: A.J.
Styles, Samoa Joe and the Motor City Machineguns.
TNA features the innovative six-sided ring
and the high flying X-Division, as well
as concept matches such as "Ultimate
X," "King of the Mountain,"
"Six Sides of Steel," "Lethal
Lockdown" and "Elevation X,"
considered the most dangerous match in professional
Wrestling. TNA Entertainment, LLC is a privately
held company headquartered in Nashville,
TN. For more information, visit www.tnawrestling.com.
About
JAKKS Pacific
JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK) is a
multi-brand company that designs and markets
a broad range of toys and consumer products.
The product categories include: Action Figures,
Art Activity Kits, Stationery, Writing Instruments,
Performance Kites, Water Toys, Sports Activity
Toys, Vehicles, Infant/Pre-School, Plush,
Construction Toys, Electronics, Dolls, Dress-Up,
Role Play, and Pet Toys and Accessories.
The products are sold under various brand
names including JAKKS Pacific®, Play
Along®, Flying Colors®, Creative
Designs International™, Road Champs®,
Child Guidance®, Pentech®, Trendmasters®,
Toymax®, Funnoodle®, Go Fly a Kite®,
Color Workshop®, JAKKS Pets™ and
Plug It In & Play TV Games™. JAKKS
and THQ Inc. participate in a joint venture
that has worldwide rights to publish and
market World Wrestling Entertainment video
games. For further information, visit www.jakks.com.
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