DIC Entertainment (pronounced "deek", rendered "DiC") was an international film and television production company. In addition to animated (and occasionally live-action) television shows such as Ulysses 31 (1980), Inspector Gadget (1983–1986), The Real Ghostbusters (1986–1991), and the first two seasons of the English adaptation of Sailor Moon (1995–1998), DIC produced live-action feature films while under Disney, including 1998's Meet the Deedles and 1999's Inspector Gadget.
It was founded in 1971 as DIC Audiovisuel by Frenchman Jean Chalopin in Paris, as a subsidiary of Radio-Television Luxembourg (RTL). "DIC" was originally an acronym for Diffusion, Information et Communication. The company was also known as The Incredible World of DiC, DiC. Audiovisuel, DiC Enterprises, DIC Animation City and DIC Productions. In 2008, the studio closed its doors, and was reallocated to Cookie Jar Entertainment.

DIC Entertainment Holdings, Inc., a brand management company, engages in the creation, development, production, distribution, marketing, and merchandising of animated content for children and families. It provides action, edutainment, holiday, comedy, and pre-school programs. The company also offers DIC Kid's Network, a syndicated programming block that airs on broadcast outlets, offers animated programs from its library of animated programming, such as SABRINA, STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, ARCHIE'S WEIRD MYSTERIES, THE LITTLES, and LIBERTY'S KIDS. In addition, DIC Entertainment Holdings offers children- and family-oriented animated product on VHS and DVD from its library, including Inspector Gadget, Care Bears, Sonic the Hedgehog, and Super Mario Bros, as well as produces home entertainment products. The company licenses its programs from its library of animation in approximately 200 countries through approximately 350 broadcasters worldwide. DIC Entertainment Holdings was founded in 1971 and is headquartered in Burbank, California with additional offices in New York, Paris, and London.

During 1987 LCI signed another licensing deal, this one with Nintendo of America, Inc. to market the software products that went along with its increasingly popular gaming systems. Nintendo had already introduced the Legend of Zelda for its home video game system, a software product that went on to sell more than one million copies during the year. In 1988 LCI hired Alfred Kahn, formerly of Coleco Industries, as its new chief executive. Kahn had already earned a reputation for marketing savvy, having acquired the licensing rights to an oddly-named bunch of dolls known as the Cabbage Patch Kids--which went on to conquer the United States and the world.
On the Verge: 1990s
With Kahn at its helm, LCI expanded its operations in the early 1990s by creating two new subsidiaries: The Summit Media Group, Inc. and 4Kids Productions, Inc. The former was established to handle syndication rights for various licensed products in both print and broadcast media, while the latter maintained a studio to buy and produce animated and live-action properties, which it then distributed to the television, home video, and theatrical markets.
Kahn and LCI turned in a new direction in the middle of the decade by launching the World Martial Arts Council (WMAC) and a new weekly television series, WMAC Masters, which brought together the world's most talented martial artists in a live-action format. Shannon Lee, daughter of martial arts champion Bruce Lee, lent considerable credibility to the show and its contestants by hosting. LCI hired Bandai American Incorporated to produce WMAC action figures and other merchandise.
LCI's lucrative licensing agreement with Nintendo continued to fuel its income as more and more kids bought gaming systems and Nintendo software. Next came the Game Boy, a hand-held portable gaming system that came with its own customized video games. In addition to the Zelda franchise, which had spawned a successful sequel, Nintendo had introduced Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, and in 1996 came a game about "pocket monsters" called Pokémon. The game consisted of catching unusually named creatures, taming them, and helping them "evolve" into stronger versions of themselves. Pokémon, previously introduced in Japan, became the must-have gaming cartridge of Game Boy players in the United States. LCI wasted no time in developing strategies to market the endearing Pokémon characters to youngsters everywhere.
As Pokémon mania began to take hold, LCI turned its attention to an entirely new area in 1987 when it agreed to handle licensing for the American Heart Association (AHA). The nonprofit AHA hired LCI to market its animated spokesperson, "Ticker," as a way to raise additional funds for the health organization. In turn, LCI merchandised Ticker to youngsters in a variety of products, from plush toys to apparel to books--all to promote cardio health.
By 1998 LCI had two revenue-producing television shows, WMAC Masters and Pokémon. Regarding the latter, LCI had also signed with Hasbro Inc. to produce plush toys, of which Pokémon character Pikachi (a bright yellow ratlike creature) was the most popular. An important milestone was also reached in children's television programming when the Toronto-based Nelvana signed a two-year contract with CBS to provide its morning television lineup. At the time, no television producer had been given exclusive rights to provide an entire block of children's programming. This would evolve in the coming years with LCI mastering the art of the deal. In the meantime, however, the company had reached total net revenues of just under $14.8 million for 1998, an increase of 46 percent over 1997's $10.1 million. Net income, however, rose significantly from 1997's $739,000 to $2.7 million.
LCI's fortunes changed exponentially in 1999. As the exclusive licensing agent for Nintendo, as well as other firms, LCI had both the notice and respect of the corporate world. Nintendo released the Nintendo 64 gaming system and a slew of Pokémon games to go with it, while LCI had inked a new deal linking monster truck promoter PACE Motor Sports and World Championship Wrestling (WCW). Additional Pokémon licensing included a three-year contract with Golden Books to produce 17 Pokémon books and an array of stickers and postcards for youngsters during the summer, just before the big screen debut of the first Pokémon movie by Warner Bros.
Pokémon mania hit a fever pitch with its characters gracing both the small and big screens, and a merchandising rollout unlike anything ever seen before. In its first day at theaters, Pokémon racked up $10 million in ticket sales and Warner Bros. completely ran out of the promotional trading cards it was distributing to early ticket buyers. By December, Golden Books had 30 million Pokémon titles in circulation, while Burger King's promotion of 100 million action figures and special gold-plated trading cards, placed in kids' meals, disappeared in a matter of weeks.
The hype fueled explosive growth for LCI and garnered it the top slot in Fortune magazine's "100 Fastest Growing Companies" in 1999. The company ended its remarkable year with net revenues of $60.5 million and net income of $23.7 million (up from 1998's $2.7 million).
Hitting the Jackpot: 2000s
The new century found LCI and its parent company, 4Kids Entertainment, Inc., switching from the NASDAQ market and joining the New York Stock Exchange. The firm's new ticker symbol was KDE and 4Kids was indeed riding high when it earned Fortune's top slot on its 100 Fastest Growing Companies for 2000. The company's sales were just under $88 million, up more than 242 percent from the previous four quarters in 1999. According to Variety magazine, the Pokémon franchise had earned upwards of $16 billion worldwide since its original launch in Japan, and 4Kids, as the exclusive licensor for all things Pokémon, had racked up not only impressive sales but net income climbing to an all-time high of $38.8 million ($15 million higher than the last year). Knowing the Pokémon bubble would burst at some point, LCI continued to ink other licensing deals, including a new contract with Marvel Comics to market merchandise for its comic book properties such as X-Men, Incredible Hulk, and Fantastic Four.
During 2001 4Kids and LCI had several licensing properties gaining popularity, but not with the speed and impact of Pokémon. X-Men and Hulk projects were underway, while Cubix, an animated program about robots on the Kids' WB was gaining an audience. 4Kids scored a marketing coup when both McDonald's and Burger King were featuring its licensed products in their children's meals during the summer of 2001. Though the timing was unintentional, 4Kids had signed with Burger King to place its Cubix action figures in meals beginning the week of August 27th, while McDonald's was putting Mattel's Hot Wheels in Happy Meals with a special Monster Jam Trucks (licensed by 4Kids) placement to occur in August or September.
4Kids stock reached a high of $29.30 per share in the third quarter of 2001 due in large part to a successful bid to lease Fox television's "FoxBox" block of Saturday morning children's programming beginning in early 2002. 4Kids went up against Nickelodeon (of Rugrats fame), DIC Entertainment (known for its Sonic the Hedgehog and Sabrina the Teenage Witch series), Discovery Communications (purveyor of Animal Planet, TLC, and the Discovery channels), and Nelvana (Franklin the Turtle)--all of whom coveted the four-hour programming block. 4Kids won the $100 million four-year deal, yet it did not include old stalwart Pokémon or new phenom Yu-Gi-Oh!, which was promised to the Kids' WB.
Yu-Gi-Oh!, an animated series based on a Japanese comic book and card game, debuted on the Kids' WB in the fall of 2001. Yu-Gi-Oh! revolved around a boy who played a special card game and in doing so was able to transform himself into the "Master of Games"

Statistics:
Public Company
Founded:1970 as Leisure Concepts, Inc.
Employees:185
Sales:$53.1 million (2002)
Stock Exchanges: New York
Ticker Symbol:KDE
NAIC:512110 Motion Picture and Video Production; 512191 Postproduction and Other Postproduction Services; 515120 Television Broadcasting; 517510 Cable and Other Program Distribution


Company Perspectives:
We know what KIDS like!


Key Dates:
1970: Leisure Concepts, Inc. (LCI) is incorporated in New York.
1987: LCI signs on to market Star Wars and inks a deal with Nintendo of America, Inc.
1988: Alfred Kahn joins LCI as chief executive officer.
1992: Two subsidiaries, Summit Media Group Inc. and 4Kids Productions, Inc., are formed.
1996: Nintendo debuts a new game for Game Boy called "Pokémon."
1998: Two LCI television shows gain considerable audiences: WMAC Masters and Pokémon.
1999: The Pokémon phenomenon takes the nation by storm.
2000: 4Kids Entertainment, Inc., parent company to LCI, goes public on the New York Stock Exchange.
2001: 4Kids bids on Fox television's "FoxBox" slot of children's programming and launches Yu-Gi-Oh! animated series.
2002: Two new subsidiaries are created: 4Kids Entertainment Music, Inc. and 4Kids Entertainment Home Video, Inc.


Toper Taylor
President

Bob Denton
Chief Financial Officer

Josh Meyer
Senior Vice President

Dan Waite
Vice President

Andy Heyward*
President & Chief Executive Officer*


Address:
1414 Avenue of the Americas
New York, New York 10019
U.S.A.
 
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