| Top Gaffney property Wiggles way into U.S. moppet market.
(Australia: new facilities beckon offshore production yet foreign investment in local film lags). Author/s: Don Groves Issue: May 6, 2002 SYDNEY The Wiggles, Australia's most popular music group for moppets, are fast winning fans in the U.S. via live tours, clips on the Disney Channel and videos (2.5 million copies sold so far). The foursome is working hard to further raise its profile Stateside in a seemingly unlikely alliance with "Crocodile Hunter" Steve Irwin. The Wiggles and Irwin got together to record an album and DVD titled "Wiggly Safari." The CD is being released in the U.S. in June and the video will go out in September via Hit Entertainment. Paul Field, the group's general manager, is confident "Safari" will benefit from the exposure Irwin gets when MGM launches his debut pic, "Crocodile Hunter: Collision Course," in U.S. theaters in late June. In the U.S., the Disney Channel started airing the band's clips in heavy rotation during its preschool programming in January, helping create awareness as the quartet embarked on its first Stateside tour in mid-February, encompassing such states as Texas, Kansas and Louisiana. They drew sizable crowds in venues ranging from 1,500-3,500 seats. Field says the Wiggles will return for three more tours this year, each lasting one month, beginning in June. Often billed in Oz as the "Fab Four for the under 5s," the group, which formed 11 years ago, comprises Anthony Field (Paul's brother), Murray Cook, Greg Page and Jeff Fatt. At home, they are one of the hottest properties in Gaffney Intl. Licensings stable, consistently rating among the top five sellers annually. Gaffney has licensed 40 companies to use their brand, covering everything from books and toys to clothes and tins of pineapple. "Fred (Gaffney) is the P.T. Barnum of licensing: he's a great ringmaster," Field says. In an innovative deal with the Walt Disney Co., the Wiggles plan to clone themselves throughout Asia: Disney intends to Create local versions of the group -- using its name, characters and songs -- in various Asian territories. Currently the band is filming another TV series consisting of 52 11-minute segs for Australian pubcaster ABC TV and the local Disney Channel, which Field hopes will be picked up by the U.S. Disney Channel. |