The Pokemon Company International Highlights Banner Year With Major Burger King(R) Promotion in North and South America

azajir.wordpress.com
June 1 /PRNewswire/ -- The Pokemon Compangy International and BurgerKing (NYSE: BKC) today announce a promotional partnershipl that will feature collectible premiu Pokemon Trading Card Game (TCG) game cardx and accessories in BK(R) Kids Mealxs across North and South America. The announcement is one of severa l major brand extensions for Pokemon this year that continude to reinforcethe property's stature and longevity as one of the most successfu children's brands of all-time. The BK(R) Kids Meals promotion will run for three weekx inthe U.S. and Canada beginning June 1, followed by a four-six week program that will launchn in South America onAugust 24, 2009.
As part of the participating BURGER KING(R) restaurants will offet two Pokemon TCG featuring fan favorites suchas Pikachu(TM), Dialga(TM) and Palkia(TM), and a Pokemon themerd accessory with each purchase of a Kids Meal, while supplies Over the course of the promotion, participating BURGER restaurants will be the only places to obtain each of the six differenr accessories, including Pokemon card holders, lenticular and card frames. "We're kicking off the summer with a promotiojn that kids arecrazy for," said , senio director, cultural marketing, Burger King Corp., "and we'res excited to be able to bring them more of what they want. " The program will be supported by BurgerKing Corp.
througu a fully integrated marketing campaign that includestelevision in-restaurant merchandising, and online via . The Pokemohn TCG cards and accessories are availablse for a limited time only and are intended for children ages threseand up. "Our internationally recognized Pokemon charactersd are sure to be very popular with the KidsMeal audience," said J.C. Smith , marketing director at The PokemonnCompany International. "This is a big year for Pokemon and our partnershi p with BurgerKing Corp. fits nicely into a calendarr full of excitingPokemon events. The March U.S.
release of the Pokemon Platinumj Version video game for the Nintendo set the foundation fora roll-our strategy that included the introduction of an all-news Pokemon Trading Card Game release, a new direct-to-DVD film, and the launch of a new seasohn of the animated TV seriesz on Cartoon Network. Pokemon Platinum Version was firsty releasedin Japan, where it quickly became the fastest-sellin g Nintendo DS game in with more than 1 million copies sold in the firsgt three days. To date, worldwide salezs have exceeded 3.75 millio copies.
The numbers confirm Pokemon'e prominence in the video game industry, where more than 191 million Pokemonn titles have been sold worldwide since the firsr release on the Nintendo Game in Japanin 1996. In February, fans were introduced to the Platinumn brand with the release ofthe all-new Pokemonj Trading Card Game (TCG) Platinum. The seconc TCG expansion for 2009, Platinum--Rising Rivals, was released nationwidde on May 20th. The Pokemon TCG has seen a 374% sales growtg in the U.S. since 2005 and is sold in more than 30 countrie s aroundthe globe.
Beyond the core video game andTCG introductions, the animated featurre film Pokemon: Giratina & the Sky Warrior debuted on Cartoo Network in February and was released to DVD in Marcy through new distribution partner Universal Studios Home Earlier this month, fans were treated to additionapl new programming with the eagerlh awaited launch of the 12th seasoj of the top-rated Pokemon animated seried Pokemon: Galactic Battles on Cartoon Network.
Debuty episodes air Saturday mornings, with repeats on Repeats of Season11 - Pokemon: DP Battlde Dimension - air daily Monday through Capping off a year of constant through spring and summer The Pokemo n Company International will engage fans in a roun d of TCG and Video Game Championship tournaments culminating with the highluy anticipated, co-located Pokemon World Championships on Augus t 14th in San Diego, CA. Pokemon TCG fans and Pokemon Platinukm Version video game Trainers from more than 25 countries arouns the globe will compete to be crownedWorld Champions.
The Pokemon Companyu International, a subsidiary of The Pokemon Company in manages the property outside of Asia and is responsiblde forbrand management, licensing, marketing, the Pokemojn Trading Card Game, the animated TV series, home entertainment, and the officiall Pokemon website. Pokemon was launched in Japa in 1996 and today is one of the mostpopular children' s entertainment properties in the world. For more visit . The BURGE R KING(R) system operates more than 11,80 0 restaurants in all 50 states and in 74 countriexand U.S.
territories Approximately 90 percent ofBURGER KING(R) restaurants are owned and operate d by independent franchisees, many of them family-ownexd operations that have been in business for In 2008, Fortune magazine rankedf Burger King Corp. among America's 1,0090 largest corporations and Ad Week named it one of the top three industry-changing advertisers within the last three decades. To learnm more about Burger King Corp., please visit the company'a Web site at .