In a recent interview with Toy World Magazine, Venetia Davie, VP, Paramount Consumer Products, UK & Ireland, ANZ & Israel teased some of Paramount Global's exciting plans for Nickelodeon's beloved animated series SpongeBob SquarePants over the next few years!
What started as a Nickelodeon show can now also be found on Paramount+ as well as multiple content touchpoints including memes going out across socials such as TikTok and YouTube. "In terms of social media engagement, SpongeBob is the brand that gets one of the most impressions," states Venetia. "When I look at other markets on SpongeBob, it never ceases to amaze me how unbelievably he performs in consumer- packaged goods and food. We have taken some key learnings from other markets and have some exciting new projects launching in this space in 2023."
In the last two years, the brand has moved more into fast fashion and its recent collaboration with Sideman in the UK was very successful. "What I love about SpongeBob is that he is an icon for positivity. You could not get a more positive role model," Venetia enthuses. The brand is also involved with social initiatives such as Operation Sea Change, a new global ocean conservation and sustainability initiative from Paramount Consumer Products and Nickelodeon. The initiative aims to help remove and divert 5m lbs of ocean plastic over the next four years by funding clean-up projects. Paramount Consumer Products will also work with current SpongeBob SquarePants consumer products partners to drive more sustainable practices and reduce single- use plastic in products, as well as curating partnerships with new brands to create innovative product lines.
Venetia also mentions there will be some other "very exciting partnerships" that will hit the UK from next summer through 2024 and 2025. "It is a brand that will just keep on going," she concludes.
In the same interview, Venetia also revealed that Paramount Global is also set to ramp up content for its Paramount+ streaming service which arrived on screens in the U.K. & Ireland in June. It's a move which has been highly successful, Venetia Davie, VP Consumer Products, UK & Ireland, ANZ & Israel explains, as she discusses how streaming is becoming incredibly important in terms of sharing content. "We are building that global footprint and we are really using the power of our network to drive streaming. For instance, we talk about Paramount+ on our Nickelodeon channels and Channel 5 and we are building a great home for content," she tells Toy World. "We know that when you have kids' content, it brings that family audience together so it's a real point of difference. Paramount+ really helps us to position ourselves as a global entertainment company."
Paramount+ UK & Ireland is HERE! Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favourites! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Originally published: January 09, 2023.
