Redan, a U.K. magazine publisher that is trying to increase its profile in the U.S., has launched a bimonthly publication in the States based on Marc Brown's Arthur, which has appeared in Redan publications in the U.K. "[The magazine] is a logical extension of what we've been doing in the U.K.," said Brown. "It reflects our philosophy, which is to do what we can to help kids be more successful in life." Content will focus on literacy and reading, with stories supplemented by games and puzzles.
Meanwhile, the Arthur TV spin-off Postcards from Buster debuts in October on PBS—coloring books are among the tie-ins planned—and a direct-to-video film from Lion's Gate is scheduled for 2006. United Media has been Arthur's licensing agent for about a year and has overseen the signing and expansion of several promotional and licensing deals. "Our focus has been to clarify Arthur's importance in the learning area," said Joshua Kislevitz, senior v-p domestic licensing.
