FremantleMedia Enterprises has forged an exclusive partnership with The Colibri Group to develop and produce a line of “American Idol”-branded men’s and women’s wristwatches, jewelry, accessories, and clocks.

Centered around the “American Idol” logo and other graphical elements derived from the hit television series, the product lines will be developed and marketed in gold, sterling silver, and base metals across several categories, and are set to hit the market in January in conjunction with the premiere of the show’s eighth season, the two companies said in a joint statement released Thursday.

“This extension into the high-end area of jewelry was a natural progression for us, having already successfully launched lifestyle categories such as apparel, eyewear, loungewear and sleepwear for ‘American Idol,’” said Nora Wong, senior manager, Consumer Products for FME. “We expect this quality jewelry to appeal primarily to the junior and women’s market who aspire to the brand values of the program.”
 
“The show is a star maker and people love to see dreams come true,” added John Gugliada, executive vice president, Sales for The Colibri Group. “Our line of watches, clocks, and accessories will give millions of fans a way to celebrate their favorite television show.”

“One of the key items will be the cell phone charms,” says Erin Lanzieri, creative product developer for The Colibri Group. “Viewers use their cell phones to cast their votes for their favorite contestants by sending a text message.”

The clock line, set to debut by mid-season, will be available in a range of novelty shapes with “glam” features derived from the series’ glitzy show business stage and set.

Launching its 8th season on January 13th and 14th, “American Idol” is one of the most sought-after licenses in the market today as it continues to dominate the television landscape, averaging more than 30 million viewers per episode while consistently ranking  number one in all major market segments.

FremantleMedia Enterprises is the brand extension arm of FremantleMedia, offering a one-stop-shop for licensing, distribution and home entertainment. It is a division of FremantleMedia, one of the largest international creators and producers of entertainment brands in the world with leading prime time drama, serial drama, entertainment, and factual entertainment programming in more than 40 countries.

JCK