Meredith Discovers Entertainment

Meredith Books' strategic alliance with Discovery Communications, announced in August, is the latest in a string of entertainment-based licensing deals for the company. Two years ago, it identified a move into entertainment as its biggest growth opportunity, viewing it as a way to enhance its in-house brands and corporate licenses such as Home Depot and Stanley. "Entertainment is top of mind," said Todd Davis, executive director of new business development. "You're leveraging a known equity." Meredith now publishes books based on a variety of Discovery properties, including Trading Spacesand American Chopper, as well as HGTV series such as Sensible Chic. A year ago, Meredith began pursuing licensing deals for its new children's fiction business, securing rights for sound storybooks and other formats tied to Lizzie McGuire, Strawberry Shortcake, Care Bears, Koala Bros., Marvel films including The Fantastic Four and Spider-Man 2, and Warner's Batman Begins.