The Power Rangers are morphin’ into a Hasbro brand.
Hasbro Inc. and Saban Properties LLC signed a definitive agreement for Hasbro to purchase Saban’s Power Rangers and several other entertainment brands, including My Pet Monster, Popples, Julius Jr., Luna Petunia, Treehouse Detectives, and others, in a combination of cash and stock valued at $522 million.
Hasbro previously paid Saban Brands $22.25 million for master toy rights to the Power Rangers brand, announced back in February. Those amounts are being credited against the new purchase price.
Created by Haim Saban and launched in 1993, Power Rangers is one of the longest running kids’ live-action series in TV history, with nearly 900 episodes produced to date. The series, currently in its 25th season with Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel, and feature films, including 2017’s movie with Lionsgate, follows the adventures of a group of ordinary teens who morph into superheroes and save the world from evil. Saban’s Power Rangers currently airs in 150 markets around the world and is translated into numerous languages. The first set of products from Hasbro will be available in spring 2019.
Hasbro, the world’s largest toy maker, is also responsible for popular toy and entertainment brands, including My Little Pony, Monopoly, and Transformers. The toy giant reported a net loss of $112.5 million for the first quarter ended April 1, due in part to the downfall of Toys “R” Us. Hopefully, new entertainment brands can help stabilize their earnings in the future.
Fans may be in for new entertainment content, new toys, and maybe even new branded games.
And remember, you can’t have great superheroes without great villains. #TBT to the slimiest, most wonderful villain of all time, who—like many of us—hates teenagers: Ivan Ooze. Enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iMksB98Mrco
