Now the brand is flying from mobile screens to big screens to extend the product lifecycle and make its name in broader entertainment. Parent company Rovio is releasing the weekly toons with selected TV partners worldwide, including Roku streaming.
Consumers will need to update their mobile apps to see new episodes on the toon channel (accompanied by 15 seconds of advertising). Expect a torrent of brand-related offerings and revenue-generating opportunities now that Rovio has expanded its global advertising staff.
In advance of the first episode, Rovio changed its Angry Birds iPhone/iPad apps from fee to free a few weeks ago, attracting millions of new users and rebuilding buzz about the brand. A second season of cartoon shorts will soon be in the planning stage, and a feature-length movie is also in the works, possibly in theatres as early as 2016.
How strong is the Angry Birds brand franchise? Rovio aims to find out as it continues to approve new licensing deals and expand beyond the mobile game category. Stay tuned.
