SUBMITTED BY Timbo

November 20, 2003 — "The Cat in the Hat" isn't just a movie -- it's a product tie-in phenomenon. Consumers are going to be able to buy hundreds of different Cat-themed products.

Twelve companies, promoting more than 40 different brands, are the official corporate "Cat sponsors," creating new products, running contests for toys, shopping sprees, trips and, of course, tickets to the movie. Thirty other retailers signed on to offer special Cat activities in thousands of stores. And 75 more companies are making hundreds of "Cat in the Hat" products.

The licensed goods include the standard T-shirts and plush animals, and more unusual things, such as flossing toothpicks and cat toys. (There are limits: Since the cat in the movie eats cupcakes, there's no approved cat food.)

"It's definitely one of the most well-supported films in the promotional world," said Mitch Litvak, president of the L.A. Office, a marketing firm that specializes in partnerships between companies and movies, television shows and musicians. Litvak said there are no precise numbers on which movie has the most corporate tie-ins, but "it's definitely up there when you're talking about this number of different brands involved. I would gamble it's the top."

Read the full article at the link below.