Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise for sale for $300 million
The Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise is now on the market. Alvin, the oldest and most mischievous of the bunch, Simon, the middle child and brains of the group, and Theodore, the youngest brother and the meek, kind member of the family, make up the world-famous chipmunks. Dave Seville, the chipmunks’ manager and father figure, looks after the three chipmunks.
The Chipmunks’ voice was originally utilized in the song “Witch Doctor” in 1958, and the characters got their names in “The Chipmunk Song (Christmas Don’t Be Late),” a 1958 holiday hit created by Ross Bagdasarian Sr. Since then, the characters have starred in a number of animated programs and films, as well as their own live-action feature series, Alvin and the Chipmunks. Alvin, Simon, and Theodore are well-known over the globe and are extremely important assets.
Ross Bagasarian Jr. (son of the original creator) and his wife Janice Karman are apparently attempting to sell the Alvin and the Chipmunks franchise and Bagdasarian Productions for $300 million, according to a CNBC story. According to the article, they have met with various buyers, including ViacomCBS, but no agreements have been agreed upon. The husband and wife team had considered selling the company four years ago but decided against it.
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This isn’t the first time Alvin and the Chipmunks have been purchased. Universal purchased the rights to Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein and Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet The Wolfman for a limited time in 1999, resulting in two direct-to-video films, Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet Frankenstein and Alvin and the Chipmunks Meet The Wolfman. Universal lost the rights to the characters in 2002 due to a breach of contract with Bagdasarian Productions, who sold the franchise to 20th Century Fox in 2007 for a live-action version and three sequels that grossed $1 billion worldwide despite bad critical and actor reactions.
Many studios are looking for new intellectual property to add to their portfolio, and Alvin and the Chipmunks would be a great addition. Netflix recently acquired the complete Roald Dahl library, while Apple owns the exclusive streaming rights to The Peanuts. Viacom made a purchase. Given CBS’s strong grip over the numerous Nickelodeon franchises, it makes logical, and it would fit in with their 2009 purchase of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. After acquiring 20th Century Fox, Disney now owns the four live-action features, and while they surely have plenty of intellectual property, Alvin and the Chipmunks could be just one of many that the House of Mouse looks to purchase.
