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Konami Explains Transition of 4Kids' Yu-Gi-Oh Assets
posted on by Jennifer Sherman
The retail news source ICv2 posted an interview with Kidsco Media Ventures LLC and Konami's 4K Acquisition Corp.
In the interview, Hoashi revealed that Konami is taking over 4Kids' New York office and creating a new company with some 4Kids employees. Konami will wholly own the new company that will handle the Yu-Gi-Oh! anime's adaptation, distribution, and related merchandise licensing.
Konami plans to continue broadcasting Yu-Gi-Oh! anime in North America while expanding distribution by finding a new television channel to rebroadcast the series in the United States. Saban's KidsCo received YTV network also broadcasts the Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal television anime.
Konami will also actively solicit new licensees for the Yu-Gi-Oh! Zexal toy line. Hoashi noted that 4Kids' "difficulties" in the past year prevented it from soliciting such toy licenses. 4Kids settlement earlier this year, with ADK and TV Tokyo paying US$8 million to 4Kids.
Konami is the Japanese licensor and distributor of the Yu-Gi-Oh! card game, while Saban once produced Fox's Saturday morning programming until 2008.)
