New Collectibles • New Muppet Whatnot and Monster Puppets • 11/10 - Classic Sesame Street: 40 Years of Sunny Days DVD Box Set and A Celebration of 40 Years of Life on the Street Book • 11/03 - Fraggle Rock Season 4 DVD, A Merry Fraggle Holiday DVD and Fraggle Rock Complete Series Collection Giftset • 10/06 - Elmo's Animal Adventures DVD • 9/29 - A Muppets Christmas: Letters To Santa DVD, The Dark Crystal Blu-Ray and Labyrinth Blu-Ray • 9/1 - Elmo's World: All About Faces DVD • Robert Tonner Dolls: Miss Piggy Classic, My Fair Piggy and Miss Piggy Takes Manhattan • 8/1 - Sid the Science Kid: Change Happens DVD and Sid the Science Kid: The Bug Club DVD • 7/1 - Muppet Show Comic Issue #4 Miss Piggy's Story and Muppet Robin Hood Issue #2 • 6/3 - Muppet Show Comic Issue #3 Gonzo's Story • 6/2 - Elmo & Abby's Birthday Fun DVD • 5/27 - Muppet Robin Hood Issue #1 • 5/19 - Kermit Culture Book: Critical Perspectives on Jim Henson’s Muppets • 5/19 - Sesame Street Silly Songs CD • 5/4 - Sid the Science Kid CD - Volume 1 Join the Muppet Central Mailing List

Viacom is next in line for Henson

Courtesy of the Financial Times
January 31, 2001

Viacom, the US media group which owns the MTV and Nickelodeon TV businesses, is understood to be the latest company circling EM.TV as it explores how it could get its hands on the Muppets, writes James Harding, Media Editor.

Kirch Gruppe, the German media giant, announced last month plans for a rescue investment in EM.TV, the debt-laden company which owns the Jim Henson business as well as a substantial stake in the foundation that owns the media rights to Formula One motor racing.

EM.TV and Kirch have an exclusivity agreement which expires tomorrow.

However, after news emerged that talks between EM.TV and Kirch have been dogged by problems, other companies and potential investors have started to take a closer interest in the Munich-based media company.

Executives at Viacom in New York are understood to be keeping a close eye on the situation at EM.TV, as are executives at Walt Disney in Burbank.

Both companies have previously sought - and have failed - to acquire the Jim Henson Company.