MAM
Muppets on Disney’s menu after deal with Henson
MUMBAI: Now Mickey and Minnie Mouse will have the likes of Kermit and Miss Piggy for company. Walt Disney and The Jim Henson Company have announced an agreement under which Disney will acquire the Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House properties from Henson.
Disney had spent the best part of the past 14 years pursuing the muppets. However, negotiations had fallen through after the company’s founder Jim Henson died. A company release states that the transaction includes all Muppet assets, including the above mentioned Kermit, Miss Piggy, Fozzie Bear, Gonzo and Animal characters, the Muppet film and television library as well as all the “Bear in the Big Blue House” characters, the television library.
Both parties expect the transaction to close within two months, subject to receiving the necessary regulatory clearances. The transaction however does not include the Sesame Street characters, such as Big Bird and Elmo, which are separately owned by Sesame Workshop. The deal also includes non-exclusive production and consulting agreements under which Henson will develop potential new programming featuring the Muppets and Bear in the Big Blue House for Disney.
Disney is planning to re-launch the Muppets with new television specials and series. Disney also expects to expand and enhance the global licensing and home video initiatives based on this new production for the Classic Muppets, the infant/preschool property Muppet Babies, and Bear in the Big Blue House.
Disney chairman, CEO Michael Eisner added, “Since the time I worked with Jim Henson on the first Muppets TV special in the 1960s, it was obvious to me that his characters would make a deep imprint on the hearts of families worldwide. This announcement is the culmination of a long-time desire to welcome them into pour cmpany. Kermit and Miss Piggy are well-known and beloved around the world and will have an opportunity to be seen by millions more well into the future through Disney’s distribution channels at home and abroad, including home video, family television programming and consumer products. All this is in addition to the existing theme park presence at Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort.”
German media company EM.TV had bought The Jim Henson Company in February 2000 for $680 million. It was then sold back last year for $78 million.
MAM
One Hand Clap acquires Agenseed to enter distribution space
Creative agency expands into full-stack services with strategic buyout.
MUMBAI: One Hand Clap has decided to stop just clapping for great ideas now it wants to make sure they actually travel. The leading new-age creative agency and production house has acquired Agenseed, a seeding and distribution firm, marking its formal entry into the distribution segment. The move is aimed at expanding its role across the entire marketing value chain and unlocking new growth opportunities.
One Hand Clap expects the new distribution vertical to contribute up to 15 per cent of its overall revenues over the next 12–18 months, signalling a clear strategic shift beyond pure creative services.
Agenseed, founded by Monish Hardasani and Akram Malik, will function as the agency’s dedicated distribution arm. This acquisition strengthens One Hand Clap’s position as it aims to become a full-stack creative and distribution company in India’s rapidly growing digital advertising market.
With over 90 million posts shared daily on Instagram and brands allocating 25–35 per cent of their digital budgets to distribution and creator-led reach, amplification has become critical to campaign success. By integrating distribution early into the creative process, the agency hopes to help campaigns gain stronger cultural traction and momentum.
One Hand Clap founder Aakash Shah said, “The future of advertising is not just about executing great ideas, but about placing them intelligently. By owning both storytelling and distribution, we can drive greater impact for brands while opening up new revenue streams.”
Agenseed co-founder Monish Hardasani added, “The future belongs to ideas designed to travel. This partnership allows us to integrate distribution thinking at the source.”
Founded in 2019 by former AIB leaders Aakash Shah and Naveed Manakkodan, One Hand Clap has worked with major brands including Swiggy, Google, Netflix India, Crocs, Duolingo, CRED, Bumble, BGMI and Chetak. The agency also secured investment from Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath last year.
In an increasingly fragmented attention economy, this acquisition reflects a broader industry shift where agencies are building end-to-end capabilities to stay competitive. One Hand Clap is clearly clapping louder and ensuring its ideas now reach much further.
