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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.
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Budweiser launches ‘Let It Pour’ platform for FIFA World Cup 2026
Campaign spans 40 plus markets with fan events, merchandise and global film.
MUMBAI: When the whistle blows, Budweiser wants the celebrations to flow just as freely. The beer brand has unveiled ‘Let It Pour’, its global football platform for the FIFA World Cup 2026, kicking off a four-year build-up with a campaign designed to turn fandom into a shared, full-throttle experience. Rolling out across more than 40 countries, including India, the initiative blends on-ground activations, merchandise and a star-led global film to capture the emotional surge of the sport’s biggest stage.
At the centre of the campaign are football heavyweights Erling Haaland and Jürgen Klopp, who front the messaging around passion, performance and collective celebration. For Haaland, set to make his FIFA World Cup debut in 2026, the platform mirrors the intensity of a moment he has long worked towards, while Klopp lends his signature energy to amplify the spirit of fans coming together.
The campaign’s global film leans into that shared emotion where matches spill beyond stadiums into homes, bars and city streets over the tournament’s 39-day run. Set to Joe Cocker’s Feelin’ Alright, it captures how football blurs boundaries, turning strangers into teammates and moments into memories.
Beyond storytelling, Budweiser is building a broader ecosystem around the campaign. The Bud Fan Store will offer exclusive tournament-inspired merchandise, from football kits to branded apparel, while Bud FC developed with Wink will host experiential fan events across select markets, recreating stadium-like energy in festival settings.
India forms a key part of this push. With football fandom on the rise, particularly among younger audiences, Budweiser 0.0 is positioned to anchor local activations, bringing fans closer to the global spectacle through community-led experiences.
The move reinforces Budweiser’s four-decade association with the FIFA World Cup, but also signals an evolution in approach. Instead of simply sponsoring the game, the brand is leaning into culture creating multiple touchpoints where fans can participate, not just watch.
In a tournament where every goal sparks a reaction, Budweiser is betting that the real win lies in how loudly and how collectively that reaction pours out.
