Featuring ComicsKingdom.Com, Cartoonists Network and
Syndicated Content Modules
Mobile Access, Conceptis Logic Puzzles and Spanish-language Comics Add Further Value to Innovative Digital Comics Experience for Consumers
Leading Premium Content Company Seeks Growth Opportunities Through
An Open Approach Across Multiple Platforms
(NEW YORK, December 10, 2013) – Today, King Features Syndicate, the world’s premier distributor of comics, columns, editorial cartoons, puzzles and games to newspapers and other media outlets worldwide, launches Comics Kingdom™, anchored by an all-new flagship consumer website, ComicsKingdom.com; hosting its Cartoonists Network of 30-plus individual cartoon sites; and powering enhanced Comics Kingdom syndicated content modules.
ComicsKingdom.com showcases King Features’ complete portfolio of more than 60 strips – presented every day in full color and packaged together in one destination. The King Features roster includes both contemporary and classic comics, such as Zits, Mutts, Blondie, Beetle Bailey and Hägar the Horrible. ComicsKingdom.com offers an expanded comics archive of one year to all visitors—and much more than that for premium members –all presented in a visually stimulating, user-friendly and community-based entertainment environment.
The design is an expansion of the Comics Kingdom content module, which until now has been strictly marketed to the websites of King’s traditional base of newspaper clients and to other news websites. The layout has been refined to improve the viewing experience while upgraded navigation makes it easier than ever for fans to find what they are looking for.
Built upon the foundation of DailyINK, King’s subscription-based comics service, the new ComicsKingdom.com website is an open destination supported by advertising. Current DailyINK subscribers will be ushered into the new site under the overall brand through an enriched premium service called Comics Kingdom Royal. Exclusive Royal Member benefits include vintage comics, deeper archives and an ads-free experience.
Cartoonists Network Adds Depth to Comics-Viewing Experience
In cooperation with its talented roster of cartoonists King Features has developed a network of 30-plus websites that are now linked to ComicsKingdom.com. Cartoonists’ own blogs, behind-the-scenes peeks and special artwork are only some of the features guaranteed to deepen fan engagement and increase overall traffic.
Addition of Popular Conceptis Logic Puzzles Certain to Engage Users
Visitors to the new ComicsKingdom.com will enjoy for the first time a suite of puzzles from Conceptis Ltd., the leading supplier of logic puzzles to printed and electronic gaming media all over the world. Popular Conceptis puzzles, such as the Classic Sudoku and five other variations, Pic-a-Pix, Hashi, Kakuro, Battleships and CalcuDoku, will round out King’s interactive puzzle offerings in the palatial Puzzle section, which includes the Sheffer, Joseph and Premier crosswords as well as other popular word games.
“We are proud to expand our long relationship with King Features and delighted to have our puzzle games included in this exciting launch of their new direct-to-consumer site,” said Dave Green, founder and president of Conceptis. “Our puzzle games are played by millions of avid fans across the world and we are certain that they will make ComicsKingdom.com even more fun and exciting to intellectual-entertainment fans out there.”
New Spanish-language Comics Add Value for Hispanic Users
The new site showcases a brand-new Spanish-language section. Thirty-six of King’s popular daily and Sunday comics will be translated, including classics such as Blondie, Beetle Bailey, Family Circus, Hagar the Horrible, Barney Google & Snuffy Smith and the Sunday-only page, Prince Valiant, as well as newer comics such as Zits, Baby Blues and Mutts.
ComicsKingdom.com Community Accessible to Users Via Multiple Platforms
To keep everyone up to speed with comic news and info, there will be more frequent and varied activity on the Comics Kingdom blog. More than ever, fans are invited to discuss, debate, and share info about their beloved cartoonists and comic strips. To that end, there will be better commenting moderation on the new ComicsKingdom.com. And so fans never have to miss their favorite strips, the new website will work on all browsers, and is dynamically optimized for mobile, ensuring a great experience on a broad range of devices. While the new website brings the experience to fans anywhere, anytime they are seeking engaging content, new servers will ensure a faster and more reliable experience overall.
After Searching, Visitors Can Share and Shop for
Great Merchandise Featuring Their Favorite Comics in the
Comics Kingdom Shop Powered by CafePress Services
Visitors looking for the perfect gag to send to a friend or loved one will now be able search for comics by keyword. For example, searching for “baseball” will bring up comics strips that mention baseball. Once they’ve found that great comic, they can share it through email or social media. What’s more, thanks to a custom shop powered by CafePress, they can order a gallery-quality framed print, and even customize a wide variety of quality products from t-shirts to mugs to iPhone cases with their favorite comics.
CafePress was selected to power ComicsKingdom.com because it is considered an industry leader in the customization space and is highly regarded for its ability to enhance partner brands through unparalleled fan engagement, multi-channel distribution and high quality product selection.
“We are extremely proud of the wonderful talents we represent,” said King Features Editor Brendan Burford. “Our Comics Kingdom network is a huge undertaking, an entirely brand-new digital universe we think will showcase their work to a broader audience of dedicated fans than ever before. Best of all, as those fans seek entertainment across multiple platforms, King Features will be there to provide it.”
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About King Features Syndicate
King Features Syndicate is a member of Hearst Entertainment and Syndication Group, which combines Hearst Corporation’s cable network partnerships, television programming activities and newspaper syndication and merchandise licensing operations. King Features is the world’s premier distributor of comics, columns, editorial cartoons, puzzles and games, distributing in print and online some 150 features to nearly 5,000 daily, Sunday, weekly and digital newspapers and other outlets around the globe. For more information, please visit http://www.kingfeatures.com. Follow us on Twitter @KingFeatures. Like us on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/KingFeatures.
About Conceptis Ltd.
Conceptis Ltd. is the leading supplier of logic puzzles to printed and electronic gaming media all over the world. On average, more than 20 million Conceptis puzzles are solved each day in newspapers, magazines, books and online as well as on smartphones and tablets across the world.
About CafePress [PRSS]:
CafePress is The World’s Customization Engine®. Launched in 1999, CafePress empowers individuals, groups, businesses and organizations to create, buy and sell customized and personalized products online using the company’s innovative and proprietary print-on-demand services and e-commerce platform. CafePress’ portfolio of e-commerce websites and companies includes CafePress.com, CanvasOnDemand.com, GreatBigCanvas.com, Imagekind.com, InvitationBox.com and LogoSportswear.com. Additionally, CafePress Services drives revenue for corporate partners by providing turnkey, personalized e-commerce solutions. For more information click on www.cafepress.com
KING FEATURES MEDIA CONTACT
Claudia Smith, 212-969-7542 * cmsmith@hearst.com