Toon Goggles Explained

Toon Goggles is an American on-demand entertainment service for children that provides animated cartoons, live-action shows, games and music worldwide via the web and mobile applications on smartphones, OTT devices, smart TVs and tablets,[1] led by CEO and co-founder Stephen Hodge.

Based in Los Angeles, California, Toon Goggles has developed partnerships with Sony, Samsung and Roku.[2] Their children's content is compliant with COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act).[3]

Toon Goggles allows animators to publish their shows for free. Animation rights holders are then provided with analytical data regarding the popularity of each show that they can present to network producers or investors.[4]

In December 2014, Toon Goggles introduced 4K streaming of 18 series within their service.[5]

Features

Many of Toon Goggles customers use the service on children's tablets, especially Techno Source's Kurio7[6] and Oregon Scientific's MEEP![7]

Background

The Toon Goggles application is developed by Toon Goggles Inc., a start-up based in Los Angeles. In 2011, a demo website (www.toongoggles.com) was created to take to MIPCOM to show animation companies the exposure they could receive by placing their cartoons on the Toon Goggles service.[9] The mobile application was created soon after. In 2012, the platform secured one of its first partnerships with Panasonic to appear on the VIERA Connect television.[10] Toon Goggles has been pre-installed and promoted on a variety of devices for sale.

Stephen L. Hodge, Managing Director, spearheaded the creation of Toon Goggles in 2011.[11] James R. Cahall, Chief Technology Officer, heads the service's technology development and feature integration, including the company's move to offer 4K streaming.[12] Jordan Warkol, Director of Business Development was an actor for 15 years starting at the age of 4 playing 'Froggy' in the 1994 version of "The Little Rascals.".[13]

Business model

Originally a free service, Toon Goggles now follows the Freemium model, offering users free content with pre-screened advertising and the ability to upgrade to the subscription service with an ad-free model.[14]

Partners

Toon Goggles has the following partnerships.

Lawsuit

In mid to late 2019, Toon Goggles was involved in the lawsuit Securities and Exchange Commission v. Toon Goggles Inc., et al.[29] According to the lawsuit, co-founder Ira Warkol held at least five unregistered broker deals to around 400 investors from August 2012 to late 2016, raising over US$19 million.[30] The lawsuit also stated that the commissions were performed under several entities, such as another start-up called NetKids and two divisions from Toon Goggles themselves: Dinomite Apps and Yeti Productions (both of which dissolved in 2015 and 2016 respectively). Toon Goggles also failed to get complete records of their investors, including the number of shares and money gained. Warkol neither admitted nor denied the allegations and agreed to a settlement stating that he had to return $2 million and pay another US$190,000 fine, along with being permanently banned from any future security sales.[31] The case was settled on October 29, 2019.

A separate but similar preceding had the SEC accuse director of operations' Brendan Pollitz for facilitating broker-dealer registration violations. Pollitz agreed to a cease-and-desist order, paying additional fines of up to $43,589.[32]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Toon Goggles. www.toongoggles.com. 2018-09-07. 2020-12-11. https://web.archive.org/web/20201211131809/https://www.toongoggles.com/. live.
  2. Gary Rusak, "Toon Goggles added to Samsung’s Smart TV platform", Kids Screen, 1/23/2014
  3. Jesse Whittock, "Toon Goggles Builds Library with YFE",C21 Media, 1/31/2012
  4. Wendy Goldman Getzler, "Cartoon website targets kids and network execs",Kids Screen, 3/18/2011
  5. Ryan Waniata, " Vizio’s P-series 4K UHD TVs will get more content thanks to Amazon, Ultraflix, and Toon Goggles", Digital Trends, 12/22/2014
  6. Anna Attkisson, "Techno Source Kurio 7 Review", Laptop Mag, 09/14/2012
  7. Jeremy Dickson, "Toon Goggles hits the Meep! screen tablet",Kids Screen, 9/12/2012
  8. http://blog.sony.com/press/sony-electronics-showcases-new-4k-ultra-hd-tv-line/ "Sony Electronics Showcases New 4K Ultra HD TV Line"
  9. Jeremy Dickson, "Toon Goggles secures kids content from BRB",Kids Screen, 7/17/2012
  10. Jeremy Dickson, "Toon Goggles content to reach Panasonic smart TVs",Kids Screen, 6/14/2012
  11. Web site: Toon Goggles, Inc.. Gust. 2018-09-07. 2018-09-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20180907183115/https://gust.com/companies/toon_goggles_inc. live.
  12. News: Powerslyde Profiles – Stories Behind The Apps: Toon Goggles. 2013-11-19. powerslyde. 2018-09-07. en-US. 2018-09-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20180907221243/https://www.powerslyde.com/powerslyde-profiles/powerslyde-profiles-stories-behind-the-apps-toon-goggles/. live.
  13. Web site: Jordan Warkol. IMDb. 2018-09-07. 2017-02-17. https://web.archive.org/web/20170217014104/http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0912296/. live.
  14. http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/10/prweb9958976.htm "Toon Goggles Initiates Subscription Based Service"
  15. Ed Washington, "Toon Goggles lands on Sony Xperia", Animation World Network, 2/04/2013
  16. Web site: Toon Goggles . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20180907183156/https://channelstore.roku.com/en-gb/details/27021/toon-goggles . 2018-09-07 . 2018-09-07 . Roku . en-GB.
  17. Jeremy Dickson, "Western Digital puts on Toon Goggles", Kids Screen, 1/07/2014
  18. Mercedes Milligan, "Toon Goggles, VIZIO Partnership Kicks Off",Animation Magazine, 8/04/2014
  19. http://toongogglesinc.com/toon-goggles-launches-on-wow-ultra-tvs/ "Toon Goggles launches on WOW! Ultra TVs"
  20. News: Seiki/Toon Goggles Partnership Brings 4K and More to Streaming Kids' Video. PRWeb. 2018-09-07. 2015-01-28. https://web.archive.org/web/20150128023334/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2014/09/prweb12148433.htm. live.
  21. Web site: 2012-07-09 . Toon Goggles Partners With Techno Source on New Kurio7 Android™ Tablet for Families™ . https://web.archive.org/web/20120710142220/http://www.prweb.com/releases/2012/7/prweb9664770.htm . dead . July 10, 2012 . 2022-05-10 . PRWeb.
  22. Jeremy Dickson, "Netrange Deal Brings Kids Entertainment Platform to Smart TVs Everywhere", 12/29/2014
  23. Wendy Goldman Getzler, "Polaroid’s kids Tablet to feature Toon Goggles content",Kids Screen, 5/28/2013
  24. News: Kids Service Toon Goggles Signs Content Deal with Over-the-Top Provider XUMO to Add Free Children's Entertainment to 20 Million Devices: LG Smart TVs Included. Multichannel. 2018-09-07. en-us. 2018-09-07. https://web.archive.org/web/20180907183212/https://www.multichannel.com/pr-feed/kids-service-toon-goggles-signs-content-deal-over-top-provider-xumo-add-free-childrens-entertainment-20-million-devices-lg-smart-tvs-included-417325. live.
  25. http://www.wxvt.com/story/22070655/idolian-mobile-to-add-toon-goggles-app-to-its-line-of-android-tablets-pcs
  26. http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130304005135/en/Toon-Goggles-Launches-Free-App-Barnes-Noble%E2%80%99s#.VNFEZl7F_T1 "Toon Goggles Launches Free App For Barnes and Noble’s Critically Acclaimed Nook HD and Nook HD+"
  27. http://www.consumerelectronicsnet.com/article/Toon-Goggles-Brings-Kids-Mobile-Hub-to-US-Cellular-Customers-3708211 "Toon Goggles Brings Kids Mobile Hub to US Cellular Customers"
  28. News: Toon Goggles Signs Deal with PacketVideo. Animation World Network. 2018-09-07. en. 2021-10-27. https://web.archive.org/web/20211027175918/https://www.awn.com/news/toon-goggles-signs-deal-packetvideo. live.
  29. Web site: SEC.gov Toon Goggles Inc., et al. . 2024-01-13 . www.sec.gov.
  30. Web site: Toon Goggles & founder charged by SEC . 2024-01-13.
  31. Web site: L.A. Firm, Founder Charged in $19 Million Illegal Securities Offering Chief Investment Officer . 2024-01-13 . www.ai-cio.com.
  32. Web site: Toon Goggles & founder charged by SEC . 2024-01-13.

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