‘Alvin And The Chipmunks’ Franchise Reportedly For Sale At $300M
They’ve earned Emmys, Grammys, platinum albums, and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But can Alvin and the Chipmunks now net their biggest prize yet: a $300 million paycheck?
The franchise is onsale for around that amount, sources with knowledge of the matter have told CNBC. That’s $100 million per Chipmunk. It’s a steep price, given that Roald Dahl’s entire catalogue just went to Netflix for a reported $700 million or so.
The IP is being touted by its owner Bagdasarian Productions, which has had held inconclusive talks with buyers including ViacomCBS. As CNBC notes, the company will be aware of the current demand for established entertainment properties from media conglomerates looking to beef up their nascent streaming services, as well as from private equity firms. Roald Dahl is one example, Apple’s Peanuts deal another.
Bagdasarian Productions is owned by Ross Bagdasarian Jr., son of Chipmunks creator Ross Bagdasarian, and his wife Janice Karman. Under their management, the franchise has grown, sprouting new series (Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks) and features (most recently 2015’s Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip). And the pair don’t just run the company — they’ve also voiced the characters.
In 1996, Universal licensed Alvin and the Chipmunks under a long-term deal. Bagdasarian Productions then sued the studio for breach of contract, claiming it had failed to properly use and promote the characters. The family recovered the rights in 2002.
