Hamtaro Hits Ratings Success

According to ICv2 News, Hamtaro is now the highest rated program on American television for viewers aged 9-14 broadcast in the 7 AM timeslot. The most surprising aspect of the show’s popularity is that it earns its highest ratings with boys from 9-14. The lure that draws in the male demographic is the show’s humor, which enlivens each self-contained episode. For pop culture retailers, this demographic profile means that there’s more merchandising potential than one might expect given the subject matter. Traditionally young boys are the biggest toy consumers in the American market. Viz will start publishing Hamtaro comics in August, while Hasbro will have a line of Hamtaro toys including play sets, mini-figurines, and plush dolls, and Nintendo plans to launch the first U.S. Hamtaro video game in November.

Source: Anime News Network