Universal Press Syndicate to Combine with Uclick

By: E&P Staff Andrews McMeel Universal announced Tuesday that it will combine its Universal Press Syndicate with Uclick, the digital provider of humor, comics, editorial cartoons, daily games and text features for the desktop, Web, and mobile phones.

This resulting full-service print and digital syndication and licensing company will be Universal Uclick.

Universal Press Syndicate President Lee Salem was named interim CEO while a search for a permanent CEO of the new company is under way. Uclick CEO Douglas Edwards resigned. Edwards, co-founder in 2000 of Handmark, developer and distributor of games and other applications for mobile devices, was named Uclick CEO in May of 2008.

Uclick was developed in 1996 by Universal, in collaboration with the Josephus Group, an Internet consulting firm formed by Frank Daniels III and George Schlukbier, both earlier with the Raleigh, N.C., News & Observer's Web service.

Kansas City, Mo.-based Andrews McMeel Universal now comprises two "distinct but collaborative organizations" -- the other being Andrews McMeel Publishing (AMP), which brings out humor and gift books, general trade, cookbooks and calendars (more than 300 titles annually). The company says its two units offer multi-channel distribution for artists and authors and allow it to take advantage of growing opportunities in syndication and licensing in the print and digital realms.

Privately owned since it was formed in 1970 by John McMeel and Jim Andrews, the company provides editorial development, licensing and other distribution services to support iconic brands, from Doonesbury to Dear Abby. Uclick's GoComics.com site aggregates more than 200 traditional comic-strip and cartoon features from multiple syndicates and self-syndicated artists, including Web comic features. Its games content includes widely distributed crosswords and Sudoku. Uclick also distributes comics and game content on mobile phones, most recently creating more than 130 apps for iPhone and iPod Touch.

The new Universal Uclick aims to provide easy access, simple integration, and delivery options for both single-use licensing and long-term serialized content.