McDonald’s, Teletubbies Plan Tie-In

Tinky Winky, Dipsy, Laa-Laa and Po, the amorphous characters who star in the popular “Teletubbies” television show for preschool-age children, soon will have a new job selling hamburgers and fries.

McDonald’s Corp., the world’s largest fast-food chain, said it is planning a Teletubbies promotion for its restaurants in the United States and Canada this year.

Children will receive a toy or trinket with the purchase of McDonald’s food, said a spokeswoman for New York-based Itsy Bitsy Entertainment Co., which licenses the Teletubbies brand.

Teletubbies, brightly colored characters who have television screens on their bellies and talk in language aimed at mimicking that of a 1-year-old, also pitched fast food for McDonald’s rival Burger King, a unit of Britain’s Diageo, in May.

The “Teletubbies” show, which originated in Britain, premiered in the United States on public television in April 1998 and is one of the top three programs for children ages 1 to 5, the Itsy Bitsy Entertainment spokeswoman said.

The McDonald’s “Teletubbies Hugs” promotion will be accompanied by an extensive advertising and marketing campaign.

The Teletubbies follow a McDonald’s promotion linked to the “Toy Story 2” movie.

Shares of Oak Brook, Ill.-based McDonald’s rose $1.75 to close at $42.75 on the New York Stock Exchange.