Before the FunPub haters get excited about this possibly replacing them as a licensed convention, this shouldn't have anything with the Convention or Club.... as they are different concepts to a themed public interactive exhibit.
Hasbro (America) have announced signing up a Singapore company the global exclusive rights to hosting Transformers interactive exhibits (like the one at the Indianapolis Children's Museum, the one in Singapore last year, or the one in Macau last year).... until 2023... excluding Japan (which is TakaraTomy's jurisdiction) and the city Indianapolis (which must mean Hasbro will have more exhibits at the Children's Museum in the future, or just don't want to prevent it).
The Singapore/Malaysian company is called Dayspring (a division of Cityneon), and aim to have their first exhibit in 2016 through their other division Victory Hill called "The Transformers Experience".
It doesn't say where the exhibit will be in 2016, but I would guess it would be in their home country of Singapore... then maybe packed up and relocated around the world like a travelling show.Set to open in 2016, The Transformers Experience will be a revolutionary new walk-through exhibit that immerses audiences in the world of the Autobots and their ongoing battle to protect Earth against the evil Decepticons. Through the use of leading 3D stereoscopic technologies, advanced robotics, dynamic multimedia and projection mapping, intricate sets and engaging performances, audiences will be taken on a journey that will enable them to witness the sheer spectacle of these life size sentient, living robotic beings.
Victory Hill and Hasbro, Inc. will announce more information on The Transformers Experience in the coming days and weeks.
I think this could work against Hasbro, as it now means that no other country can have a Transformers exhibit or public display until 2024 without Cityneon giving permission, in addition to Hasbro giving permission.
At least Hasbro would be more willing to approve of a free promotional exhibit or display, but Cityneon would see it as a loss of revenue if someone else does a public display.
And there is no guarantee that they would ever want to set up an exhibit in that particular country... they just have the right to veto someone else (fan or business) from doing something that they could have made money from if they were the ones doing it.
I just don't think it is fair, if Cityneon never want to do an exhibit here in Australia because it isn't worth it, that they can prevent a fan-run exhibit or public display. I was emailing a couple of public libraries in Brisbane that did themed public displays last year about a 30th anniversary display of my collection, and one was a little interested, but nothing ended up happening and I didn't bother to contact other libraries.... but now I think that this would no longer be allowed unless Cityneon gave permission.
Then again, maybe having an experienced, professional exhibitions company paying a global license for Transformers exhibits (which would be expensive), they might actually want to milk it with many exhibits in many countries to get their money back.
Earlier this year I tried to get Hasbro to consider making their Indianapolis Transformers exhibit a global roadshow, but I guess this licensing agreement might have already been in the works, meaning that this idea was probably never going to happen.