Maroon 5 to Perform Brand-New Single for First Time Live on TV at Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards

From NickKCApress.com:

Maroon 5 to Perform Brand-New Single for First Time Live on TV at Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards, Joining Gwen Stefani on Musical Bill of Live Telecast, Saturday, March 31, 8-9:50 PM

Ryan Seacrest to Host World Record Slime Stunt

First-Ever Interactive Sliming Puts Gushing Mode in Kids' Hands, When Viewers Vote in Real-Time on How Secret Star Slimee Will Get the Goo

Los Angeles, Calif. – March 22, 2007 – Two-time Grammy Award-winning rock-soul band Maroon 5 will perform their brand-new single "Makes Me Wonder" for the first time live on TV, at Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards, joining previously announced KCA superstar performer Gwen Stefani to rock this year's milestone telecast hosted by Justin Timberlake, Saturday, March 31 (8-9:50 p.m. ET/PT). The song is from the band's forthcoming (May 22) album "It Won't Be Soon Before Long." Stefani will ignite the kid crowd with the hit title song from her new album, "The Sweet Escape" also featuring popular singer-songwriter Akon.

Kids will rule and record-breaking slime will rain at the kudos/mess-fest, with Ryan Seacrest set to host the breathtaking, never-before-attempted World Record Slime Stunt featuring bungee jumping. And in the first-ever interactive sliming, Nickelodeon, the kid channel at the forefront of user-generated programming, will put goo-gushing in kids' hands by asking viewers to vote on nick.com for the drenching mode of this year's secret celebrity slimee and sit back for the awesome, real-time spectacle. The 2007 slime recipient will join the venerated list of stars who've sloshed through KCA history, including Jack Black, Robin Williams, Johnny Depp, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Tom Cruise, Jim Carrey, James Earl Jones, Rosie O'Donnell, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Will Ferrell and Ben Stiller. Of course, glorious green slime-bursts will drench who knows whom throughout the show, breaking the slime barrier.

"We are thrilled that Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards has evolved into such a must-see Hollywood event that Maroon 5 would select our stage to perform their new single on TV live for the first time," said Marjorie Cohn, Executive Vice President, Development and Original Programming, Nickelodeon and an Executive Producer for the award show. Cohn adds, "By extending the show by 20 more minutes, giving kids a real-time voice through our first interactive slime vote and with a slime-stunt 20-times more challenging, we're hoping to break the slime barrier this year!"

To mark the biggest, loudest, messiest, starriest spectacle in 20 years, Nick will treat kids to 20 additional, magical, messy minutes. The surprises, the slime, the stars, the music and the unabashed fun will just keep on coming. Then, at 9:50 p.m., the hour will be capped appropriately with an episode of SpongeBob SquarePants.

Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards – the only awards show that gives kids the power to vote for their favorites in movies, television, music, sports and more – boasts a massive popular vote and sweeping audience participation. To date, an overwhelming, record-breaking 26 million already have cast votes in advance in a total of 16 categories – breaking last year's final record-breaking total. Voting began online March 5 on Nick.com, and a different category is featured on-air in ME:TV each week. In fact, for the first time, kids can vote on all available Nickelodeon digital platforms including Nick.com, Nicktropolis and TurboNick or text in their votes via cell phones. Surprise awards also will be announced during the show.

Grammy and two-time Burp Award winner/host Timberlake will set the stage for KCA traditions including the Wannabe Award, an honor bestowed on a celebrity role model who kids most "want to be." Past recipients (chronologically 2001-06) are: Tom Cruise, Janet Jackson, Will Smith, Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah and Chris Rock. The sixth annual burp contest will offer a terrific new twist, featuring kids and stars, and take the noise level to a new high. Past Burp Award winners include: Cameron Diaz, Jessica Alba and Steve Irwin (shared honor), Justin Timberlake (two-time winner) and Hugh Jackman. And the World Record Slime Stunt hosted by Seacrest will astonish as never before. Last year, U.S. Olympic Freestyle Aerial Skier Ryan St. Onge set a World Record with a gravity-defying aerial skiing slime stunt off a snowy slope, plunging into 10,000 gallons of Nickelodeon's signature green slime.

Set to amp up the wattage this year are Will Ferrell, Nicole Kidman, Dakota Fanning, Ben Stiller, Steve Carell, Queen Latifah, Zac Efron, Bindi Irwin, Hilary Duff, Jessica Alba, Jamie Lynn Spears, George Lopez, Jon Heder, Chris Evans, Drake Bell, Emma Roberts, Jesse McCartney, Nelly, Ciara, Shia LaBeouf, Hayden Panettiere, Ice Cube, Masi Oka, Ty Pennington, Tyler James Williams, Rihanna, Devon Werkheiser, Lil' JJ, Nat Wolff, Alex Wolff, Chris Brown, Tom Kenny and Ryan Sheckler.

Nickelodeon's "Slime across America," a 50-market interactive tour that brings the green goo directly to kids, one city at a time, kicked off at the Nick Hotel in Orlando on February 26 and continues – in an 18-wheel Slime Mobile driven by Pick Boy – to 20 slimy stops before arriving in LA for Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards. The tour features the Nick Live! Slime Edition stage show, a user-generated area where kids can create content to submit to Nick's new ME:TV interactive day-part (5-7 p.m. ET/PT), Nick stars and costumed characters, karaoke, auditions – and of course slimings! Various slimings are featured on Nick throughout March during ME:TV. (A schedule of tour stops may be found at www.nick.com/slime. Nickelodeon's GoCityKids website also will also offer tour info.)

In a unique star-studded pre-show telecast hosted by TEENick's J. Boogie and Victoria Justice (Zoey 101) and featuring a musical performance by Drake Bell, the Orange Carpet arrivals will interlace programming from 6 to 8 p.m. ET/PT. Celebrity interviewees will climb atop a unique stage – a.k.a. the "Slime across America" truck, conveniently parked next to the Orange Carpet.

Nicktropolis will offer a brand new virtual Kids' Choice Awards themed world where kids can stroll down the Orange Carpet, check out the KCA Control Room, sneak in Backstage, create their own Kids' Choice branded room and chat about the event in real time while watching the live TurboNick webcast together in viewing parties. TurboNick, Nickelodeon's broadband video service on Nick.com, will serve as the fully interactive home during the awards show, featuring a three-hour live Kids' Choice streaming event including coverage of the Orange Carpet, Backstage, and the Kids' Choice Awards after party, all hosted by ME:TV's Alexandra Gizela and Jordan Carlos.

Leading up to the award show, TurboNick will feature a Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards playlist, along with various clips from past awards shows and current promotions for the 20th Annual Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards. Mini-site features of the KCA 2007 area in TurboNick will include KCA clips, quizzes, games, and more.

Nickelodeon's 7th Annual Kids' Choice Awards was the first to air internationally in 1994 on Nickelodeon's channel in the UK and now, more than a decade later, the US show is seen in more than 205 million households across Nickelodeon's 34 channels in the UK, Europe, Russia, Israel, Asia, Australia, Latin America and Brazil. Since premiering the first KCAs in the US in 1987, Nickelodeon has launched eight fully localized versions around the globe starting with Meus Premios Brasil in 2000 and Mis Premios Nick Mexico in 2003. Annual events now also take place in Sweden, Holland, Italy, China and Australia with additional shows to launch later this year.

Wal-Mart has signed on to become the first and exclusive KCA retail sponsor. The advertising and promotional agreement between Wal-Mart and Nickelodeon will be divided among several Nickelodeon platforms including Nickelodeon television, Nickelodeon Magazine and Nick online.

In stores, Wal-Mart will feature exclusive products and a designated Kids' Choice Awards display, and on-line kids can vote for their favorite DVD at www.nick.com/walmart. The official Kids' Choice Awards - Volume 3 CD was released on March 1 and will be available exclusively at Wal-Mart locations. The CD is a compilation of recent hit songs selected by kids from a who's who of popular artists.

Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards is being produced by Nickelodeon Productions in association with Bob Bain Productions. Bob Bain and Marjorie Cohn are executive producers. Paula Kaplan is co-executive producer. Media outlets can reference the most up-to-date information on Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards by logging onto www.NickKCApress.com.

About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, in its 28th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 92 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for almost 12 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

April On Nickelodeon UK And NickToons

From The Nick Insider #20, Nickelodeon UK's official newsletter:

Hi! Welcome to the Nick Insider, with all the latest news from Nick! Bet you thought we'd forgotten you, huh? No way - and we've got a ton of hot news for you too...

A SPLASH OF MAGIC!
EXCLUSIVE!
Meet Cleo, Ricki and Emma - ordinary girls with all the usual problems, and supernatural powers! Oh, and did we mention that they're mermaids? This smash hit show is coming your way in April, but we won't keep you waiting - catch a preview right now on TurboNick! Plus, check out our brand new H2O Website packed with everything you want to know about Nick's newest seafaring stars!
H2O: STARTS MONDAY APRIL 9TH ON NICK

SIT DOWN TO BROWN (AND PURPLE)
Let's face it, there aren't that many good things in life that are brown. And Purple isn't that much better, either. But Nick's very own plasticine performers Purple & Brown are ready to change all that, as we take time out to celebrate their award-winning adventures!
PURPLE & BROWN SPECIAL: SATURDAY 24TH & SUNDAY 25TH MARCH AT 9.30 ON NICK

If you haven't noticed yet, NickToons has got a brand new look! It's still the funniest channel in the whole history of the world ever, but now the bits between the programmes are even more better. See NickToons on Sky 606, Virgin 717, and if you've got some other kind of telly then it's probably on another number..
NICKTOONS: AND IT'S GOT A WEBSITE
AS WELL, WHICH IS EVER SO GOOD..

PHANTASTIC!
Danny Phantom is half kid, half ghost, and all action - and he's back with ALL NEW EPISODES in April, and a special feature-length episode where Danny visits the Phantom Planet!

EVERY DAY AT 5 ON NICKTOONS!

YUGIOHOHOH!
Great news for duel fans - we're bringing on brand new episodes of Yu-Gi-Oh GX in April on NickToons! With new monsters, new challenges, and new duellists, the action just keeps on coming!
BRAND NEW EPISODES: WEEKENDS
AT 10.30 & 4.30, ONLY ON NICKTOONS!

COMING NEXT MONTH.. EXCLUSIVE
If there's one question we get asked more than anything else, it's "When will there be new episodes of Zoey 101?" - well, today we're answering that question, and Nick Insider readers are the FIRST to know!

Zoey 101 is BACK with a brand new third series starting in APRIL, only on Nick! Watch for more details in the next edition of The Nick Insider, plus news of even more brand new shows and new episodes coming at ya!

THE BIG NICK HITLIST
We've hand-picked our funniest and favouritest highlights from schedule - here's your cut-out-and-keep guide to the best bits:

MARCH 28th, 3pm: Drake attempts the turkey-balancing record in The Amanda Show.

MARCH 31st, 6pm: Jack teaches Chris how to dance in The Complete Savages.

APRIL 2nd, 11.45 & 6.30: Your first sneak peek of our brand new series H2O!

APRIL 2nd, 10am: The premiere of Stuart Little kicks off a Nick Flicks week of big-screen movies!

APRIL 12th, 9am & 4pm: Eric accidentally punches Drake in a brand new episode of Drake & Josh!

APRIL 14th, 10am: Your first chance to see the USA Kids Choice Awards 2007!

APRIL 29th, 10AM: The Spring Break special kicks off a Zoey 101 marathon!

"Avatar: The Last Airbender" Co-Creators on Season 3 Finale

From SCI FI Wire:

Avatar To End With Battle

The creators of Nickelodeon's Avatar: The Last Airbender animated fantasy series told SCI FI Wire that the third set of episodes will end with an epic battle that will please the fans.

"The current Avatar story will culminate in an epic battle between Aang and the Fire Lord at the end of book three," co-creator Mike DiMartino said in an interview. "Book three is all mapped out, and much of it is written. We're excited about it, and we know the fans will be, too!"

All 20 episodes of the animated series' first season are available in a DVD box set, and the second volume, subtitled Earth—Volume 1, has just been released on DVD. The new set features commentary from the voice cast and DiMartino and co-creator Bryan Konietzko.

The story follows Aang, a 12-year-old powerful "Avatar," who wants to be a regular kid but is called upon to help fight the vicious Fire Nation. He is joined by Katara, a girl known as a Waterbender, and her stubborn brother, Sokka, as well as a flying lemur and flying bison.

The creators intended Avatar to be both whimsical and edgy. "Bryan and I wanted to create a show that had a lot of heart and integrity, and we wanted to create a show that we would like to watch," DiMartino said. "Like Aang trying to balance the four elements, we try to balance comedy, action, drama and spirituality in every episode so there is something for everyone. Also, there is a message of balance that is pervasive throughout the series: characters trying to balance their lives."

DiMartino said that he and Konietzko love "serious and dramatic stories and believe you can do that without shocking violence." For example, the episode "Lake Laogai" deals with the nefarious Long Feng, who brainwashes Jet and eventually kills him—not the usual stuff of children's shows. Such dark moments are "written and directed in a very tasteful and dramatic way, where it's clear what's going on without having to show gratuitous violence," DiMartino said. "And we are always careful to balance the serious moments with humorous ones."

Purple and Brown Coming To Mobile Phones

From Player X:

Player X and Aardman Animations team up on mobile video

March 19th 2007

Academy Award®-winning company Aardman Animations has appointed Player X as its exclusive distributor for its premium mobile video content in North America.

Player X will launch Aardman classic content such as Wallace & Gromit, Angry Kid and Creature Comforts on two of the US’s major carrier networks with other deals expected to follow.

Player X already exclusively distributes Aardman mobile video across Scandinavia and on O2 UK. Later this month the company will launch a dedicated Aardman channel on the O2 UK deck as part of its ongoing promotions, as well as distribute upcoming original made-for-mobile content such as Purple and Brown and Shaun The Sheep. Aardman’s deals with Player X have all been brokered by Aardman’s global mobile agent, Crucible Media.

“Aardman has a strong portfolio of digital content, many of our films are among the top-rated mobile downloads in the UK and we are looking forward to working with Player X to reach North American audiences,” said Robin Gladman, Digital Content Manager at Aardman.

To underscore the strong relationship between the two companies, Player X is also sponsoring an Aardman short film competition. When the winner is announced later this quarter, Player X will extend full marketing support for the exclusive global rights of the winning entry.

“We already enjoy a very productive and innovative relationship with Aardman and it’s a natural progression to extend this relationship across the Atlantic. Millions of people have seen Aardman content such as Angry Kid online and we’re delighted to be taking this content to mobile,” said Tony Pearce, Player X CEO.

The announcement follows Player X's continuing impact in the emerging mobile video market. In December last year the company launched its mobile TV channel geekTV with UK operator 3 UK, and has recently sold the channel in territories as disparate as India, Chile and Scandinavia.

For more information, please contact monty.munford@playerx.com or +44 (0) 7970 673695 or go to www.playerx.com

Notes to Editors
About Player X

Player X is a mobile media company that specialises in games, video and TV. It develops, publishes and distributes mobile entertainment content through global operators, portals and handset manufacturers.

Player X has direct deals with more than 100 global operators and a potential audience of more than two billion people. The company operates in all five continents across the world and has offices in all the key territories in Europe, Asia and the Americas.

Former Nickelodeon UK Presenter Malcolm Bird Leaves AOL Kids and Teens

From C21 Media:

Bird flies AOL nest

Malcolm Bird, senior VP and general manager of AOL Kids and Teens, has become the latest exec to leave the Time-Warner owned company amid its ongoing corporate reshuffling.

Malcolm Bird was Nickelodeon UK's first ever live presenter. Malcolm Bird joined Nickelodeon UK in 1993 as the presenter of Nickelodeon UK's early morning show Dawn Patrol. While at AOL Kids and Teens, he worked with another former Nickelodeon UK presenter, Rick Adams, who presents AOL's kids internet radio show, Radio KOL.

"Avatar: The Last Airbender" Co-Creators Support Shyamalan's Live-Action Version

From SciFi Wire:

Avatar Creators Praise Night

The creators of Nickelodeon's animated series Avatar: The Last Airbender told SCI FI Wire that they are thrilled that The Sixth Sense director M. Night Shyamalan will adapt their series into a live-action feature film.

"We are thrilled that there is going to be a feature film of Avatar and that M. Night Shyamalan is writing, producing and directing it," co-creator Mike DiMartino said in an interview. "Personally, I can't wait to see Appa fly!" DiMartino referred to the bison that the lead character, a 12-year-old boy named Aang, rides in the series. (The first season and the first part of the second series have just been released on DVD.)

In Avatar, Aang and a select group of kids have learned to control the elements of water, air, fire and earth and find themselves in a battle with the inhabitants of the Fire Nation. The kids are accompanied by odd creatures and pets.

"Yeah, maybe I will get to hang out with Momo for real now!" added co-creator Bryan Konietzko about a comical flying lemur. "The movie is in the earliest stages, so it is too soon to comment on exactly what we will be doing. However, Mike and I have met with Night and, on top of really admiring his craft, he is a great guy who really respects the material. It means a lot to us that he personally chose to do this project, and we look forward to helping him in any way."

Cartoonist sues creator of SpongeBob SquarePants

From The Contra Costa Times, via The Lawrence Journal-World:

Cartoonist sues creator of SpongeBob

Walnut Creek, Calif. — Cartoonist Troy Walker created a comic strip in 1991 about a sponge with a personality.

Bob Spongee had eyes, legs and arms. He lived on Apple Street with his wife, Linda, and their daughter, Bubbles.

Walker, of Fairfield, Calif., then produced 1,000 dolls: yellow sponges with a “drawn-on” face that he sold as collectibles in flea markets and through the mail.

In 2002, he learned about Nickelodeon’s buck-toothed animated character, “SpongeBob SquarePants,” who lives underwater in the fictitious city of Bikini Bottom.

“They took all of it,” Walker said this week. “I sold the Bob Spongees all throughout Northern California. It obviously fell into the hands of one of the producers of the show. It’s a clear pattern of duplication.”

SpongeBob’s image now decorates almost any object children use — from lunch boxes and sippy cups to pillow cases and window curtains.

The 40-year-old cartoonist has filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court in San Francisco against Nickelodeon, Viacom, Paramount Studios and Stephen Hillenberg, the creator of SpongeBob SquarePants.

Walker has demanded $1.6 billion in damages, alleging that the defendants used his idea without his permission.

Hillenberg could not be reached for comment. Nickelodeon will not comment on pending litigation, a spokeswoman said in a written statement.

“However we believe this is a baseless claim,” the statement says.

Walker originally filed his complaint in August acting as his own attorney. Now the San Francisco-based law firm Nevin & Absalom has taken his case. Walker’s attorney, Edward Nevin, was not available to comment.

Walker’s complaint lays out Bob Spongee’s evolution during the recession of the early 1990s. In Walker’s original concept, he drew a nose and mouth on a kitchen sponge, attached plastic googly eyes and placed the effigy in a clear bag that included a small comic strip, “Sponge for hire! Meet Bob Spongee, The Unemployed Sponge.”

He said he has kept copies of the advertisements he ran for the Bob Spongee doll in the Oakland Tribune.

He cites a 2004 episode of “SpongeBob SquarePants,” called, “Sponge for hire!” as a piece of “undeniable proof” that Nickelodeon ripped him off.

“It is more than ironic that two working-class sponges are named Bob,” Walker says in his complaint. “Both characters are unemployed. Both characters live in a house concept.”

Walker said he tried to work out a settlement with Viacom’s attorneys when he first learned about SpongeBob. But Viacom stopped corresponding with him, he said.

Viacom’s attorneys have said in court documents that Sponge Bob is different than Bob Spongee.

“Defendants’ work(s) are not substantially similar to any protectible elements of any of plaintiff’s allegedly infringed works,” attorneys wrote in response to Walker’s complaint.

Nickelodeon Unveils Star-studded Lineup to Celebrate 20th Anniversary Milestone Kids' Choice Awards, Saturday, March 31

From NickKCAPress.com:

Nickelodeon Unveils Star-studded Lineup to Celebrate 20th Anniversary Milestone Kids' Choice Awards, Saturday, March 31

Music Superstars Gwen Stefani and Akon to Perform

Beyoncé, Jessica Alba, Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Queen Latifah, Mike Myers, Jamie Lynn Spears, Hilary Duff, George Lopez, Jon Heder, Chris Evans, Ice Cube, Drake Bell, Emma Roberts, Jesse McCartney, Nelly, Ciara, Tom Kenny, Zac Efron, Bindi Irwin, Shia LaBeouf, Hayden Panettiere, Masi Oka, Ty Pennington, Tyler James Williams, Nat Wolff, Alex Wolff, Devon Werkheiser, Lil' JJ, Chris Brown and Ryan Sheckler Will Join Host Justin Timberlake in Live Telecast

Los Angeles, Calif. – March 14, 2007 – Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards has set a glittering, super-sized constellation of Hollywood's hottest stars to join host/nominee/two-time Best Burp winner Justin Timberlake for the live milestone telecast Saturday, March 31 (8 p.m. ET; tape delay PT) from UCLA's Pauley Pavilion. Beyonce, Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Queen Latifah, Mike Myers, Zac Efron, Bindi Irwin, Hilary Duff, Jessica Alba, Jamie Lynn Spears, George Lopez, Jon Heder, Chris Evans, Drake Bell, Emma Roberts, Jesse McCartney, Nelly, Ciara, Shia LaBeouf, Hayden Panetierre, Ice Cube, Masi Oka, Ty Pennington, Tyler James Williams, Devon Werkheiser, Lil' JJ, Nat Wolff, Alex Wolff, Chris Brown, Tom Kenny and Ryan Sheckler will amp up the wattage at the event often hailed as an Oscars for kids, as they participate in the record-breaking kudos/mess-fest.

"Kids' Choice is a fantastic mix of mega-stars and mega-mess, and our 20th anniversary show will be the biggest, loudest, messiest, star-filled spectacle in two decades," said Marjorie Cohn, Executive Vice President, Development and Original Programming. "This is the event where Hollywood celebrities come to play and this year if you want to be seen, you gotta go green because we'll be breaking the slime barrier."

In her first-ever KCA performance, Grammy Award-winning superstar Gwen Stefani and popular singer-songwriter Akon will ignite the kid crowd with the hit title song from Stefani's new album "The Sweet Escape."

Kids' Choice veteran/2007 nominee Timberlake, who'll grab the reins as a first-time host, will set the stage for Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice traditions including the Wannabe Award, an honor bestowed on a celebrity role model who kids most "want to be." Past recipients (chronologically 2001-06) are: Tom Cruise, Janet Jackson, Will Smith, Adam Sandler, Queen Latifah and Chris Rock.

Throughout the show the slime will flow – who knows where, when and on whom – and true to tradition an astonished star will get the goo. Sloshing through history, past star slimees include: Jack Black, Robin Williams, Johnny Depp, Mike Myers, Adam Sandler, Tom Cruise, Jim Carrey, James Earl Jones, Rosie O'Donnell, Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, Will Ferrell and Ben Stiller. The sixth annual burp contest will offer a terrific new twist, featuring kids and stars, and take the noise level to a new high. Past Burp Award winners include: Cameron Diaz, Jessica Alba and Steve Irwin (shared honor), Justin Timberlake (two-time winner) and Hugh Jackman.

Nickelodeon's "Slime Across America," a 50-market interactive tour that brings the green goo directly to kids, one city at a time, kicked off at the Nick Hotel in Orlando on February 26 and continues -- in an 18-wheel Slime Mobile driven by Pick Boy -- to 20 slimy stops before arriving in LA for Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards. The tour features the Nick Live! Slime Edition stage show, a user-generated area where kids can create content to submit to Nick's new ME:TV interactive day-part (5-7 p.m. ET/PT), Nick stars and costumed characters, karaoke, auditions -- and of course slimings! Various slimings are featured on Nick throughout March during ME:TV. (A schedule of tour stops may be found at www.nick.com/slime. Nickelodeon's GoCityKids website also will also offer tour info.)

In a unique star-studded pre-show telecast hosted by TEENick's J. Boogie, the Orange Carpet arrivals will interlace programming from 6 to 8 p.m. ET/PT. Celebrity interviewees will climb atop a unique stage – a.k.a. the "Slime Across America" truck, conveniently parked next to the Orange Carpet.

Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards has emerged as one of the biggest events in Hollywood, boasting a massive popular vote and sweeping audience participation. It is the only award show that gives kids the power to vote for their favorites in movies, television, music, sports and much more – and honors their opinions with a live show filled with the stars they love.

Kids will be able to vote in advance in a total of 16 categories. Surprise awards also will be announced during the show. Voting began online March 5 on Nick.com. A different category is being featured on-air in ME:TV each week. In fact, for the first time, kids can vote on all available Nickelodeon digital platforms including Nick.com, Nicktropolis, TurboNick or text in their votes via cell phones, for the Nominees they think are deserving of Nick's highest honors.

Nicktropolis will offer a brand new virtual Kids' Choice Awards themed world where kids can stroll down the Orange Carpet, check out the KCA Control Room, sneak in Backstage, create their own Kids' Choice branded room and chat about the event in real time while watching the live TurboNick webcast together in viewing parties. TurboNick, Nickelodeon's broadband video service on Nick.com, will serve as the fully interactive home during the awards show, featuring a three-hour live Kids' Choice streaming event including coverage of the Orange Carpet, Backstage, and the Kids' Choice Awards after party, all hosted by ME:TV's Alex and Jordan.

Leading up to the award show, TurboNick will feature a Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards playlist, along with various clips from past awards shows and current promotions for the 20th Annual Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards. Mini-site features of the KCA 2007 area in TurboNick will include KCA clips, quizzes, games, and more.

In addition to the ever-popular Kids' Choice Awards nominee special, Nickelodeon will be celebrating the 20th year of the Awards with a special retrospective called "Deep inside the KCAs" in TEENick on Sunday, March 18, hosted by Emma Roberts (Unfabulous).

Nickelodeon's 7th Annual Kids' Choice Awards was the first to air internationally in 1994 on Nickelodeon's channel in the UK and now, more than a decade later, the US show is seen in more than 205 million households across Nickelodeon's 34 channels in the UK, Europe, Russia, Israel, Asia, Australia, Latin America and Brazil. Since premiering the first KCAs in the US in 1987, Nickelodeon has launched eight fully localized versions around the globe starting with Meus Premios Brasil in 2000 and Mis Premios Nick Mexico in 2003. Annual events now also take place in Sweden, Holland, Italy, China and Australia with additional shows to launch later this year.

The official Kids' Choice Awards - Volume 3 CD was released on March 1 and will be available exclusively at WalMart locations. The CD is a compilation of recent hit songs selected by kids from a who's who of popular artists.

Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards is being produced by Nickelodeon Productions in association with Bob Bain Productions. Bob Bain, Mike Burg and Marjorie Cohn are executive producers. Paula Kaplan is co-executive producer. Media outlets can reference the most up-to-date information on Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards by logging onto www.NickKCApress.com.

About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, in its 28th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 92 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for almost 12 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

Wal-Mart and Nickelodeon Ink Advertising, Promotions and Merchandising Deal for Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards

From NickKCAPress.com:

Wal-Mart and Nickelodeon Ink Advertising, Promotions and Merchandising Deal for Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards

Wal-Mart Signs on as Exclusive Retail Sponsor of Star-Studded Awards Event

National Retailer Offers Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Vol. 3 CD and Other Exclusive Products Highlighting Kids' Favorites in Entertainment and Video Games

Bentonville, Ark. and New York (March 15, 2007) – Wal-Mart and Nickelodeon announce today a first-time advertising, promotions and merchandising partnership surrounding Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards airing March 31. Wal-Mart has signed on to become the first and exclusive retail sponsor for Nickelodeon's highly anticipated annual television event that celebrates top entertainment picks, as chosen by kids. The advertising and promotional agreement between Wal-Mart and Nickelodeon will be divided among several Nickelodeon platforms including Nickelodeon television, Nickelodeon Magazine and Nick online.

As an associate sponsor of Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards, Wal-Mart has launched a substantial advertising campaign on Nickelodeon this month, which runs through mid-April. The new spots star Wal-Mart's animated "spokes-elves," Wally and Marty, and build excitement about the TV event and products in stores. Additionally, Wal-Mart will sponsor a new and exclusive category within this year's Kids' Choice Awards - the "Favorite DVD" category - and will also have a sponsored area and dance floor at the Kids' Choice Awards after party. In stores, Wal-Mart will feature exclusive products and a designated Kids' Choice Awards display, and on-line kids can vote for their favorite DVD at www.nick.com/walmart.

"We are excited to be engaged in what has become a well-recognized and highly anticipated TV event for kids each year," said Stephen Quinn, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Wal-Mart Stores. "We see this partnership as a great opportunity to share our commitment to kids, tweens and families to be the retail destination for unbeatable values on their top selections."

"The Kids' Choice Awards are one of the biggest events on kids' television today, and we are thrilled to be working with Wal-Mart in marking the 20th anniversary of the show as the exclusive sponsor in the retail category," said Jim Perry, Executive Vice President, 360 Brand Sales for Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group. "Wal-Mart's creative promotional concept really signifies how marketers are able to take advantage of all Nickelodeon has to offer, with many platforms on which to partner to create customized programs."

Among the exclusive products available in Wal-Mart stores is the new Nickelodeon Kids' Choice, Vol. 3 CD, by Nick Records/SONY BMG's Commercial Music Group, retailing for $13.88. The CD marks the third installment of the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards music franchise. Over 18,000 kids voted on this year's cover design. The CD features 16 songs from today's most popular recording artists including Justin Timberlake, Carrie Underwood, Alicia Keys and Ashlee Simpson. It also includes up and coming acts like Danity Kane and the stars of Nickelodeon's latest live-action hit: The Naked Brothers Band.

Included with the in-store Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards displays and among Wal-Mart DVD movie selections will be exclusive DVD movie 2-packs for only $9.44. These include the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards "Winner's Collection" bundled with top kid movie favorites such as the Drake & Josh Go Hollywood DVD, the first television movie event based on the top-rated tween series, and the DVD of the hit theatrical film The Spongebob SquarePants Movie. A wide range Nickelodeon branded toys will also be featured prominently on in-store displays.

For movie fans who like to share their vote with friends, Wal-Mart and Nickelodeon have created a promotional web site (www.nick.com/walmart) where kids can vote for their favorite movie DVD. Wal-Mart character elves, Wally and Marty, also "host" the site and bring the fun of these selections to life, by showing visitors how to vote on their favorite DVD movie and share their vote with friends. Kids and parents can also see how other kids around the country are voting on their favorite DVD, minute by minute. The "favorite DVD" will be unveiled online on www.nick.com/walmart on March 31.

Shoppers can find more information about voting for favorite movies on the site, including the consolidated collection of toys, movies, video games and music on Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards in-store displays.*

Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards takes place on Saturday, March 31 (8-9:30 p.m. ET/PT), and will honor kids' favorites from the worlds of film, music, sports and television in a star-studded live, milestone telecast (tape delayed for West Coast) from UCLA's Pauley Pavilion. Nickelodeon's no-holds-barred kudos/mess-fest will mark two decades monumentally by breaking the slime barrier. True to tradition, kids will rule and stars will rejoice with them. Singer/actor/two-time Best Burp Award winner and 2007 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards nominee, Justin Timberlake, will serve as the host of this year's awards show.

Nickelodeon's Annual Kids' Choice Awards is one of the network's highest rated events of the year. Last year's event earned top honors as the highest-rated Kids' Choice Awards with kids 6-11 and total viewers ever, garnering a record 5.9 million persons 2+ and 27 million votes.

(*Displays are available at 1,963 stores. Exclusive product offers are available at all stores and at www.walmart.com.)

About Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT)
Every week, more than 127 million customers visit Wal-Mart Stores, Supercenters, Neighborhood Markets, and Sam's Club locations across America or log on to its online store at www.walmart.com. The company and its Foundation are committed to a philosophy of giving back locally. Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is proud to support the causes that are important to customers and associates right in their own neighborhoods, and last year gave more than $245 million to local communities in the United States. To learn more, visit www.walmartfacts.com, www.walmartstores.com, or www.walmartfoundation.org.

About SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT
SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is a global recorded music joint venture with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. SONY BMG MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT is 50% owned by Bertelsmann A.G. and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America.

About Nick Records
Nick Records is a kids and tween focused music partnership between Nickelodeon and the Sony BMG Strategic Marketing. The Nick Records label focuses on showcasing emerging young artists as well as established talent from the network, through soundtracks based on its hit shows and compilations. Nick Records' niche is delivering quality music for kids. All of Nick Records releases have been leaders on the Billboard kid's music charts – with major hits including, Dora's Dance Fiesta!, and SpongeBob SquarePants' The Yellow Album.

About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, in its 28th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 92 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for almost 12 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

Nickelodeon To Open First-Ever Nickelodeon-Themed Theme Park At Minnesota's Mall Of America

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

Nickelodeon Is the Leader

Kids' favorite properties and characters will come to life in the first-ever
Nickelodeon-themed park at Minnesota's Mall of America.

It's Just One Reason We've Remained #1 for 12 Straight Years.*

* Source: NMR, NHI (2Q'95 thru 1Q'07 td-(01/01/07-02/11/07, by quarter) for K2-11, based on NAT%
and imp across all comp cable nets, total prog day. Live Feed. Qual avail upon request. © 2007 Viacom.

Nickelodeon And Wal-Mart Announce 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards Sponsor Deal

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

Nickelodeon and Wal-Mart have completed a deal making Wal-Mart the first and exclusive retail sponsor for the 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards, airing March 31. Under the deal, ads and promotions will appear across Nickelodeon's various platforms (e.g. TV, Nickelodeon magazine and Nick online). Currently running on the network are several Wal-Mart spots featuring animated elves, Wally and Marty, building excitement for the event and Kids' Choice areas and products in stores. Additionally, Wal-Mart is sponsoring the new Kids' Choice Favorite DVD category, which includes the chance for kids to vote for their top DVD ( www.nick.com/walmart ).

Nick Jr. USA To Premiere New Episodes Of The Backyardigans And Blue's Room During March 2007

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

Nick Jr. will premiere new episodes of the preschool series The Backyardigans and Blue's Room this month in back-to-back premiere weeks. Four new episodes of The Backyardigans will debut March 19 23 at 10:30a, and the following week, March 26-30, four new episodes of Blue's Room will bow. During each of the show's respective premiere week, Nick Jr. Video, Nick Jr.’s broadband video service, will feature clips of songs from The Backyardigans and 'instant replays' of each new Blue's Room episode following its premiere.

Canada's Astral Media Integrated Solutions Signs Licensing And Merchandising Agreement For Zoey 101

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

Toronto's Astral Media has launched a new Astral Television Networks unit to grow and centralize its licensing, merchandising, online advertising and promotional sponsorships activities for The Movie Network, Viewers Choice and Family Channel English-language TV networks. The new Astral Media Integrated Solutions has already signed a licensing and merchandising agreement for Zoey 101, which airs on Family Channel, with retailer La Senza Girl. As for sponsorships, the division will look into opportunities for The Movie Network's Movie Style interstitial fashion/beauty series, Family Channel's Spring Break Out Mall Tour, and more.

Nickelodeon Announces Kids Choice Awards 2007 Guest List

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

Nickelodeon's 20th Annual Kids Choice Awards will feature musical performance by Gwen Stefani and Akon. Hosted this year by Justin Timberlake, the show will air live Saturday, March 31 at 8p (tape delay PT) from UCLA's Pauley Pavilion. The line-up of celebrities slated to appear on the annual honors includes, Beyonce, Jessica Alba, Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Queen Latifah, Mike Myers, Jamie Lynn Spears, Hilary Duff, George Lopez, Jon Heder, Chris Evans, Ice Cube, Drake Bell, Emma Roberts, Jesse McCartney, Nelly, Ciara, Zac Efron, Shia LaBeouf, Hayden Panetierre, Masi Oka, Ty Pennington, Tyler James Williams, Nat Wolff, Alex Wolff, Devon Werkheiser, Lil' JJ, Chris Brown and Ryan Sheckler among others.

Nickelodeon USA To Premiere 18 New Shows And Six Original Movies In 2007

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

Nickelodeon Is the Leader

Watch for the premiere of 18 new SHOWS and six original MOVIES coming
to Nick and Nick Jr. in 2007!

It's Just One Reason We've Remained #1 for 12 Straight Years.*

*Source: NMR, NHI (2Q'95 thru 1Q'07 td-(01/01/07-02/11/07, by quarter) for K2-11,
based on NAT% and imp across all comp cable nets, total prog day. Live Feed. Qual avail upon request. © 2007 Viacom.

Nickelodeon International Buys Rights To Shaun the Sheep

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

Aardman Animations' Shaun the Sheep will make its way around the world following a deal with Nickelodeon International. The 40x7 Wallace and Gromit spin-off, aimed at K4-10, will head out to air on Nickelodeon Benelux (April), Spain and India (May), Australia, and New Zealand (later in 2007). The agreement with Nickelodeon International will transport the stop-motion kids series to a total of 72 territories.

Dora the Explorer New Episode Offers Language Lessons

From AWN Headline News:

Dora the Explorer New Episode Offers Language Lessons

DORA THE EXPLORER is reaching for the stars as Nick Jr. premieres a new half-hour episode entitled, "Star Mountain" on March 12. 2007, at 9:00 am on Nick Jr. and will encore later in the week on Friday, March 16 at 9:00 am. The new episode offers viewers lessons on numbers and colors in Spanish, as they journey along with Dora, Boots and the Tres Estrellas Exploradoras (Three Explorer Stars). Nick Jr. Video offered an "instant replay" of the full episode at 2:00 pm on March 12.

DORA THE EXPLORER is a play-along, animated adventure series starring Dora, a seven-year-old Latina heroine whose adventures take place in an imaginative, tropical world filled with jungles, beaches and rainforests. Dora explores her world just as preschoolers do everyday, and the show is designed to actively engage its audience in an interactive quest using a variety of learning techniques.

In every episode, Dora and her best friend Boots invite the audience to participate in an exciting adventure, where each step of their journey features a problem or puzzle that Dora and the audience must think their way through in order to solve the next problem. Dora is proudly bilingual and uses her knowledge of English and Spanish to communicate with her friends, overcome obstacles and reach her goals.

In "Star Mountain," Dora's grandmother makes her a necklace, but Swiper flings it all the way to the top of Star Mountain. Dora and Boots must race up 15 star steps and climb up a diamond to get to the giant star. Along their journey, Dora and Boots team up with the Tres Estrellas Exploradoras (Three Explorer Stars), made up of Glowy, the bright light star; Tool Star, the star with the cool gadgets; and Saltador, the jumping star. The group battles fog, ice, wind, snow and must steer clear of the rising green goo. Dora and Boots ask the preschoolers at home to help them find Dora's necklace by teaching them numbers and colors in Spanish.

Since its debut in 2000, DORA THE EXPLORER was the top-rated preschool series on all of commercial TV for more than five consecutive years and garnered the number two spot for 2006, second only to Nick Jr.'s number-one rated THE WONDER PETS! DORA THE EXPLORER airs regularly Monday through Friday on Nick Jr. at 9:00 am and 11:30 am.

DORA THE EXPLORER is broadcast all over the world, teaching the majority of her viewers English rather than Spanish. Syndicated to TV broadcasters in 125 markets and translated in 24 languages, Dora the Explorer is the number one rated show in France, Canada, Italy and Mexico and is a top 10 rated show in nearly every major broadcast market in the world including the U.K. and China.

DORA THE EXPLORER was created by Chris Gifford, Valerie Walsh and Eric Weiner. Gifford and Walsh are exec producers on the series. "Star Mountain" was written by Gifford.

Nick Jr. is a specially designed programming block airing on Nickelodeon weekdays from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm. Completely dedicated to preschoolers 2-5, Nick Jr.'s Emmy, Peabody and Parents' Choice Award-winning programs are curriculum based, fun and commercial free.

Nickelodeon(www.nick.com), in its 27th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the U.S. and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 92 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for almost 12 consecutive years.

Viacom Sues YouTube for $1B

From AWN Headline News:

Viacom Sues YouTube for $1B

Viacom Inc. has filed a federal copyright infringement lawsuit against YouTube, seeking more than $1 billion in damages. Additionally, Viacom wants an injunction forcing Google and YouTube from posting clips of Viacom-owned content. The complaint contends that almost 160,000 unauthorized clips of Viacom's programming have been available on YouTube and that these clips had been viewed more than 1.5 billion times.

In connection with the filing, Viacom released the following statement: "YouTube is a significant, for-profit organization that has built a lucrative business out of exploiting the devotion of fans to others' creative works in order to enrich itself and its corporate parent Google. Their business model, which is based on building traffic and selling advertising off of unlicensed content, is clearly illegal and is in obvious conflict with copyright laws. In fact, YouTube's strategy has been to avoid taking proactive steps to curtail the infringement on its site, thus generating significant traffic and revenues for itself while shifting the entire burden -- and high cost -- of monitoring YouTube onto the victims of its infringement.

This behavior stands in stark contrast to the actions of other significant distributors, who have recognized the fair value of entertainment content and have concluded agreements to make content legally available to their customers around the world.

There is no question that YouTube and Google are continuing to take the fruit of our efforts without permission and destroying enormous value in the process. This is value that rightfully belongs to the writers, directors and talent who create it and companies like Viacom that have invested to make possible this innovation and creativity.

After a great deal of unproductive negotiation, and remedial efforts by ourselves and other copyright holders, YouTube continues in its unlawful business model. Therefore, we must turn to the courts to prevent Google and YouTube from continuing to steal value from artists and to obtain compensation for the significant damage they have caused."

Commenting on the suit, a Google spokesman said, "We have not received the lawsuit but are confident that YouTube has respected the legal rights of copyright holders and believe the courts will agree. We will certainly not let this suit become a distraction to the continuing growth and strong performance of YouTube."

Viacom sues Google and YouTube

From C21 Media:

Viacom sues YouTube for a billion

Viacom has slapped a US$1bn lawsuit on Google and its video-sharing YouTube subsidiary, claiming the two companies are "clearly illegal" and "in obvious conflict with copyright laws."

The suit was filed in a district court in New York, seeking not only US$1bn in damages but also an injunction prohibiting Google and YouTube from further alleged copyright infringement.

With echoes of the music-sharing saga, Viacom claimed that the two web companies have distributed 160,000 unauthorised clips of its programming and that these clips have been viewed more than 1.5 billion times, without any fee going to Viacom.

"YouTube is a significant, for-profit organisation that has built a lucrative business out of exploiting the devotion of fans to others' creative works in order to enrich itself and its corporate parent, Google," said Viacom.

The claimant, which last month partnered with IPTV start-up Joost, went on to say the YouTube business model is based on "unlicensed content, clearly illegal and is in obvious conflict with copyright laws."

Furthermore, the video-sharing site, bought by Google last autumn for US$1.65bn, had also enriched itself while "shifting the entire burden – and high cost – of monitoring YouTube on to the victims of its infringement," said Viacom.

When Viacom signed its content deal with Joost last month it said it had demanded the removal of its content – such as clips of Nickelodeon and MTV programming – from YouTube but that these talks had broken down.

"There is no question that YouTube and Google are continuing to take the fruit of our efforts without permission and destroying enormous value in the process. After a great deal of unproductive negotiation, and remedial efforts by ourselves and other copyright holders, YouTube continues in its unlawful business model."

Viacom's reaction to the YouTube phenomenon is in contrast to other broadcasters such as the BBC, Sundance and Spain's Antena-3, which have all signed content deals with the website for branded channels.

Responding to today's lawsuit, Google UK said: "We have not received the lawsuit but are confident that YouTube has respected the legal rights of copyright holders and believe the courts will agree. YouTube is great for users and offers real opportunities to rights holders."

The company added that it "will certainly not let this suit become a distraction to the continuing growth and strong performance of YouTube and its ability to attract more users, more traffic and build a stronger community."

Ed Waller
13 Mar 2007
© C21 Media 2007

Also, from Media Guardian:

Viacom sues Google and YouTube

Media conglomerate Viacom has broken cover against Google by suing the internet giant and its YouTube video sharing website for $1bn (£517m).

The company, which owns TV channels including MTV, Nickelodeon and Paramount Comedy, today filed a suit with a US district court in New York, attacking Google for "massive intentional copyright infringement" and asking for an injunction to prevent users posting more of its videos to YouTube.


"YouTube is a significant, for-profit organisation that has built a lucrative business out of exploiting the devotion of fans to others' creative works in order to enrich itself and its corporate parent Google," said New York-based Viacom in a statement.


"Their business model, which is based on building traffic and selling advertising off of unlicensed content, is clearly illegal and is in obvious conflict with copyright laws.


"In fact, YouTube strategy has been to avoid taking proactive steps to curtail the infringement on its site, thus generating significant traffic and revenues for itself while shifting the entire burden – and high cost – of monitoring YouTube onto the victims of its infringement."


The $1.65bn acquisition of YouTube by Google last year led many industry insiders to speculate that a slew of lawsuits could follow from angry broadcasters.


Viacom's is the first major lawsuit to hit the Silicon Valley giant.


The statement accuses Google of failing to make positive steps to redress the situation.


"After a great deal of unproductive negotiation, and remedial efforts by ourselves and other copyright holders, YouTube continues in its unlawful business model. Therefore, we must turn to the courts to prevent Google and YouTube from continuing to steal value from artists and to obtain compensation for the significant damage they have caused."


Earlier this month a stand-off between the two companies looked to have been solved after Google agreed that it would remove thousands of pieces of copyrighted content from YouTube.


Viacom recently agreed a deal with Joost, a new peer-to-peer TV company from the creators of Skype, to distribute the company's TV shows and channels online. That agreement could have paved the way for the latest action, which builds on increasing pressure over Google's approach to copyright.


The internet company's stance has come in for criticism from broadcasters, publishers and newspaper groups in recent weeks – and last week Microsoft launched a broadside at its rival for what it called a "cavalier" approach to copyright.


Google was unavailable for comment.

Nickelodeon France Buys Rights To The Doodlebops

From C21 Media:

GMTV signs kids musical combo

UK terrestrial ITV1 is to broadcast Canadian kids producer Cookie Jar Entertainment's preschool musical series The Doodlebops on Saturday mornings.

The show (left) will air on Good Morning TV (GMTV1) at 06.00 from April 7, with a weekday launch on sister channel GMTV2 planned for the summer.

The Doodlebops is already available in the UK on satellite and cable through Playhouse Disney UK.

Cookie Jar claims the colourful costume series aims to bring "rousing musical performances" of original songs and dance to the preschool set, as well as outrageous storylines and wardrobe.

"It has been quite impressive watching the show become a global, pop-culture phenomenon in such a short period of time. Now this musical trio is about to take its place on GMTV, and we couldn’t be more thrilled," said Peter McHugh, GMTV's director of programmes.

The roster of international broadcasters of the series already includes Kids' CBC, Playhouse Disney US, Disney (Australia, Italy, Latin America and others), Nickelodeon France and VRAK TV in Canada.

Antony Reeve-Crook
13 Mar 2007
© C21 Media 2007

Nickelodeon International Buys Rights To Aardman Animations' Shaun the Sheep

According to C21 Media, Nickelodeon Benelux (Nickelodeon Belgium, Nickelodeon France, and Nickelodeon Netherlands), Nickelodeon Spain, Nickelodeon India, Nickelodeon Australia, and Nickelodeon New Zealand are all to get the new BBC children's series Shaun the Sheep following a deal with creator Aardman Animations.

Nick channels flock to Shaun

Nickelodeon channels in Benelux, Spain, India, Australia and New Zealand are all to get the new BBC children's series Shaun the Sheep following a far-reaching deal with creator Aardman Animations.

Ratings For The Premiere Episodes Of Nickelodeon's Newest Nicktoon, El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

Nickelodeon premiered its new series El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera this Saturday morning March 3, with back-to-back episodes at 10 and 10:30a. The show was the best series premiere of a series on a Saturday morning for the network with the first episode earning a 6.9 among K2-11, and the second episode climbing to a 7.0. Each play delivered 2.3 million viewers. Previously SpongeBob SquarePants held the network's record as the biggest Saturday morning series premiere back on July 17, 1999.

Titan Magazines Launch LazyTown Magazine

Titan Magazines have launched LazyTown Magazine, a brand new monthly magazine based on the hit Nick Jr show, LazyTown.

Each issue will be packed full of interactive stories starring Stephanie, Sportacus, and all of their friends. With fun activities and games, you'll always find something new and exciting to try. LazyTown Magazine encourages the whole family to get up, get moving, and have fun!

Issue 1 of LazyTown Magazine went on sale on 22nd February 2007, and comes with free LazyTown finger puppets, stickers and posters as gifts.

Issue 2 of LazyTown Magazine will be on sale from 22nd March 2007, and will come with a free LazyTown magnetic puzzle game.

You can visit Titan Magazines official LazyTown Magazines website at www.tots.titanmagazines.com, where you can subscribe to and order back issues of LazyTown Magazine.

Titan Magazines also publishes the Spongebob Squarepants Comic.

Nickelodeon Announces The Pickup Of iCarly

From PR Newswire via Yahoo! Finance:

MTVN's Nickelodeon Brings Next Generation of Convergent Entertainment to Kids With iCarly: First Scripted Series That Will Incorporate Kid-Created Original Content

Thursday March 8, 9:00 am ET

Kids Will Have Opportunity to Participate in Series, Starring Drake & Josh Alumnus Miranda Cosgrove, By Posting Their Original Content Online

Series Adds to Nickelodeon's Menu of Interactive Experiences for Kids, Joining ME:TV, Nicktropolis and TurboNick

NEW YORK, March 8 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Continuing its lead in providing the most innovative entertainment content for today's digital generation, Nickelodeon announces the pickup of iCarly, an all-new live-action comedy series that will not only feature a lead character (Drake & Josh's Miranda Cosgrove) who hosts her own home-grown web show, but will for the first time incorporate content from real kids as part of a scripted series. The show will launch in September 2007 on Nickelodeon.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070308/AQTH039)

iCarly is a show within a show that converges the television screen and the web for kids. During the course of the series, Carly will give viewers a specific assignment that relates to the context of a particular show. Kids will be directed to a website to post their kid created original content, which may be either scripted into a future iCarly episode or become part of Carly's web cast online.

"We are giving kids more and more ways to connect the dots of their linear and digital entertainment experiences through Nickelodeon, from the social networking of Nicktropolis, to the ability to mash up our content on TurboNick, to allowing them to send and control their own user-generated content on ME:TV," said Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group. "iCarly will bring it all together and reflect what real kids are doing today. The show could be in no better hands than creator Dan Schneider, who has delivered hit after hit for us."

iCarly joins the numerous convergent entertainment experiences launched by Nickelodeon over the past few months. Nickelodeon's ME:TV is the first-ever live TV programming block (Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m.), featuring original kid-generated content. In the three weeks since ME:TV has launched, there have been tens of thousands of content streams on the site http://www.nick.com/metv. Nicktropolis, Nickelodeon's kid-targeted virtual world, surpassed 1 million unique, registered kids this February. And TurboNick 2.0, Nick's broadband video platform which gives kids the opportunity to control their individual entertainment, had its most successful month ever in February with more than 77 million streams, an increase of +511% versus February 2006.

In iCarly, Miranda lives with her twenty-something brother/guardian Spencer (Jerry Trainor) and produces her web casts from a makeshift third- floor loft studio. Grappling with adolescence, she never aimed to gain fame as a rising star/underground celebrity to kids. As events unfold in the pilot, it all happens by accident when a teacher (guest star Mindy Sterling, Austin Powers' Frau Farbissina) puts her in charge of the school talent show. She and her sassy best bud Sam (Jeannette McCurdy) turn the audition process into a show, which Carly's tech savvy smitten friend Freddy (Nathan Kress) tapes -- including their hilarious banter and great chemistry -- and posts on the web unbeknownst to them. The online audience clamors for more, and a pop phenomenon blooms, with Miranda and sidekick Sam's regular web casts ultimately featuring everything from comedy sketches and talent contests to interviews, recipes and problem-solving.

"Hit-maker Dan Schneider has created a cutting edge TV show that integrates the web with the tube in a totally unique way," commented Marjorie Cohn, Executive Vice President of Development and Original Programming, Nickelodeon. "We have a rich history of putting kids in control with convergent programming like the Kids' Choice Awards, SpongeBob's 'Best Day Ever' and ME:TV; iCarly takes that kid empowerment strategy one step further."

Nickelodeon has green-lit 13 episodes of the comedy series. Cameras will begin to roll in Los Angeles in late March.

Underscoring the Nick kid-empowerment philosophy, Schneider says, "iCarly aims to give kids an unfiltered voice with Carly's web cast and by showcasing kids' ideas, inventions and talents. It's a series that is intended to involve real kids across America and illustrate how they are currently experiencing entertainment."

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, in its 28th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 92 million households and has been the number-one- rated basic cable network for almost 12 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA - News, VIA.B - News).

About MTV Networks and Viacom

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE: VIA - News, VIA.B - News), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with 135 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 200 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

Viacom is a leading global entertainment content company, with prominent and respected brands in focused demographics. Engaging its audiences through television, motion pictures and digital platforms, Viacom reaches its audiences wherever they consume content. Viacom's leading brands include the multiplatform properties of MTV Networks, including MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, COMEDY CENTRAL, CMT: Country Music Television, Spike TV, TV Land, Logo and more than 135 networks around the world, as well as digital assets such as Neopets, Xfire and Atom Entertainment; BET Networks; Paramount Pictures; Paramount Home Entertainment; DreamWorks; and Famous Music. More information about Viacom and its businesses is available at http://www.viacom.com.

Source: Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon Makes Fiends Online Series a TV Series

From AWN Headline News:

Nick Makes Fiends Online Series a TV Series

Nickelodeon has announced the new additions to its lineup at its upfront meetings in New York City.

MAKING FRIENDS is a new Flash series developed from Nickelodeon's TurboNick broadband platform. The series centers on two girls, Charlotte and Vendetta, who are two polar opposites. MAKING FIENDS was created by Amy Winfrey and is based on her popular MAKING FIENDS online films. The network has order six episodes to launch in 2008.

Nickelodeon also picked up new seasons of some if its most popular series, including SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS (13), THE FAIRLY ODDPARENTS (20) and DORA THE EXPLORER, which includes 14 new episodes and three hour-long television movies.

Nickelodeon Preschool will add to its lineup THE UMIZUMIZ, an interactive series set in a global urban city brought to life in a fusion of animation, photography, origami patterns and preschool punk music; and BUBBLE GUPPIES, an interactive, animated variety show for preschoolers set in a 3D, CGI-animated underwater classroom.

"Our goal is always to give preschoolers, kids and tweens the very best programming in television, and to combine fresh new creative ideas with enduring hits that kids love," said Tom Ascheim, evp/gm of Nickelodeon Television. "SPONGEBOB is #1 with kids and DORA is tops with preschoolers, so we're going to give them more, as well as new episodes of their favorite live-action and animated shows. And we are very excited about the new shows that will be joining the lineup this year."

The 2007-08 animation slate will also feature previously announced series MIGHTY B, TAK AND THE POWER OF JUJU, BACK TO THE BARNYARD and the newly launched EL TIGRE: THE ADVENTURES OF MANNY RIVERA.

Nickelodeon packs in three new series

From C21 Media:

Nickelodeon packs in three new series

Nickelodeon is adding three new toons to its 2008 schedule – The Umizumiz, Bubble Guppies and Making Fiends – which will be among the 700 new episodes filling the channel's 2007/08 season.

Premiering on Noggin, The Umizumiz is an animated interactive series for preschoolers about a miniature urban repair squad that solves everyday problems with the help of the home audience.

The Umizumiz, which will feature foundational skills like counting, patterns and measuring, was created by Soo Kim and Michael Smith and is co-created and executive-produced by Jennifer Twomey.

Another new preschool series, Bubble Guppies, meanwhile, is described as "an interactive, animated variety show," and has been created by Robert Scull, Jonny Belt and Janice Burgess, the trio behind Nick Jr's The Backyardigans.

Each episode of the show "will delve into a preschool topic from a variety of angles as the cast and viewers at home explore the swaying kelp forests, fantastical coral reefs, and undersea gardens of their aquarium-inspired surroundings," according to Nick.

The third new programme, Making Fiends, has been developed from Nickelodeon's TurboNick broadband platform, where it appeared as a series of Flash-animated shorts about two girls.

The show was created by Amy Winfrey (South Park) and the supervising producer is Dave Wasson, creator of Cartoon Network series Time Squad and exec-producer/director of Disney series The Buzz on Maggie.

The three new titles add to the previously announced new series Tak & the Power of JuJu, Back to the Barnyard and Ni Hao Kai-lan, which will be premiering this fall.

"Our goal is always to combine fresh new creative ideas with enduring hits that kids love," said Tom Ascheim, executive VP and general manager of Nickelodeon Television.

The "enduring hits" to which he referred are SpongeBob SquarePants, tween series Zoey 101 and The Fairly OddParents, and preschool series Dora the Explorer, all of which were renewed for 2007/08 by Ascheim.

Ed Waller
9 Mar 2007
© C21 Media 2007

Nickelodeon UK's David Lynn to head MTV

From C21 Media:

Nick chief to replace MTV's Bakker

MTV Networks UK's outgoing boss Michiel Bakker is to be succeeded by Nickelodeon UK chief David Lynn, while the network has also upped MD of music and comedy Heather Jones to a content role across its channels.

Lynn has been appointed executive VP and MD of MTV Networks UK and Ireland. Reporting to MTV Networks International (MTVNI) president Bob Bakish, Lynn will be responsible for all of MTVNI's UK operations including 17 channels, 16 websites and four mobile channels, spanning its MTV, MTV Flux, VH1 and TMF brands, as well as joint-venture businesses with BSkyB, Nickelodeon UK and Paramount Comedy Channel UK.

It was announced last week that Bakker was leaving the network after 20 years. Reporting to Lynn in a new role leading MTVN UK's music and comedy brands, Heather Jones has been promoted to exec VP, content and creative. Her responsibilities will encompass brand strategy for MTVN's music and comedy brands, including linear TV, digital media and the related UK-based production operations.

“Having orchestrated two of the UK’s hottest media brand successes in Nickelodeon and Paramount Comedy, David and Heather will be a dynamic, talented management duo to lead our biggest international business,” Bakish said.

Lynn is expected to take up his new appointment in the next few weeks and will continue to oversee the operations at Nickelodeon UK until his successor is named.

In other news, MTV parent Viacom said last week that it was making 250 redundancies at MTVNI across the UK, Latin America and emerging markets.

Jules Grant
8 Mar 2007
© C21 Media 2007

Also, from Digital Spy:

Nickelodeon's Lynn to head MTV

Following the departure of Michiel Bakker, MTV Networks has recruited Nickelodeon UK's David Lynn as managing director.

Managing director of music and comedy Heather Jones has also been promoted to a wider content role across its channels, as MTVN's executive vice-president, content and creative. Reporting to Lynn, she will be responsible for all TV, multiplatform content and brand strategy for MTVN's music and comedy channels.

MTV Networks International president, Bob Bakish, said: "Having orchestrated two of the UK’s hottest media brand successes in Nickelodeon and Paramount Comedy, David and Heather will be a dynamic, talented, management duo to lead our biggest international business."

Lynn starts his new role as executive vice-president and managing director MTV Networks UK and Ireland in the next few weeks, but will continue to oversee operations at Nickelodeon UK until a successor is named.

He said: "The brands that MTV Networks represents are among some of the most popular in the UK and globally...I am honoured and excited to be taking the helm of arguably the UK’s most exciting family of channels at a key stage in our evolution towards true multi-platform delivery."

In recent months, parent company Viacom has been shaking up its MTV Networks business globally and last week announced it would make 250 job cuts across its operations in UK, Latin America and emerging markets.

More Than 700 New Episodes of Programming for Preschoolers, Kids and Tweens to Air on Number-One Network Nickelodeon in 2007-08

From PR Newswire:

More Than 700 New Episodes of Programming for Preschoolers, Kids and Tweens to Air on Number-One Network Nickelodeon in 2007-08

Three New Animated Series to Join Lineup in 2008, Including Making Fiends, Bubble Guppies and The Umizumiz

Freshman Hits The Naked Brothers Band and Just Jordan Picked Up for Second Seasons; Net Picks Up More Episodes of Number-One Kids' Show SpongeBob SquarePants, The Fairly OddParents, Dora the Explorer and Zoey 101

NEW YORK, March 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Joining previously announced new series Tak and the Power of JuJu, Back to the Barnyard and Ni Hao, Kai-lan premiering this fall, Nickelodeon today announced it is adding three new animated series to its 2008 schedule: The Umizumiz, Bubble Guppies and Making Fiends. The number-one network for kids also announced new season pickups of breakout freshman hit The Naked Brothers Band and Just Jordan, as well as new episodes of top-ranked SpongeBob SquarePants, tween favorites Zoey 101 and The Fairly OddParents, and top preschool series Dora the Explorer. In total, Nickelodeon will premiere more than 700 new episodes of new and returning series throughout the 2007-08 season.

"Our goal is always to give preschoolers, kids and tweens the very best programming in television, and to combine fresh new creative ideas with enduring hits that kids love," said Tom Ascheim, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Nickelodeon Television. "SpongeBob is number-one with kids and Dora is tops with preschoolers, so we're going to give them more, as well as new episodes of their favorite live-action and animated shows. And we are very excited about the new shows that will be joining the lineup this year."

For the upcoming 2007-08 season, Nickelodeon Preschool will add to its lineup The Umizumiz, an interactive series set in a global urban city brought to life in a fusion of animation, photography, origami patterns and preschool punk music; and Bubble Guppies, an interactive, animated variety show for preschoolers set in a vibrant 3D, CGI-animated underwater classroom. Nickelodeon will also add Making Fiends to its schedule, an offbeat and outrageous animated tale about two unlikely friends, Vendetta and Charlotte.

The network has also picked up 13 additional episodes each of TEENick freshman hits The Naked Brothers Band, featuring new heartthrobs Nat and Alex Wolf, and Just Jordan starring teen standup Lil' JJ, along with 13 episodes of the TEENick favorite Zoey 101, starring Jamie Lynn Spears.

Joining a 2007-08 animation slate featuring previously announced series Mighty B, Tak and the Power of JuJu, Back to the Barnyard and the newly launched El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera, are 13 additional episodes of the number-one kid series SpongeBob SquarePants and 20 episodes of the animated hit The Fairly OddParents. On Nick Jr., preschoolers can look forward to an all-new fifth season of perennial favorite Dora the Explorer, which includes 14 new episodes and three hour-long television movies.

New series for the Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. 2008 season include:

Making Fiends

Developed from Nickelodeon's TurboNick broadband platform, where it appeared as a series of shorts, Making Fiends is an offbeat, flash animated series centering on two girls, Charlotte and Vendetta. Each episode explores the struggle between these two polar opposites. Vendetta makes fiends to instill fear over their dreary town of Clamburg and despises cheerful Charlotte for always foiling her most brilliant and fiendish plans. Meanwhile, Charlotte loves her new town, is oblivious to the danger that Vendetta poses to her and thinks that all of Vendetta's fiends are rather cute. Making Fiends was created by Amy Winfrey and is based on her popular Making Fiends online films. Winfrey won a student academy award in 2000 for her short The Bad Plant. Her other original work includes the films Big Bunny and Muffin Films. Winfrey was also an animator on South Park. Supervising producer Dave Wasson was the creator of the Cartoon Network series Time Squad, executive producer and director of the Disney series The Buzz on Maggie and creator of the Emmy Award-winning Oh Yeah! Cartoons short for Nickelodeon, "Max and his Special Problem."

The Umizumiz

Premiering in 2008 on Noggin, The Umizumiz is a new animated interactive series for preschoolers about a miniature urban repair squad that solves everyday preschool problems in Metro City with help from the viewers at home. The Umizumiz features an adventure math curriculum that includes foundational skills like counting, estimating, patterns and measuring which engages preschoolers by exploring math in real life contexts. Viewers will hop inside the Zipmobile with the Umizumiz and sing along to spirited, catchy, "preschool punk" take-away songs. The Umizumiz was created by Soo Kim and Michael Smith and is co-created and executive produced by Jennifer Twomey.

Bubble Guppies

Bubble Guppies is a new interactive, animated variety show for preschoolers set in a vibrant 3D, CGI-animated underwater classroom. Bubble Guppies has an emergent curriculum: ideas that emerge from preschoolers' own discoveries. Each episode will delve into a preschool topic from a variety of angles as the cast and viewers at home explore the swaying kelp forests, fantastical coral reefs, and undersea gardens of their aquarium-inspired surroundings. Bubble Guppies is created by Robert Scull, who also serves as executive producer on Nick Jr.'s The Backyardigans, and Jonny Belt, supervising art director and co-executive producer of The Backyardigans. Scull and Belt also developed the series along with Janice Burgess, creator of The Backyardigans.

Nickelodeon, in its 28th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 92 million households and has been the number-one- rated basic cable network for almost 12 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA) .

Website: http://www.nick.com/

Creative Review Reviews NickToons Channels New Idents

From Mad.co.uk:

NickToons idents
Source: Creative Review

More proof that kids TV produces some of the funniest ident work around. In these quirky spots for Nickelodeon UK's new look NickToons channel, a group of animated characters are filmed interacting with their "real life" environments in a series of home videos.

Meet Beat, Spoon, Colin the brain and, our favourite, Rooftop, a very tall and somewhat laconic green moose. OK - we admit - one of the most chucklesome films centres around the guys, ahem, trumping along to Strauss' The Blue Danube (it's universal humour you see) but the blending of CGI design and live action here is inspired.

Nickelodeon's in-house team worked alongside Studio aka's Steve Small (yes, them again) and the hugely talented illustrator, Bill Wray, whose work on Ren & Stimpy earned him a legion of fans. The mischievous cartoon world infiltrates the real to great effect here and the nation's kids will guffaw into their Cheerios once again. Brilliant stuff.

Creative director: Peter Drake. Art director: Akin Akinsiku. Senior producer: Tracey Cleland. Off-air designer: Rohat Cellali-Sik. On-air designer: Geoff Parsons (all Nickelodeon UK). Director: Steve Small (Studio aka). Producer: Sharon Titmarsh (Studio aka).

Nickelodeon UK's, Nicktoons, Nick Jr. Channel's and Nick Jr. 2's March 2007 Highlights

According to the Sky Ventures website, here are Nickelodeon UK's, Nicktoons, Nick Jr. Channel's and Nick Jr. 2's March 2007 highlights:

NICKELODEON

Highlights on Nickelodeon

DRAKE AND JOSH
The boys are back! There's a seriously cool spring ahead with all-new episodes of number one-rated kids' comedy Drake and Josh on Nickelodeon from Monday 19 March @ 7.30am and 5pm
Attending the same school and sharing a mutual love of rock music is just about all Drake and Josh have in common. That is until the mismatched pair become stepbrothers and roommates and their whole world changes.
Musician and all-round dude Drake Parker and play-by-the-rules boffin Josh Nichols must learn to live in each other's pockets while they grow up, with unexpected, hilarious results. They go to the same school and share a room, but they see everything differently.
While the lads fail to see eye to eye about almost anything, they both get wound up by little sister Megan, who specialises in getting Drake and Josh into even more trouble, whenever she can.
Although natually competitive, Drake and Josh occasionally recognise that their different skills and talents could compliment each other to help solve their problems. But being brothers, asking one another for help can often be the hardest thing to do.
Now in its fourth hit season, Drake and Josh is the most recent recipient of the Favourite TV show trophy at the viewer-voted Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards.
Brand new episodes exclusively on Nickelodeon
Monday 19 March - Friday 23 March - 7.30am & 5pm

PURPLE AND BROWN
Hilarious BAFTA Award winning Purple and Brown are back! A Nickelodeon UK and Aardman Co-Production.
On Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 March 2007 @ 9.30am and Oscar winning Aardman Animations (Flushed Away, Chicken Run and Wallace & Grommit), Nickelodeon's Purple and Brown are a collection of short films starring two side-splitting plasticine characters.
Nickelodeon's Purple and Brown is a UK kids favourite and the critics best. Written and directed by Aardman's Richard Webber Purple and Brown have captured the hearts of kids and parents alike since their debut in January 2006. In November 2006 Purple and Brown scooped the prestigious children's BAFTA for Short Film.
The Saturday and Sunday thirty minute omnibus features all the new short films, including a big green monster, grumpy magicians, an Irish dance troupe, seagulls and even an alien. In their world populated by other equally weird and wonderful plasticine characters, Purple and Brown's innocent curiosity always leads to one or both of them sustaining a considerable degree of injury! Yet nothing seems to wipe the grins of this loveable pair.
Themes from this series of new films feature Purple and Brown joining in with an "Irish jig". "Beardie" in which Purple and Brown have fun with facial hair. "Alien" where the plasticine friends get zapped and the "Face Thief" where the duo are visited by a small blue creature who steals Purple's face!
Brand new episodes exclusively on Nickelodeon
Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 March @ 9.30am

You can also join in at www.nick.co.uk

NICKTOONS

VIVA PINATA
Brand new Viva Pinata is inspired by the award-winning and critically acclaimed XBox 360 game and is exclusive to Nicktoons, the UK's number-one cartoon channel.
In a garden on Pinata Island, live a dancing, frolicking group of happy pinatas - the traditional colourful sweet-filled containers that are hit with a stick at parties by blindfolded players until the treats fall out.
The inhabitants of Pinata island fill themselves with the most delicious sweets they can find and wait with glee for the day when they reach maximum candy-osity. Only then will they be called to Pinata Central and dispatched to delight fun-lovers at a magical celebration.
Pinatas Fergy Fudgehog, Paulie Pretztail, Franklin Fizzlybear, Tina and Teddington Twingersnap, Les Galagoogoo and Hudson the Horstacio have been friends since childhood. Some of the group are excitedly training for the day when they will be picked, while others are unimpressed by the prospect of being hit with a stick!
All the time, strange new Pinatas arrive in the garden and violent pests (known as Sours) must be confronted. Who can solve the mysteries of the black-market Pinata poachers? And with so much time taken up by dancing and fun, will any of the Pinatas even have time? This is a place where anything can happen.
Viva Pinata is exclusive to NickToons, the official home of the world's favourite animated series, SpongeBob SquarePants.
Brand new series exclusively on NickToons
Monday 5 March - Friday 9 March @ 4.30pm
Saturday 10 March & Sunday 11 March @ 9am

THE NICKTOONS FAMILY
All new animation on NickToons between shows and starring in a week of mini movies @ 8am & 4pm
The 3D-animated Nicktoons family, who can always be seen between shows on the UK's number-one rated cartoon channel, star in a week of mini movies from Monday 12 March to Sunday 18 March exclusively on Nicktoons.
The Nicktoons family are cool animated creations that burst out of their cartoon confines and roam the real world, living happily alongside kids. Yet, the Nicktoons family still obey the rules of the toon world, which means they cause havoc and create some hilarious encounters.
Monday 12 March - Friday 16 March @ 8am & 4pm



You can also check out www.nicktoons.co.uk

NICK JR

Highlights on Nick Jr.


WONDER PETS!
The adorable Wonder Pets! are back for a brand new series on Nick Jr. Following last year's launch of the hugely popular preschool show, the singing superheroes return for more outlandish operatic antics and daring baby animal rescues.
By day, Linny the Guinea Pig, Ming-Ming Duckling and Turtle Tuck are unassuming classroom pets. But after home-time bell, the talented trio become a globetrotting force of animal welfare - The Wonder Pets!
When group leader Linny takes a call on the classroom's tin-can phone, it means there's a baby animal in trouble somewhere in the world - it could be a panda stuck up a bamboo tree or a kangaroo lost in the outback. The caped Wonder Pets! then whirl into action, using classroom toys to construct the flying boat that will whisk them off to their next adventure, singing: Linny, Tuck and Ming-Ming - too, we're Wonder Pets and we'll help you!"
No real superhero powers? That's no problem for The Wonder Pets! When faced with a challenge, the cuddly caped creatures club together and sing their mantra: "What's going to work? Teamwork!" The Wonder Pets! show that by working together anybody can overcome a challenge. The adventures encourage problem-solving skills and teamwork as well as appreciation of music and humour.
Each episode of the show is like a mini-operetta, with sung-through dialogue and an original score by some of Broadway's top composers. Wonder Pets! is created using groundbreaking photo-puppetry animation, which brings photographs of real animals to life and gives the series its unique look and appeal.
Join in the singing adventures with The Wonder Pets! every day from Monday 5 March & 6.30pm on Nick Jr.
You can catch more adventures over on Nick Jr 2 every day @ 9am and 1pm

NICK JR'S MUSICAL MARCH
From Saturday 10 March - Weekends 12-2pm
All your favourite friends at Nick Jr are tuning up for a month-long songful spectacular in Nick Jr's Musical March, with special weekends and lots of opportunites to join in and make some noise!
Saturday 10 & Sunday 11 March 12-2pm - for an opening act, The Wonder Pets! musical weekend.
Saturday 17 & Sunday 18 March 12-2pm - next on the bill is The Backyardigans musical session.
Saturday 24 & Sunday 25 March 12-2pm - raise the roof with Stephanie and Sportacus during the LazyTown Musical March weekend.
Saturday 31 March & Sunday 1 April - for an encore the Wiggles present a party bursting with musical fun.

CAMBERWICK GREEN AND TRUMPTON
Brand new to Nick Jr Classics from Monday 19 March
Nick Jr's daily evening block of well-loved children's TV shows from the 60s, 70s and 80s, Nick Jr Classics is proud to present the network premiere of two iconic 1960s shows set in the idyllic county of Trumptonshire - Camberwick Green and Trumpton.
Starting with the very first episode of the Trumptonshire trilogy, Camberwick Green introduces Nick Jr viewers to the classic children's characters Windy Miller. PC McGarry and Mrs Honeyman.
Beginning with the line "Here is a box, a musical box, wound up and ready to play. But this box can hide a secret inside. Can you guess what is in it today? Each episode's star character appears from the box and the story begins.
Every visit to Trumpton begins with a view of a clock face and the words "Here is the clock, the Trumpton clock. Telling the time steadily, sensibly, never too quickly, never too slowly. Telling the time for Trumpton."
The colourful characters who live in Trumpton include Mrs Clamp the flower seller, Mr Clamp the greengrocer, the carpenter Chippy Minton and of course fire chief Captain Flack and his ever-ready Trumpton Fire Brigade: Pugh, Pugh, Barney McGrew, Cuthbert, Dibble and Grubb!
Join in the nostalgic adventures in Trumptonshire with Camberwick Green daily @ 8pm on Nick Jr 2 and Trumpton every day @ 8.15pm on Nick Jr.

You can also join in at www.nickjr.co.uk

Nielsen Wireless and Interactive Services Announce USA Video Game Console Fans Favourite TV Networks

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

What are video game console users watching on TV? Here are the top 10 networks.

TV Networks Highly Concentrated with Console Users*

Duplication analysis, first 8 weeks of 2006-2007 TV season

Network % of Network Viewers

Nicktoons 43.2

Adult Swim 41.6

Toon Disney 38.7

Noggin 35.5

Nickelodeon 35.2

Nick-at-Nite 35.1

MTV2 33.3

VH1 Classic 31.9

G4 31.8

*Console users are those who used a console one or more minute in the same period

Source: Nielsen Media Research – National People Meter Sample

Nickelodeon UK's NickToons, Nick Jr. and Nick Jr. 2 Channels Premiere New Shows

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

Nickelodeon UK's Nick Jr. and Nick Jr. 2 channel debuted the first episode of the new series Little Green Fingers over the weekend. Created and produced by the UK-based Jam Create, the short form series focuses on the wonderment of working in the garden. Launching with 12x2' episodes in the can, additional episodes of the series will follow later this year episodes. Simultaneously, the network has launched a corresponding Little Green Fingers site at www.nickjr.co.uk/littlegreenfingers.

In other Nick UK news, bowing today on the NickToons UK at 4:30p is the 4Kids Entertainment series Viva Piñata. An interactive Viva Piñata page can be found at the channel's website www.nicktoons.co.uk .

El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera Premieres on Nickelodeon

From AWN Headline News:

Nick's El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera Premieres March 3

Nickelodeon’s newest Nicktoon, EL TIGRE: THE ADVENTURES OF MANNY RIVERA, premieres with two back-to-back all-new episodes on Saturday, March 3, 2007, 10:00-11:00 am, then will air regularly on Saturdays at 10:30-11:00 am. Nickelodeon’s first Flash animated comedy series comes from Mexican-born creators Jorge R. Gutierrez and Sandra Equihua.

EL TIGRE follows 13-year-old Manny (voiced by Alanna Ubach, MEET THE FOCKERS) who must choose whether to use his superpowers as El Tigre for good or evil. Manny is a well-meaning kid who lives with his father and grandfather in Miracle City, an urban melting pot full of colorful heroes and nefarious villains. A spin of his mystical belt buckle transforms him into the brave and powerful masked warrior, El Tigre. As El Tigre, he has the great spirit of a hero, as well as the potential to be a great villain. The storylines draw from the popular Latino telenovelas with exaggerated comedic situations and outrageous recurring characters.

“EL TIGRE is laugh-out-loud adventure from the highly imaginative husband-and-wife team Jorge R. Gutierrez and Sandra Equihua,” said Tom Ascheim, evp/gm, Nickelodeon Television. “It is a gorgeous blend of animation, where the spaghetti western meets ‘Day of the Dead’ Latino folk art, and brings a totally new look to our line-up of animated hits.”

“Sandra and I set out to create a world that is rich with Latino culture based on where we grew up in Mexico and the things we are passionate for and love about our heritage,” said Gutierrez. “So we decided to make Miracle City a magical place of beauty and excitement juxtaposed with a spicy underbelly of crime and villainy.”

“I did my college thesis on Flash animation, and when I discovered Jorge had a similar passion for it, we decided that our first collaborative series would be done in this medium,” said Equihua. “It gives the show more of a unique look and feel with a striking color palette and also complements the frenetic action of the stories.”

Manny's father Rodolfo (voiced by Eric Bauza) is a semi-retired superhero, known as White Pantera, who wants Manny to grow up to be good and honorable just like him. His Granpapi (voiced by Carlos Alazraqui) is the retired supervillain Puma Loco who thinks Manny should join him on the dark side. While Manny remains undecided as to which path to choose, he enjoys life and has fun with his impulsive best friend Frida (voiced by Grey Delisle).

In the first part of the premiere episode, “Sole of a Hero,” Manny and Frida “borrow” Rodolfo’s super-charged Bronze Boots of Truth for a late-night spree of fun and end up wrecking the prized objects of power. They cover up the misdeed and no one is the wiser until Rodolfo tries to fight the villainous El Oso with the damaged boots and is beaten to a pulp. In the second half, “Night of the Living Guacamole,” Manny desperately wants his own laser tattoo maker, but Rodolfo won’t buy it for him. Not letting this small obstacle get in his way, Manny decides to use the money Rodolfo gave him to buy the rare and delicious “Guacamole de los Angeles” for the tattoo maker instead. And he picks up some cheap knock-off guacamole in its place. Sadly, Manny unwittingly buys the substitute guacamole from the evil Dr. Chipotle Jr. and it turns both Rodolfo and Granpapi into horrible Guacamole Monsters bent on destroying Manny.

In “Enter the Cuervo,” (premieres 10:30 am) Manny’s friendship with Frida is put to the test when he starts spending all his time wreaking havoc with Black Cuervo, a bad-girl super-villain. As Frida’s birthday party nears, El Tigre must decide whether to remain true to his best friend or to embrace the dark side of his nature with the mischievous Black Cuervo. Then, in the second part of this episode, “A Fistful of Collars,” Manny and Frida want the pricey new must-have item LuxeSkates and stumble upon the idea of finding people’s lost pets for the reward money in order to pay for the skates. But soon, Manny and Frida want more money for more pricey treats. They wind up traveling to Calavera, an impossibly tough town of banditos, to retrieve Taco, the lost dog of one of Miracle City’s richest families.

Creator/exec producers Gutierrez and Equihua both grew up in Tijuana. Gutierrez, who designs all of the male characters in EL TIGRE, has created various films, cartoons, illustrations and paintings exhibiting his love affair with Mexican pop and folk culture. He received a BFA and a MFA in Experimental Animation from CalArts. There he created CARMELO, which won the 2001 Student Emmy Award in animation and has been screened at various festivals around the world. He has also done character design on many animated series, including Nickelodeon’s CHALKZONE, MUCHA LUCHA and THE BUZZ ON MAGGIE, for which he was nominated for an Annie Award in character design. He’s worked as a writer on MAYA & MIGUEL and BRANDY & MR. WHISKERS.

Equihua, who designs all of the female characters in EL TIGRE, received her BFA in graphic design at the IBERO University in Mexico. Then she discovered her true passion was in illustration. Her paintings have been exhibited in various galleries in both Mexico and the .S., including Roq la Rue, Gallery Bink, Anno Domini and Centro Cultural Tijuana. Equihua soon found herself in the animation industry working as an illustrator, voice actress and character designer on EL MACHO for Sony Pictures. She has done character design for WOW, WOW WUBZZY, MUCHA LUCHA and THE BUZZ ON MAGGIE.

EL TIGRE: THE ADVENTURES OF MANNY RIVERA is produced at the Nicktoons Studios in Burbank, California.

Nickelodeon (www.nick.com), in its 27th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the U.S. and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in almost 92 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for almost 12 consecutive years.

NOGGIN Kicks Off Literacy Campaign & New Hit Pinky Dinky Doos

From AWN Headline News:

NOGGIN Kicks Off Literacy Campaign & New Hit Pinky Dinky Doos

In support of NOGGIN's "Get Ready To Read" national literacy campaign, the commercial-free, educational preschool network will feature new literacy-based programming throughout the month of March. The network will unveil new literacy segments with Isaiah Washington and Cedric the Entertainer, and premiere week of five new, half-hour episodes of the hit animated series, PINKY DINKY DOO, based on the popular book series by Jim Jinkins.

On March 2, NOGGIN's award-winning website (www.noggin.com) will premiere two new STORY TIME segments and two new literacy PSAs featuring Isaiah Washington reading "City Symphony" and Cedric the Entertainer reading "The Tortoise and the Hare" to NOGGIN hosts Moose and Zee and viewers. Beginning Monday, March 5, the spots will roll out on-air on NOGGIN. STORY TIME is NOGGIN's interstitial series that uses storytelling to help preschoolers develop language and critical thinking skills. In support of NOGGIN's partnership with First Book to generate one million new books for preschoolers in need, each PSA will direct viewers to www.noggin.com/read, where they can "click" to generate free, new books the needy.

March 26-30, NOGGIN will premiere five new, half-hour episodes from PINKY DINKY DOO, a co-production with Sesame Workshop and Cartoon Pizza's Jinkins and David Campbell. Preschoolers and their caregivers may listen to two new PINKY DINKY DOO audio podcasts by logging onto www.noggin.com, beginning March 26. Each 10-minute podcast is derived from the two PINKY DINKY DOO stories featured in the new March 26 episode.

In support of the new PINKY DINKY DOO episodes, STORY TIME segments, and the network's early literacy campaign, www.noggin.com will feature several reading games and activities. On March 2, the site will feature the PINKY DINKY DOO "Great Big Fancy Word" game, a new Moose and Zee doodlepad activity, a 64 ZOO LANE storymaker and a "Blue's Clues Gold Challenge" game. Additional literacy-based printables will feature the "Pinky Great Big Fancy Word" coloring book, and "Words of Wonder" printables including words to the "City Symphony" poem and "The Tortoise and the Hare" story, plus lyrics to a Moose and Zee music video.

NOGGIN, the commercial-free, educational preschool network from Nickelodeon, currently reaches 55 million households via cable, digital cable and satellite TV. NOGGIN, which airs from 6:00 am to 6:00 p.m. (ET), is like preschool on TV, with educational programming both on-air and online at www.noggin.com.

Corus Kids Television April Highlights

From Toon Zone:

PR: Corus Kids Television April Highlights

(February 26, 2007 – Toronto , Canada ) The calendar is booked this April with fun-filled spring adventures as YTV and Treehouse bring audiences a plethora of Easter programming plus, Discovery Kids celebrates Earth Day with an eye-opening journey of our planet!

YTV APRIL 2007 HIGHLIGHTS

NEW SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS!
Are you ready, kids? Aye-aye, captain! It’s time to revisit our absorbent, yellow and porous pal SpongeBob! Check out a brand new episode of SpongeBob SquarePants Wednesday, April 18 at
5:30 p.m.

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS: THE THING/HOCUS POCUS
In The Thing, Squidward is so unrecognizable after being covered in mud, leaves and gunk that the residents of Bikini Bottom think he is some sort of monster coming to terrorize the town. But SpongeBob thinks he’s kind of cute, so he adopts him and tries to raise him as a pet. In Hocus Pocus, SpongeBob tries to impress Squidward with his brand new magic kit. But when SpongeBob thinks he has transformed Squidward into an ice cream cone, all halibut breaks loose!

PRANK DAY
You know what the first of April means! Join YTV April 1 for a day filled with pranks, impish specials, episodes and movies. What would Prank Day be without our two favourite pranksters - Edgar and Ellen?

EDGAR & ELLEN: NOBODY’S FOOL – PREMIERE
The annual Nod’s Limbs’ All Fool’s Day celebration has arrived and Edgar and Ellen have big plans for all the sweet fools in town. When a sinister hypnotist swings into town and bends everyone to his will, the twins, Stephanie and Pet, are the only ones clever enough to break free from the enchantment. To turn the tables on this conman, Edgar and Ellen may have to sacrifice every prank in their arsenal. Edgar & Ellen: Nobody’s Fool airs April 1 at 11 a.m. (r) 8:30 p.m.

EASTER WEEKEND
This Easter weekend, dip into chocolate-coated, bunny-hopping programming on YTV. Highlights include the YTV exclusive Canadian premiere of Dr. Dolittle 3 and the 1971 all time classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory.

DR. DOLITTLE 3 – CANADIAN PREMIERE
In this comedy, Lisa Dolittle sends her daughter, Maya (Kyla Pratt), to the Durango Dude Ranch to find herself. While she is there, she uses her talent to talk to the animals and save Durango from being taken over by a neighbouring ranch. Tune in to watch the Canadian premiere of Dr. Dolittle 3 in 3 Hairy Thumbs Up Sunday, April 8 at 4 p.m.

WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY
YTV airs the 1971 classic Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory starring Gene Wilder in the music-filled, Day-Glo version of Roald Dahl’s book. Coming to ZAPX on Sunday, April 8 at 6 p.m.

RUBY GLOOM: BAD HARE DAY
Everybody but Doom is charmed when a cute little bunny lands on Ruby’s doorstep. Not only does Doom have no appreciation for the bunny, but it also appears this new pet is something of a thief! Don’t miss Ruby Gloom: Bad Hare Day Monday, April 9 at 11 a.m.

IT’S THE EASTER BEAGLE, CHARLIE BROWN
The Peanuts gang get ready for Easter in this Emmy®-nominated special. Linus is convinced that the Easter Beagle will appear, while Snoopy replaces Woodstock ’s leaky nest with a swank bachelor pad and Peppermint Patty tries to explain to Marci how to make Easter eggs. Check out It’s the Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown Monday, April 9 at 12 p.m.

ZAPX EXCLUSIVE CANADIAN PREMIERES
This April, YTV will bring viewers two exclusive Canadian premieres hosted by ZAPX’ Simon. Titles include Spy Kids 3 and Two Brothers.

SPY KIDS 3 – CANADIAN PREMIERE
This time around, Carmen is kidnapped by the evil Toymaker (Sylvester Stallone) and imprisoned inside a virtual-reality game. Now it’s up to Juni to get into the game and save his sister from the villain’s clutches. Catch this adventure starring Antonio Banderas and Carla Gugino Sunday, April 15 at 6 p.m.

TWO BROTHERS – CANADIAN PREMIERE
Not so long ago, in a distant land, twin tiger cubs – one shy and gentle, the other bold and fierce – were born among the temple ruins in the jungle. One fateful day, the brothers are separated. Reunited when they are fully grown, the brothers find themselves forced enemies, pitted against each other. Watch this amazing adventure on YTV Sunday, April 22 at 6 p.m.

MORE YTV MOVIES – FUN FOR THE ENTIRE FAMILY!
Attention all family members! Tune in to watch blockbuster hits and animated favourites in YTV’s themed movie blocks – 3 Hairy Thumbs Up every Saturday and Sunday at 4 p.m. and Saturday Night Movies every Saturday evening at 8 p.m. including ZAPX titles!

Kangaroo Jack (2003) airs Saturday, April 1 at 4 p.m.
Dennis The Menace (1993) airs Saturday, April 1 at 6 p.m.
Spiderman: The Return of the Green Goblin (1994) airs Saturday, April 7 at 4 p.m.
The Wedding Singer (1998) airs Saturday, April 7 at 8 p.m.
Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006) airs Sunday, April 8 at 4 p.m
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) airs Sunday, April 8 at 6 p.m.
Daredevil vs. Spiderman (1994) airs Saturday, April 14 at 4 p.m.
The Goonies (1985) airs Saturday, April 14 at 8 p.m.
The Sandlot 2 (2005) airs Sunday, April 15 at 4 p.m.
Spy Kids 3 (2003) airs Sunday, April 15 at 6 p.m.
Spiderman: The Ultimate Villain Showdown (2002) airs Saturday, April 21 at 4 p.m.
Gremlins (1984) air Saturday, April 21 at 8 p.m.
The Wild Thornberrys Movie (2002) airs Sunday, April 22 at 4 p.m.
Two Brothers (2000) airs Sunday, April 22 at 6 p.m.
Spiderman: The Venom Saga (1995) airs Saturday, April 28 at 4 p.m.
The Little Rascals (1994) airs Sunday, April 29 at 4 p.m.
The Wizard of Oz (1939) airs Sunday, April 29 at 6 p.m.

TREEHOUSE APRIL 2007 HIGHLIGHTS

EASTER WEEKEND
Come on a hunt or make a bonnet! From Friday, April 6 to Sunday, April 8, celebrate Easter with Treehouse. Catch your favourite Easter-themed episodes from Dora the Explorer and Wonder Pets. And be sure to check out premieres of This is Emily Yeung and Max & Ruby.

THIS IS EMILY YEUNG: EASTER EGG HUNT – CANADIAN PREMIERE
Emily Yeung is on the hunt for Easter eggs at historic Casa Loma where she searches its many secret passageways for hidden chocolate treats. She also meets a rabbit farmer who shows her how to spin fur into yarn and visits an organic farm to help collect chicken eggs. Watch this premiere episode Sunday, April 8 at 4:30 p.m.

MAX & RUBY: BONNET – CANADIAN PREMIERE
Ruby is making an Easter bonnet for the Bunny Scout Easter Bonnet contest. She’s very excited for Easter, the annual egg hunt and decorating Easter eggs, but all Max wants is a parade! Tune in to watch Sunday, April 8 at 6 p.m.

bear wake up day
Come celebrate the beginning of spring with Bear Wake Up Day Saturday, April 14. Catch the beary best spring-themed episodes from programs such as Bob the Builder and Go Diego Go. And don’t miss premiere episodes of Miss Spider and 4 Square.

MISS SPIDER: SPRING UNSPRUNG – CANADIAN PREMIERE
Squirt is one excited little spider on the eve of spring because he gets to wake up his friend Felix the frog from his long winter nap! However, Squirt’s plans go sour when winter isn’t ready to take a back-seat and Felix isn’t exactly ready to wake up! Meanwhile, Dragon is getting bored with web-testing, so he jumps at the opportunity to be a bee for a day – until he finds out that being a bee is a lot of hard work. Tune in to watch Miss Spider: Spring Unsprung Saturday, April 14 at 11:30 a.m. (r) at 6 p.m.

4 SQUARE: TILTING – CANADIAN PREMIERE
Captain Huppette and her team show how to tilt while The Beat Team create rhythms for a sunny spring. The 4 Tones and Doo Whas teach a song about a Hummingbird and Pay and Joshua teach the poem “Grubby Gert.” Don’t miss a new 4 Square Saturday, April 14 at 3 p.m.

EARTH DAY
On Sunday, April 22, Treehouse celebrates Earth Day with episodes focused on the environment, recycling and conservation. Catch episodes of Blue’s Clues, Franklin, and The Wonder Pets. Highlights include two premiere episodes of The is Emily Yeung and Go Diego Go.

THIS IS EMILY YEUNG: LEARNING ABOUT AN ECO HOUSE – CANADIAN PREMIERE
In this episode of This is Emily Yeung, Emily visits an eco-house and learns how to use the wind and the sun to power a home. Emily tours a garden before heading inside to learn some easy-to-do environmental tricks in this premiere airing Sunday, April 22 at 6:25 p.m.

GO DIEGO GO: ALICIA SAVES THE CROCODILE – CANADIAN PREMIERE
When Kyra the Crocodile is lost in a dirty city pond, Alicia sets out on her Rescue Racer to lend a hand. Together they roll down the mountain, crunch through the fallen tree branches, and swim, swim, swim to Kyra's river! Tune in to watch Sunday, April 22 at 6:30 p.m.

DISCOVERY KIDS APRIL 2007 HIGHLIGHTS

EARTH DAY
On Sunday, April 22, Discovery Kids Canada recognizes Earth Day with a day full of environmentally friendly episodes, and specials such as I Survived and If the World Were a Village. Be sure not to miss the Canadian premiere of A Year on Earth.

A YEAR ON EARTH – CANADIAN PREMIERE
Three teenagers, five continents, one mission – to take the pulse of the planet and report back to their generation. Are they up to the task? A Year on Earth chronicles the story of three American teens: Jamie, 18, from Keller , Texas ; Arsen, 17, from Canyon, California ; and Tyler , 16, from Lincoln , Massachusetts . They have little in common except for a shared concern for the planet. Nominated by their respective science teachers, the teens join research projects around the globe to work with scientists supported by the Earthwatch Institute. These three teens traded a year in school for a classroom without walls where they study the most pressing environmental issues of our time. Premiering Sunday, April 22 at 6 p.m., don’t miss this environmental eye-opener!

-30-

All YTV times are ET/PT.
All Treehouse and Discovery Kids times are ET.

Taiwan goes with the MediaFlo

From C21 Media:

Taiwan goes with the MediaFlo

NEWS BRIEF: Taiwanese broadcaster TTV is running a mobile TV trial in the country using Qualcomm's MediaFlo system, the first commercial version of which was introduced in the US last week by Verizon.

TTV is working with China Network Systems (CNS), a joint venture between News Corp's Star Group and the Koos Group, on the technical trial, which is due to get under way in Taipei later this month.

Three live TTV channels and four from CNS will feature as part of the service. Verizon's eight-channel MediaFlo-based offer went live last week, offering shows from CBS, Comedy Central, ESPN, Fox, MTV, NBC News, NBC Entertainment and Nickelodeon, costing US$15 per month.



5 Mar 2007
© C21 Media 2007

March On Nickelodeon Asia

From Nickelodeon Asia's Official Website, NickSplat.com:

What's New In Nick

Avatar: The Legend of Aang
What happened to the Zuko's soldiers face off with the Northern Water Tribe? Will Aang eventually be able to conquer the FireBenders? We recap Aang's past journey with the following highlight specials leading up to its latest season.

The Legend So Far (12-min specials)
Mar 1 @ 5pm
Mar 3 @ 11am
Mar 4 @ 5pm
Mar 7 @ 5pm
Mar 10 @ 10.45am
Mar 13 @ 2.15pm
Mar 16 @ 5.45pm
A flashback on some of the events that have taken place and the adventures through out the Avatar world, all en route to their ultimate destination, the Northern Water Tribe.

The Siege of the Nation (1-hour finale special)
Mar 10 @ 11am
Mar 13 @ 2.30pm
Mar 16 @ 6pm
At the North Pole, Aang and Katara continue their training, while Admiral Zhao brings a large force up against the Northern Water tribe in his quest for the Avatar.

Avatar: The Legend of Aang (Book 2 - New Episodes)
Weekends beginning Mar 17 @ 11am & 5pm
Aang returns and meet the Earth Kingdom general who has big plans for defeating the Fire Nation. Will they succeed? Look out for more exciting adventures in this new season of Avatar, the Legend of Aang.

LazyTown (New Episodes!)
Weekdays from March 12 @ 7.00am, 10.00am & 1.00pm
Jump back into action with our favourite exercise superhero Sportacus and Stephanie as they get you up and moving with more action-packed storylines, athletic stunts and high-energy music. Catch our brand new episodes of LazyTown coming to you from March 12.

Four Eyes (New Episodes!)
Weekends beginning Mar 24 @ 12.30pm
Four Eyes is back with new episodes as we follow the trials and tribulations faced by Emma as she tries hard to find a place in this world – despite the fact that she is out of this world!

My Life as a Teenage Robot (New Episodes!)
Every Friday @ 7.00pm (Brand New Fridays!)
Brand New Fridays continues this New Year with a mission to save the world. Meet our heroine, XJ9 as she continues to have her own ideas on how she would like to live and at the same time continues to protect the planet.

Don't Miss These Shows!

Lola & Virginia - New Show!
Weekdays beginning Feb 19 @ 4.30pm
This witty animated sitcom tells the story of Lola, aged 12. Life isn't always easy for Lola, taking care of her snotty siblings and putting up with her crazy group of friends. She considers herself the local princess, until Virginia barges into her life...

Mr. Meaty
Premiering in TEENick
Feb 5 to Mar 15, immediately after Drake & Josh (7.30pm)
With ten thousand food court locations in malls worldwide, you'll always find meat just the way you like it. At Mr. Meaty, its always a pleasure to meat you!

TEENick
Everyday, 7.30pm to 9.30pm

Mondays to Thursdays
Drake and Josh
Zoey 101
Romeo!
All That

Fridays to Sundays
Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide
Life with Derek
Unfabulous
Naturally Sadie

Life with Derek
Fri to Sun @ 8.00pm

Team Galaxy
Weekends @ 9.00am, 4.00pm

The X's
Weekends @ 12.00pm

Wonder Pets
Every Thursday and Friday @ 8.30am, 11.00am

The Upside Down Show
Weekends @ 8.30am

Go, Diego, Go!
Weekends @ 7.00am

* Showtimes are in Singapore time unless stated otherwise, and are subjected to change.

Nickelodeon Asia covers Nickelodeon Hong Kong, Nickelodeon India, Nickelodeon Indonesia, Nickelodeon Korea, Nickelodeon Macau, Nickelodeon Malaysia, Nickelodeon Philippines and Nickelodeon Singapore.

Nickelodeon Asia's March Highlights

From Nickelodeon Asia's Official Website, NickSplat.com:

Spring back into action this March with Nickelodeon!

Catch brand new episodes of LazyTown with our favourite exercise superhero Sportacus and Stephanie, who promise to get you up and moving with more action-packed storylines and athletic stunts. Join them in their exclusive high-energy music videos making its way only to Nickelodeon this month!

In addition to the fun and action, Nickelodeon takes you onto a continuation of the journey of Aang in Avatar: The Legend of Aang. We bring you a flashback of Aang's past adventures in a 12-minute episode recap and a one-hour special leading up to the launch of the brand new season with exciting new episodes.

Four Eyes is back with new episodes as we follow the trials and tribulations faced by Emma.

So, get ready to warm up this spring with Nickelodeon!

* Check showtimes here

Nickelodeon Asia covers Nickelodeon Hong Kong, Nickelodeon India, Nickelodeon Indonesia, Nickelodeon Korea, Nickelodeon Macau, Nickelodeon Malaysia, Nickelodeon Philippines and Nickelodeon Singapore.

Animalia Comes to Television for Nickelodeon Australia

From PorchLight Entertainment:

Classic Children's Book Comes to Television for CBBC, PBS Kids Go!sm Channel, Network Ten and Nickelodeon Australia

Classic Children's Book Comes to Television for CBBC, PBS Kids Go!sm Channel, Network Ten and Nickelodeon Australia


RELEASE DATE: 2006-03-10

Graeme Base’s international best-selling picture book Animalia will come to life in a 40 x half-hour, high-end CGI animation series developed for television by Australia’s BAFTA Award winning Burberry Productions and the Emmy Award winning team at PorchLight Entertainment in Los Angeles. Executive Producers are Ewan Burnett, Murray Pope, Graeme Base, Bruce Johnson and Tom Ruegger.

“Animalia is the most ambitious animated television series ever produced in Australia,” said Burberry’s Ewan Burnett. “High quality CGI animation will allow us to maintain the rich imagery and whimsical humour of Graeme Base’s picture book, a perennial favourite with millions of children across the globe, while re-interpreting the world created in the book as a place of endless adventure and entertainment.”

“I have been a big fan of Graeme Base’s Animalia for many years,” said PorchLight’s Bruce Johnson. “When Burberry offered us the chance to help develop this series with them, we jumped at the opportunity. Bringing a writer with Tom Ruegger’s skill and sense of humour to the development process has helped make this an exceptionally strong co-production and we’re excited to be part of it.”

Animalia will be broadcast on CBBC in the UK; Network Ten and Nickelodeon in Australia; the PBS KIDS GO! 24-hour digital channel in the United States. Negotiations with a major broadcaster in Canada are expected to be concluded soon. The television series will be distributed internationally by BBC Worldwide and in North America by PorchLight Entertainment. Worldwide licensing and merchandising are being handled by PorchLight, excluding Australia, New Zealand and the UK.

“We are thrilled to be in partnership with such an outstanding group of production partners,” said Michael Carrington, Head of Animation at CBBC.

“PBS is excited to bring Animalia to early elementary school children in the U.S. via the PBS KIDS GO! Channel, a new 24-hour digital channel launching in fall, 2006,” said Lesli Rotenberg, Senior Vice President, PBS Brand Management and Promotion.

“Network Ten’s goal is to build solid kids’ entertainment across all genres and we are thrilled to be associated with such a high-end animated program like Animalia. We believe it will deliver a unique experience to our young Australian audience,” said Cherrie Bottger, Network Ten’s Network Manager, Children’s Programming.

Animalia received international acclaim when it was first published in 1986 and has since achieved classic status with worldwide sales of more than three million copies. Graeme Base is one of the world’s leading creators of children’s books, with regular appearances on the New York Times best-seller list.

"Animalia is a many-layered world of detail, imagination and humour," said Graeme Base. "Capturing the spirit of the book has been central to our efforts, and seeing it come to life on the screen is tremendously exciting."

The series features two contemporary kids, Zoe and Alex, who visit the extraordinary land of Animalia, a spectacular place inhabited by talking animals from the pages of Graeme Base’s classic book. Mysterious events have undermined the very fabric of Animalian civilisation and Zoe and Alex and their new best friends, Gogo and Iggy (a huge green gorilla and a small but heroic iguana) will do everything they can to restore peace and order to Animalia.

Animalia blends comedy, adventure and mystery in its stories, targeting six- to nine-year-olds. But, like the original picture book, it will entertain the whole family. The episodes will also open young viewers’ eyes to the vast power of language and introduce them to the importance of communication skills.

The 40 x half-hour series will be animated at Photon VFX studios in Queensland, Australia and Absolute Digital Pictures in Glasgow, Scotland. Animalia will be in production for eighteen months, using the talents of some of the world’s best CG animators.

CBBC’s Michael Carrington added: “We are convinced that in combining the UK’s Absolute Digital Pictures’ expertise in CGI series animation with Australia’s Photon VFX strength in feature animation we will bring something quite extraordinary to CBBC’s audiences. Animalia is sure to be a ground-breaking animation series”.

“Our goal is to re-create the rich, imaginative artistic style of the book, while also creating a definitive animation style that will be unique to the Animalia television series,” added executive producer Murray Pope.

Animalia began pre-production in February, 2006 and is expected to be available for Fall 2007.





For further information contact:
Susan Combey, Burberry Productions
Tel: + 61 3 9693 0600
Email: susan@burberry.com.au
Or,
David Bynder, PorchLight Entertainment
310-477-8400 ext. 269
dbynder@porchlight.com

Michiel Bakker Leaves MTV Networks UK & Ireland

From C21 Media:

Bakker turns back on MTVNI

Michiel Bakker, one of the original employees of MTVN Europe and currently executive VP and MD of MTV Networks UK and Ireland, is leaving the company after 20 years.

Bakker, who also held overall responsibility for both children's network Nickelodeon UK and Paramount Comedy, was the driving force behind the launch of new services MTV Overdrive and MTV Flux.

His role will be filled by Heather Jones, senior VP and MD of music and comedy, and Richard Tan, senior VP of finance and operations, until a replacement is found.

During his tenure in the UK, Bakker has steered MTV through some of the network's key developments in multi-channel television. In 2000 he established MTV Networks UK's advertising sales arm, Viacom Brand Solutions, and led the company in a drive towards investing in UK programming.

Bakker has seen the network grow from a single TV channel to a portfolio of multi-media brands, which he said managed to "spawn an entire generation" while never losing its cool.

"The company has a great and challenging future ahead of it but I have decided it is time to turn the music off and see where life takes me," he said of his decision to leave.

Bill Roedy, vice-chairman of MTV Networks, said: "As one of the first employees of MTVN Europe, Michiel helped establish far-reaching distribution for MTV across the continent. In recent years, Michiel has helped build our strong multi-brand portfolio of TV channels and digital media services in the UK making it our largest international business."


Antony Reeve-Crook
2 Mar 2007
© C21 Media 2007

Also, from Digital Spy:

MTV Networks chief quits

Following yesterday's announcement that 250 jobs were to go from MTV Networks, Michiel Bakker, executive vice president and managing director MTV Networks UK & Ireland, is to quit the company.

Dutch-born Bakker joined MTV in 1987 and set up MTV Europe’s Amsterdam office. He went on to launched broadband video channel MTV Overdrive and user-generated content channel MTV Flux. He was also responsible for kids channel Nickelodeon UK and Paramount Comedy.

Bakker said: "I have had a great time at MTV Networks. In my time here I have seen the company grow from a single TV channel to a portfolio of great multi-media brands, spawning an entire generation on the way and never losing its cool. The company has a great and challenging future ahead of it but I have decided it is time to turn the music off and see where life takes me."

He also established MTV Networks UK's ad sales division, Viacom Brand Solutions, and spearheaded the firm's investment in UK programming.

Heather Jones, senior vice president and managing director of music and comedy, and Richard Tan, senior vice president of finance and operations, will assume Bakker's responsibilities until a successor is appointed.

Bill Roedy, vice chairman of MTV Networks, said: “Michiel has played an important part in the growth of our business in the UK and across Europe over the past 20 years. As one of the first employees of MTVN Europe, he helped establish far-reaching distribution for MTV across the continent. In recent years, I’d like to thank Michiel for his tremendous contributions to our business and wish him all the best in the next chapter of his career.”

Bakker will leave his post in the next few weeks, but has not made a decision where he will go. His exit is the latest in line of recent departures that include MTV Networks UK and Ireland's vice president for commercial strategy & digital media Angel Gambino, MTV vice president of scheduling Rupert Morling, MTV Networks Europe president and chief executive Simon Guild and MTV Networks president and chief operating officer Michael Wolf.

Nick Jr tends gardening project

From C21 Media:

Nick Jr tends gardening project

Kids Tag

NEWS BRIEF: Nickelodeon UK's preschool TV channel Nick Jr is premiering a year of seasonal gardening-themed short films, supported by a specially developed interactive online garden.

Little Green Fingers, a series of 12 two-minute films following young children carrying out a range of garden-related activities, will air from tomorrow (Saturday March 3) on Nick Jr and sister channel Nick Jr 2.

The films will be accompanied by a microsite, devised by production house Jam Creative, on the channel's website (www.nickjr.co.uk) where users can interact with a virtual garden and learn how to do the gardening projects at home.



2 Mar 2007
© C21 Media 2007

Nickelodeon, Nicktoons catch Scurvy Rascals

From C21 Media:

Nickelodeon, Nicktoons catch Scurvy Rascals

NEWS BRIEF: Nickelodeon Channels and Nicktoons Network in the US have acquired the worldwide multi-platform rights to children's CGI series Those Scurvy Rascals, which includes TV, online and digital mobile.

The deal, inked with global entertainment rights firm Entara, sees 26x3.5' episodes scheduled for launch in spring 2007 across all Nickelodeon channels.



1 Mar 2007
© C21 Media 2007

Nickelodeon UK Commissions Second Series Of Genie in the House

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

The second season of live action comedy series Genie in the House has been jointly commissioned by Nickelodeon U.K. and France's Canal J. The second season (26x30) from Moi j'aime la telévision and Helion Pictures will air in fall 2007. AB Distribution reps the series internationally and will bring both seasons (52 eps) to this April's MIPTV. Genie in the House is about the absurd and funny situations two girls find themselves in when they find an old lamp and its teenage genie.

Nickelodeon Movies Acquires Unicorn

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

Nick Movies has acquired Unicorn, a fantasy-comedy script from writer Joe Aucoin, according to Variety. The project has been set-up with producer John Jacobs and his company Smart Entertainment. Set in NYC, the story revolves around a 5-year-old girl who wants a unicorn.

Nickelodeon USA kicks off Slime Across America

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

Nickelodeon kicks off Slime Across America, a 50 market interactive tour, this coming Monday, February 26, 2007 in Orlando, Florida at the Nick Hotel. The tour will then work its way, in an 18-wheel Slime Mobile driven by the infamous Pick Boy, to the initial 20 slimy stops in as many markets arriving in LA for the 20th Annual Kids' Choice Awards on March 31. The remaining 30 market tour stops will take place after Kids' Choice. Among the tour features are the Nick Live! Slime Edition stage show, a user generated content area where kids can create content to submit to Nick's new me:tv programming block (5-7p), walk-around characters, and select stops will also feature Nickelodeon talent and national and local celebrities, and of course someone is gonna get slimed. The network will televise several of the slimmings during me:tv, beginning March 11-31. Additionally, the Orlando kick-off event will be featured on TEENick on March 11. A schedule of tour stops can be found at www.nick.com/slime .

Nickelodeon's Noggin Announces Get Ready To Ready Programming

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

Noggin will introduce new literacy-based programming throughout March 2007 as part of its Get Ready To Ready national literacy initiative. On Friday March 2, Noggin will debut two new Story Time interstitials and two public service announcements featuring Isaiah Washington and Cedric the Entertainer each reading a story to Noggin's hosts Moose and Zee and kids at home. Beginning Monday, March 5, the spots will rollout on the network. From Monday March 26 through Friday, March 30, the network will premiere five new episodes of the animated series Pinky Dinky Doo. Additionally, Pinky Dinky Doo audio podcasts (2x10') will be available at Noggin.com beginning March 26. The website will also feature a number of reading games and activities during March.

Nickelodeon and Nicktoons Network (US) Inks Deal For Those Scurvy Rascals

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

Nickelodeon and Nicktoons Network (US) has inked a deal with Entara Ltd, for the worldwide multiplatform rights for Those Scurvy Rascals (26x3.5'), a short-form CGI animated series. Targeted to kids and teens, Those Scurvy Rascals is slated to bow in spring 2007 on Nickelodeon channels around the world and Nicktoons Networks US. The series follows the adventures of a group of hapless pirates traveling the high seas in their unending quest for pants. Acquired by Entara last year, the series is developed by Blue-Zoo animation studio. Blue-Zoo's Those Scurvy Rascals short aired in the US as part of Nicktoons Network's Second Annual Nextoons: The Nicktoons Film Festival in 2005. ( www.thosescurvyrascals.com )

Nickelodeon's The N To Premiere The Best Years During Summer 2007

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

FremantleMedia Enterprises (FME) has picked up the rights to two scripted series from Blueprint Entertainment. FME holds the worldwide distribution rights for both properties for TV (excluding North America) and DVD (excluding Canada), and will launch both projects at MIPTV this April 2007.

Targeted to teens, The Best Years (13x60') is produced by Blueprint Entertainment in association with The N and CanWest MediaWorks' Global Television. The show follows Samantha, a college freshmen, as she makes friends and "frenemies" and they all make their way through the ups and downs of college life. Created and executive produced by Aaron Martin, The Best Years is slated to premiere this summer on The N (US) and Global Television (Canada). Blueprint's John Morayniss, Noreen Halpern also serve as executive producers.

Aimed at adults, Love You To Death (13x30') will be known in the US as 'Til Death Do Us Part when it debuts on Court TV this spring 2007. The scripted drama/wry comedy series stars writer/director John Waters, and tells some bizarro tales inspired by real stories of spouses who have killed their partners. The series also debuts this spring on Global Television in Canada.

Spanish networks reach for Nicktoons Network's Skyland

From C21 Media:

Spanish networks reach for Skyland

Barcelona-based Icon Animation has set up a raft of kids programming deals across its animation library in Spain for the likes of Skyland and 64 Zoo Lane.

Catalan pubcaster TV3 has snapped up the rights to Skyland (26x26'), The Smurfs (90x26'), FireQuest (26x26'), Pablo the Little Red Fox (52x5') and Loui (78x7').

In a separate deal, Andalucian free-TV channel Canal Sur has picked up Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer (96x26'), Millimages' 64 Zoo Lane (52x11'), Fire Quest (26x26') and The Way Things Work (26x13').

In addition RTVE has picked up a further 40 episodes of Clifford The Big Red Dog following its acquisition of an initial 50 half-hours of the show and Clifford's Puppy Days last year. Icon Animation handled both Spanish sales on behalf of producer Scholastic Media and distributor TV Loonland.

Icon Animation's third-party sales catalogue includes Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer, the complete Millimages catalogue, Ragdoll's Boobah and Chorion's Noddy.

Sergi Reitg, MD at Icon Animation, said: "Our excellent relations with broadcasters in Spain and Spanish-language territories internationally mean that we are ideally placed to handle third-party distribution for companies seeking sales in these key territories.”


Jules Grant
27 Feb 2007
© C21 Media 2007