Wednesday, March 18, 2015

Sony Announces Launch Of PlayStation Vue

Official Sony Network Entertainment International LLC (SNEI) and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) Press Release via PR Newswire:


PlayStation™Vue Launches Today, Revolutionizing Television Viewing

- Access live TV and on-demand content on PlayStation®4 and PlayStation®3 systems without a cable or satellite service

- Powerful and unique features provide quick access to live and on-demand content viewers want


Sony Computer Entertainment corporate logo.

SAN MATEO, Calif., March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Sony Network Entertainment International LLC (SNEI) and Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCE) announced that PlayStation™Vue, a pioneering cloud-based TV service, will launch today on PlayStation®4 (PS4™) and PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment systems. Offering live and on-demand TV content over the Internet, PlayStation Vue is available initially in New York, Chicago and Philadelphia, starting at $49.99 per month. In addition, PlayStation Vue will also include new network partners such as Fox News Networks, AMC Networks, and Turner Broadcasting.

"The TV experience needs a revolution and PlayStation Vue changes the rules by embracing how today's viewers want to discover and enjoy content," said Andrew House, President and Global CEO of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. and Group Executive in charge of the Network Entertainment Business. "PlayStation Vue modernizes the TV viewing experience, taking the best of live TV and on-demand content and bringing it to the PlayStation ecosystem in a way that gives control back to viewers and enables them to spend more time watching their favorite programs and less time channel surfing using outdated menus."

Revolutionary New TV Experience

PlayStation Vue puts viewers in control of their experience by enabling them to watch the shows, sports, and movies they love how and when they want – live, DVR, and on-demand. Features include:

* Live TV – Watch all channels live and see what is trending.

* Personalization – PlayStation Vue enables users to bring their favorite channels and shows to the forefront of their experience.

* Cloud DVR – Easily tag shows to watch later with the service's powerful DVR feature. Every episode aired thereafter will be available for up to 28 days in the cloud with no storage limit or scheduling conflicts to manage.

* Discovery – Innovative Explore, Search and Guide features provide immediate access to the content viewers want, enabling them to watch more and search less.

The Best Content on TV

PlayStation Vue will offer live and on-demand content from more than 85 channels at launch, including many local broadcast stations. These include the following networks and channels:

* CBS – At launch, PlayStation Vue will offer the CBS Television Network's live linear signal in its owned-and-operated markets. On-demand prime-time programming will be available as well.

* Discovery Communications – Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Investigation Discovery, Science, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network, Velocity and 11 more brands.

* Fox – Fox Networks Group's portfolio of national entertainment programming services, including - FX, FXX, FXM, National Geographic Channel and Nat Geo WILD. Additionally FOX Sports' national and regional programming services - FOX Sports 1, FOX Sports 2, BTN, Fox's regional sports networks, including YES Network. Plus the live linear signals of the Fox owned and operated broadcast television stations.

* Fox News Network – Fox News Channel and Fox Business Network.

* NBCUniversal – NBCUniversal's portfolio of national programming services – Bravo, Chiller, Cloo, CNBC, CNBC World, E!, Esquire, Golf Channel, MSNBC, NBCSN, NBC UNIVERSO, Oxygen, Sprout, Syfy, Universal HD and USA. Additionally, the agreement includes the NBC and Telemundo owned television stations, as well as multiple NBC Sports Regional Networks.

* Scripps Networks Interactive – HGTV, Food Network, Travel Channel, DIY Network and Cooking Channel.

* Turner Broadcasting – TBS, TNT, Cartoon Network, Adult Swim, CNN, CNN en Espanol, Boomerang, Turner Classic Movies (TCM), HLN and truTV.

* Viacom – BET, CMT, Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr, TV Land, Spike, VH1 and more.

* AMC Networks – AMC, IFC, SundanceTV and WE tv (available next month).

Additional partnerships will be announced at a later date.

No Long-term Commitments, No Hidden Fees

PlayStation Vue is simplifying the subscription TV experience with fair and competitive pricing that doesn't require a long-term commitment. Packages now available include the following:

Access

The Access package costs $49.99 per month and includes broadcast networks like CBS, FOX, and NBC as well as more than 45 of the most popular channels such as Discovery Channel , FX, Fox News Channel, USA Network, Food Network, TNT, Nickelodeon and AMC (available next month).

Core

The Core package costs $59.99 per month and includes all the channels in the Access package, plus local regional sports networks such as YES Network in New York, Comcast SportsNet Chicago, and Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia, as well as additional sports and movie networks.

Elite

The Elite package costs $69.99 per month and includes all the channels in the Access and Core packages as well as more than 25 lifestyle, music and family channels.

Where to Get PlayStation Vue

Starting today, PlayStation Vue is available in New York, Chicago and Philadelphia on PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 3 systems from PlayStation Store. Additional markets will launch later this year. PlayStation Vue will also become available on iPad® and other popular devices in the near future.

About Sony Network Entertainment International LLC:

Sony Network Entertainment International LLC (SNEI) founded in April 2010, drives the vision, strategy and execution for network services across Sony Group, to offer consumers compelling, connected entertainment experiences across a variety of network enabled devices. Headquartered out of San Mateo, California SNEI's operations span globally across San Francisco, Los Angeles, San Diego, London, Tokyo and more. Through PlayStation®Network and Sony Entertainment Network, SNEI offers a bevy of exciting services including PlayStation®Store, PlayStation®Plus, PlayStation™Vue, Music Unlimited, Video Unlimited and more. With over 64 million active viewers registered to our network and FY13 revenues exceeding 200 billion yen, SNEI is a core Sony business which continues to grow at breakneck speed as a leading provider of cutting edge digital entertainment experiences.

About Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.:

Recognized as a global leader and company responsible for the progression of consumer-based computer entertainment, Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI) manufactures, distributes, develops and markets the PSP® (PlayStation®Portable) handheld entertainment system, the PlayStation®3 (PS3™) computer entertainment system, the PlayStation®Vita (PS Vita) portable entertainment system and the PlayStation®4 computer entertainment system. SCEI has revolutionized home entertainment since it launched PlayStation® in 1994. PlayStation®2 further enhanced the PlayStation® legacy as the core of home networked entertainment. PSP broadens the entertainment experiences into the portable arena. PS3 is a computer entertainment system that incorporates the powerful Cell Broadband Engine and RSX processors. PS Vita is an ultimate portable entertainment system that offers a revolutionary combination of rich gaming and social connectivity. PlayStation®4 redefines rich and immersive gameplay with powerful graphics and speed, intelligent personalization and deeply integrated social capabilities. PSNSM, that includes PlayStation®Store, delivers unparalleled online gaming experience to PlayStation viewers. Headquartered in Tokyo, Japan, SCEI, along with its affiliated companies, Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC and Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd., and its division company, Sony Computer Entertainment Japan Asia, develops, publishes markets and distributes hardware and software, and manages the third party licensing programs for these platforms in their respective markets worldwide.

"PlayStation" is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. "PS4" and "PS3" is a trademark of the same company. iPad® is a registered trademark of Apple Inc.

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20020701/SFM066LOGO

SOURCE Sony Network Entertainment International LLC (SNEI); Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. (SCEI)

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Nickelodeon Announces Star-Studded Lineup For Kids' Choice Awards 2015

Original Nickelodeon USA Press Release via NickPress.com:

JAMIE FOXX, EMMA STONE, LIAM HEMSWORTH, ZENDAYA, KEVIN JAMES, MEGHAN TRAINOR, NICK CANNON, DEBBY RYAN, QUVENZHANÉ WALLIS, FIFTH HARMONY, BETHANY MOTA, SHAWN MENDES AND MORE SCHEDULED TO APPEAR AT NICKELODEON'S 28TH ANNUAL KIDS' CHOICE AWARDS, HOSTED BY NICK JONAS, SATURDAY, MARCH 28, AT 8 P.M. (ET/PT)

Nickelodeon to Air Exclusive First-Look at the All-New Animated Series Harvey Beaks Immediately Following the Slime Ceremony


Santa Monica, Calif. - March 18, 2015 - An all-star lineup of celebrities will join host and performer Nick Jonas at Nickelodeon's 28th Annual Kids' Choice Awards on Saturday, March 28 (8-9:30 p.m. ET/PT, tape delayed for West Coast), at the "Fabulous" Forum in Los Angeles. This year's show participants include Academy Award®-winning actor and Grammy winner Jamie Foxx, Academy Award®-nominated actress Emma Stone (Birdman), Liam Hemsworth (The Hunger Games), Zendaya (K.C. Undercover), Kevin James (Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2), Grammy nominee Meghan Trainor, Nick Cannon, Debby Ryan (Jessie), Quvenzhané Wallis (Annie), platinum recording artist Echosmith, chart-topping songstresses Fifth Harmony, Kaley Cuoco-Sweeting (The Big Bang Theory), Tia Mowry-Hardrict (Instant Mom), Josh Gad (The Wedding Ringer), Laura Marano (Austin & Ally), Ross Lynch (Austin & Ally), Grant Gustin (The Flash), Chloe Bennet (Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Hilary Duff (Younger), YouTube sensations Bethany Mota and Shawn Mendes, Actor and Vine superstar Josh Peck, WNBA star Skylar Diggins, Sports Illustrated Kids' Sports Kid of the Year, Little League star Mo'ne Davis and more.
Previously announced music stars 5 Seconds of Summer and Iggy Azalea, featuring Jennifer Hudson, will be performing on the show.


Following the biggest night of slime, Nickelodeon will sneak peek the all-new animated series Harvey Beaks at 9:30 p.m. (ET/PT). Harvey Beaks tells the story of the unlikely friendship between Harvey, a kid who's never broken the rules, and Fee and Foo, his two friends who've never lived by any. Viewers can catch Harvey Beaks in its regular Sunday night timeslot beginning March 29 at 7 p.m. (ET/PT).


As only Nickelodeon does, kids are invited to cast their votes across 21 categories, including new additions Favorite Talent Competition Show, Favorite Family TV Show, Most Addicting Game and Favorite New Artist across all of Nickelodeon's digital platforms including Nick.com and the Nick app on Android, iOS and Kindle. Users are voting on Twitter in record numbers this year, with almost 100 million votes on Nickelodeon's Twitter feed using #KCA. Furthermore, fans can join in on the slime-fest by going to Nick.com/kca15, the official destination for everything Kids' Choice Awards, with hilarious videos, quizzes, photo galleries, weekly polls and get the latest KCA news on this year's show and nominees.

The 2015 Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards will roll out in international markets within hours of airing live in the United States, Canada and Australia, giving kids around the globe the opportunity to tune into their local Nickelodeon channel to enjoy the show. Voting for the 2015 KCAs will span six continents across 19 localized voting sites in addition to Twitter hashtag voting (#KCA) giving kids practically everywhere the chance to decide who takes home a coveted blimp.

Presenting sponsors of Nickelodeon's 28th Annual Kids' Choice Awards are Amazon Fire HD Kids Edition, General Mills Cinnamon Toast Crunch™, Gogurt® & Fruit Snacks, Hasbro DohVinci, and Walmart. Associate sponsors are Bounty®, Capri Sun, McDonald's®, Nintendo and Toyota.

Nickelodeon's 28th Annual Kids' Choice Awards is produced by Nickelodeon Productions. Jay Schmalholz, Shelly Sumpter Gillyard, Andrew Llinares and Paula Kaplan are executive producers. Ben Thursby is co-executive producer.

Nickelodeon, now in its 35th 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 and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B).

Media outlets can access information for Nickelodeon's 28th Annual Kids' Choice Awards by logging onto NickKCApress.com.

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SpongeBob SubPants Adventure At Moody Gardens Lets Guests Choose Their Own Submarine Adventure Beginning This Memorial Day Weekend

Original Moody Gardens Press Release via PR Newswire:

SpongeBob SubPants Adventure At Moody Gardens Lets Guests Choose Their Own Submarine Adventure Beginning This Memorial Day Weekend


Visitors will enjoy a new one-of-a-kind, immersive and interactive experience as SpongeBob SubPants Adventure opens to kick off the summer vacation season at Moody Gardens in Galveston, TX

GALVESTON, Texas, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Moody Gardens guests can visit iconic destinations and meet their favorite underwater characters from Nickelodeon's global phenomenon SpongeBob SquarePants when the SpongeBob SubPants Adventure debuts in the Discovery Pyramid this Memorial Day weekend.

The SpongeBob SubPants Adventure will take guests through all the stages of a submarine voyage, complete with live animals and their captain, Patrick Star, who takes them on a wild and silly deep-sea adventure where they help choose their path through the experience.

The doors open to a pier-themed pre-show area filled with hands-on activities and tanks full of remarkable sea life. Guests will be transported back in time through L'Oceanauts Submarine Explorations' vintage "mission briefing" film that explores the beauty of coral reefs and highlights the different animals within the tanks surrounding them. The audience will encounter real sea stars, jellyfish, sea sponges and squids while also learning about the importance of sea-life conservation.

Once the briefing is completed, the doors will open for guests to step aboard "Le Plunger" submarine and take their 3D glasses and their seat before departing from the dock for open water. The SUB then descends to a familiar underwater town as SpongeBob SquarePants and your tour guide, Patrick Star, appear through the front window of the SUB.

Guests will be part of the experience as they have improvised, real-time interaction with Patrick while he takes them to destinations of their choosing through Bikini Bottom. They can have their fortune read by Patrick in Goo Lagoon, try the jellyfish dating call in Jellyfish Fields or learn a special dance from Sandy Cheeks. Guests will also try to stop Plankton from taking over the SUB in his evil plan to steal the Krabby Patty secret formula.

The nautical adventure comes to life as guests are able to smell the sunscreen, pop bubbles above their heads and hit around a beach ball when the 3D images on the screen transform from digital to real time through exciting 4D sensory elements and live narration. The SpongeBob SubPants Adventure is a non-stop whirlwind of surprises that is fun for the whole family only at Moody Gardens.

For more information, call (800) 582-4673 or visit www.moodygardens.org.

Moody Gardens® is a public, non-profit, educational destination utilizing nature in the advancement of rehabilitation, conservation, recreation, and research.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150318/182947

SOURCE Moody Gardens

RELATED LINKS
http://www.moodygardens.org

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Nickelodeon Unveils Star-studded Lineup For Kids' Choice Awards 2015

The Wrap, MTV News and Entertainment Weekly are reporting the exciting Kids' Choice Awards 2015 news that Zendaya, Liam Hemsworth, Josh Gad, Fifth Harmony, Meghan Trainor and Echosmith are among the stars who will be appearing at Nickelodeon's 28th Annual Kids' Choice Awards!


In addition, other participants at Nickelodeon's annual slime-fest include: Kevin James ("Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2"); Nick Cannon, Debby Ryan ("Jessie"); Quvenzhané Wallis ("Annie"), Laura Marano and Ross Lynch ("Austin & Ally"); YouTube star Bethany Mota; WNBA star Skylar Diggins; and Sports Illustrated Kids' Sports Kid of the Year Mo'ne Davis!


They'll be joining previously announced performers, including 5 Seconds of Summer, Iggy Azalea, Jennifer Hudson, and Nick Jonas, who will also be hosting Nick's 2015 KCAs!


"Nickelodeon's 28th Annual Kids' Choice Awards" airs live from L.A.'s legendary 'Fabulous' Forum for the first-time ever on Nick USA on Saturday, March 28 (8-9:30 p.m. ET/PT, tape delayed for West Coast)!

NickHeads in the UK and Ireland can catch the premiere of the Nickelodeon 2015 Kids' Choice Awards, Nickelodeon's 28th Annual Kids' Choice Awards, on Sunday 29th March 2015, starting with "Kids' Choice Countdown 2015" at 5:00pm, then the main show, the 2015 Kids' Choice Awards, hosted by the multi-talented singer/songwriter and actor Nick Jonas, from 5:30pm (repeated from 6:30pm on Nick UK's plus-one (+1) timeshift channel, Nick+1), less than 24 hours after the live US show!

Fans located in North America can now cast their votes in 20 category's at nick.com/kca, through the Nick App and on Twitter! Additionally, fans around the world can vote for their favourites in each of the 20 category's plus for their local nominees by visiting kca2015.com, through the Nick App (where available) and on Twitter using the hashtag #KCA!
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Senior Nickelodeon Executives Exit Company As Part Of Viacom's Restructuring Efforts

Deadline Hollywood, Kidscreen and Animation World Network are reporting the unfortunate news in the following articles that, as part of parent company Viacom's restructuring efforts, a wave of executive layoffs has hit Nickelodeon's preschool and animation divisions, with three senior animation executives and two senior-level preschool executives leaving the company.


From Deadline Hollywood:
Senior Nickelodeon Executives Depart In Layoffs

The brunt of the Viacom layoffs hit Nickelodeon yesterday and today, sources tell Deadline. I hear a number of executives and assistants were affected in such areas as preschool, animation, legal and talent. I hear among those who have departed in the restructuring are Emmy winner Teri Weiss, Nickelodeon’s EVP Preschool Programming; Kay Wilson Stallings, SVP, Production & Development, Nickelodeon Preschool, Nick Jr., Nick Jr. and NickMom; and Nickelodeon Animation Studio SVPs Rich Magallanes and Jenna Boyd. The cable network would not comment on the layoffs beyond the statement it issued last week: “As announced, we are in the process of restructuring and there will be employees leaving the company as a result. We are so grateful for the contributions they have made to Viacom.”

Nickelodeon is the latest Viacom division to undergo layoffs as part of the companywide headcount reductions, joining sister networks MTV, VH1 and TV Land as well as Paramount Pictures. The Magallanes and Boyd departures were first reported by CartoonBrew.
From Kidscreen:
Layoffs hit Nickelodeon's preschool, animation divisions

As part of parent company Viacom’s restructuring efforts, a wave of senior-executive layoffs has hit Nickelodeon’s preschool and animation divisions.

Nickelodeon confirmed to Kidscreen that two senior-level preschool executives and three senior animation execs have left the company.

On the preschool side, Nickelodeon's EVP of preschool programming Teri Weiss and Kay Wilson Stallings, SVP of production and development for Nickelodeon Preschool, Nick Jr. and NickMom, have left the company.

Sixteen-year Nick vet Weiss was promoted to her role in 2012. In her prior remit as SVP of the same position, she helped Nick develop numerous preschool hits, including Team Umizoomi, Bubble Guppies, Go Diego, Go!, The Wonder Pets! and Olivia.

Wilson Stallings, named to her current role in 2013, was responsible for overseeing the production of current series Bubble Guppies, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Fresh Beat Band and Zack and Quack. In her prior role at Nick as VP of development and production, she helped develop preschool mainstays such as Backyardigans, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, Lazytown and Peter Rabbit.

When asked who was heading up the preschool programming division in the wake of these departures, a Nickelodeon spokesperson offered no comment.

On the animation front, three senior-level animation executives have left Nickelodeon Animation Studio. Rich Magallenes, SVP of current series, Jenna Boyd, SVP of animation development, and Jill Sanford, VP of animation development, are no longer with the company.

Magallenes was appointed SVP of Nickelodeon Animation, current series in 2012. An 18-year Nick vet, he started at the company as a story consultant for TV shows like Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys and Angry Beavers, working his way up to executive director of animated and live-action series, and most recently VP of animated current series.

Boyd became SVP of animation development in 2012. Also an 18-year Nickelodeon veteran, she oversaw animated series and Nick’s comedy shorts program. Former Disney exec Sanford joined Nickelodeon in 2012, and was responsible for all areas of series development, from concept to pilot.

The layoffs are part of a corporate overhaul at Viacom, which is expected to help save the company US$250 million a year, according to Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman. Layoffs have already hit other divisions of the company, including MTV, VH1 and TV Land.

As part of its cost-saving efforts, Viacom restructured its three domestic network groups (MTV Network Music & Logo Group, Media Networks Entertainment Group and Kids & Family Group) into two organizations under separate leadership. Viacom Music and Entertainment Group is now being led by Doug Herzog and the expanded Viacom Kids and Family Group is helmed by former Nickelodeon president Cyma Zarghami.
From AWN:
Senior Execs Exit Nickelodeon’s Preschool, Animation Divisions

Part of Viacom’s restructuring efforts, company layoffs include three senior animation executives and two senior-level preschool execs.

As part of parent company Viacom’s restructuring efforts, a wave of executive layoffs has hit Nickelodeon’s preschool and animation divisions, Deadline reports, with three senior animation executives and two senior-level preschool execs leaving the company.

On the animation front, three senior-level animation executives have left Nickelodeon Animation Studio. Rich Magallanes, SVP of current series, Jenna Boyd, SVP of animation development, and Jill Sanford, VP of animation development, have each been let go.

An 18-year Nickelodeon veteran, Magallanes started at the company as a story consultant for TV shows like Rugrats, The Wild Thornberrys and Angry Beavers, working his way up to executive director of animated and live-action series, and most recently VP of animated current series.

Also an 18-year Nickelodeon veteran, Boyd became SVP of animation development in 2012, overseeing animated series and Nickelodeon’s comedy shorts program. Former Disney exec Sanford joined Nickelodeon in 2012, and was responsible for all areas of series development, from concept to pilot.

On the preschool side, Nickelodeon’s EVP of preschool programming Teri Weiss, and Kay Wilson Stallings, SVP of production and development for Nickelodeon Preschool, Nick Jr. and NickMom, have left the company.

Sixteen-year Nickelodeon veteran Weiss helped Nickelodeon develop numerous preschool hits, including Team Umizoomi, Bubble Guppies, Go Diego, Go!, The Wonder Pets! and Olivia.

Wilson Stallings oversaw the production of current Nickelodeon series Bubble Guppies, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Fresh Beat Band and Zack and Quack. She also helped develop preschool mainstays such as Backyardigans, Yo Gabba Gabba!, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, Lazytown and Peter Rabbit.

The layoffs are part of a corporate overhaul at Viacom, which is expected to help save the company $250 million a year, according to Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman. Layoffs have already hit other divisions of the company, including MTV, VH1 and TV Land.

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