Tuesday, April 02, 2019

Viacom Set to Tout New Suite of Advertising Options as TV’s Sales Season Draws Near

When Viacom starts meeting with Madison Avenue this week to sell its coming slate of programs, it will have more to pitch than shows and schedules. The company will also be touting advertiser services.


Over the past eighteen months, Viacom has acquired a suite of new media venues ranging from WhoSay, an influencer-marketing platform; VidCon, a conference for video creators; AwesomenessTV, the YouTube network; and PlutoTV, an ad-supported streaming-video hub. “All of this puts us in a place where we have the broadest reach of premium content hitting younger consumers,” Sean Moran, head of advertising solutions at Viacom, told Variety in an interview. “That differentiates us.”

Genius Brands Gives Updates on 'Rainbow Rangers' During April 2019 Investor Conference Call

Original Genius Brands International, Inc. Press Release via GlobeNewswire:

Genius Brands International, Inc. Issues Shareholder Letter


Genius Brands International's Rainbow Rangers

Genius Brands International's (Nasdaq:GNUS) Rainbow Rangers currently airs in the U.S. on Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. channel. Credit: Genius Brands International, Inc.

BEVERLY HILLS, Calif., April 02, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Genius Brands International, Inc. “Genius Brands” (NASDAQ: GNUS), the global brand management company that creates and licenses multimedia entertainment content for children, released a letter to shareholders from Chairman & CEO Andy Heyward. The complete letter follows:

Dear Shareholders,

Below is a transcript of my investor conference call held this morning at 10 am EST, 4/2/19.

Yesterday, Genius Brands released its annual 10K. I am excited to talk about it today as well as share additional exciting and transformational news regarding our flagship brand Rainbow Rangers.

Before jumping to Rainbow Rangers, however, let me first share some of the important events occurring with the company this year, per our 10K.

Our mission at Genius Brands is a simple one. It is to create long term value and assets for our shareholders, through the creation and buildout of a catalog of animated children's programs. Animated characters and programs are time tested assets, that historically have proven to be extraordinarily valuable, and impervious to market forces. Getting there has often been a bumpy road of ups and downs along the way, but those who have persevered, have inevitably created great wealth for themselves and their investors.

Children’s cartoons stand the test of time, and over and over again, those animation catalogs end up sold for a lot of money. The animation catalog being built at Genius Brands is no different, and we see a rich outcome for those with patience.

As many people know, the first cartoons I worked on were the Flintstones, the Jetsons, and Scooby Doo. They are all still around today, they are all still selling toys and cereals and backpacks and vitamins, and they are all many times more valuable today than when they were first created. Even a better example I like to point to is Tom and Jerry, which was first created for movie theaters in 1939, and yet today remains more popular than ever. Cartoons travel. Not only are they impervious to market forces like the price of oil, gold, political parties, trade wars, interest hikes, government shutdowns, Brexit, and the like…they also live independent of whatever distribution system, and new technology arrives. They are as valuable today on televisions, on game platforms, laptops, or mobile devices, as they were when they first came out in the theaters. Genius Brands now has a catalog which continues to grow, and all of the constituent parts taken as a whole, provide an important entry vehicle for the many media companies seeking to have a children's content component to round out their studio catalog. We have shows for toddlers, shows for pre-schoolers, and shows for 6-1-year olds. We have comedy-based shows and shows that are action-based. We have shows that are for boys, shows that are for girls, and shows that are gender neutral. Perhaps most importantly, as a differentiator, across the spectrum of our catalog, everything has an underlying text of being positive value enriched programs. Kids learn from them. They are parent-friendly, advertiser-friendly, non-violent, and socially positive. We have shows like Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club, where kids learn timeless lessons in business amidst fun adventures. We have shows like Baby Genius, where toddlers gain social development and early learning skills and shows like Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab where kids learn science.

With the increasing appetite for content across more and more distribution systems, not just in the U.S., but in Europe and Asia, timeless children’s content, is increasingly in demand, and there is no doubt in my mind that a rich outcome is ahead for Genius Brands and its shareholders.

Pursuant to that background, I am happy to report growth in the key measures of our mission to create value and assets for our shareholders.

Our business is not only to create timeless international animated character brands, which over time become very valuable, but it is to nourish a second income stream not only for their ability to be licensed across global entertainment platforms again and again but for their ability to spawn consumer products. Manufacturers of virtually every imaginable products from toys to publishing pay for the right to put those characters on their products as an inducement for parents to buy the properties.

Now in the 5th year of our company, we have built our catalog to contain over 472 episodes of animated content, a growth from last year of 420, an increase of 12%.

I am proud to report that between our two flagship brands, Llama Llama, now in its second season on Netflix, and Rainbow Rangers, still in its first season on Nick Jr., we have approximately FOUR HUNDRED AND FIFTY different product SKUs coming into the market, beginning this 3rd quarter 2019.

These products include every imaginable category of children’s consumables. Some of the product that is coming to market specifically beginning in this 3rd quarter, includes Llama Llama activity sets and coloring books that will be available at four major national retailers. We have Rainbow Rangers' storybooks, notebooks and folders coming to market for back-to-school. We have three unique licensees selling Halloween costumes for Rainbow Rangers or Llama Llama, in a major US big-box chain, in the largest seasonal specialty store, and online. Home Depot has just ordered a feature Llama Llama animatronic plush based on strong sell-through from an early test this last holiday season.

The mix and volume of these SKUs are fantastic, as is the fact that they will be sold across retail, online, and direct to consumer. This is a testament to not just the creative talent at Genius Brands, but also the market’s confidence in our two hallmark brands.

I encourage everyone to read my upcoming shareholder letter, which will be sent out after the conference call, where we will place a link to a number of the sample products coming to the marketplace. If you’re not already signed up to receive these newsletters, please do so at “ir.gnusbrands.com” and click “sign up today” for email alerts.

Broadcast revenues are recognized when the shows are delivered and available for broadcast.

So, whereas Llama Llama season 1 was delivered for broadcast in 2017 and $4.5 million revenue was recognized for that, Rainbow Rangers delivery was not completed until February 2019; thus revenues will not be recognized until 2019. Those revenues for Rainbow Rangers 52 (11-minute) episodes as well as revenues for Llama Llama Season 2 on Netflix will be recognized in 2019.

In addition, we will also be recognizing substantial revenues for consumer products on BOTH Llama Llama and Rainbow Rangers in 2019, for the above mentioned with contracted guarantees between the two brands at over $6,202,000, across over 430 product SKUs for these two brands.

Separately, Home Entertainment revenues which are recognized at a different time of year than program deliveries for television, went from $56,193 in 2017 to $200,850 in 2018, and I believe that too is at an inflection point of growth as we will witness the launch of both Rainbow Rangers and Llama Llama into the marketplace in 2019.

I also want to speak to the buildout of the Genius Brands Network. The Genius Brands Network is a distribution system of kid’s content that is carried now in over 80 million U.S. TV households available to be seen in over 80% of the country. It is fully distributed across Comcast the largest cable operator in the country, as well as COX Cable, Roku Tv, Apple TV, Amazon Fire, and Amazon Prime, and a number of kids OTT apps.

It has been a slow build, but a steady one, and revenues continue to grow. Revenues went from $22,566 in 2017 to $217,999 in 2018, a growth of 866%. We believe this network has extraordinary potential, as there are only a finite number of systems able to reach this number of U.S. TV households and kids. Personally, I believe we are at an inflection point of dramatic growth. The value of the network to us is that we are able to program and promote our shows, ensuring maximum visibility to push our brands forward into the marketplace.

Now, let’s talk about Rainbow Rangers.

Rainbow Rangers debuted on Nick Jr. this last November 5th. By all measure, the show has been performing exemplarily. This has been told to us repeatedly, not only by Nickelodeon executives themselves but by the #1 media buying service, Beacon Media, which monitors Nielsen performance daily. It has also been recognized as such anecdotally by the press and by independent data points across the kid’s broadcasting and licensing industry.

To that end, we have been seeking to get an early renewal for Season 2 from Nickelodeon, and have been amidst dialogue with them on that subject. Season to Date, with very rare exception, we have retained and increased our audience over the various lead-in shows that play before us (Dora the Explorer, Sunny Day, Shimmer and Shine, and [Nella] the Princess Knight). Rainbow Rangers has performed and continues to perform, and is currently being run Monday through Friday afternoons, and Sunday mornings at 11:30 am. In fact, we were told a month ago to expect a renewal this month, and as late as last week, they hope to have news for us shortly.

Nickelodeon has not yet announced any of their lineups for the new year. There has been a management change with a new President of the network and a new Head of Programming. We have yet to receive news; however, based on performance metrics for the show, we anticipate a second season pickup. They have extensive protocols, and we must be respectful and wait until we are given official word and will share that news as soon as we receive it.

In 2019, we have every anticipation that Genius Brands, is at an inflection point of growth.

The component parts of our company are its:

  • Animation catalog
  • the Genius Brands Network

They both are growing dramatically, and in 2018, they grew year over year, 12% and 866% respectively.

We have a robust development pipeline, and within the next 60 days, will announce two major new program brands to complement the existing catalog and the two anchor properties, Rainbow Rangers and Llama Llama.

We manage our overhead carefully and prudently, however when we see opportunity, we don’t hesitate to spend and invest in our business, knowing the payoff will ultimately justify the investment. To that end, we recently hired Natalie Setton a widely recognized leader in international children’s content sales. Natalie is based in London, which is a hub for the international marketplace, and now that our programs are becoming available for international distribution, we believe it is essential to have a presence there from which to grow the international business. Further to the above, we have also hired Jonathon Ollwerther to lead Business Development and we are already starting to see the fruits of that hire.

The company continues to grow and will be launching an aggressive campaign in the coming weeks to fuel more catalog and more animated brands.

The marketplace is robust and now is the time to invest in that growth. I am confident the payoff will be well worth it.

Now, I am happy to take any questions.

[...]

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/57813724-5f09-4f9e-b8d6-97cd69c3b544

###

Viewers can visit nickjr.com, the Nick Jr. app and the official Rainbow Rangers show website, rainbowrangers.com to find out more about the show and its colorful superheroes and to watch exclusive video clips. Viewers can also follow the official Rainbow Rangers community on Facebook and Instagram for magical updates.

More Nick: Nickelodeon Embarks on New Direction with its Biggest, Most Wide-Ranging Content Slate Ever | Nick Upfront 2019!
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Nickelodeon India Launches New 'Back to School' Range for #NickToonsAtSchool Campaign

The new collection stands out for its display of vibrant colors and distinctly curated designs that will have an instant connect with children and their parents

Mumbai - It’s that time of the year again - a new and fun-filled school term is set to begin. To make for an amazing start, Nickelodeon India launches a new range of their Back-To-School products for children. From Dora to Motu Patlu to Super kid Shiva, the new range of school-going products will bring all kids closer to their most favourite Nicktoons.


With an extensive range of trendy bags, colourful water bottles, pencil boxes and many more, kids will have plenty to choose from to make their new session enjoyable. Whether you support Team Shiva or the Motu Patlu Hero Squad, the new product range will make going to school more fun. If you wish to become a curious explorer like Dora or save the world like PAW Patrol, a leader like Peppa or enthusiastic like Masha, there is something for everyone in this range.

Viacom18 will introduce the series of products with the #NickToonsAtSchool campaign under the brand Nickelodeon. By making Nicktoons a part of their school lives, the Nickelodeon brand envisions to heighten engagement amongst kids. The campaign reflects how toons are the best friends to have fun with while highlighting the diversity in the range. The new collection stands out for its display of vibrant colors and distinctly curated designs that will have an instant connect with the kids and their parents.


Speaking about the launch of the upcoming range of products, Saugato Bhowmik, Head, Viacom18 Consumer Products and Integrated Network Solutions said, “With sustained efforts to cater to kids and their interests, we bring better and more exciting additions to our Back-to-school range. With newly introduced toons like Paw Patrol, Peppa Pig and Masha and the Bear, the new range of consumer products will keep the kids hooked onto their favourite on-screen characters.”

He further added, “From pre-schoolers to kids to teen-tweens, the range offers something for one and all. Like every year, we hope parents and kids opt for these new products to make their school life enjoyable.”

Viacom18 Consumer Products’ Back to School range will soon be available for consumers across key retail stores and e-commerce websites so that the new school session is worth it! What are you waiting for kiddos? Grab your shopping bags and get some cool back to school range for your new school session!

More Nick: Nickelodeon India Launches 'Pressure Ko Bolo Bye' Campaign to Combat Stress in Students!

Source: Exchange4media; H/T: Indian Television Dot Com.
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Nickelodeon Brazil Unveils ABRIN 2019 Line-Up

Viacom Brazil (Brasil) has announced all the exciting new Nickelodeon merchandise that Viacom/Nickelodeon Consumer Products (VNCP) will be showcasing at ABRIN 2019, the largest toy fair in Latin America, which will take place between Monday 18th - Thursday 21st March 2019 at Expo Center Norte in São Paulo! Among the lines being showcased at ABRIN 2019 will be new consumer products inspired by Nickelodeon Slime, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, PAW Patrol, Sunny Day and Top Wing.

Below is Nickelodeon Brasil's official press release announcing the aweslime news, via EP GRUPO:

Viacom Brasil apresenta lançamentos Nickelodeon na Abrin 2019

14 Mar 2019

‘Slime Nickelodeon’, ‘O Despertar das Tartarugas Ninja’, ‘Sunny Day’ e ‘Top Wing’ são as grandes novidades em brinquedos. ‘Patrulha Canina’ também apresenta novos itens e temas

Sunny Brinquedos, Estrela, Hasbro, Bambola, Barão, Brasil Flex, Cotiplas, Dican, DTC, Elka, Grow, Lider, Mattel, Sulamericana, Toyng e Yangzi são alguns dos parceiros licenciados presentes na feira

On This Day: Nickelodeon Launches

On This Day: Nickelodeon Launches


On this day 40 years ago, Nickelodeon premiered! Nickelodeon launched on April 1, 1979 and has become the number-one entertainment brand for kids. Happy Birthday, Nickelodeon!

To celebrate Nickelodeon's landmark 40th anniversary, as Nickelodeon is about to embarks on a new direction with its biggest, most wide-ranging content slate ever, Variety has published a slew of articles which examines Nickelodeon's roots, takes a look back at its present, and takes a peek at what's in store for the brand. Check out the articles here!: http://nickalive.blogspot.com/2019/03/nickelodeon-at-40-variety-looks-at.html

Happy Birthday, Nickelodeon! 🎉🎁 | Nick Animation



It's Nickelodeon's birthday today! Nick are FLIPPING out over this awesome animated flipbook by The Flippist. Can you name all the characters and shows in there? What about the hidden Easter Eggs? 😉 Share what you found or your favorite Nickelodeon memories in the comments below!

Watch more animation by The Flippist: https://www.youtube.com/user/theflippist

Did you find any Easter Eggs? Sound off below! 🔍

Check out Nickelodeon's On This Day and Remember When Facebook pages to find out awesome Nick moments from every era throughout Nickelodeon history!

Watch all your ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s Nickelodeon favorites on NickRewind, your late-night destination for your favorite childhood Nickelodeon cartoons and live-action shows! NickSplat doesn't question football-shaped heads, but embrace them - along with Reptar bars, a Big Ear of Corn, orange soda, and even slime for Pete (and Pete's) sake. Make your slime-covered Nickelodeon childhood dreams come true every night at 11 PM ET/PT on TeenNick USA, and anytime you want on NickSplat on VRV!

Like NickRewind on Facebook, subscribe to the NickRewind YouTube channel and follow NickRewind on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive digital content from all of your throwback favorites like Rugrats, Hey Arnold!, iCarly, Victorious, Kenan & Kel, CatDog, Doug, Rocko’s Modern Life, The Amanda Show, Clarissa Explains It All, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and so much more!


More Nick: Nickelodeon Embarks on New Direction with its Biggest, Most Wide-Ranging Content Slate Ever!

Originally published: Monday, April 1, 2019 at 9:14pm GMT.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon News and Highlights!

How to Dance Like You’re on Nick! 🕺 Time to Slime | Nick Jr.

How to Dance Like You’re on Nickelodeon! 🕺 Time to Slime | Nick Jr.



Get up and get down! Have a dance party following along to easy choreographed moves with this video from GoNoodle! Find more moves and music on Nickelodeon and everywhere you find Nick Jr.

So you think you can dance like you’re a Nick star? It’s time to slime! That means you’ll have to flap, shake, strum, and do some awesome (but easy) dance moves. Follow along with the dancers or try your own slime time dance moves!

More Nick: Pitbull, Bebe Rexha, JoJo Siwa and T-Pain to Perform at Nickelodeon's U.S. SlimeFest Music Festival, June 8-9, 2019!

Additional source: YouTube /@EA Productions.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. News and Highlights!

CHENRY SECRETS REVEALED! 😲 Henry Danger | Nickelodeon

CHENRY SECRETS REVEALED! 😲 Henry Danger | Nick



You do not want to miss this video…and trust me – you WON’T want to miss this. No seriously…trust me! You’re about to get SHOOK!

Catch more on Nickelodeon!

Happy April Fools' Day! 😂

For more April Fools Day videos, visit http://nickalive.blogspot.com/search/label/April%20Fools%20Day

More Nick: Nickelodeon USA's April 2019 Premiere Highlights!
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Top 5 CatDog Moments You May Have Missed! | NickRewind

Top 5 CatDog Moments You May Have Missed! | NickRewind



Tumbling fights, oozing gum and so much food! Here’s a few of the many memories you may have missed from CatDog! Watch more of your favorite shows on Nickelodeon!

Are you TEAM CAT 🐱 or TEAM DOG 🐶?

Watch all your ‘80s, ‘90s, and ‘00s Nickelodeon favorites on NickRewind, your late-night destination for your favorite childhood Nickelodeon cartoons and live-action shows! NickSplat doesn't question football-shaped heads, but embrace them - along with Reptar bars, a Big Ear of Corn, orange soda, and even slime for Pete (and Pete's) sake. Make your slime-covered Nickelodeon childhood dreams come true every night at 11 PM ET/PT on TeenNick USA, and anytime you want on NickSplat on VRV!

Like NickRewind on Facebook, subscribe to the NickRewind YouTube channel and follow NickRewind on Twitter and Instagram for exclusive digital content from all of your throwback favorites like Rugrats, Hey Arnold!, iCarly, Victorious, Kenan & Kel, CatDog, Doug, Rocko’s Modern Life, The Amanda Show, Clarissa Explains It All, The Ren & Stimpy Show, Are You Afraid of the Dark?, and so much more!


More Nick: Nickelodeon Reveals First-Look Footage of All-New 'INVADER ZIM: Enter the Florpus' TV Movie at San Diego Comic-Con 2018!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Classic Nickelodeon, NickRewind and CatDog News and Highlights!

Every Henry Danger Moment in ONE Awesome Rap! | #MusicMonday | Nickelodeon

Every Henry Danger Moment in ONE Awesome Rap! | #MusicMonday



Henry Hart (Jace Norman) has been Kid Danger for a while now - and there have been a lot of twists and turns along the way. Nick is recapping every awesome moment so you’re all caught up to watch the brand new Henry Danger episodes coming your way! What’s your favorite Henry Danger moment? Let me know in the comments below! Catch more Henry Danger on Nickelodeon!

❗HENRY DANGER POLL❗What is your favorite episode of all time?!

More Nick: Nickelodeon USA's April 2019 Premiere Highlights!
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Baking with Butterbean's Cafe! | Meet The Fairies | Treehouse

Baking with Butterbean's Cafe! | Treehouse



Ready team!? Come join Treehouse and Butterbean at The Rolling Pin in Toronto to decorate delicious cupcakes, just like Butterbean and her friends!

You can watch Butterbean's Cafe weekends at 10:10am ET on Treehouse and everyday on Nickelodeon! PLUS play the Butterbean's Cafe game "Cupcake Maker" at TreehouseTV.com!

Meet The Fairies | Butterbean`s Cafe



Meet the tastiest team in cooking! These fairies are bringing the flavour every weekend at 10:10am E/P on Treehouse!

More Nick: Nickelodeon USA's April 2019 Premiere Highlights!
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Poll: What Did You Think of the 'The Substitute' Episode 1?

What did you think of the first episode of Nickelodeon's brand-new hidden camera prank show, The Substitute, guest starring Henry Danger star Jace Norman? Vote in the poll and sound off in the comments below!

What Kind of PRANKSTER Are You?! 😲 Personality Quiz | Nickelodeon

What Kind of PRANKSTER Are You?! 😲 Personality Quiz | Nick



Who’s your favorite prankster? Is it the infamous Max Thunderman, the unstoppable Luan Loud, or perhaps yourself? Take this super silly interactive Prank Personality Quiz to find out the perfect prank for you. Let me know in the comments below what kind of prankster you are and be sure to catch more of your favorite shows, only on Nickelodeon!

What kind of pranker are YOU? Let me know your results in the comments below! 🃏

For more April Fools Day videos, visit http://nickalive.blogspot.com/search/label/April%20Fools%20Day


More Nick: Nickelodeon USA's April 2019 Premiere Highlights!
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nWay Announces 'Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid'; Feature Rangers Vs. Villains Team Combat Across Multiple Gaming Platforms

Official nWay Press Release from GamesPress via Gamasutra:

Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid to Feature Rangers Vs. Villains Team Combat Across Multiple Gaming Platforms


SAN FRANCISCO – January 17, 2019 – For over 25 years Power Rangers has been one of the most popular franchises in the world. As a perennial Top 10 NPD Action Brand, the globally renowned brand has spawned hit TV shows, movies, toys, comics, live entertainment and games. Today, nWay, the developer and publisher behind Power Rangers: Legacy Wars, the hit multiplayer mobile game with over 45 million downloads, is partnering with Hasbro and global content leader Lionsgate to announce Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid. The new cross-platform fighting game will be available as a digital download for $19.99 first on PlayStation 4, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch in April 2019, and then as a PC release later in the year.

The game is now available for pre-order at www.battleforthegrid.com. PlayStation 4 pre-orders will start shortly. Those ordering prior to launch will receive an exclusive bonus of the Green Ranger V2 character skin and a digital art book. In addition, a special Digital Collector’s Edition will be available to pre-order for $39.99, which contains the full game download, Season One Pass (which will include three new characters, their Arcade story, and a new warrior skin), and exclusive Lord Drakkon Evo II and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Pink Ranger character skins.

“Power Rangers fans have been asking for a high fidelity fighting game on console and PC that match up iconic Rangers and villains across the expansive Power Rangers multiverse for quite some time now,” said Taehoon Kim, co-founder and CEO of nWay. “We wanted to deliver this to the fans and make sure it has cross-play and cross-progression capabilities as we believe playing with friends across multiple platforms at the same time is where the future of gaming is headed.”



Power Ranger: Battle for the Grid is an easy to learn but hard to master fighting game that delivers a modern take on the Power Rangers franchise. The game features stunning graphics with vivid details and pits new and classic Rangers and villains against each other in team battles. Featuring a streamlined combat system, the game welcomes newcomers to the genre with simplified controls, while maintaining depth and detail for more intense and experienced competitors. Players will be challenged to test their skills online against friends and other players around the world, providing endless replayability. With new content and game modes releasing throughout the year, the game will continuously offer the community new ways to play and compete.

With cross-play across multiple platforms, all players whether on Xbox One, Nintendo Switch or PC, will be in the same player pool and will have the ability to compete against each other in real-time. Even when players change their platform, their mission progress they have worked to achieve will still be available to them, allowing for cross-progression and true seamless gameplay no matter where they play.

“Since the acquisition of the Power Rangers IP, we’ve been looking forward to bringing Power Rangers fans memorable experiences. With Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid, we’re expanding the portfolio of great Power Rangers games to more platforms,” said Mark Blecher, Senior Vice President of Corporate Strategy and Business Affairs at Hasbro.

“The Power Rangers have proven to be an enduring global phenomenon among audiences of all ages,” said Daniel Engelhardt, Senior Vice President of Interactive Ventures & Games at Lionsgate. “We are excited to build upon our successful mobile game, Power Rangers: Legacy Wars, to offer a unique opportunity for fans to enjoy a new cross-platform fighting game experience on console and PC.”

More details on Power Ranger: Battle for the Grid will be released in the coming weeks.


About nWay

nWay is the game studio behind Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid, Power Rangers: Legacy Wars and ChronoBlade. The company’s proprietary engine makes fast-paced, synchronous multiplayer gameplay possible across multiple gaming platforms. Based in San Francisco and Seoul, nWay is comprised of leading developers and senior executives from Sony, Electronic Arts, WB Games, LucasArts, Kabam, Nexon and NCSoft. Collectively, the team has contributed to over a dozen hit mobile, console, and online games, including Marvel Contest of Champions, Injustice, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed, Dominations, FIFA, Battlefield Online, Lineage II, and Warhammer. nWay is backed by Ridge Ventures, March Capital, Baseline Ventures, Translink Capital, and WI Harper. For more information, visit www.nway.com.

About Hasbro

Hasbro (NASDAQ: HAS) is a global play and entertainment company committed to Creating the World's Best Play Experiences. From toys and games to television, movies, digital gaming and consumer products, Hasbro offers a variety of ways for audiences to experience its iconic brands, including NERF, MY LITTLE PONY, TRANSFORMERS, PLAY-DOH, MONOPOLY, BABY ALIVE and MAGIC: THE GATHERING, as well as premier partner brands. Through its entertainment labels, Allspark Pictures and Allspark Animation, the Company is building its brands globally through great storytelling and content on all screens. Hasbro is committed to making the world a better place for children and their families through corporate social responsibility and philanthropy. Hasbro ranked No. 5 on the 2018 100 Best Corporate Citizens list by CR Magazine, and has been named one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® by Ethisphere Institute for the past seven years. Learn more at www.hasbro.com, and follow us on Twitter (@Hasbro) and Instagram (@Hasbro).

About Lionsgate

The first major new studio in decades, Lionsgate is a global content platform whose films, television series, digital products and linear and over-the-top platforms reach next-generation audiences around the world. In addition to its filmed entertainment leadership, Lionsgate content drives a growing presence in interactive and location-based entertainment, gaming, virtual reality and other new entertainment technologies. Lionsgate’s content initiatives are backed by a 17,000-title film and television library and delivered through a global licensing infrastructure. The Lionsgate brand is synonymous with original, daring and ground-breaking content created with special emphasis on the evolving patterns and diverse composition of the Company’s worldwide consumer base.

# # #

Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid will be released on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, Nintendo Switch and Steam.

Power Rangers: Battle for the Grid - Gameplay Reveal

Slime Time ✨ Making Glitter Slime Potion w/ Shimmer & Shine | Nick Jr. Crafts

Slime Time ✨ Making Glitter Slime Potion w/ Shimmer & Shine | Nick Jr. Crafts



BOOM-zahramay! Slime is mixed with glitter to make a genie-fied slime potion! You can find Shimmer & Shine weekday mornings on Nickelodeon, and everywhere you find Nick Jr.

If you wished for a Shimmer and Shine slime video… that wish has been granted! Watch as glitter is mixed to make a magical slime that gets extra sparkly when gems are added.

More Nick: Nick Jr. Live! "Move To The Music" U.S. Theatrical Tour To Debut Fall 2019!

Kids can watch their favorite Nick Jr. shows weekdays on Nickelodeon and all week long on the Nick Jr. channel: http://nickjr.com/tvschedule/

Preschoolers can watch full episodes online, play games, and discover silly surprises in the free Nick Jr. App and at NickJr.com. Stream Nick Jr. for free in the Nick Jr. App on Roku and Apple TV or download full episodes for offline viewing on iTunes or Google Play.

You can also download premium apps featuring your child's favorite Nick Jr. shows on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon, including Nick Jr. Draw and Play and Nick Jr. Let’s Learn!

More Nick: Nickelodeon to Premiere 'Ryan's Mystery Playdate', Brand-New Preschool Series Starring YouTube Superstar Ryan of Ryan ToysReview, on Friday, April 19, 2019!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Reddit, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nick Jr., Nickelodeon Preschool and Shimmer and Shine News and Highlights!

Top 9 Times SpongeBob Made You Say ‘Aww” | #SpongeBobSaturdays

Top 9 Times SpongeBob Made You Say ‘Aww” | #SpongeBobSaturdays



Aww! How sweet are these SpongeBob moments?! Watch more of your favorite shows on Nickelodeon!

Which moment is YOUR favorite?! 💙🐠

CALLING ALL GOOFY GOOBERS! (ROCK!) Are ya ready for a deep dive into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants? The SpongeBob YouTube channel is THE PLACE for all fan-favorite SpongeBob moments! We’re serving up everything from legendary scenes to remixes of classic songs to deep dives into Bikini Bottom lore. Be sure to check back every week for Music Mondays, Wumbo Wednesdays, and Flashback Fridays! Subscribe now at https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial!

More Nick: Nickelodeon Marks 20 Years of "SpongeBob SquarePants" with the "Best Year Ever"!
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Blaze and the Monster Machines | Sing Along: Pickle Family | Nick Jr. UK

Blaze and the Monster Machines | Sing Along: Pickle Family | Nick Jr. UK



Sing along with Pickle and his family, on their pickle-tastic camping trip!

Watch all your favourite Nick Jr. friends everyday on Nick Jr. and Nick Jr. Too! For more magical Nick Jr. activities and games visit NickJr.co.uk and download the Nick Jr. Play app!

More Nick: Nickelodeon and Paramount to Release Brand New Movie 'Wonder Park' in the UK on Monday 8th April 2019; In Ireland on Tuesday 12th April 2019!
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Bob Esponja | Olá, como vai? (Remix) | Brasil | Nickelodeon em Português

Bob Esponja | Olá, como vai? (Remix) | Brasil | Nickelodeon em Português



Ninguém vai conseguir ficar parado com esse remix do Bob!

Mais Bob Esponja: http://mundonick.uol.com.br/bob-esponja/

Mais Nick: Nickelodeon Latin America and Nickelodeon Brazil to Premiere 'Club 57' on Monday 6th May 2019!
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Theme Song Compilation w/ PAW Patrol, Shimmer & Shine & More! | Nick Jr. Music

Theme Song Compilation w/ PAW Patrol, Shimmer & Shine & More! | Nick Jr. Music



Listen and lip sync to all your favorite theme songs! You can find full episodes from your favorite shows, weekday mornings on Nickelodeon, and everywhere you find Nick Jr.

This collection of catchy theme songs is one playlist you are going to love. Sing along to PAW Patrol, Bubble Guppies, Butterbean’s Café, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Abby Hatcher, Shimmer and Shine, Top Wing, and Sunny Day show opening music.

More Nick: Nick Jr. Live! "Move To The Music" U.S. Theatrical Tour To Debut Fall 2019!

Kids can watch their favorite Nick Jr. shows weekdays on Nickelodeon and all week long on the Nick Jr. channel: http://nickjr.com/tvschedule/

Preschoolers can watch full episodes online, play games, and discover silly surprises in the free Nick Jr. App and at NickJr.com. Stream Nick Jr. for free in the Nick Jr. App on Roku and Apple TV or download full episodes for offline viewing on iTunes or Google Play.

You can also download premium apps featuring your child's favorite Nick Jr. shows on iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon, including Nick Jr. Draw and Play and Nick Jr. Let’s Learn!

More Nick: Nickelodeon to Premiere 'Ryan's Mystery Playdate', Brand-New Preschool Series Starring YouTube Superstar Ryan of Ryan ToysReview, on Friday, April 19, 2019!
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KCA | Countdown-Show: Falco Punch übt seine KCA-Dankesrede | Nickelodeon Deutschland

KCA | Countdown-Show: Falco Punch übt seine KCA-Dankesrede | Nickelodeon Deutschland



Tickets für die Nickelodeon Kids‘ Choice Awards 2019: Deutschland, Österreich, Schweiz sind unter folgendem Link erhältlich: https://www.europapark.de/de/veranstaltungen/nickelodeon-kids-choice-awards

Mehr Nick: Nickelodeon GSA Announces Star Studded 'Nickelodeon Kids‘ Choice Awards: Deutschland, Österreich, Schweiz 2019' Guest List!
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Abrilíssimo Chegou! | Nickelodeon Brasil

Abrilíssimo Chegou! | Brasil | Nickelodeon em Português



Mais Nick: Nickelodeon Latin America and Nickelodeon Brazil to Premiere 'Club 57' on Monday 6th May 2019!
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Bangladesh's Duronto TV to Debut 'SpongeBob SquarePants' with Bengali Dub on Sunday 14th April 2019

Duronto TV, a children's television channel in Bangladesh will start to air Nickelodeon's beloved animated series SpongeBob SquarePants with a Bengali dub from Sunday 14th April 2019 at 2:30pm and 8:00pm!



"সমুদ্র শহর" নামে সমুদ্র তলদেশে এক আজব শহরে বসবাস স্পঞ্জববের। অদ্ভূত এক আনারস বাড়িতে থাকে সে। বোকা বলে কেউ তাকে খুব একটা আমলে নেয় না। তারপরও স্পঞ্জববের মন খারাপ হয় না। বন্ধু প্যাট্রিকের সাথে সব কিছুর ভেতর আনন্দ খুঁজে নেয় সে।

দেখবো দুরন্ত’র নতুন কার্টুন “স্পঞ্জবব স্কয়ারপ্যান্টস্‌”, ১৪ এপ্রিল থেকে প্রতিদিন, দুপুর ২ঃ৩০ মিনিটে ও রাত ৮ টায়।

In additional news, there are unconfirmed reports that México's TV Azteca has nabbed the broadcast rights to Bob Esponja from long-time rival Televisa, who has aired SpongeBob since 2002.

Since its launch in July 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has emerged as a pop culture phenomenon. The series has been the most-watched animated program with kids 2-11 for more than 15 consecutive years, and over the past several years, it has averaged more than 100,000,000 total viewers every quarter across all Nickelodeon networks. SpongeBob SquarePants is the most widely distributed property in Viacom International Media Networks history, seen in more than 208 countries and territories and translated in 55+ languages. The character-driven cartoon chronicles the nautical and sometimes nonsensical adventures of SpongeBob, an incurably optimistic and earnest sea sponge, and his undersea friends in the fictional underwater city of Bikini Bottom. Among those friends are SpongeBob's best friend, a pink starfish named Patrick Star, his neighbor and co-worker octopus Squidward Tentacles, and Sandy Cheeks, a squirrel from Texas.


SpongeBob SquarePants is created by Stephen Hillenburg, who previously worked as a writer, director and creative director on Nickelodeon's animated series Rocko's Modern Life. Hillenburg graduated from the California Institute of the Arts with a master's degree in experimental animation and his undergraduate degree, from Humboldt State University, was in natural science with an emphasis in marine biology. Hillenburg executive produced the series until his untimely passing in November 2018. His first feature film, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie, which debuted Nov. 19, 2004 and his second theatrical, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, hit theaters Feb. 6, 2015, landing at #1 opening weekend.

SpongeBob SquarePants has been renewed through to at least the show's twelfth season, will be celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2019, has its own critically acclaimed Broadway show, set to tour the U.S. from Fall 2019, and has a third upcoming movie, The SpongeBob Movie: It's a Wonderful Sponge, set to be released in Summer 2020. Nickelodeon also recently revealed plans to spin off the characters from SpongeBob SquarePants into their own stand-alone series, specials and feature-length movies. The series is produced at Nickelodeon in Burbank.

More Nick: Nickelodeon Marks 20 Years of "SpongeBob SquarePants" with the "Best Year Ever"!

Sources: Anime Superhero Forum /@RandomMe, YouTube /@ISBSP; Additional sources: Wikipedia (II), Google Translate.
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Nickelodeon USA to Premiere New Hidden Camera Prank Show 'The Substitute' on Monday, April 1, 2019

Update (4/2) - Nickelodeon USA has announced that The Substitute episode two will feature Canadian YouTuber Lilly Singh!

Update (3/20) - Below is Nickelodeon USA's official Press Release announcing the exciting news!:

NICKELODEON’S NEW PRANK SERIES, THE SUBSTITUTE,

PREMIERES ON APRIL FOOLS’ DAY, AT 2:00 P.M. (ET/PT)

Share it: @Nickelodeon #TheSubstitute


BURBANK, Calif.—March 20, 2019—Nickelodeon is pulling the ultimate April Fools’ Day prank when its brand-new unscripted series The Substitute premieres on Monday, April 1, at 2:00 p.m. (ET/PT). From the producers of Undercover Boss comes a new hidden camera show featuring celebrities who are transformed by a team of special effects artists to go undercover as substitute teachers, surprising classes of unsuspecting students.

The premiere episode guest stars Jace Norman (Henry Danger) as he goes undercover at Luther Burbank Middle School to prank students in a variety of subjects ranging from gym to science. Using full prosthetics and a fool-proof costume, a team of special effects artists transform Norman into a completely unrecognizable substitute teacher who is ready to give his students an unforgettable surprise. During the reveal, a $25,000 donation is made to the school. Additional episodes featuring different celebrities going undercover will be announced at a later date.

The premiere of The Substitute takes place during Nickelodeon’s April Fools’ Day marathon, with encore airings at 4:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT). Starting at 2:00 p.m. (ET/PT), fans will be able to relive some of their favorite episodes including SpongeBob SquarePants’ “Fools in April,” and The Loud House’s “April Fools Rules,” “Fool Me Twice” and “Fool’s Paradise.”

The premiere of The Substitute coincides with the 40th anniversary of Nickelodeon, which launched on April 1, 1979.

Norman currently stars in Nickelodeon’s Henry Danger, the number-one live-action show on TV with Kids 2-11 and Kids 6-11, and the network’s longest-running live-action sitcom. Earlier this year he starred in his fifth role in a Nickelodeon TV movie, Bixler High Private Eye. He is also the co-founder of Creator Edge Media, an influencer marketing agency.

The Substitute is produced by Industrial Media’s The Intellectual Property Corporation, and Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman (Undercover Boss), with Mike Harney serving as showrunner. Production of The Substitute for Nickelodeon is overseen by Rob Bagshaw, Executive Vice President, Unscripted Content.

About The Intellectual Property Corporation:

The Intellectual Property Corporation (IPC) is an Emmy-winning IP creation and production studio based in Van Nuys, California. Founded in 2016, IPC develops and produces a wide range of television, film, documentary, and interactive mobile content. The company currently has series in production or development with a wide range of US broadcast and cable networks. In 2017 the company was awarded the Emmy and in 2018 a Producers Guild Award for its series “Leah Remini: Scientology & the Aftermath”. IPC was acquired by Industrial Media in 2018.

About Nickelodeon:

Nickelodeon, now in its 39th 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, digital, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated kids’ basic cable network for 22 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, VIAB).

# # #

Original post:

Nickelodeon USA will premiere The Substitute, the network's brand-new hidden camera prank show on Monday, April 1, 2019 (April Fools Day)!

In The Substitute, celebrities are transformed by a team of special effects artists to go undercover as substitute teachers to surprise a class of unsuspecting students. A $25,000 donation will be made to each school.

The series premiere will feature Nickelodeon star Jace Norman (Henry Danger, Bixler High Private Eye, Blurt!, Rufus, Splitting Adam) as the substitute that fools the school.



The Substitute is produced by The Intellectual Property Corporation, and Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman (Undercover Boss), with Mike Harney serving as showrunner.

The series was announced as part of Nickelodeon's 2019 Upfront and forms part of the network's slate of new programming for the whole family.

Nick’s insights reveal that family time is the most important passion point for kids and parents today, with their top priority being to spend time together and look for opportunities through shared experiences. Today’s families state that watching TV together is their favorite activity, corresponding to the current 10-year high in co-viewing, where 44% of kids’ viewing is with an adult. To capture co-viewing opportunities, Nick is producing shows with built-in appeal to every family member, including: The Substitute, Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader (reboot), Are You Afraid of the Dark? (revival miniseries) and All That (revival).

More Nick: Nickelodeon Embarks on New Direction with its Biggest, Most Wide-Ranging Content Slate Ever!

Originally published: Friday, March 15, 2019 at 8:24pm GMT.

Additional sources: Anime Superhero Forum /@kanc, Wikipedia.
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Happy April Fool's Day!!! | #ItsCoolToBeFooled | Nickelodeon India

Nickelodeon India's Nicktoons came up with a 'Fool' proof plan to prank unsuspecting fans at Hamleys India in partnership with High Street Phoenix this April Fool's Day, because #ItsCoolToBeFooled! Featuring Motu, Patlu, Dora the Explorer, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and more!



More Nick: Nickelodeon India Launches 'Pressure Ko Bolo Bye' Campaign to Combat Stress in Students!
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Viacom Launches Nicktoons Channel in Hungary and Romania

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) will strengthen its portfolio in the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) region with the launch of a localised Nicktoons channel in Hungary in April 2019! NickToons Hungary (Magyarország) is slated to launch on the on the Magyar Telekom platform on Tuesday 2nd April 2019.


Update (4/2) - Nicktoons Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) will premiere Rainbow Butterfly Unicorn Kitty (Szivárvány Pillangó Egyszarvú Cica) this summer!

Update (29/3): Nicktoons Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) will also launch on UPC Magyarország in Hungary! It'll also be available on DIGI and Invitel!

Update (17/2): Nickelodeon has soft-launched NickToons Magyarország, ahead of its official launch in April 2019! As speculated, Nicktoons Magyarország is a simulcast of Nicktoons Poland (Polska) with a Hungarian soundtrack. The channel launched on Tuesday 12th February 2019 and currently broadcasts commercials in English, however, localised advertisements are expected to appear on the channel nearer its official launch. A Romanian soundtrack is also expected to be added in the future. Update (17/3): A Romanian soundtrack has now been added to the channel.

Update (20/2): The Hungary-based media sales house R-time will handle ad-sales for NickToons Magyarország!

NickToons Magyarország will join VIMN's two other dedicated children's channels in Hungary: Nickelodeon Magyarország (a version of Nickelodeon Central and Eastern Europe with a Hungarian soundtrack) for kids aged 4-12 years old, and Nick Jr. Magyarország (a version of Nick Jr. CEE with a Hungarian soundtrack) for children aged 2-6 years. Nicktoons is expected to be aimed towards boys and girls aged 6-to-10 years.

Although unconfirmed, it is thought that NickToons Magyarország will be a simulcast of Nicktoons Poland (Polska), which launched last year. The channel is already designed for international markets, and uses generic on-air design (including bumpers and idents). Nickelodeon commenced testing for a Hungarian version of Nicktoons on the channel during Autumn 2018 by transmitting episodes of Bunsen Is a Beast and SpongeBob SquarePants with a Hungarian audio track on the English audio channel, so it's highly likely this will be the Nicktoons channel that will become available in Hungary.

Nicktoons Magyarország will air a wide range of programming from Nickelodeon's vast library of hit animated series, including SpongeBob SquarePants (SpongyaBob Kockanadrág), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (Tini Nindzsa Teknőcök), Bunsen Is a Beast (Bunsen, a bestia), Sanjay and Craig (Sanjay és Craig), T.U.F.F. Puppy (S.T.R.A.M.M. - A kém kutya), King Fu Panda, Avatar the Last Airbender (Avatár - Aang legendája), The Legend of Korra (Korra legendája), Penguins of Madagascar (A Madagaszkár pinginvjei), Rabbids Invasion (Rabbids: Invázió), Harvey Beaks (Csőrös Harvey), Pig Goat Banana Cricket (Malac, Kecske, Banán, Tücsök), Breadwinners (Kenyérkirályok), and ToonMarty, and launch new series, including Welcome to the Wayne (Üdv a Wayne-ben vagy), Mysticons and The Adventures of Kid Danger (Veszélyes Tini kalandjai). Acquired series include .


Nicktoons is currently available on multiple markets around the world, including in the USA, UK, Germany, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Japan and Turkey.

The news follows Viacom launching the SVOD service Paramount+, featuring Nickelodeon programming in Hungary, and the launch of Nicktoons Russia (Россия) in December 2018.