Monday, March 24, 2014

Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products Outlines Five Steps To A Successful 2014

The licensing industry news website Licensing.biz is reporting the exciting Nickelodeon News in the following article that Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products recently revealed the five steps that will help them achieve success during 2014 at their annual upfront presentation and cocktail event!


The event, held on Tuesday 18th March 2014 at Cargo Hall in Melbourne, Australia, welcomed over 200 guests from the Australian and New Zealand toy and licensing industry and showcased NVCP's property portfolio.

"First, we'll grow our preschool market share by not only continuing to invest and invigorate "Dora the Explorer", but also by launching "Paw Patrol" and other IP in our pipeline," said Mark Kingston, General Manager (GM) and Senior Vice President (SVP), Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products Europe, Russia, Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

"Second, we'll carefully grow and expand our boys' business by leveraging the success of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles".

"Third, we'll continue to build on the ongoing global success of the "SpongeBob SquarePants" franchise with innovative ideas, creative, marketing, and a second theatrical movie.

"Fourth, because we're for kids of all ages, we will continue to leverage our adult portfolio, anchored by the MTV brand to target millennial consumers with lifestyle offerings.

"And finally, we will deepen and strengthen our relationship with retailers."

NVCP, together with Haven, also acknowledged key retailers and licensees at a special Nickelodeon Consumer Products Choice Awards ceremony.

MJM Australia won 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award, Funtastic picked up the 2014 Product Innovation Award, Caprice Australia won 2014 Partner of the Year Award, HeadStart International collected the 2014 Marketing Excellence Award and Target Australia triumphed with the 2014 Retail Marketing Excellence Award:
Nickelodeon outlines five steps to a successful 2014

Revealed plan at the Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products annual upfront presentation and cocktail event.

Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products revealed the five steps that will help them achieve success this year at its annual upfront presentation and cocktail event.

The event, held on March 18th at Cargo Hall in Melbourne, welcomed over 200 guests from the Australian and New Zealand toy and licensing industry and showcased NVCP’s property portfolio.

“First, we'll grow our preschool market share by not only continuing to invest and invigorate Dora the Explorer, but also by launching Paw Patrol and other IP in our pipeline," said Mark Kingston, general manager and senior vice president, Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products Europe, Russia, Middle East, Africa, Australia and New Zealand.

"Second, we'll carefully grow and expand our boys’ business by leveraging the success of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

"Third, we'll continue to build on the ongoing global success of the SpongeBob SquarePants franchise with innovative ideas, creative, marketing, and a second theatrical movie.

"Fourth, because we're for kids of all ages, we will continue to leverage our adult portfolio, anchored by the MTV brand to target millennial consumers with lifestyle offerings.

"And finally, we will deepen and strengthen our relationship with retailers.”

NVCP, together with Haven, also acknowledged key retailers and licensees at a Nickelodeon Consumer Products Choice Awards ceremony.

MJM Australia won 2014 Lifetime Achievement Award, Funtastic picked up the 2014 Product Innovation Award, Caprice Australia won 2014 Partner of the Year Award, HeadStart International collected the 2014 Marketing Excellence Award and Target Australia triumphed with the 2014 Retail Marketing Excellence Award.

“Our partnerships are integral to the success of our business," said Ben Richardson, senior vice president and general manager of MTV and Nickelodeon ANZ

"Here in Australia and New Zealand, we have over 4.1 million touch points via TV, online and live events and our job is to leverage and build on these touch points in order to maximise our portfolio and grow our business.

"We have worked hard on evolving our businesses from pure TV platforms into unique and diverse entertainment brands delivering unforgettable experiences for our audiences."

Kingston added: “Nickelodeon has momentum, a dynamic plan, and – most of all – really exciting, and merchandisable content.

"Now more than ever, our networks and consumer products operations are in an enviable place around the globe and we have a great team, exciting properties and are aligned across our global brands and businesses.”

TAGS: nickelodeon

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for all the latest Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products News!

The Jim Henson Company Welcomes New European Partners For "Dinosaur Train"

The licensing industry news website Licensing.biz is reporting the exciting preschool television news in the following article that The Jim Henson Company has welcomed a raft of new partners across Europe for their Emmy Award-nominated children's series "Dinosaur Train"!


In the UK, Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) has brokered a deal with Character World for the development of "Dinosaur Train" home décor.

A new television agreement, including a home entertainment deal, has been signed with Italy's Dall'Angelo for season three of "Dinosaur Train" and with France's Studio Canal, who picked up the digital and home video rights for season two, while in Germany, LizenzWerft has negotiated agreements with Panini for publishing and WVG Medien GmbH for "Dinosaur Train" Apps.

A new television agreement, including a home entertainment deal, has been signed with Italy's Dall'Angelo for season three of "Dinosaur Train" and with France's Studio Canal, who picked up the digital and home video rights for season two.

In Spain, Selecta Vision signed deals with Montichelvo for stationery, Hot Shots Europe for candy toys and cookies and Accion Cultural S.L. for live shows and mall events.

The new partners join existing licensees in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Channel Islands including Aykroyd & Sons (children's nightwear and underwear), Smith & Brook (children's outerwear and swimwear) and Rainbow Productions (character meet and greets).

"Dinosaur Train" helps children discover new types of dinosaur species, compare dinosaurs to today's creatures and promotes critical thinking skills for pre-schoolers.

Created by Craig Bartlett, who also created the popular Classic Nickelodeon original animated series (Nicktoon) "Hey Arnold!", the series features a young Tyrannosaurus Rex named Buddy who, together with his adoptive Pteranodon family, takes the Dinosaur Train on a variety of adventures through prehistoric jungles, swamps, volcanoes and oceans to discover basic concepts in natural science, natural history and palaeontology. The show currently airs every day at 3pm on Nick Jr. UK & Eire. The Jim Henson Company appointed Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products to represent the merchandising business for the property within the UK and Ireland in September 2012:
Raft of new European partners catch the Dinosaur Train

Character World signs for home decor in the UK while in Germany, deals have been signed with Panini for publishing and WVG Medien GmbH for apps.

The Jim Henson Company’s Emmy Award-nominated children’s series Dinosaur Train has welcomed a raft of new partners across Europe.

A new television agreement, include a home entertainment deal, has been signed with Italy’s Dall’Angelo for season three of Dinosaur Train and with France’s Studio Canal, who picked up the digital and home video rights for season two.

Elsewhere, in the UK, Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products brokered a deal with Character World for the development of Dinosaur Train home décor while in Germany, LizenzWerft negotiated agreements with Panini for publishing and WVG Medien GmbH for Dinosaur Train Apps apps.

In Spain, Selecta Vision signed deals with Montichelvo for stationery, Hot Shots Europe for candy toys and cookies and Accion Cultural S.L. for live shows and mall events.

The new partners join existing licensees in the United Kingdom, Ireland and Channel Islands including Aykroyd & Sons (children’s nightwear and underwear), Smith & Brook (children’s outerwear and swimwear) and Rainbow Productions (character meet and greets).

“Europe continues to be a brisk and enthusiastic market for the Dinosaur Train brand, as more broadcasters, content distributors and consumer licensing partners get on board the Dinosaur Train," said Richard Goldsmith, EVP of global distribution for The Jim Henson Company.

“By leveraging our young audience’s innate attraction to all things dinosaur and any vehicle that travels down a track, Buddy and his friends make exploring the natural world fun and exciting. And when you can engage the kids, you earn the attention, interest and support of parents, broadcasters and licensing partners.”

Dinosaur Train helps children discover new types of dinosaur species, compare dinosaurs to today's creatures and promotes critical thinking skills for pre-schoolers.

TAGS: dinosaur train,the jim henson company

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for all the latest Nick Jr. UK and Dinosaur Train News!

Character Options Unveils New "Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom" Merchandise Line

The monthly trade magazine for the toy business ToyNews is reporting the exciting "Ben & Holly" news in the following article that Character Options and Entertainment One recently unveiled a brand-new collection of "Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom" toys at the London Toy Fair 2014, coupled with a visit from the show's title characters!



Ben & Holly at the 2014 London Toy Fair. Photo from The Telegraph

The toy company was recently granted worldwide rights for the master toy collection that will be available at retail from July 2014, featuring plastic figures, accessories, playsets and plush toys based on Nick Jr. UK's popular animated preschool series by Astley Baker Davies Ltd.:

Gary Parker, the senior product development manager at Character Options and the man responsible for the new designs, was on hand to present the new "Ben & Holly" merchandise collection:
TOY FAIR 2014: Character Options reveals new Ben and Holly product line


New range will feature plastic figures, play sets accessories and plush toys

Character Options and Entertainment One unveiled a new collection of Ben and Holly toys at Toy Fair, coupled with a visit from the show's title characters.

The toy firm was recently granted worldwide rights for the master toy collection that will be available at retail from July this year, featuring plastic figures, accessories, playsets and plush toys.

Senior product develpoment manager and man responsible for the new designs, Gary Parker, was on hand to present the new collection.

Parker said: “Ben and Holly is a lovely licence to work with and has set new challenges for me as toy designer to come up with something that would bring its magic to life in a brand new way.

"We at Character are delighted with the launch collection which we believe will give Ben and Holly a place in the toy market that matches its position as a TV favourite.”

Hannah Mungo, eOne, added: “Over the past ten years Character Options has proved to be one of our most valuable partners and we are thrilled to be working with the team on another master toy collection.

"This new range perfectly represents the enchanting nature of the Magic Kingdom that children aged three to six already love through the TV series and books. We believe its launch will mark a major milestone for the property.”

TAGS: character options,toy fair 2014,ben and holly

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nick Jr. UK and Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom News!

Nickelodeon India Acquires Rights To "The Jungle Bunch to The Rescue"

The entertainment news website C21Media is reporting the exciting Nickelodeon India News in the following article that Nickelodeon India has picked up the broadcast rights to the first season of the award-winning French animated series "The Jungle Bunch to The Rescue" (52x11') from PGS Entertainment!


The HD CGI-animated series follows the incredible story of how a penguin's egg fell-off the ice-flow and somehow made it's way to the jungle. Adopted and raised by an affectionate tigress, Maurice has grown up into a very diligent hunter. He is now totally convinced that he is a tiger and has full status as king, and coach, of the jungle. Maurice divides his time between hunting, re-painting his tiger stripes and teaching his own adopted son, Junior the tiger fish, top hunting tricks. Maurice, Junior and all their jungle buddies form a happy, go-lucky but rather dysfunctional family. Discover Miguel the punchy Gorilla, Fred the Warthog crooner, Gilbert the paranoid Tarsier, Al & Bob the inseparable tongue-twisting toads and Batricia the Bat who is afraid of the dark.

The cartoon is produced by Tat Productions and Master Films in partnership with Seaworld and was commissioned by French public broadcaster France Télévision and Super RTL following a successful series of shorts and feature-length special. A second season and a theatrical feature film/movie are currently in development, with a extensive consumer products program, featuring merchandise based on the series in the home entertainment, publishing, plush, apps and games categories, due to be rolled out in 2014:
Int'l nets catch Jungle fever

Broadcasters in Europe, the Middle East, North America and Asia have picked up French animated series The Jungle Bunch to The Rescue from PGS Entertainment.

Rai Cinema (Italy), RTS (French-speaking Switzerland), Clan (Spain), Canal Panda (Portugal), Cartoon Network (Germany and Poland), MTV3 (Finland), NRK (Norway) and Pixel Channel (Ukraine) have all acquired the 52×11′ series from distributor PGS.

Elsewhere, Irib in Iran, Télé-Québec in Canada, Nickelodeon in India, and ABC in Australia will also air the series, which features characters including a penguin who thinks he’s a tiger and a singing warthog.

The toon is produced by Tat Productions and Master Films in partnership with Seaworld and was commissioned by pubcaster France Télévision and Super RTL following a successful series of shorts and feature-length special.

Nico Franks
19-03-2014
©C21Media
GENRES: Animation, Children's
SHOWS: The Jungle Bunch
COMPANIES: PGS Entertainment
SECTIONS: C21Kids
COUNTRIES: Canada, Finland, France, India, Iran, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Switzerland, Ukraine

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon India News!

Palladium Boots Unveils New "SpongeBob SquarePants" Range Designed By Marcus Troy

Palladium Boots has announced in a post on the company's official blog the exciting Nickelodeon news that the footwear manufacturer has teamed up with Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids and families, and the all-star designer Marcus Troy to create a brand-new collaborative boots range inspired by Nickelodeon's hit original animated series (Nicktoon) "SpongeBob SquarePants"!


The Marcus Troy x Palladium x Spongebob collaborative boots features visual references to Bikini Bottom's most famous resident, such as a red Faux-Silk inner lining, woven tongue label imprinted with SpongeBob's tie, shirt and shorts, plus twin white tabs on the vamp, inspired by SpongeBob's two front teeth.


Marcus Troy and Palladium Boots' reinterpretations of "SpongeBob SquarePants" is available to buy now via Palladium Boots' online store, www.palladiumboots.com, with a retail price of $180 USD.


To celebrate the new collaboration, Troy himself has shared photos of the new collaborative boots on official display over at his official website!
Marcus Troy x Palladium x Spongebob

Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? You know who: Spongebob Squarepants, Nickelodeon's lovable, porous undersea cartoon personality. The square-panted one is also the subject of a new Palladium Boots collaboration, helmed by none other than all-star designer Marcus Troy!

Troy himself has shared photos of the new collaborative boots on official display over at his website. And naturally, the internet fashion massive is excited about this rare confluence of styles, with features on Freshness Mag, Media Anarchist and elsewhere.

Check it out!

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and SpongeBob SquarePants News!

Nickelodeon USA Acquires Rights To "Mia and Me"; To Premiere New Show In April 2014

The children's entertainment and media news website Kidscreen and the official website of World Screen, a publication which covers the international media business, are reporting the exciting Nickelodeon news that Nickelodeon USA has picked up the broadcast rights to the popular live action/CG-animated fantasy television series "Mia and Me" from the Italian animation studio Rainbow S.r.l. ("Winx Club", "Huntik: Secrets & Seekers") and its co-production partners Lucky Punch and M4e in Germany and will start to premiere and show "Mia and Me" from April 2014!


The first season of "Mia and Me" has been snapped up by more than 70 broadcasters in countries around the globe. "Mia and Me" recently premiered on Nickelodeon UK in January 2014 and also currently airs on Nickelodeon South East Asia (on Nickelodeon Philippines, Nickelodeon Singapore and Nickelodeon Malaysia), Nickelodeon Benelux (comprising of Nickelodeon Belgium (België), Nickelodeon Netherlands (Nederland), and Luxembourg), and on Nickelodeon Scandinavia (comprising of Nickelodeon Denmark (Danmark) and Nickelodeon Sweden (Sverige)).

""Mia and me" mixes high production values with funny, exciting and original scripts, which makes it very popular with audiences and attractive to broadcasters," said Luana Perrero, the head of sales for TV Rainbow Group. "We are delighted to be welcoming all these respected broadcasters to the fold and I'm sure Mia and me will prove as big a hit in France, Australia, the U.S. and Brazil as it has in so many territories across the world."

Additionally, "Mia and Me" will premiere on Brazil's Gloob on Monday 14th April 2014, Australia's Eleven in late May, and on Gulli in France soon. As well as Nick UK, Clan TVE in Spain also recently debuted the series.

"Mia and Me" is also now headed to Gulli in France. The show is also due to debut on Brazil's Gloob on April 14, Australia's Eleven in late May and Nickelodeon in the U.S. next month.

A second season of "Mia and Me" is slated to begin airing in late 2014/early 2015, and a feature film is expected to be released in theaters/cinemas in 2016.

Additionally, a full range of merchandise will launch this year in established territories, including a toy line from international toy partner Mattel. Other partners include Ravensburger, Egmont, Unilever, Nestle and Panini, who has just unveiled it's second sticker collection based on the popular kids' property, "Mia and Me", with The Unicorns of Centopia, reports Licensing.biz. Launched in March 2014, the collection features a 32 page glitter embossed sticker album and 192 stickers. Tying in with the first edition that launched in Spring 2013, the new series' content will focus on the Unicorns of Centopia who will feature on a series of special stickers, complemented with background scenes in the album. "The stories, all about the magical fantasy world of Centopia, are a slice of good fortune for Panini", said Stephanie Schlag, the marketing manager for entertainment stickers at Panini Publishing in Stuttgart. "The first collection far exceeded all our expectations, and we are therefore pleased to be able to offer our young collectors a second edition." To support the launch and reinforce the importance it places on the licensing subject, Panini is increasing its investment in samplings, school co-operations, competitions and trade displays.

From Kidscreen:
Mia and Me gets US deal, more global broadcasters

Italian prodco Rainbow and co-pro partners Lucky Punch and M4e in Germany have announced a raft of new broadcasting deals for their series Mia and me, including one with Nickelodeon US.

action/CGI series combines fantasy, adventure and comedy, and chronicles the adventures of 12-year old Mia as she juggles her life in the real world with another role in the magical kingdom of Centopia. In addition to the January launch on Nickelodeon in the UK , Nick US will bow the series next month. Other new TV partners on board include Gulli (France), Gloob (Brazil), where the show is set to launch on April 14, and Eleven (Australia), where it will bow in late May.

Currently, the first season of the series has more than 70 broadcasters in more than 80 territories. And the second season is slated for delivery in late 2014/early 2015 along with a feature film, which is planned for a theatrical release in 2016. Additionally, a full range of merchandise will launch this year in established territories, including a toy line from international toy partner Mattel. Other partners include Ravensburger, Egmont, Unilever, Nestle and Panini.

Tags: Gloob, Gulli, Lucky Punch, Mia and Me, Rainbow

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon News and Highlights!