Sunday, June 15, 2014

Nickelodeon News Round-Up - Issue 12

Below is a selection of articles from around the internet which feature news, commentary and information about Nickelodeon:

Ariana Grande To Perform At NBC's 2014 "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular"

The American commercial broadcast television and radio network NBC has announced the exciting Nickelodeon Star news in the following press release, from The Futon Critic, that Nickelodeon Star Ariana Grande ("Sam & Cat", "Victorious") will be performing at "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks Spectacular" Independence Day celebrations celebrating the birth of the USA!

Hosted by Nickelodeon Star Nick Cannon ("All That", "The Nick Cannon Show", "Rags", "TeenNick Halo Awards" and the Chairman of 'TeenNick'), the show will air on Friday 4th July 2014 (8-10pm ET/PT) with an encore presentation at 10pm highlighting the second hour of the special.

Original NBC Press Release:

ARIANA GRANDE, HUNTER HAYES, MIRANDA LAMBERT AND LIONEL RICHIE TO PERFORM ON NBC'S ANNUAL "MACY'S FOURTH OF JULY FIREWORKS(R) SPECTACULAR"

"America's Got Talent" Host Nick Cannon to Emcee the Two-Hour Live Telecast (8-10 p.m. ET/PT)

New York - June 5, 2014 - NBC celebrates the nation's birthday with all-star performances by Ariana Grande, Hunter Hayes, Miranda Lambert and Lionel Richie on the live broadcast of the "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks(R) Spectacular."

Hosted by "America's Got Talent's" Nick Cannon, the show will air Friday, July 4 (8-10 p.m. ET/PT) with an encore presentation at 10 p.m. highlighting the second hour of the special.

"NBC is thrilled to once again join with Macy's to celebrate the 4th of July," said Doug Vaughan, Executive Vice President, Special Programs and Late Night, NBC Entertainment. "We have an incredible array of musical performers to complement the fireworks spectacle from the iconic Brooklyn Bridge."

The Brooklyn Bridge will serve as a dramatic stage for dazzling pyrotechnics as the 38th annual "Macy's 4th of July Fireworks(R) Spectacular" returns to the East River. Set to deliver the nation's largest display of patriotic firepower and ready to dazzle more than 3 million spectators and millions on television, the Macy's Fireworks will be launched from barges positioned on the lower East River.

"Macy's 4th of July Fireworks are a one-of-a-kind spectacle that will once again inspire audiences nationwide as we illuminate the shores of lower Manhattan and Brooklyn with stunning effects, color and sound," said Amy Kule, executive producer of Macy's 4th of July Fireworks. "We are thrilled to be working with our partners in the City of New York to have the magnificent Brooklyn Bridge as our canvas and stunning backdrop for this year's bigger-than life display.

Since 1976 Macy's Fireworks have grown in scale and artistry as they burst to life over many of New York City's waterways and neighborhoods. Incorporating landmarks and milestones is a Macy's Fireworks signature. Macy's last showcased the Brooklyn Bridge in its fireworks spectacle in 1995. This year's creative presentation of the bridge's renowned architecture will reach new heights of imagination during the 25-minute display.

Said Kule, "We've had our eye set to feature this world-famous landmark in our show for many years and with the advancements in pyrotechnic technology and artistry, we expect to create jaw-dropping effects that will delight millions of spectators as this quintessential New York icon joins the 4th of July party.

Ariana Grande first landed at the top with her first full-length album for Republic Records, "Yours Truly." It debuted at #1 on the Billboard Top 200, Billboard Digital Albums Chart, and iTunes Overall Albums Chart. In the aftermath, she was named "Best New Artist" at the American Music Awards in 2013. The first single from her sophomore album, "Problem" featuring Iggy Azalea, saw her become the "youngest woman to debut with over 400K sold first-week". In addition to ranking as the 4th "highest digital song debut for a female artist" and 8th highest ever, the platinum smash debuted at #1 on 50 countries, topping the iTunes overall Top Songs and Pop Songs charts for four weeks. At radio, it went Top 10 at Top 40 and Top 5 at Rhythm. Other accolades include "Favorite Breakout Artist" at the People's Choice Awards earlier this year, the "Young Influencer Award" at the iHeartRadio Music Awards, the "Radio Disney Chart Topper Award," and more.

Hunter Hayes, a Louisiana-born Nashville-based singer, songwriter and multi-instrumentalist, released his self-titled debut album in 2011. Hayes has watched his album top the Billboard Country chart, earn Platinum certification and spawn three No. 1 country singles - the 4x-Platinum "Wanted" and "Somebody's Heartbreak," while its 2013 reissue "Encore" also sold more than a million copies and featured the Top 5 Platinum-selling single "I Want Crazy." Hayes has also earned four Grammy nominations, including "Best New Artist" in 2013. "I Want Crazy" was nominated this year for "Best Country Solo Performance." "Storyline," which is Hayes' new album, was released May 6.

Miranda Lambert is a four-time reigning CMA and five-time ACM Female Vocalist of the Year, a Grammy winner with three award-winning Albums of the Year under her belt, and a happily married woman whose personal foundation, MuttNation, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for pet shelters across the country. Her fifth album, "Platinum" was released on June 3 on RCA Records Nashville. Lambert balances her music career with MuttNation and her budding entrepreneurial side - she's opened two Pink Pistol boutiques in Texas and Oklahoma.

Lionel Richie is an international superstar who has sold 100 million albums worldwide. Richie is an Oscar winner, five-time Grammy winner, 16-time American Music Award winner, Golden Globe winner, five-time People's Choice Award winner and a World Music Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. Richie has a discography of albums and singles second to none, and is part of the fabric of American pop music. Richie and Irving Berlin are the only two songwriters in history to achieve the honor of having #1 records for nine consecutive years. In 2013 Richie launched a global tour entitled "All the Hits, All Night Long" and he has proved to fans that he can deliver exactly that. A two-hour set spanning his entire catalogue of music has led to a fan frenzy and high praise from press around the world. Richie has taken the tour to every part of the globe, including Europe, Asia, Australia, the Middle East and North America.

Cited by People magazine as one of the 'Top 10 most successful young people in Hollywood' and featured on the covers of magazine's such as Complex and Black Enterprises' 40 Under 40, Nick Cannon, is a successful, multi-faceted entertainer - film star, comedian, TV and radio host, musician, writer, director, executive producer and philanthropist. Cannon currently serves as host of NBC's No. 1 summer reality hit "America's Got Talent."

The telecast is a production of Universal Television in association with Macy's. It is produced by Brad Lachman Productions with Lachman serving as executive producer. Bill Bracken is producer.

Lachman's credits include a variety of NBC specials, including the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade," "Christmas in Rockefeller Center," in addition to the last three years of "Michael Bublé's Christmas Special".

For more information and photos from the show please visit the NBC Universal Media Village website at http://www.nbcumv.com/mediavillage/

Please like us on http://www.facebook.com/nbc and follow us at http://twitter.com/nbc

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Rob Dyrdek's "Wild Grinders" Goes Mobile With Bubble Gum Interactive For New App

Home Plate Entertainment and Wild Grinders, LLC have announced in the following press release that they have partnered with the Australian game development studio Bubble Gum Interactive to create a brand-new "Wild Grinders" App based on the hit NickToons USA animated skateboarding-themed series!


The game will be available on both iOS and Android platforms and is being slated to be released in the 3rd Quarter of 2014.

Original Home Plate Entertainment, Wild Grinders, LLC and Bubble Gum Interactive Press Release, from BubblegumInteractive.com:

Rob Dyrdek's Wild Grinders goes mobile with Bubble Gum Interactive for new App

June 13th, 2014, [...]

Home Plate Entertainment and Wild Grinders, LLC have partnered with game development studio Bubble Gum Interactive to create a brand new Wild Grinders App based on the hit cartoon series.

Los Angeles, June 12, 2014 – Home Plate Entertainment (HPE), led by Four-Time Emmy winning Industry veteran and Producer, Bill Schultz, announced today a deal to develop a mobile gaming App based on the studio's hit animated skateboarding series, Rob Dyrdek's Wild Grinders. The game which will be available on both iOS and Android platforms is being developed in collaboration with Wild Grinders LLC and Australian based Bubble Gum Interactive (BGI), creators of the multi-award winning games, including Cake Bake Blitz and Space Heroes Universe!

Slated to launch in the 3rd Quarter of this year, the game will be marketed as a free-to-play game, with In-App Purchasing required for certain additional extras, characters, skateboards, costumes and "unlocks" for levels not available with the free download. "The team at Bubble Gum is so passionate about the brand and the game – and they know how to translate that passion in to an amazing game" stated Schultz. "I'm truly excited seeing the Wild Grinders mobile app come to life. The brand itself has grown so much since our launch. From toys to an animated series, and now a Mobile Game, it's Amazing! We were looking for the right partner to bring Wild Grinders to this category and now we have it", explained Tracy Tubera Co-Creator & Creative Director for Wild Grinders.

"The game is in the style of the extremely popular "endless run action mayhem" games, where the player chooses a character and skates through as many levels as possible while performing tricks, collecting power-ups, dodging obstacles and evading the pursuing security guards!" described Bubble Gum Interactive CEO Phil Mason. "As points and items are collected, players will be able to progress and unlock new characters and levels. We are also adding a super cool social leaderboard and player-vs-player system so fans can challenge and track their progress against friends from all over the world. It is cutting edge and should be great fun".

The Wild Grinders series, currently in its second season on Nicktoons in the US, is loosely based on the childhood skate crew of creator, and pro-skater turned TV star, Rob Dyrdek, who also performs the voice of main protagonist Lil Rob, a charismatic young skateboarding phenom in the series who embodies imaginative and hilarious fantastical adventures with over-the-top street skateboarding tricks. The extensive and imaginative Wild Grinder cartoon universe is an abundantly rich basis for BGI's veteran team to create the mobile game, which will be available around the world.

About Home Plate Entertainment

(HPE) is the Studio founded by four-time Emmy award winning animation industry veteran producer Bill Schultz. Headquartered in Los Angeles, it is positioned to offer a range of top level Production, IP Development, Financing, Exec Producing, and International TV Distribution services to its partners and clients, on a "custom fit" basis." Prior to HPE, Bill Schultz, ran independent Animation studios Film Roman and Moonscoop for over 20 years and is also well known for producing a wide range of hit programs, from "The Simpsons", "King of the Hill", "Garfield & Friends" and "Bobby's World" to "Ed, Edd & Eddy" and "Scholastic's Clifford the Big Red Dog", Mattel's re-launch of "He–Man Masters of the Universe", and "Cartoon Network's Hero 108".

About Wild Grinders, LLC

Wild Grinders LLC is a kids entertainment brand created by professional skateboarder & TV personality Rob Dyrdek. Wild Grinders is a perfect entry point for younger kids into the world of skateboarding. The brand teaches kids across the globe the camaraderie & unique self-expression of the skateboard culture all with an action packed & humorous style.

About Bubble Gum Interactive

Bubble Gum Interactive is an independent game development studio headquartered in Sydney, Australia. Our mission is to create compelling and engaging gaming experiences with a focus on fun, creativity, quality and story. Our kids online game, Space Heroes Universe! is a multi-award winning kids virtual world in which players create their own hero and explore a galaxy full of fun and adventure. Our games for mobile, including Cake Bake Blitz and Jetpack Jinx are available for Google Play and Apple iOS with more games launching later in 2014. Discover more at www.bubbleguminteractive.com

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Nickelodeon India Acquires "Extreme Football"; To Premiere Show In August 2014; Reliance Industries Takes Over Network18

The animation news website Animation World Network (AWN) is reporting in the following article that Zodiak Kids, a global independent leader in kids entertainment, has announced the exciting Nickelodeon International News that Nickelodeon India has picked up the broadcast rights to "Extreme Football", a brand-new 39 x 26' CG-animated series produced by Tele Images Productions, and will start to premiere and show the series in August 2014.


"Extreme Football" has also been acquired by broadcasters in the UK, Israel, India, Finland and China.

Zodiak Kids is also delighted to announce the launch of the "Extreme Football Runner" app in France, where "Extreme Football" is currently airing on public channel France 3 and ranks as the channel's #1 new kids' show of the year. Fans of the series and extreme football alike can now also download the dedicated app designed by Happy Blue Fish on iOs and android devices. In "Extreme Football Runner", the player needs to help Samy race his opponents and overcome a series of hurdles whether in a parking lot, outdoors, on a construction site or in a greenhouse.

"Extreme Football" is an urban spin-off of traditional five-a-side incorporating elements of free running and acrobatics. Created by and for children, as soon as Samy discovers it he is determined to captain a team. He sets about recruiting his closest friend Greg and Mediterranean girl Ines as defenders, quick-witted Luna as the star striker and hyperactive Joey as goalkeeper. Together they form The Team. Competing in a shopping mall still under construction, rivalries are based on players' dedication to creativity, craft and skill. The Team's sworn enemies are The Dark Sides, who use dirty tactics – provocation, trickery and hoaxes. Trained by Samy's stepbrother Tag, can The Team win with style? "Extreme Football" is co-produced with Italian studio Maga Animation, in partnership with XYZ Digital Animation in China.

In additional Nickelodeon India news, the entertainment news website C21Media is reporting in a separate article, also below, that the Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries has acquired a controlling stake in Network18 Group, Viacom's joint venture partner in India, for US$680m. The deal will give Reliance, which is backed by India's richest man, Mukesh Ambani, a 78% stake in the Indian media giant, which runs news and entertainment channels and an e-commerce business. It also has a local joint venture with US media conglomerate Viacom called Viacom18, which includes channels such as MTV India, Nickelodeon India and Comedy Central.

From AWN:
Zodiak Kids Scores New Territories for 'Extreme Football'

CGI animated series 'Extreme Football,' produced by Tele Images Productions, is sold to a raft of territories ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

[...]

Zodiak Kids announces that Extreme Football, the 39 x 26' CGI animated series produced by Tele Images Productions, has been sold to raft of territories ahead of the 2014 World Cup.

New agreements have been concluded with broadcasters in the UK, Israel, India, Finland and China.

In Israel, Extreme Football has already kicked off on Talit (Junior Channel) where the show launched on 8th June.

In China, Extreme Football will be available on the highly popular youth VOD platforms IQiYi, Tencent and Youku throughout the World Cup. Nickelodeon India has also acquired Extreme Football and will launch the series shortly after the competition ends in August.

Extreme Football will make its UK debut on BBC Alba in early July and will air on MTV Oy Finland later this year.

In France, Extreme Football is currently airing on public channel France 3 and ranks as the channel's #1 new kids' show of the year.

Zodiak Kids is also delighted to announce the launch of the Extreme Football Runner app in France. Fans of the series and extreme football alike can now also download the dedicated app designed by Happy Blue Fish on iOs and android devices. In Extreme Football Runner, the player needs to help Samy race his opponents and overcome a series of hurdles whether in a parking lot, outdoors, on a construction site or in a greenhouse.

Extreme football is coproduced with Italian studio Maga Animation, in partnership with XYZ Digital Animation in China.

Extreme Football is an urban spin off of traditional five-a-side incorporating elements of free running and acrobatics. Created by and for children, as soon as Samy discovers it he is determined to captain a team. He sets about recruiting his closest friend Greg and Mediterranean girl Ines as defenders, quick-witted Luna as the star striker and hyperactive Joey as goalkeeper. Together they form The Team. Competing in a shopping mall still under construction, rivalries are based on players' dedication to creativity, craft and skill. The Team's sworn enemies are The Dark Sides, who use dirty tactics – provocation, trickery and hoaxes. Trained by Samy's stepbrother Tag, can The Team win with style?

Source: Zodiak Kids
Also, from C21Media:
Reliance takes over Network18

Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries has acquired a controlling stake in Network18 Group, Viacom’s joint venture partner in India, for US$680m.

The deal will give Reliance, which is backed by India’s richest man, Mukesh Ambani, a 78% stake in the Indian media giant, which runs news and entertainment channels and an e-commerce business.

It also has a local joint venture with US media conglomerate Viacom called Viacom18, which includes channels such as MTV India, Nickelodeon India and Comedy Central.

The acquisition follows Reliance’s investment in Network18 in 2012, which allowed it to acquire smaller local rival ETV’s channel assets in a deal worth nearly US$400m.

Reliance, which is also a major player in the oil and gas industries, will now target the 4G business with Network18′s digital properties, including websites moneycontrol.com and firstpost.com.

“This acquisition will differentiate Reliance’s 4G business by providing a unique amalgamation at the intersection of telecoms, web and digital commerce via a suite of premier digital properties,” the company said in a statement.

Reliance previously had a joint venture with CBS Studios International that operated three channels in India, but the three-year partnership came to an end earlier this year.

Nico Franks
30-05-2014
©C21Media

TAGS: Mergers and Acquisitions
COMPANIES: Network18 Group, Reliance Industries, Viacom
SECTIONS: C21Drama, C21Factual, Formats Lab
COUNTRIES: India, US

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AmeriGO RV Club Blogger Susie Kellogg And Her Full-time RVing Family To Be Featured On "Nick News With Linda Ellerbee" Special "12 For The Road", Premiering Tuesday 17th June 2014 On Nickelodeon USA

AmeriGO RV Club, the newest RV consumer organization in the RV industry, has announced in the following press release, from PRWeb, that Nickelodeon USA will premiere and show the latest brand-new "Nick News with Linda Ellerbee" special episode, called "12 For The Road", on Tuesday 17th June 2014 at 8:00pm (ET/PT). The all-new "Nick News" special will focus on kids with non-traditional lives, and will showcase the day-to-day life of popular AmeriGO RV Club blogger Susie Kellogg and her 14-member family who travel across the USA full-time in their RV.

For the special, the "Nick News" film crew followed the twelve Kellogg children and their parents for nine days to document their non-traditional RV home life and on-the-road lifestyle, filming them snowboarding, kayaking on rivers and waterfalls, paintballing, camping, having family dinners, enjoying campfires, and much more. The special will also share insightful information about RVing full-time with kids via interviews with Susie Kellogg, her husband Dan and their kids.

Original AmeriGO RV Club Press Release:

AmeriGO RV Club Blogger Susie Kellogg and Her Full-time RVing Family to be Featured on Nick News with Linda Ellerbee

Nick News is scheduled to air a half-hour TV special, “12 For The Road,” on Nickelodeon, that will focus on kids living non-traditional lives. The show is to air on Tuesday, June 16th, 2014 at 8:00 pm ET and will feature the exciting lifestyle of AmeriGO RV Club blogger Susie Kellogg and her family of 14 who travel across the country via RV full-time.



The Kellogg Family Kids To Be Featured on Nick News

Charlotte, NC (PRWEB) June 13, 2014

AmeriGO RV Club, the newest RV consumer organization in the RV industry, is proud to announce that one of its popular bloggers Susie Kellogg and her family are scheduled to be featured on Nickelodeon's Nick News TV show with Linda Ellerbee. The half-hour special, "12 For The Road," is focused on kids with non-traditional lives, showcasing the day-to-day life of the 14-member Kellogg family who travel across country full-time in their RV. The show is set to air on Tuesday, June 17th, 2014 at 8:00 PM E/T on Nickelodeon.

The Nick News crew followed the twelve Kellogg children and their parents for nine days to document their non-traditional RV home life and on-the-road lifestyle, filming them snowboarding, kayaking on rivers and waterfalls, paintballing, camping, having family dinners, enjoying campfires, and much more. The special will also share insightful information about RVing full-time with kids via interviews with Susie Kellogg, her husband Dan and their kids.

"It is wonderful that Nick News is sharing our way of life, filming us in our natural habitat...outside, living a very healthy, simple, and exciting life," said Susie Kellogg. "Our choice to travel across the country in our RV full-time offers us ample time to spend together as a family, where evening entertainment is fire building and ghost stories instead of hurried dinners and TV watching ...we are ordinary people living extraordinary lives."

"We are thrilled that Nickelodeon's Nick News has chosen to feature the life of the Kellogg family and Susie, one of AmeriGO's acclaimed bloggers," said Mike Schneider, CEO of AmeriGO RV Club. "Susie offers a real world perspective and terrific family travel insight as a positive proponent of the RVing world. Her family's drive to foster awareness of RVing and their on-the-road lifestyle is completely aligned with the goals of AmeriGO RV Club to continually promote the adventures of RVing. We look forward to sharing Susie's valuable information, expertise on traveling by RV with kids, and her personal family stories and adventures from the road through our AmeriGO blogs."

Nick News, produced by Lucky Duck Productions, is now in its 20th year and is the longest-running kids' news show in television history. It has built its reputation on the respectful and direct way it speaks to children about the important issues of the day. In 2009, Nick News was honored with its first ever Edward R. Murrow Award for "Network News Documentary" for the documentary special, "Coming Home: When Parents Return from War," marking the first-ever kids television program to receive the prestigious award.

Over the years, Nick News has received more than 20 Emmy nominations and recently won its ninth Emmy Award in the category of Outstanding Children's Nonfiction Program for "Under the Influence: Kids of Alcoholics." Additional Emmy wins for Outstanding Children's Programming include: "The Face of Courage: Kids Living with Cancer" (2010); "Coming Home: When Parents Return from War" (2009); "The Untouchable Kids of India" (2008); "Private Worlds: Kids and Autism" (2007); "From the Holocaust to the Sudan" (2005); "Faces of Hope: The Kids of Afghanistan" (2002); "What Are You Staring At?" (1998). In addition, in 1994, the entire series won the Emmy for Outstanding Children's Programming.

Nick News has also received three Peabody Awards, including a personal award given to Ellerbee for her coverage for kids of the President Clinton investigation, as well as two Columbia duPont Awards and more than a dozen Parents' Choice Awards.

About AmeriGO RV Club

AmeriGO RV Club is a modern, all-encompassing member-driven club for RV enthusiasts that serves the entire RV marketplace. The company presents consumers with valuable benefits, discounts and unique opportunities designed especially for RVers and features a highly advanced online destination and community for anything and everything related to RVing.

Follow AmeriGO RV Club via the company's page on Facebook at facebook.com/AmeriGOrvClub and via the company's Twitter channel at twitter.com/AmeriGOrvclub. For additional information or to become a member, visit AmeriGOrv.com.

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Contact
Marlene Oliver
NJC Communications
305-491-0512
[...]
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