Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Heelys To Sponsor Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards 2015 In Pan-European Sponsorship Deal

The modern marketing and media news website The Drum is reporting the exciting Nickelodeon International News in the following article that the children's skate-shoe brand, Heelys, has announced it will partner with Nickelodeon in a seven-figure, pan-European sponsorship deal of the Nickelodeon 2015 Kids' Choice Awards (KCA 2015)!

As part of the partnership, Heelys' products will be broadcast on the kids network's TV and online advertising channels throughout the year in the countdown to Nickelodeon's 28th Annual Kids' Choice Awards event, which will be held in Los Angeles March 2015.

This drive will be supported by additional promotional activities such as off-air marketing and 'money can't buy' competitions offering prizes such as VIP tickets to Nick's KCA 2015 awards ceremony in LA.

The new deal will span 13 European countries - the UK, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

Nickelodeon's 28th Annual Kids' Choice Awards, the only awards show in which kids are encouraged to vote, will reach an estimated TV audience of 375 million households, being broadcast worldwide in 25 languages.

Earlier this year, Nickelodeon UK signed up snack brand Bear for a series of TV ads featuring its new brand mascot earlier this year:
Heelys to sponsor Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards in TV and online ad drive



Actor Mark Wahlberg's sliming at this year's awards

Kids skate-shoe brand, Heelys, has announced it will partner with Nickelodeon in a seven-figure, pan-European sponsorship deal of the 2015 Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards (KCAs).

Heelys' products will be broadcast on the kids network’s TV and online advertising channels throughout the year in the countdown to the 28th annual Nickelodeon KCA event in March 2015.

This drive will be supported by additional promotional activities such as off-air marketing and ‘money can’t buy’ competitions offering prizes such as VIP tickets to the KCA.

The new deal will span 13 European countries - the UK, Ireland, Austria, Belgium, Germany, Holland, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, France, Italy, Spain and Portugal.

The KCA, which is the only awards in which kids are encouraged to vote, will reach an estimated TV audience of 375 million households, being broadcast worldwide in 25 languages.

Vicki Ruddlesdin, marketing director Heelys Europe, said: "The brand fit between Nickelodeon and Heelys is obvious; both brands are fun, exciting and entertaining.

"The association with the Kids’ Choice Awards gives Heelys a platform to engage and interact with kids and parents throughout Europe across a number of media channels including TV, online and social."

Chris Shaw, executive vice president and managing director of sales for Viacom International Media Networks, said: "Heelys has tremendous international momentum. It has enormous credibility and is enjoyed by kids everywhere.

"The KCAs offer Heelys the ultimate vehicle to engage with kids on all platforms in a targeted and powerful way."

Nickelodeon signed up snack brand Bear for a series of TV ads featuring its new brand mascot earlier this year.

CATEGORY: ADVERTISINGMEDIA
LOCATION: EUROPE
SECTOR: FASHION
TAGS: HEELYS, NICKELODEON

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Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa To Launch Localised NickToons and Nick Jr. Channels On Tuesday 30th September 2014

The entertainment industry news magazine The Hollywood Reporter and the Broadband television business news website Broadband TV News are reporting the exciting Nickelodeon International News in the following articles that Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa will launch 24-hour localised (localized) versions of Nickelodeon's action and animation channel, NickToons, and Nickelodeon's preschool channel, Nick Jr. on the African ‎digital satellite TV service DStv‎ on Tuesday 30th September 2014!

Nick Jr. Africa will air hit Nickelodeon Preschool series such as "Dora the Explorer", "Bubble Guppies" and "Paw Patrol", whilst ‎Nicktoons Africa will offer series from Nickelodeon's animation library, including "The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron", "Rugrats" and "The Wild Thornberrys".

From THR.com:
Viacom to Launch Nick Jr., Nicktoons in Africa



‎Alex Okosi

The conglomerate says it now has more TV channels on the continent than any other international media company

Viacom's Viacom International Media Networks unit will broaden its entertainment channel offering on ‎digital satellite TV service DStv‎ in Africa‎ with the launch of Nick Jr. and Nicktoons and via an extension of the reach of BET International in South Africa. ‎

The moves come as Viacom continues to grow its African TV business. ‎

With the launch of the new channels at the end of the month, ‎‎VIMN Africa said it will deliver "more TV channels than any other international media company on the continent, with a total of eight distinct entertainment brands."‎

‎The other channels are MTV, MTV Base, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon and VH1 Classic‎. MTV Africa in late August moved to a new tier on DStv, reaching more households.‎

VIMN Africa channels are now available to more than 100 million viewers in more than 50 territories in sub-Saharan Africa via a combination of pay TV, terrestrial TV and IPTV networks.‎‎ As in other markets, the company offers its globally popular content and localized content.

See more MTV EMAs: Miley Cyrus, Redfoo and Other Highlights

‎"We are delighted to partner with MultiChoice to strengthen our kids and family and general entertainment offering in Africa," said ‎Alex Okosi, senior vp and managing director VIMN Africa. "Nick Jr., Nicktoons and BET International provide the perfect complement to our existing entertainment, music, comedy, and kids and family channels."

He said the company now offers programming for all key demographics, making it "a very exciting time" for his team.

"Africa is one of the fastest-growing markets in the world," ‎Viacom International Media Networks CEO Bob Bakish told The Hollywood Reporter. "There are more than a billion people there. We saw the [opportunity] early and have been active in the market for a long time."

An expanding middle class and economic growth have helped lift media businesses in Africa. "We have seen very nice topline and bottom line growth there," said Bakish. "We love the market. This is another important step forward."

DStv, launched in 1995, is operated by leading African pay TV giant MultiChoice, part of media conglomerate Naspers, across Africa. ‎‎

Aletta Alberts, general manager for content for MultiChoice, said, "We want to add channels that fill a gap in our entertainment offering and that we know our customers will love to watch."

Viacom's recent programming moves in Africa include MTV's acquisition of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for Africa; the return, after a three-year hiatus, of the‎ MTV Africa Awards (MAMAs), hosted by Marlon Wayans; and the successful use of Comedy Central roasts.‎

Nick Jr. will air such family-friendly hits as Dora the Explorer, Bubble Guppies and Paw Patrol in Africa. ‎Nicktoons will offer series from Nickelodeon´s animation library, including The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Rugrats and The Wild Thornberrys.

BET International mixes talk, drama, reality, documentary, comedy, music, movies and more, including The Wendy Williams Show, Being Mary Jane, Real Husbands of Hollywood, The BET Awards, BET Hip Hop Awards and Comic View‎.

Okosi said Viacom has mostly focused on the market opportunity in South Africa and Nigeria, the largest advertising market in Africa.‎ But the company has also looked for growth in such countries as Kenya and Angola.

"More and more middle-class consumers are coming online and can now afford pay television," he said. "Content development and creation is also much more economically viable, which leads to a lot of growth in the market."

Said Bakish: "Africa is a great market. We have a strong position. This announcement makes that position stronger in terms of our ability to serve consumers and serve advertisers, especially in South Africa." He added: "We are going to look to continue to build [our] business in Africa."
Also, from Broadband TV News:
Viacom three for DStv



Dora the Explorer

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Africa is extending its portfolio on the DStv platform.

It’s launching two new 24-hour kids and family channels while it is also extending the reach of general entertainment channel BET International in South Africa.

The launch of Nick Jr, Nicktoons and BET International brings the total number of media brands to eight, the largest number on the continent by any international provider.

Aletta Alberts, General Manager for Content for MultiChoice said the three new channels will give DStv customers an even wider variety of entertainment options. “Our DStv customers will no doubt be delighted that BET International is finally available on their screens. And kids will be entertained for hours with the great shows on Nick Jr and Nicktoons. We want to add channels that fill a gap in our entertainment offering and that we know our customers will love to watch.”

The channels launch on September 30.

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Nickelodeon USA Wins Third Week Of September 2014, Locks Top Shows Across All Kid Demos

Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids and families, has announced the exciting Nickelodeon Ratings News in the following press release, from TVByTheNumbers.com, that Nick USA closed the third week of September 2014 (Monday 15th to Sunday 21st September 2014) as basic cable's number-one network in total day with Kids 2-11 (1.9/602K), locking up the top shows in key demos across Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11 and Kids 2-5 that feature hit animation series and a new comedic winner from the network's just-launched live-action slate, "Henry Danger"!


Original Nickelodeon Press Release:

NICKELODEON WINS WEEK, LOCKS TOP SHOWS ACROSS ALL KID DEMOS

Brand-New Series Henry Danger Leads with Kids 6-11; SpongeBob SquarePants and Sanjay & Craig Nab Top Two Spots with Kids 2-11; and PAW Patrol is Preschoolers' Number-One Pick

NEW YORK – Sept. 23, 2014 – Nickelodeon closed the third week of September (9/15/14-9/21/14) as basic cable's number-one network in total day with Kids 2-11 (1.9/602K), locking up the top shows in key demos across Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11 and Kids 2-5 that feature hit animation series and a new comedic winner from the network's just-launched live-action slate, Henry Danger.

Henry Danger, the latest live-action hit from Dan Schneider, has risen as the top-rated show for Kids 6-11 in only its 2nd week on the air. The half-hour comedy about a boy navigating a double life and balancing the challenges of eighth grade with the crazy adventures of a crime fighter, ranked number-one with the demo, averaging a 4.9/939K.

SpongeBob SquarePants was the week's top series with Kids 2-11, averaging a 4.6/1.4M, followed at number two by Sanjay & Craig, with a 4.1/1.3M. Nickelodeon also landed the week's top preschool show with PAW Patrol scoring a 5.5/666K average.

Nickelodeon, now in its 35th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 19 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B).

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Nickelodeon Announces Global Animated Shorts Program 2014 Finalists

The entertainment and media news websites Kidscreen and Variety are reporting the exciting Nickelodeon News in the following articles that Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids and families, has chosen the eight finalists to its 2014 Global Animated Shorts Program, the Nickelodeon International Animated Shorts Program 2014, which aims to find new creative talent and original kids content. This year marks the second time the shorts program was open to international submissions.


Selected out of more than 600 submissions, Nickelodeon picked eight shorts spanning the UK, Ireland, Spain, Italy, Canada and Australia, which will be developed into animated shorts. The announcement was made on the opening day of Cartoon Forum, the Toulouse-set TV animation showcase.

Since taking the program global, Nickelodeon has been able to expand its international pipeline of kids shows, focusing on comedy and animation. The shorts will have the opportunity to air on the Nickelodeon channel, along with digital platforms Nick.com, the Nick app, MyNickJr.com and on local official Nick sites, before being considered for long-form development.

These shorts follow in the footsteps of 2013 projects "Monster Pack", produced by Pedro Eboli and Graham Peterson from Birdo Studios in Brazil, and "Moosebox", created by Mike Scott from South Africa’s Triggerfish Animation Studios.

The 2014 selections, which all have working titles, include four from the UK and Ireland: "Duckmanboy", a show about a lazy superhero who is half-man, half duck. It's created by Louis Hudson and writer/director Ian Ravenscroft at Dice Productions; "Werebeast", a animation which follows on a 13-year old warewolf. The short is created by Welsh animator James Lancett; "Urchin", created by award-winning illustrator and animator Hamish Steele, who notably created Nickelodeon's 2013 finalist short "Badly Drawn Animals". It follows the adventure of three orphans who live in an industrial labyrinth filled with strange characters; and "Somewhere Awesome", created by BAFTA-nominated Eamonn O'Neill and animator Marah Curran. It centers around three best friends working as problem-solving tour guides.



Urchin, Nickelodeon

Other submissions that have made the grade this year include "Woodchips", about a little boy who works as a lumberjack, from the Barcelona, Spain-based animator and artist Christian Villacañas; "Crazy Block", which follows a fashion blogger named Bunny Lewis, from Italy's Iginio Straffi (Rainbow's "Winx Club"); "Jo Minkus" from Toronto, Canada-based animator Ben Anders; and "Feebs and Mr. Timmins" from Australia's Suren Perera ("The Dukes of Bröxstônia").

The Nickelodeon Animated Shorts programme has proved successful for the kidnet. Its latest animated hit "Breadwinners" was discovered as part of the 2012 edition. The series was recently renewed for a second season, and is launching internationally this Fall/Autumn.

Cartoon Forum 2014 runs between Tuesday 23rd to Friday 26th September 2014 in Toulouse, France.

Congratulations to all the finalists of the Nickelodeon Global Animated Shorts Program 2014!

From Variety:
Nickelodeon Selects Global Animated Shorts Finalists

Nickelodeon has chosen the eight finalists to its second edition of the Global Animated Shorts Program, created to fast-track up-and-coming talent.

Selected out of more than 600 submissions, Nickelodeon picked eight shorts spanning the UK, Spain, Italy, Canada and Australia, which will be developed into animated shorts. The announcement was made on the opening day of Cartoon Forum, the Toulouse-set TV animation showcase.

“Since launching the Global Animated Shorts Program internationally in 2012, we have been able to enhance our international pipeline with great new content, furthering our global mission: to make kids laugh,” said Nina Hahn, SVP of international production and development at Nickelodeon. “We look forward to working closely with all of the creators who have delivered fantastically inspired ideas that perfectly capture the heart of the Nickelodeon brand.”

Four of the finalists are from Ireland: “Duckmanboy,” a show about a lazy superhero who is half-man, half duck. It’s created by Louis Hudson and writer/director Ian Ravenscroft at Dice Productions. “Werebeast,” turning on a 13-year old warewolf and created by Welsh animator James Lancett. “Urchin” is created by award-winning illustrator and animator Hamish Steele, who notably created Nickelodeon’s short “Badly Drawn Animals.” It follows the adventure of three orphans who live in an industrial labyrinth filled with strange characters.

From Ireland, there’s also “Somewhere Awesome,” created by BAFTA-nominated Eamonn O’Neill and animator Marah Curran. It centers around three best friends working as problem-solving tour guides.

From Spain, Nickelodeon selected “Woodchips,” about a little boy who works as a lumberjack. It’s created by Barcelona-based animator Christian Villacanas. The U.S. network selected Italy’s “Crazy Block,” about a fashion blogger named Bunny Lewis. It’s created by Iginio Straffi, who’s behind Rainbow’s Winx Club; Canada’s “Joe Minkus,” created by Toronto-based animator Ben Anders; and Australia’s “Feebs and Mr. Timmins,” created Suren Perera (co-creator of “The Dukes of Broxstonia”).

The shorts will potentially air on Nickelodeon, as well as on all Nickelodeon platforms, and will also be considered for long-form development.

Cartoon Forum runs Sep.23-26.
Also, from Kidscreen:
Nick announces 2014 Animated Shorts finalists


After reviewing close to 600 submissions from across the UK, Spain, Italy, Canada and Australia, Nickelodeon has picked eight finalists for its 2014 Global Animated Shorts Program, which aims to find new creative talent and original kids content. This year marks the second time the shorts program was open to international submissions.

Since taking the program global, Nickelodeon has been able to expand its international pipeline of kids shows, focusing on comedy and animation. The shorts will have the opportunity to air on the Nickelodeon channel, along with digital platforms Nick.com, the Nick app, MyNickJr.com and on local Nick sites, before being considered for long-form development.

These shorts follow in the footsteps of 2013 projects Monster Pack, produced by Pedro Eboli and Graham Peterson from Birdo Studios in Brazil, and Moosebox, created by Mike Scott from South Africa’s Triggerfish Animation Studios.

The 2014 selections, which all have working titles, include the UK and Ireland’s Duckmanboy from animator Louis Hudson and writer/director Ian Ravenscroft of DICE Productions, Werebeast from Welsh animator James Lancett, Urchin (pictured) from illustrator, animator and creator Hamish Steele (who also created 2013 finalist Nick Short Badly Drawn Animals) and Somewhere Awesome from Eamonn O’Neill and animator Marah Curran.

Other submissions that have made the grade this year include Woodchips from the Barcelona, Spain-based animator and artist Christian Villacañas, Crazy Block from Italy’s Iginio Straffi (Rainbow’s Winx Club), Jo Minkus from Toronto, Canada-based animator Ben Anders, and Feebs and Mr. Timmins from Australia’s Suren Perera (The Dukes of Bröxstônia).

Nick’s animated shorts program has proved successful for the kidnet. Its latest animated hit Breadwinners was discovered as part of the 2012 edition. The series was recently renewed for a second season, and is launching internationally this fall.

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