Sunday, June 21, 2015

Nickelodeon Inks Deal With Plastic Republic For Water Filters In Russia; Nick Russia and CIS Relaunches Official Website

The licensing news website License! Global Mag is reporting the exciting news that Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) has inked a new deal with Plastic Republic that will see Nickelodeon water filters launch across Russia featuring popular Nickelodeon properties "Dora the Explorer" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"! The water filters will complement the range of Plastic Republic homewares that have been on sale in Russia since 2013 including kids' desks, toy cases, bins and flower pots.


In additional news, Nickelodeon Russia and CIS (Россия and СНГ) have relaunched their official website, nickelodeon.ru, with a brand-new look!
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Nickelodeon Italy To Launch Educational "SpongeBob SquarePants" Magazine, "Alla Scoperta Del Mare"

Nickelodeon Italy (Italia) has announced the exciting news on their official Nickelodeon Magazine (Nick Magazine) blog that they have teamed up with RCS, Acquario di Genova (Aquarium of Genoa) and Costa Edutainment (the managers of Acquario di Genova) to launch a brand-new educational magazine series hosted by SpongeBob SquarePants called "Alla scoperta del mare" ("Discovering The Sea")!


There's no-one better than SpongeBob to help you discover the sea. He knows where to go hunting for Jellyfish and knows how to catch a Fish. He doesn't know how to make Squidward laugh, but that's a mystery which no-one knows the answer too.


From Tuesday 23rd June 2015, SpongeBob will be your guide in the brand-new magazine series "Alla scoperta del mare", which will reveal all the secrets of the inhabitants of the sea, including Sharks, Dolphins, Jellyfish, Turtles, and of-course, Starfish!

"Alla scoperta del mare" volume #1 goes on sale at news-stands across Italy on Tuesday 23rd June 2015. The series begins with a close look at Sharks and comes with a model of a Lupo di Mare (Catfish) as a special free gift. Children aged 4 to 12 years. can collect the stamps from 10 issues of "Alla scoperta del mare" to gain free admission to Aquarium of Genoa!

"Alla scoperta del mare" will consist of 20 issues featuring 64 pages of beautiful photographs and information about the marine world. Issue one will cost 1,99 euro, with subsequent issues costing 6,99 euro.

All issues of the series will be available in conjunction with Corriere della Sera and Gazzetta dello Sport.

The initiative enriches the collaboration between Nickelodeon and l'Acquario di Genova, which has housed special educational areas inspired by SpongeBob and all the characters of Bikini Bottom since 2012.

Are you ready to dive-in with SpongeBob and discover the ocean? "Alla scoperta del mare" is on sale from Tuesday 23rd June 2015!
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eOne's "Peppa Pig" Heads To Build-A-Bear Workshops And China In New Deals

Entertainment One (eOne) Licensing has secured a deal with Build-A-Bear Workshops for a brand-new product line based on the hit preschool property "Peppa Pig"!


Build-A-Bear customers will be able to create their own customized Peppa Pig plush toy with a variety of outfit and accessory options. The make-your-own Peppa Pig product line will feature a five-in-one sound chip, as well as two outfit options, in addition to Peppa's signature teddy bear, Teddy. The new product will debut online and in Build-A-Bear Workshops in the UK on Friday 9th October 2015 and in will become available in the USA and Australia in the the following months.

Build-A-Bear will support Peppa Pig's arrival with an in-store marketing campaign.

Andrew Carley, the head of global licensing at Entertainment One, said, "We're delighted that Build-A-Bear will be giving Peppa fans the opportunity to personalize and take home their very own talking Peppa toy. This partnership adds a fun, new dimension to the brand’s toy category and also appeals to the gifting market."

"Our Peppa Pig product is one of the most customizable Peppa lines on the market and gives our young guests the experience of bringing one of their favorite characters to life," said Jennifer Kretchmar, the chief product officer at Build-A-Bear Workshop. "We look forward to partnering with eOne on this exciting product launch that truly touches the imagination of children worldwide and gives them the ability to put their own special touch on Peppa."

"We're delighted that Build-A-Bear will be giving Peppa fans the opportunity to personalise and take home their very own talking Peppa toy," said Andrew Carley, head of global licensing at Entertainment One. "This partnership adds a fun, new dimension to the brand's toy category and also appeals to the gifting market."


Entertainment One's top-rated animated preschool series "Peppa Pig" airs on Nick Jr. channels worldwide, including Nick Jr. UK & Ireland, Nick Jr. USA and Nick Jr. Channel Australia & New Zealand.

In additional "Peppa Pig" news, "Peppa Pig" is heading to China for the first time as Entertainment One Licensing secures new toy and publishing partners in the territory!

King Bee has been appointed as the master toy licensee for "Peppa Pig" in the region.

Meanwhile, Penguin China will work to build the "Peppa Pig" publishing category through bilingual and local languages with a variety of published titles.

Products are scheduled to begin to rollout at key retail channels from July 2015.

Sources: TV Kids, Licensing.biz, ToyNews.
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Nickelodeon Italy Launches "Funny Cooking" Tour

Following the success of Nickelodeon's international cooking competition "Funny cooking with SpongeBob" in April 2015, Nickelodeon Italy (Italia) has teamed up with Italian swimmer Massimiliano Rosolino and "MasterChef" Italia star Conte Giuseppe Garozzo to launch a brand-new cooking challenge tour called "Funny Cooking with SpongeBob and the Ninja Turtles!"!


Between June and October 2015, Nickelodeon will be travelling around Italy teaching kids never-before-seen Nickelodeon-inspired recipes - a cake shaped like a Krabby Patty in honour of SpongeBob SquarePants and a pie-shaped pizza in honour of Nickelodeon's Heroes In A Half Shell!


With Nickelodeon will be two very special judges to evaluate the creations of aspiring cooks - swimming champion Massimiliano Rosolino and Count Garozzo of "Masterchef" Italy!

As well as cooking, Nickelodeon's "Funny cooking" tour will feature gadgets, Bikini Bottom inflatables and many more surprises for visitors!

Below is a full list of Nickelodeon's "Funny Cooking con Spongebob e le Tartarughe Ninja!" tour dates!:

Saturday 20th - Sunday 21st June 2015 with Conte Garozzo
Centro Commerciale Grandate – Grandate (Como)

Saturday 27th - Sunday 28th June 2015 with Massimiliano Rosolino
Centro Commerciale Serravalle – Serravalle Scrivia (Alessandria)

Saturday 4th - Sunday 5th July 2015 with Conte Garozzo
Centro Commericale Le Betulle – Solbiate Olona (Varese)

Saturday 11th - Sunday 12th July 2015 with Massimiliano Rosolino
Centro Commerciale Alle Valli – Seriate (Bergamo)

Saturday 12th - Sunday 13th September 2015 with Conte Garozzo
Centro Commerciale Belforte – Varese

Saturday 19th - Sunday 20th September 2015 with Conte Garozzo
Centro Commerciale Val Vibrata – Colonnella (Teramo)

Saturday 26th - Sunday 27th September 2015 with Conte Garozzo
Centro Commerciale Pescara Nord – Pescara

Monday 5th - Sunday 11th October 2015 with Massimiliano Rosolino
Romagna Shopping Valley - Savignano Sul Rubicone (Forlì Cesena)

Saturday 17th - Sunday 18th October 2015 with Massimiliano Rosolino
Centro Commerciale Tor Vergata – Roma

Saturday 24th - Sunday 25th October 2015 with Massimiliano Rosolino
Centro CommercialeLe Rondinelle – Roncadelle (Brescia)


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LeapFrog Unveils LeapFrog Imagicard, a ground-breaking Digital and Physical Learning Experience for Kids, on the All-New LeapPad Platinum

Original LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. Press Release via PRNewswire:

LeapFrog® Unveils LeapFrog Imagicard™, a ground-breaking Digital and Physical Learning Experience for Kids, on the All-New LeapPad™ Platinum


LeapFrog Imagicard offers a whole new way to play through a magical collectible card experience that brings characters and learning to life on the next generation of LeapPad learning tablets - LeapPad Platinum


LeapFrog(R) Unveils New LeapFrog Imagicard(TM) (PRNewsFoto/LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.)

EMERYVILLE, Calif., June 16, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. (NYSE: LF), the leader in innovative developmental solutions for children, today unveiled the new LeapFrog Imagicard, a first of its kind digital and physical learning experience for kids that magically brings characters and learning to life with the snap of a picture from one of 30+ interactive collectible cards included. Full length LeapFrog digital learning games are enhanced by physical interactive cards – featuring top licensed characters mixed with educational content – that extend the play beyond traditional tablet gaming. The best way to experience LeapFrog Imagicard games are on LeapFrog's most advanced LeapPad tablet yet, the all-new LeapPad Platinum with its seven-inch high-resolution, multi-touch capacitive screen and fast processor. The LeapPad Platinum tablet is the most durable LeapPad tablet and offers kid-safe content to explore and grow.


LeapFrog(R) Unveils All-New LeapPad(TM) Platinum Tablet for Kids (PRNewsFoto/LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.)

"We were looking to create a physical and digital experience with LeapFrog Imagicard games that provided a more social and traditional learning environment, while still offering an incredibly engaging play experience for children," said Dr. Jody LeVos, director of learning at LeapFrog. "Through parent and child testing, we found that parents loved the idea of a collectible card experience that helped their children develop and grow as they played. And, children loved that they could bring their favorite characters to life in an interactive tablet experience, as well as collect and share cards with their friends. We know that children learn best when they're having fun, and our new LeapFrog Imagicard experience pays this off in a big way."

Characters and Curriculum Come to Life with LeapFrog Imagicard

With LeapFrog Imagicard games, children are presented with new ways to solve problems with 30+ interactive collectible cards that come to life on their LeapFrog tablet. Children use the camera to simply "capture" the card on the screen, bringing one of their favorite characters magically into the game and unlocking more ways to play. LeapFrog Imagicard launches with three interactive games that feature favorite characters including LeapFrog's Letter Factory, PAW Patrol, and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle. Each game features LeapFrog's proprietary Just For Me™ Learning Technology, which personalizes the experience for each child by adapting automatically during play, offering tutorials, and more to keep kids challenged. LeapFrog Imagicard is also backwards compatible with all LeapFrog LeapPad™ tablets with the exception of LeapPad™1. In addition to the multi-leveled downloadable digital game and interactive cards, LeapFrog Imagicard comes with a character card tin for easy storage, and a play mat for card sorting and offline learning activities. All 30+ cards are also digitally included in the game, so children can still play the full games while on-the-go.

Initial launch titles for LeapFrog Imagicard feature amazing LeapFrog characters and some of the top children's properties:

* LeapFrog Letter Factory (for ages four to seven). Building on the very popular Letter Factory animated shows, LeapFrog Imagicard Letter Factory allows kids to step right up to the magical Letter Factory Carnival, where literacy skills are the ticket to unlocking new attractions. Children play carnival games to earn tickets at the prize wheel, use those tickets to let the letter cards into the carnival, and go on quests to find lost items that begin with each letter. For example, find and return the letter A's apple for a bonus coin. More than 50 Letter Factory trivia questions add to the fun. Take selfies with Tad and Lily, and decorate the images with stickers earned during play.


Characters and Curriculum Come to Life with New LeapFrog Imagicard(TM) (PRNewsFoto/LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.)

* Paw Patrol (for ages three to five). Join Ryder and the PAW Patrol as they lend a paw for Adventure Bay Appreciation Week, and unleash mathematics and problem-solving skills to earn Good Citizen badges. Patrol the bay for citizens who need help, and then find the pup with the right tools and skills for each mission. Challenge your PAW Patrol knowledge by answering 50+ trivia questions, plus, have a PAWsome time taking selfies with favorite pups, and decorate the images with stickers earned for completing missions.


Image via ToyNews.

* Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (for ages five to eight). Team up with the Turtles and deploy shell-tastic mathematics skills to recover mutagen canisters that are scattered around the city. Play as Mikey, Leo, Donnie and Raph and complete fact finding missions by completing equations and feeding the team pizza using fraction skills. Scan in multiple cards to see how they interact in the animation fun zone, play trivia, and take selfies with them in ninjutsu poses.


LeapPad(TM) Platinum, The Latest Addition to LeapFrog's Award-Winning Family of LeapPad Tablets (PRNewsFoto/LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.)

LeapPad Platinum, The Latest Addition to LeapFrog's Award-Winning Family of LeapPad Tablets

Our most advanced LeapPad tablet, LeapPad Platinum provides access to a kid-perfect web experience and a library of 1,000+ age-appropriate, LeapFrog educator-approved games, apps, eBooks, videos and more with all the kid safe, kid tough and kid smart features you expect from a LeapPad.

* High-resolution and High-speed: With a seven-inch high-resolution, multi-touch capacitive screen and fast high-performance processor, LeapPad Platinum offers the biggest learning experiences.

* Kid-Safe Web: LeapPad Platinum features LeapSearch™, the proprietary kid-safe web browser that lets kids explore content they love. LeapSearch allows kids to browse age-appropriate content, handpicked by LeapFrog's team of learning experts, and now features expanded parental settings for easy fine-tuning.

* Built to Last: LeapPad Platinum is LeapFrog's most durable tablet ever with a shatter-safe screen and a wrap-around bumper. LeapPad Platinum has been thoroughly drop-tested, impact-tested and compression-tested in LeapFrog's Quality Lab for durability and child safety. LeapPad Platinum includes 8GB memory to hold up to 40,000 photos or 100+ game apps*, two cameras and video recorders and 10 apps (Music Player Plus 10 Songs, Pet Pad Party, Pet Chat, Photo Fun Ultra, five Utility Apps and a choice of one app download). App download requires wireless internet connection and parent account.

Award Winning LeapFrog Learning Library Featuring Just for Me™ Learning Technology

The LeapFrog library of 1,000+ games, videos, apps and more draws from a proprietary scope and sequence of more than 2,600 skills informed by the latest research and Common Core Standards. Games and apps go beyond math drills to spark creativity and logic, foster a love of reading and social understanding and inspire scientific thinking and more. LeapFrog's exclusive Just for Me™ Learning system personalizes select games up to 10 ways from remembering curricular progress across games to receiving immediate feedback on answers, automatically adjusting learning levels and providing hint button tutorials. These unique collections of teaching tools work together to create a personalized learning experience that keeps children challenged, engaged and confident.

Availability

LeapFrog Imagicard (MSRP $24.99 per game, for children three to eight years old) will be available online and at major retail locations in August 2015. The LeapPad Platinum tablet (MSRP $129.99, for children three to nine years old) will be available in green and pink online and at major retail locations in July 2015.

About LeapFrog

LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. is the leader in innovative solutions that encourage a child's curiosity and love of learning throughout their developmental journey. For 20 years, LeapFrog has helped children expand their knowledge and imagination through award-winning products that combine state-of-the-art educational expertise led by the LeapFrog Learning Team, innovative technology, and engaging play – turning playtime into quality time that helps children LeapFrog Ahead®. LeapFrog's proprietary learning tablets and ground-breaking developmental games, learn to read and write systems, interactive learning toys and more are designed to create personalized experiences that encourage, excite and build confidence in children. LeapFrog is based in Emeryville, California, and was founded in 1995 by a father who revolutionized technology-based learning solutions to help his child learn how to read. Learn more at www.leapfrog.com.

TM & © 2015 LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc. All rights reserved.

*Actual storage capacity for photos and games may vary depending upon use.

Media Contacts:
Danielle Cantrell
LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.
510-420-4886
[...]

Katie Zeiser
Access Communications
415-844-6219
[...]

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150616/223287LOGO
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150616/223288LOGO
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150616/223286
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150616/223285
Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20090219/LFLOGO

SOURCE LeapFrog Enterprises, Inc.

RELATED LINKS
http://www.leapfrog.com

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WideOrbit Partners With Viacom's Media Networks for Advertising Operations Backbone

Original WideOrbit Press Release via Marketwired:

SOURCE: WideOrbit
June 15, 2015 10:00 ET

WideOrbit Partners With Viacom's Media Networks for Advertising Operations Backbone

WO Network Unites Sales Operations of More Than 20 Networks on a Single Platform


SAN FRANCISCO, CA--(Marketwired - June 15, 2015) - WideOrbit Inc., the leading provider of advertising management software for media companies, has been selected by Viacom's Media Networks to install WO Network, WideOrbit's comprehensive platform for managing network ad sales and commercial rights. Viacom's combined networks represent the largest portfolio of ad-supported cable networks in the United States, in terms of audience share.

WideOrbit has already successfully launched WO Network at sixteen Viacom properties. Viacom plans to have its entire portfolio operating on its software by Q3 2015.

WO Network enables Viacom's advertising inventory to be managed, sold, scheduled and invoiced from a single platform. Viacom sales teams can build and present deals from a single document; managers will have oversight of deals, rate cards, and inventory; and ad operations will have a single source of truth for approvals, constraints, schedules, materials, logs, workflow and stewardship.

WO Network's breadth of native functions allowed Viacom to replace and consolidate several ancillary legacy systems on a single platform. Many of the reports previously provided by external tools now run directly from WO Network, including constraint management and reporting, audience delivery optimization and liability reduction.

"We thoroughly reviewed many factors when evaluating potential vendors for managing our advertising operations, including technology, reliability, financial strength and growth," said David Kline, SVP and Chief Technology Officer, Viacom. "WideOrbit proved to be a leader across the board, providing excellent products, people and commitment to innovation for running ad operations from a single technology solution. The breadth of WO Network addresses every critical need for our group."

"Viacom has always been an important partner to WideOrbit in the cable space. We couldn't be more pleased to extend our relationship to providing the advertising management platform for Viacom's Media Networks," said Eric R. Mathewson, Founder and CEO, WideOrbit. "Large customers like Viacom are installing WideOrbit solutions to eliminate inefficiency in their advertising operations. We look forward to working with Viacom's team for many years to strengthen their world-class media business."

About WideOrbit
WideOrbit (www.wideorbit.com) is the leader in premium broadcast technology and the largest sell-side processor of premium advertising in the world, covering the broadest assortment of media. WideOrbit is committed to helping media companies manage their advertising business more efficiently and profitably, from proposal to receipt of cash, across all media platforms via any sales method, from direct sold to programmatic. WideOrbit software manages more than $30 billion in annual ad spending. WideOrbit has been providing trusted solutions to the media industry since 1999, delivering high ROI, greater efficiencies and revenue optimization. More than 3,000 Television stations, Radio stations and Media Networks around the globe use WideOrbit Traffic software and another 3,200+ stations operate on WideOrbit Radio Automation platforms. Clients include: Bell Media (Canada), Canal+ (France), Corus Entertainment (Canada), DirecTV, Entercom Communications, Fox Sports, Galavision, Gannett Co., Hearst Television, Madison Square Garden, Meredith Corporation, NBCUniversal, Orange (France), Rogers Communications (Canada), Scripps Television Group, Time Inc., Tribune, Yankee Entertainment Sports, Univision, Viacom and more than 300 other major media organizations. WideOrbit is headquartered in San Francisco, with offices in Seattle; New York; Denver; Dallas; Vancouver, WA; Birmingham, AL; Agawam, MA; London, UK: Paris, France; and Gothenburg, Sweden.

About Viacom
Viacom is home to premier global media brands that create compelling television programs, motion pictures, short-form video, apps, games, consumer products, social media and other entertainment content for audiences in more than 165 countries and territories. Viacom's media networks, including Nickelodeon, CMT, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nicktoons, TV Land, Nick at Nite, MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, SPIKE, Logo, BET, CENTRIC, Channel 5(UK), Tr3s, Paramount Channel and VIVA, reach a cumulative 3.2 billion television subscribers worldwide. Paramount Pictures is a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment.

WideOrbit® and the WideOrbit logo® are among the trademarks of WideOrbit. Other trademarks belong to their respective owners. WideOrbit reserves the right to alter product and services offerings, and specifications and pricing at any time without notice, and is not responsible for errors that may appear in this document. ©2015 WideOrbit Inc. All rights reserved.

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