Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Nickelodeon Leads Kidscreen Awards 2019 Finalists

The children's entertainment and media news website Kidscreen has announced the exciting news that Nickelodeon is the top nominee for this year’s Kidscreen Awards, receiving 10 nods, followed by Netflix with six, and PBS KIDS and Sesame Workshop with five nominations apiece.


SpongeBob SquarePants

Every year, Kidscreen honors the best work in children’s television and digital media, and the 2019 Programming, Broadcasting and Digital category finalists will continue on to a final round of judging.

Winners will be announced at a special presentation event to be held during Kidscreen Summit in Miami on Tuesday, February 12, 2019. The host of this year’s ceremony is Craig Lauzon, a multiple Canadian Screen Award and Canadian Comedy Award nominee, as well as a cast member of CBC’s satirical sketch comedy show Royal Canadian Air Farce.

Additionally, Studio AKA's Hey Duggee, which airs on Nick Jr. USA, JAM Media's Becca's Bunch, which airs on Nick Jr. channels globally, Mattel's Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures! The Movie, which airs on Nick Jr. USA, Jonathan M. Shiff Productions' The Bureau of Magical Things, which airs on Nickelodeon channels globally, Beyond Distribution's Beat Bugs, which airs on Nick Jr. Australia, and Entertainment One's Peppa Pig, which airs on Nick Jr. channels globally, have also been nominated for a raft of awards in the Kidscreen Awards 2019!

Below is a list of awards that Nickelodeon (including acquired properties) have been nominated for in the 2019 Kidscreen Awards. A full list of Kidscreen Awards 2019 nominations can be found at http://awards.kidscreen.com.

Congratulations and good luck to Nickelodeon and to everyone nominated for a away in the 10th annual Kidscreen Awards!

PRESCHOOL PROGRAMMING

Best New Series
Becca’s Bunch (JAM Media)
Esme & Roy (Nelvana, Sesame Workshop)
True: Wonderful Wishes (Guru Studio, Friends With You, Homeplate Entertainment, i am OTHER)

Best Animated Series
Hey Duggee (Studio AKA)
The Stinky & Dirty Show (Amazon Studios, Brown Bag Films)
True: Wonderful Wishes (Guru Studio, Friends With You, Homeplate Entertainment, i am OTHER)

Best Non-Animated or Mixed Series
Becca’s Bunch (JAM Media)
Dino Dana (Sinking Ship Entertainment)
Sesame Street (Sesame Workshop)

Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie
Beat Bugs: All Together Now (Grace: A Storytelling Company, Beyond Screen Production, Thunderbird Productions/Netflix)
The Magical Wand Chase: A Sesame Street Special (Sesame Workshop)
Thomas & Friends: Big World! Big Adventures! The Movie (Mattel Creations)

KIDS PROGRAMMING

Best Animated Series
Miraculous—Tales of Ladybug and Cat Noir (ZAG)
SpongeBob SquarePants (Nickelodeon Animation Studio)
The Boss Baby: Back in Business (DreamWorks Animation Television)

Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie
Kids’ Choice Awards 2018 (Nickelodeon, ROK Productions, Dempsey Productions, GHS Productions)
Nickelodeon’s Ultimate Halloween Haunted House (Nickelodeon, STUN Creative, Alternative Plan Productions)
SpongeBob SquarePants “The Legend of Boo-Kini Bottom” (Nickelodeon Animation Studio, Screen Novelties)

TWEENS/TEENS PROGRAMMING

Best New Series
Creeped Out (DHX Media, BBC Children’s Productions, CBBC, Family Channel)
The Bureau of Magical Things (Jonathan M. Shiff Productions)
The New Legends of Monkey (See-Saw Films/Netflix)

Best One-Off, Special or TV Movie
Bob’s Burgers “The Bleakening” (20th Century Fox, Bento Box Entertainment)
HALO Awards 2017 (Nickelodeon, N-Credible, ROK Productions)
Next Gen (Baozou, Tangent Animation/Netflix)

Shortlisted entries in the Programming categories will be reviewed and assessed by a fresh panel of judges, including Layla Lewis (Nickelodeon), Dominique Bazay (Netflix), Joe D’Ambrosia (Disney Junior), Henrietta Hurford-Jones (BBC Worldwide), Linda Simensky (PBS KIDS), Deirdre Brennan (Universal Kids), Tiphaine de Raguenel (France Télévisions), Tara Sorensen (Apple), Andrew Thomas (Hulu Kids), Nicole Keeb (ZDF), Sarah Muller (Sony Pictures Television) and Adina Pitt (Cartoon Network).

DIGITAL — PRESCHOOL

Best Learning App—Branded
Hey Duggee: The Counting Badge (BBC Studios, Scary Beasties, Studio AKA)
Lili & Lola—Numbers Game (Big Bad Boo Productions)
World of Peppa Pig (Secret Location, Entertainment One)

Best Game App — Branded
PBS KIDS Games App (PBS KIDS)
Pinkalicious Party (WGBH Educational Foundation)
World of Peppa Pig (Secret Location, Entertainment One)

Best Streaming Video Platform
Discovery Kids
Hopster
Noggin (Nickelodeon)
Sesame Street YouTube Channel (Sesame Workshop)

Best Web/App Series—Branded
Canticos (Encantos/Nickelodeon)
Cry Babies Magic Tears (Hampa Studio)
Elmo’s Food Rap Battle (Sesame Workshop)

DIGITAL — KIDS

Best Game App—Branded
Barbie Dreamhouse Adventures (Budge Studios, Mattel)
Hotel Transylvania: Hotel Havoc (Biba, Sony Pictures Animations, Nelvana)
No Way That’s True (Nickelodeon—Digital Product & Games)
School of Rock: Together We Rock (Nickelodeon International Games)
The SpongeBob Challenge (Nickelodeon—Digital Product & Games)

Shortlisted entries in the Digital categories will be reviewed and assessed by a fresh panel of judges, including Matthew Evans (Nickelodeon), Sara DeWitt (PBS KIDS), Christine Elgersma (Common Sense Media), Albie Hecht (pocket.watch), Shai Samet (KidSafe), Robin Raskin (Living in Digital Times), Chris Lindgren (Toca Boca), Dylan Collins (SuperAwesome), David Kleeman (Dubit), and Miles Ludwig (Sesame Workshop).

Additional details about the 2019 Kidscreen Awards—including categories, eligibility, judging and entry process—can be found online.

Hosted by comedian Darrin Rose and exclusively sponsored by the Canada Media Fund, the 2018 Kidscreen Awards celebrated eOne, Amazon Studios, Sesame Workshop and DreamWorks among last year’s top winners.

More Nick: 'SpongeBob SquarePants', 'Rise of the TMNT' and More Nominated in 46th Annual Annie Awards!
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Peppa Pig Builds Momentum in Japan

Entertainment One (eOne) is building on the growing fanbase of Peppa Pig in Japan, with 26 new episodes now airing weekly on TV Tokyo. The animated series first aired on the Japanese broadcaster in October 2017, and has quickly become a ratings hit with pre-school audiences.


The broadcast line-up has been further bolstered by additional platforms including Disney Japan, Hulu Japan and Netflix which have the rights to the series and have expanded the show’s availability throughout the region.

eOne is accelerating the brand’s licensing drive in the market led by master licensee SEGA TOYS CO.LTD. Consumer products from 20 local licensees debuted in March 2018 via an exclusive Peppa Pig pop-up shop in the Takashimaya department store in Tokyo which was attended by the British Ambassador.

Less than a year later, the licensing and merchandising (L&M) programme now boasts 33 licensing partners as the brand’s popularity has soared in the region, with more exciting retail partnerships planned in 2019. Sales of Peppa Pig DVDs have reached 10,000 copies with a new release set to launch in April 2019 and product is now available in all 170 Toys R Us stores throughout Japan.

Business is set to grow throughout 2019 as new retailers come on board to create Peppa Pig themed retail destinations. At the end of this month, Peppa will play a role in the launch of Japan’s first Hamley’s toy store with costume character in-store appearances, significant cross-category product display and special themed activities and photo opportunities on the day.

Olivier Dumont, the president of eOne Family & Brands, commented: “We’re continuing to grow the footprint of Peppa Pig in Asia, where the property has seen incredible success in the past 12 months. The increased broadcast exposure will help fuel demand for consumer products as we continue to expand the licensing programme and develop experiential retail activations that will give fans in Japan more opportunities to interact with their favourite character.”

Peppa Pig airs on Nick Jr. and Viacom’s Channel 5 Milkshake in the U.K., and on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. channels globally.

Peppa Pig is created by Neville Astley and Mark Baker and produced by Astley Baker Davies Ltd and Entertainment One (eOne). The animated preschool show is one of eOne’s key properties. Last year it announced that 117 new episodes were entering production, which will start airing next year and take the total episode count to 381.

More Nick: Peppa Pig to Introduce Preschoolers to a Live Orchestra in 'Peppa Pig: My First Concert'!

Source: Toy World Magazine; Additional sources: Licensing Source, TVKIDS.
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APC Kids Appoints Toy Plus (Far East) as Global Toy Partner for 'Kid-E-Cats'

Children’s Entertainment Distribution company APC Kids Appoints Toy Plus (Far East) as Global Toy Partner for Kid-E-Cats

The Hong-Kong based company is developing a toy range spanning plush, collectibles, figurines and playsets targeted at preschool children.

The first product samples will be presented at Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair in January 2019, with global retail launch scheduled for October 2019.


APC Kids, the children’s entertainment distribution company of boutique co-producer and distributor About Premium Content (APC), has appointed Toy Plus (Far East) Ltd., part of the Thai Group, as the global master toy partner for its hit animated series KID-E-CATS.

The Hong-Kong based company is developing a toy range spanning plush, collectibles, figurines and playsets targeted at preschool children. The first product samples will be presented at Hong Kong Toys & Games Fair in January 2019, with global retail launch scheduled for October 2019.

Lionel Marty, Managing Director of APC Kids says “We’re delighted to be building upon the global success of KID-E-CATS, significantly boosting the merchandise offering for fans around the world. With their enthusiasm, innovation and impressive understanding of the property’s playful nature, we’re confident that Toy Plus is the ideal partner to transform KID-E-CATS into an engaging toy range for kids and we look forward to seeing products hit shelves next year.”


Josue Rosenzweig, President of TOY PLUS adds “We are very happy and proud to have KID-E-CATS in our product portfolio and we are 100% committed to the development of the products and maximize the business, together with APC KIDS and CTC MEDIA.”

Ksenia Gordienko, Head of Licensing & Merchandising, СТС media says “Getting a master toy partner on board is a huge step for the KID-E-CATS franchise development worldwide. We are happy to start our partnership with Toy Plus in major and key toy categories like plush and collectible figurines. We are looking forward for long and very successful work together with our partners.”

KID-E-CATS tells the story of three kittens: Cookie, Pudding and their kid sister Candy who are forever ready to jump into action with endless enthusiasm and energy. Their imagination also knows no bounds, and these kitties are capable of the most absurdly funny problem-solving suggestions. Through life’s little lessons, they learn to look before they leap - well sometimes!

The series is based on an original Russian series produced by CTC Media and Studio Metrafilms and is the second-best performing pre-school series in Russia. The English-language version is executive produced by former Zodiak Kids UK CEO Nigel Pickard, while Ceri Barnes (Floogals, Postman Pat, Casper’s Scare School, Guess with Jess) serves as story editor, and is working with the Russian writers and creators of the show Dmitriy Vysotsky and Andrey Sikorsky. The series launched at MIPCOM 2016. The third season is currently in production following a commission from CTC last year. Nickelodeon International has the rights to the first two seasons (104 x five-minute episodes) of Kid-E-Cats. Season one debuted on Nick Jr. in 143 countries, including the UK, Benelux, India, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Greece, Indonesia and Vietnam, in 2017, with the recently acquired season two set to follow in 2019.

Toy Plus’s appointment comes as APC Kids continues to grow the series across the globe. Earlier this year, the company inked a raft of new broadcast sales with Turner’s Cartoonito in Italy, HBO Spain, MTG Latvia and Lithuania, and C4U (Kids1TV) in South Korea, with the show having additional broadcast partners in Europe and Canada, including YLE (Finland), TG4 (Ireland), TV Puls (Poland), Knowledge Network (Canada).

About APC Kids
APC Kids is the children’s entertainment arm of boutique financier and distributor About Premium Content (APC). Headed by Lionel Marty, the kids’ specialist has a growing portfolio of high profile children’s and family properties including animated series KID-E-CATS, Roger, Fox & Hare, The Memories of Nanette and Zoli & Pokey.

About CTC Media
CTC Media manages five television channels in Russia (CTC, Domashny, Che, CTC Love and CTC Kids) as well as an international version of Peretz channel and Channel 31 in Kazakhstan. The international version of CTC channel is available in the CIS countries, the Baltic and other European states, North America, Georgia, Israel, UAE, Mongolia, and Australia. The international versions of Domashny and Peretz are available in the CIS countries, the Baltic and other European states, North America, Georgia, Mongolia, and Australia. CTC Media also owns several digital entertainment media assets including videomore.ru, ctc.ru, domashniy.ru, chetv.ru, ctclove.ru, ctckids.ru and Caramba TV.

More Nick: Nickelodeon International Orders 'Kiva Can Do!' Season 2!

Sources: The Fan Carpet, Kidscreen, License Global.
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Nickelodeon India to Premiere 'Munki And Trunk' on Monday 24th December 2018 on Sonic

Nickelodeon Sonic, India's first channel for the action-loving generation, will premiere Munki and Trunk, a brand-new dialogue-free South African CG-animated TV series from Cape Town based animation studio Sunrise Productions, on Monday 24th December 2018 at 4:20pm! The series follows best friends Munki, a bold, banana-juggling adventurer, and Trunk, a big-hearted and optimistic elephant. They do everything together - swinging, stomping and somersaulting as they explore their jungle world, hatching plans, solving problems, having fun and helping friends along the way.


Munki and Trunk (52 x 7’) is a tree-crashing, rock-smashing, water-splashing, fruit-mashing, knock-about comedy adventure for kids aged 4-7 years - and animals of all ages. Munki is a vine-swinging force of nature, hungry for bananas and adventure. Trunk is a big-hearted but crafty elephant who loves to nurture and play. Throughout the series, these unlikely best friends explore their world together, facing fears and helping friends along the way. No matter if they are facing rolling boulders, bouncing mushrooms or grumpy hedgehogs, they do it together giggling all the way. It’s the most fun you can have in the jungle!


Sunrise Productions is the 3D CG company behind the award-winning show Jungle Beat and it is also well-known for creating animated characters for prestigious sports brands such as the Welsh Rugby Union, England Rugby’s Football Union and Juventus Football Club.



Munki and Trunk is distributed worldwide by Aardman Rights, and has been licensed to 75 territories, with deals including Amazon India, moores in China, MBC3 across the Middle East, SVT in Sweden, YLE in Finland, NRK in Norway, ANTV in Indonesia, RSI in Switzerland and LTV in Latvia. The series also airs on Nicktoons Africa, where it debuted in April 2018 as the first South African animation acquisition for the channel.

Alison Taylor, head of sales and acquisitions at Aardman, said: “We are delighted to have had such a positive response to Munki and Trunkin such a short time. It’s heart-warming to know that this charming series will be seen by such a wide audience, and we will look to finalise further licenses following a successful MIPCOM Junior, where potential partners will be able to view the show at the screenings.”

The series made its debut at MIP Junior 2016.


Munki and Trunk – Title [Theme] Song from Sunrise Productions on Vimeo.


More Nick: Nick India Announces Nickelodeon Kid's Choice Awards 2018 India Nominations!

H/T: Anime Superhero Forum /@animegamer
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Bergen County, NJ Native Picked From Thousands To Be New 'Blue's Clues' Host [Updated]

This N.J. Actor Grew Up with Blue's Clues. Now He's Hosting It!

New Jersey - Back in the '90s, when Josh Dela Cruz and his little sister used to watch Nickelodeon's beloved preschool series Blue’s Clues at his aunt’s Bergenfield home, the New Milford native never could have imagined he'd someday be chosen from more than 3,000 actors — among them, John Cena — to play Blue’s companion in the Nickelodeon show’s upcoming revival, Blue’s Clues & You.


Joshua Dela Cruz, new host of Blue's Clues & You (Photo: Business Wire)

Saban's 'Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel: The Complete Season' to Arrive on DVD, Digital and On Demand on Tuesday, February 5, 2019

Lionsgate has announced that Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel: The Complete Season is set for release on DVD, Digital and On Demand in the United States in February 2019!


Celebrate the 25-year-old global pop-culture phenomenon and morph into action with Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel: The Complete Season, arriving on DVD and Digital and On Demand on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 from Lionsgate. The 3-DVD set features all 20 episodes, plus the seasonal specials (including the holiday special Dino Super Charge / Super Ninja Steel crossover episode). It also includes the special 25th-anniversary episode “Dimensions in Danger” that features the triumphant return of the original Mighty Morphin Green Power Ranger, as well as Legendary Rangers from across time and space!

The Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel: The Complete Season DVD will be available for the suggested retail price of $19.98 USD.

Here’s the official synopsis:

Madame Odius is still alive and more determined than ever to steal the Ninja Nexus Prism for her nefarious purposes! Now it’s up to the Rangers, with some unexpected help from new friends, to use the power of teamwork to defeat Odius and save the world!

Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel is the twenty-fifth Power Rangers season overall and is the second season of Power Rangers Ninja Steel. It premiered on January 27, 2018, and concluded with a special on December 1, 2018.

The cast includes William Shewfelt as Brody Romero, Red Ninja Steel Ranger; Nico Greetham as Calvin Maxwell, Yellow Ninja Steel Ranger; Zoë Robins as Hayley Foster, White Ninja Steel Ranger; Peter Sudarso as Preston Tien, Blue Ninja Steel Ranger; Chrysti Ane as Sarah Thompson, Pink Ninja Steel Ranger; and Jordi Webber as Aiden Romero/Levi Weston, Gold Ninja Steel Ranger.

Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel gained a lot of hype due to the 25-anniversary episode. It was titled “Dimensions in Danger” and aired on August 28, 2018. It featured the return of Jason David Frank and other veteran Rangers.

Power Rangers Super Ninja Steel will be followed Power Ranger Beast Morphers which is expected to air sometime in February 2019 on Nickelodeon USA. It will make use of content from the 2012 Japanese Super Sentai series Tokumei Sentai Go-Busters.

Are you a Power Rangers fan? Let us know below.

PROGRAM INFORMATION
- Year of Production: 2018
- Title Copyright: ™ & © 2018 SCG Power Rangers LLC and Hasbro. Power Rangers and all related logos, characters, names and distinctive likenesses thereof are the exclusive property of SCG Power Rangers LLC and Hasbro, Inc. ™ SCG Power Rangers LLC, Hasbro, Inc. and Allspark Pictures LLC. © - - 2018 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
- Type: TV-on-DVD
- Rating: TV-Y7
- Genre: Action/Adventure, Children’s Series
- Closed-Captioned: English
- Subtitles: N/A
- Feature Run Time: approx. 8 hours, 48 minutes
- DVD Format: 16x9 (1.78:1) Presentation
- DVD Audio: English 5.1 Dolby Digital Audio, Spanish 2.0 Dolby Digital Audio, French 2.0 Dolby Digital Audio

Connect with Power Rangers: powerrangers.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

More Nick: Power Morphicon Announces Power Morphicon Express Tour!

Sources: The Geekiary, Toy News International, Power Rangers NOW, Flickering Myth.
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Viacom Expands Multiplatform Distribution Across Europe and Africa

New partnerships include SVOD deals with Vodafone in Turkey and MTN in Africa, and the launch of MTV+ Prime Video Channel in Germany and Austria.


Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) is once again expanding its large digital footprint across Europe and Africa. The media company announced Wednesday new distributions deals with key multiplatform players abroad.

VIMN has inked an subscription video-on-demand (SVoD) deal for Nickelodeon content with Vodafone in Turkey, and a mobile distribution deal with Africa’s largest mobile network operator, MTN.

Additionally, VIMN has now made its MTV+ Prime Video Channel on Amazon available in Germany and Austria. Prime members can add MTV+ to their existing Prime membership for $3.40/month (2.99 euros). Amazon Prime Video members there can now access the brand-new linear MTV channel along with special on-demand content.

The agreement with Amazon marks a strong point in Viacom’s strategy to create multiplatform deals aimed at next generation users as young audiences consistently shift toward digital and mobile platforms.

“We are pursuing a diversified and extensive multiplatform strategy,” said Raffaele Annecchino, president and MD of Viacom’s Southern and Western Europe, Middle East and Africa business cluster.

“We are a company that produces premium longform and shortform content for every platform," she continued. "We are excited to be working with great partners like Amazon in Germany, MTN in Africa and Vodafone, as we continue to evaluate each market for new opportunities and unlock value through both traditional and nontraditional distribution partners.”

The MTV+ Prime Video channel now offers 24-hour music video programming, as well as numerous reality show hits, including Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, Fear Factor, Catfish: The TV Show and Just Tattoo of Us, Teen Mom, Geordie Shore and Ex on the Beach.

Subscribers will also have exclusive access to new shows before anyone else. They will be the first to see the new season of Ex on the Beach US. Viacom plans to grow the library over time.

The Turkey deal is a multiyear distribution agreement with Vodafone for more than 300 hours of SVOD content, versioned in Turkish, from Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and TeenNick. The content will be distributed exclusively for mobile consumption via the Vodafone TV app.

In Africa, in partnership with Arial View Nigeria Limited and MTN, they will launch several global brands including Nickelodeon, MTV, MTV Base and Comedy Central on MTN’s Shortz streaming platform for Nigerian subscribers.

Consistent with consumer trends in sub-Saharan Africa that demand increased bite-size content, the new deal positions Viacom as a prominent player in long-term saturation in the region. AVNL will distribute and monetize licensed Viacom content to MTN, Africa’s largest mobile network operator. It has more than 200 million subscribers, with 57 million in Nigeria alone.

From Advanced Television:

Viacom adds MTV+ to Prime

Viacom International Media Networks announced today the launch of the MTV+ Prime Video Channel on Amazon in Germany and Austria. Prime members can add MTV+ to their existing Prime membership for €2.99/month. The new offer gives Amazon Prime Video members the ability to access the linear MTV Brand New channel and various premium MTV content on-demand.

The agreement with Amazon is the latest in a string of important multiplatform partnerships for the global media company, which had a strong autumn of multiplatform deals aimed at transitioning the brands to next generation platforms to ensure long-term relevance among increasing digital audiences. VIMN also recently signed an SVOD deal for Nickelodeon content with Vodafone in Turkey, as well as a mobile distribution deal with Africa’s largest mobile network operator, MTN.

‘We are pursuing a diversified and extensive multiplatform strategy,’ said Raffaele Annecchino, President and MD of VIMN’s Southern and Western Europe, Middle East and Africa business cluster, ‘We are a company that produces premium long form and short form content for every platform. We are excited to be working with great partners like Amazon in Germany, MTN in Africa, and Vodafone, as we continue to evaluate each market for new opportunities and unlock value through both traditional and non-traditional distribution partners.’

In Germany and Austria, the new MTV+ Prime Video channel now offers 24-hour free music video programming, featuring today’s newest tracks and tomorrow’s biggest hits. MTV+ also offers numerous highlight on-demand for reality fans, including Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, Fear Factor, Catfish: The TV Show and Just Tattoo Of Us, as well as classic content such as Teen Mom, Geordie Shore and Ex On The Beach. Subscribers also get exclusive access to new seasons of MTV shows before anyone else – and at launch, they will be the first to see the new season of Ex on the Beach US. Finally, the library of content available will grow over time.

In Turkey, VIMN reached a multi-year distribution agreement with Vodafone for more than 300 hours of SVOD content, versioned in Turkish, from Nickelodeon, NickJr and Teennick. The content will be distributed exclusively for mobile consumption via the Vodafone TV app.

In Africa, in partnership with Arial View Nigeria Limited (AVNL) and MTN, VIMN will launch several of its global brands including Nickelodeon, MTV, MTV Base and Comedy Central on MTN’s Shortz streaming platform for Nigerian subscribers. Consumers will have the possibility to watch all the best short-form video from the iconic VIMN brands via their favorite devices. The deal licenses AVNL to distribute and monetize content to MTN, Africa’s largest mobile network operator with more than 200 million subscribers, including 57 million in Nigeria alone. Mobile penetration and the demand for short and bite-size content continues to grow in sub-Saharan Africa. Thus, making MTN Shortz a strategic and long-term platform to reach audiences.

###

From World Screen:

MTV+ Lands on Amazon’s Prime Video Channels in Germany, Austria

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has revealed the launch of the MTV+ Prime Video Channel on Amazon in Germany and Austria, among other deals across Europe and Africa.

Under the agreement, Prime members can add MTV+ to their existing subscription for a monthly fee. The new deal gives Amazon Prime Video members the ability to access the linear MTV Brand New channel and a variety of premium MTV content on demand.

Meanwhile, VIMN entered a multiyear pact with Vodafone in Turkey for more than 300 hours of SVOD content, versioned in Turkish, from Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and Teennick, which will be distributed exclusively through the Vodafone TV app.

And in Africa, VIMN will launch several of its global brands, including Nickelodeon, MTV, MTV Base and Comedy Central, on MTN’s Shortz streaming platform.

“We are pursuing a diversified and extensive multiplatform strategy,” said Raffaele Annecchino, the president and managing director of VIMN’s Southern and Western Europe, Middle East and Africa business cluster. “We are a company that produces premium long-form and short-form content for every platform. We are excited to be working with great partners like Amazon in Germany, MTN in Africa and Vodafone as we continue to evaluate each market for new opportunities and unlock value through both traditional and non-traditional distribution partners.”

###

Below is Viacom Germany, Switzerland & Austria's official press release announcing the Amazon partnership!:

Viacom International Media Networks startet MTV+ bei Prime Video Channels


Berlin, 12. Dezember 2018 – Viacom International Media Networks erweitert die Zusammenarbeit mit Amazon Prime Video in Deutschland und Österreich mit dem Start des Prime Video Channels MTV+. Ab sofort ist MTV+ exklusiv für Prime-Mitglieder buchbar. Das neue Angebot bietet Prime-Mitgliedern Zugang zum linearen Sender MTV Brand New und zu zahlreichen Premium-Inhalten auf Abruf.

MTV ist die weltweit führende Medienmarke für Fans von Musik, Popkultur und Reality-Unterhaltung. MTV Brand New bietet 24-Stunden werbefreies Musikprogramm mit den neuesten Tracks und den Hits von Morgen. Reality-Fans kommen bei MTV+ mit aktuellen Highlights auf Abruf wie Jersey Shore: Family Vacation, Fear Factor, Catfish: The TV Show und Just Tattoo Of Us, sowie Klassikern wie Teen Mom, Geordie Shore und Ex On The Beach, voll auf ihre Kosten. Exklusiv bei Prime Video Channels haben Kunden außerdem regelmäßig zuerst Zugriff auf neue Staffeln von MTV-Shows – zum Start sehen sie die neueste Staffel von Ex On The Beach aus den USA einen Monat vor allen anderen. Das Angebot wird in Zukunft kontinuierlich erweitert.

MTV+ kann zur bestehenden Prime-Mitgliedschaft hinzugebucht werden – individuell, flexibel, ohne Paketbindung und monatlich kündbar. Der Channel ist für 2,99 Euro pro Monat über die Prime Video-App auf Smart TVs, mobilen iOS und Android Geräten, Amazon Fire TV, Fire TV Stick, Fire Tablets, Apple TV oder online unter amazon.de/channels verfügbar.

„MTV ist nicht nur zurück im deutschen Free-TV – mit dem Ausbau unserer erfolgreichen Zusammenarbeit mit Amazon Prime Video haben Fans nun erstmals die Möglichkeit, die besten Musik- und Realityinhalte von MTV bequem und flexibel zu abonnieren“, so Michael Keidel, VP Content Sales & Distribution GSA bei Viacom International Media Networks.

###

Also, from DWDL.de:

MTV ab sofort bei Prime Video Channels verfügbar

Fans von MTV können nun auch bei Prime Video Channels ein Angebot des Musiksenders buchen. Das Angebot umfasst den Sender MTV Brand New sowie zahlreiche Inhalte auf Abruf. Der Name des Channels kommt allerdings überraschend.

Auch MTV ist künftig auf der Pay-TV-Plattform von Amazon vertreten: Wie Viacom am Mittwoch bekanntgab, können Prime-Mitglieder ab sofort das Paket MTV+ bei Prime Video Channels buchen. Das Angebot bietet demnach Zugang zum linearen Sender MTV Brand New sowie zu diversen Inhalten auf Abruf, darunter "Jersey Shore: Familiy Vacation", "Fear Factor" oder "Ex on the Beach".

Der Channel kann für 2,99 Euro pro Monat gebucht werden und lässt sich monatlich kündigen. Der Name erstaunt allerdings, schließlich nennt Viacom auch das vor einigen Wochen bei Nickelodeon gestartete abendliche Timeshift-Fenster seines Free-TV-Senders MTV+. Daran soll sich auch durch den Start bei Prime Video Channels nichts ändern, heißt es.

"MTV ist nicht nur zurück im deutschen Free-TV - mit dem Ausbau unserer erfolgreichen Zusammenarbeit mit Amazon Prime Video haben Fans nun erstmals die Möglichkeit, die besten Musik- und Realityinhalte von MTV bequem und flexibel zu abonnieren", sagte Michael Keidel, VP Content Sales & Distribution GSA bei Viacom International Media Networks, über das neue Angebot.

--Ende--

Source: The Hollywood Reporter; Additional source: Google Translate.
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JoJo Siwa Adds 28 More Dates to 'Nickelodeon’s JoJo Siwa D.R.E.A.M. The Tour', Produced by AEG Presents

Official Nickelodeon USA and PMK BNC Press Release | Share the news - http://po.st/JoJoSiwaTour:

JOJO SIWA ADDS 28 MORE DATES TO NICKELODEON’S JOJO SIWA D.R.E.A.M. THE TOUR, PRODUCED BY AEG PRESENTS


New Shows Kick Off July 10; Tickets On Sale to General Public

Friday, Dec. 14, at 10:00 a.m. Local Time


Nickelodeon’s JoJo Siwa D.R.E.A.M. The Tour is Presented by Party City


Share it: @Nickelodeon #JoJoDREAMTour


BURBANK, Calif.,—Dec. 11, 2018—After selling out 24 cities across the U.S., Nickelodeon star and YouTube sensation JoJo Siwa is adding 28 dates to her first North American tour: Nickelodeon’s JoJo Siwa D.R.E.A.M. The Tour. Presented by Party City, the 53-city tour is produced by Nickelodeon and AEG Presents.


The new shows kick off July 10 at Amway Center in Orlando, Florida, with the final performance held at Doug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre in Vancouver, British Columbia. Additional stops include Las Vegas, Boston, Omaha, Philadelphia, Anaheim and Toronto.

Fans who subscribe to JoJo’s Siwanatorz email club will have access to purchase presale tickets beginning Wednesday, Dec. 12, at 10:00 a.m. local time. American Express® Card Members can purchase tickets before the general public on Thursday, Dec. 13, from 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m. local time. Tickets go on sale to the general public on Friday, Dec. 14 at 10:00 a.m. local time at JoJoDREAMTour.com.

Nickelodeon’s JoJo Siwa D.R.E.A.M. The Tour North American dates:

DATE
CITY
VENUE
July 10Orlando, FLAmway Center
July 12Sunrise, FLBB&T Center
July 13Saint Augustine, FLSaint Augustine Amphitheatre
July 14Charleston, SCVolvo Car Stadium
July 16Greensboro, NCGreensboro Coliseum
July 18Richmond, VAVirginia Credit Union LIVE!
July 19Vienna, VAWolf Trap*
July 20Mashantucket, CTThe Grand Theater at Foxwoods Resort Casino
July 23Boston, MAAgganis Arena
July 24Newark, NJPrudential Center
July 26Uniondale, NYNYCB Live
July 27Philadelphia, PAthe Mann
July 28Lewiston, NYArtpark
July 30Pittsburgh, PAPetersen Events Center
July 31Columbus, OHSchottenstein Center
Aug. 2Toronto, ONCoca-Cola Coliseum
Aug. 3Detroit, MIMasonic Temple Theatre
Aug. 4Milwaukee, WIBMO Harris Pavilion
Aug. 6Omaha, NEBaxter Arena
Aug. 8Broomfield, CO1STBANK Center
Aug. 10Las Vegas, NVMandalay Bay Events Center
Aug. 11Santa Barbara, CASanta Barbara Bowl
Aug. 13Anaheim, CAHonda Center
Aug. 14Oakland, CAOracle Arena
Aug. 15Reno, NVReno Events Center
Aug. 17Portland, ORTheater Of The Clouds
Aug. 18Redmond, WAMarymoor Park Concerts
Aug. 20Vancouver, BCDoug Mitchell Thunderbird Sports Centre

*Venues not participating in the American Express® Card Members presale.

Visit JoJoDREAMTour.com for the full tour schedule and more information.

Siwa helped kick off Nickelodeon’s first U.S. SlimeFest event in Chicago earlier this year, a multi-day, sold out music festival for kids and families, where she performed in front of over 24,000 fans. She also performed at Nickelodeon’s second SlimeFest UK.

Nickelodeon superstar JoJo Siwa is a YouTube personality, singer, dancer, entrepreneur, social media influencer, New York Times bestselling author and star on Nickelodeon’s Lip Sync Battle Shorties. Siwa connects with her fans through many channels: via social media, where she currently has over 8.3 million subscribers on YouTube with over 1.8 billion views, over 7.5 million followers on Instagram, over 17.2 million followers on TikTok (formerly Musical.ly), over 396,000 Twitter followers, over 506,000 likes on Facebook, and on YouTube; through her SIWANATORZ club, which stands against negativity and bullying; through her global reach of consumer products including her signature bows, accessories, apparel, arts and crafts, cosmetics, home goods and party supplies; and with her hugely popular singles, “Boomerang,” which has been viewed almost 623 million times and is certified platinum, “Kid in a Candy Store,” “Hold The Drama,” and “High Top Shoes.”

Last month, Nickelodeon released JoJo Siwa’s first-ever EP, entitled D.R.E.A.M. The Music. The EP features four new songs: “D.R.E.A.M.,” “My Story,” “Everyday Popstars” and “Only Getting Better.” The music video for “D.R.E.A.M.” was released on Siwa’s YouTube channel early November, and to date has garnered over 14 million views.

Siwa also recently launched her first animated shorts series, The JoJo & BowBow Show Show starring Siwa and her furry best friend BowBow. She also works alongside Nick Cannon in Nickelodeon’s hit competition series Lip Sync Battle Shorties. She has also appeared on various Nickelodeon live-action series including School of Rock and The Thundermans. Siwa performed at Nickelodeon’s 2018 Kids’ Choice Awards and has won two blimps for Favorite Viral Music Artist in 2017 and Musical YouTube Creator in 2018. This summer, she performed at Nickelodeon’s 2018 Kids’ Choice Awards Mexico.

Siwa and Nickelodeon also have a licensing partnership for consumer products inspired by the star. She is a top licensed property with popular consumer products across multiple categories at retailers around the world. In May, the Licensing Industry Merchandisers' Association (LIMA) named JoJo the number one live-action licensed property. More than 41 million of her iconic bows have been sold globally, and she has a popular line of Danskin apparel and athleisure line at major US retailers.

About AEG Presents

AEG Presents is one of the world’s largest live music companies. The company is dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performances, including producing and promoting global concert tours, regional music events and world-renowned festivals. AEG Presents operates in North America, Europe and Asia through 22 regional offices that support its tours which include such artists as Taylor Swift, Paul McCartney, The Rolling Stones, Justin Bieber, Katy Perry, Elton John, Panic! At The Disco, Celine Dion, and Kenny Chesney; produces over 40 music festivals, including the iconic Coachella Valley Music & Arts Festival; New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Stagecoach California’s Country Music Festival, Desert Trip, Firefly Music Festival, Hangout Music Festival and Panorama and owns, manages or exclusively promotes in more than 80 clubs and theaters worldwide. AEG presents more than 8,000 shows annually worldwide and conducts business under such globally renowned brands as AEG Presents, Goldenvoice, The Bowery Presents, Concerts West, Messina Touring Group, Marshall Arts LTD, and Madison House Presents. For more information visit www.aegpresents.com.

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).

###

GOING TO NYC + MORE TOUR DATES?!! | JoJo Siwa Unlocked



In additional JoJo Siwa News:

-- The JoJo Siwa Singing Doll is currently the third most searched for toy on Google this holiday season!

-- PT MNC Lisensi Internasional (MNC Licensing) and PT Mega Panen Abadi (Panama) have opened a JoJo Siwa concept store in Indonesia!


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Do you want to work in animation, television, or movies? Listen to this advice from Ray DeLaurentis.



Butch Hartman (creator of Fairly OddParents and Danny Phantom on Nickelodeon) hosts ‘Speech Bubble’ with the Robin to his Batman, Jace Diehl! Topics range from cartoons to movies to what Butch had for lunch yesterday. No matter what he talks about, it’s always guaranteed to be awesome!

Butch Hartman (creator of Fairly OddParents, Danny Phantom, T.U.F.F. Puppy and Bunsen Is a Beast on Nickelodeon) hosts Speech Bubble with the Robin to his Batman, Jace Diehl! Topics range from cartoons to movies to what Butch had for lunch yesterday. No matter what he talks about, it’s always guaranteed to be awesome!

Apple Podcasts: http://apple.co/2g3EGvH
Google Play: http://bit.ly/2xqNIKB
SoundCloud: http://bit.ly/2xrL5IH

Butch Hartman Sketchbook #1: https://www.amazon.com/Butch-Hartman-Sketchbook-Stuff-drawn/dp/1975613392

Check out Butch's brand-new comic The 3 O'Clock Club from Lion Forge Comics, and be sure to like, subscribe, and follow everything of Butch's below:

Butch Hartman - Facebook | Instagram | Butch's Sketchpad On Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat: @realhartman | YouTube | Speech Bubble | Tumblr | Pinterest

The Noog Network - www.noognetwork.com | Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Snapchat: @noognetwork | Tumblr | Pinterest

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Watch as different color yarns come together to form one of your preschooler’s favorite cadets — Brody! Love ‘Top Wing’? Catch it weekday mornings on Nickelodeon, and everywhere you find Nick Jr.



If your preschooler loves crafty videos, this five-minute arts and crafts video is perfect for co-viewing! In this video, your kids can watch a knitted figurine of Brody quickly take form from string!

Want more ‘Top Wing’? Take flight on high-soaring adventures with Swift, Rod, Brody, and Penny as these cadets from the Top Wing Academy try to earn their wings. When preschoolers watch these four feathered friends figure out how to solve problems and help out others in their community, they’ll learn valuable lessons in bravery, teamwork, perseverance, and empathy. Catch full episodes in the free Nick Jr. App.

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

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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!

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Give your Christmas tree some blazing speed, with these Blaze Baubles!



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Follow the link to watch the full length special 'Real Pups Save Christmas', starring all your favourite Paw Patrol characters as real puppies! http://nickalive.blogspot.com/2018/11/paw-patrol-real-pups-save-christmas.html



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Ecco un'idea per un albero di Natale alternativo: prendi la carta e segui le istruzioni di FimoKawaiiEmotions.

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Inside Bob Bakish’s Aggressive Turnaround Plan for Viacom

Inside Bob Bakish’s Aggressive Turnaround Plan for Viacom


CREDIT: Celeste Sloman for Variety

Bob Bakish was days into his job as CEO of Viacom in late 2016 when he began convening meetings with senior executives to execute a triage effort to save the media giant.

Paramount Pictures had just posted a $445 million annual loss. Viacom’s cable networks were in danger of being dropped by major distributors amid a long ratings slump and lack of sizzle in its programming. Morale at the company’s creative hubs in New York and Los Angeles had been battered by months of headlines about a nasty fight between Bakish’s predecessor, Philippe Dauman, and Viacom controlling shareholders Sumner Redstone and Shari Redstone. The prospect of a shotgun remarriage of the two halves of the Redstone empire — Viacom and CBS Corp. — hung heavy over the company, leading outsiders to see Bakish as a placeholder until Leslie Moonves and his team could take over.

What’s more, Bakish inherited a debt problem from the Dauman regime that required immediate attention as big payments loomed, complicating Viacom’s financial flexibility at a time when the company desperately needed to invest in fresh content and R&D. All of this bad news was reflected in a stock price that had plunged nearly 50% during the previous two years. Once seen as a company on the cutting edge of the multichannel universe, Viacom became the butt of industry jokes about traditional-media dinosaurs failing to adapt with fast-changing times.

“The biggest issue I saw, as if there weren’t enough problems, was that there was essentially no plan,” Bakish, who turns 55 on Dec. 14, tells Variety in his first in-depth interview since becoming CEO. “I’m a big believer in having a plan. If you don’t know where you’re trying to get to, how are you going to get there?” Not having a long-term strategic growth plan for the business was anathema to his background as an MBA and engineer.

Two years later, under Bakish’s leadership, Viacom appears to have halted the slide and is positioned for renewed growth. The chief executive has dramatically reshaped the company’s senior management ranks, ousting some of his longtime peers and recruiting industry executive stars such as Jim Gianopulos and Brian Robbins. He’s focused Viacom’s investments in content and pushed to diversify the company beyond pay TV and movies into digital-programming content and live experiences.

Bakish is routinely described as affable, smart and easy to talk to and is well liked by the rank and file at the company where he has worked since early 1997.

But at a time when the biggest players in media and entertainment are scrambling to fiercely compete on a global scale, Bakish still faces tough questions from the business and creative communities about whether Viacom has the firepower to remain competitive in the new world order for media giants. And there are questions about whether he’s the right person to lead Viacom into battle amid the arms race for content.

“Viacom has shown really strong improvement since Bob took over,” says Jessica Reif Ehrlich, media analyst with Bank of America Merrill Lynch, who has covered Viacom for years. “He doesn’t have to be a programmer to choose great creative executives. I give him a lot of credit for what he’s accomplished in a short time with what he had to work with. Morale at the company has done a 180-degree turn. You can feel it when you walk in the building.”

Bakish’s strengths, colleagues and associates say, include being a natural leader and a sophisticated problem solver. He acknowledges that he has a “nontraditional” background for heading a sizable media company.

“I didn’t grow up on the creative side. I didn’t grow up on the sales side,” Bakish allows. “But what I’ve done for a long time is look at all the information at hand and listen to people. Then, based on your understanding of what’s important and what you’re trying to achieve, you make decisions and hope they’re the right decisions.”

Viacom’s biggest dilemma is that the majority of its earnings are derived from the sector of its business that’s most under siege: traditional basic cable. Viacom felt the pain of cord-cutting and the embrace of streaming early because its channels have always catered to younger viewers, the audience that was quickest to adopt streaming and social media as entertainment platforms.

“For what the company controls, they’ve done a lot of things to put themselves in a much better position than they were two years ago,” says Ben Swinburne, managing director and head of media research for Morgan Stanley. “The countervailing force they’re dealing with is the ecosystem that they exist in.”

Swinburne credits the new regime at Viacom for making sweeping changes in management and “holding executives accountable.” The most dramatic improvement story is at Paramount, where former 20th Century Fox chief Gianopulos has revamped the top management ranks and overhauled the studio’s financial and creative strategies. Paramount Television has been an impressive growth story for the studio.

“Paramount is still a few years away from manifesting its full earnings power, but you can see where it’s headed,” Swinburne says. He feels the same process is under way at the Media Networks cable wing (formerly MTV Networks), albeit at a slower pace. “The external manifestation of that from a growth perspective has been harder to discern than at Paramount,” he says.


CREDIT: Celeste Sloman for Variety

Bakish, who previously headed Viacom’s international channels division, has long impressed colleagues with his clear-eyed analysis of complicated situations. He succinctly boils down the obstacle course he faces in the coming months to trying to move the needle in the right direction.

“Can you create enough new business at a high enough margin fast enough to offset the decline in the traditional pay-TV business? That’s really the question,” he says. “When you look at our last couple of quarters, we have made continued progress on that journey.”

Bakish’s road map for revival includes revving up content production for linear and digital platforms, including those outside the Viacom umbrella, to take part in the content licensing gold rush. He has led the company’s efforts to expand its overseas operations with investments in Latin America, India and the U.K. Viacom is moving forward with advanced advertising initiatives that are projected to grow to become 15%-20% of Viacom’s total domestic ad biz next year. Viacom is also making a major push to expand its “experiential business” — aka selling tickets to the public for festivals and other live experiences tied to the company’s brightest brands.

Bakish has spent a good deal of time fence-mending with key MVPDs that had begun to punish the company after years of using its leverage to extract higher subscriber fees. After losing so much market clout as ratings declined for Viacom’s flagships, Bakish traded the stick for the carrot and crafted efforts to partner with MVPDs on targeted advertising sales and co-productions. Late last year, he salvaged Viacom’s carriage deal with Charter Communications, which otherwise would have been a domino-effect disaster for the company. Next up is a big carriage renewal with AT&T’s DirecTV, which will be a test of Bakish’s diplomatic skills.

“The investment community is getting more confidence in him,” says Mario Gabelli, a prominent investor in Viacom and CBS. “He’s got a plan.”

The heightened level of activity at Viacom is a welcome sign to longtime company observers who were deeply saddened by its decline during Dauman’s final years. But some wonder if the rebound might be too little too late.

“They’re diversifying into new areas that have better growth profiles,” Swinburne says. “The challenge is that those diversifications remain in the early stage and the areas of growth are relatively small.”

Bakish is realistic about the company’s uphill road. He’s not holding out for an M&A solution. There is no “transformational deal” on the horizon for Viacom, Bakish says. That includes CBS, even though there’s no doubt that he and Viacom’s board of directors (of which he is a member) have given serious consideration to what a Viacom-CBS combo might look like.

“Have we thought about it? Absolutely,” he says. “When we had discussions with CBS earlier this calendar year, one of the things we did was have a point of view on synergy savings. That’s a mathematical expression of how companies come together,” he says. “So we have thought about it. But at the same time I’ve taken the point of view with my team that we can’t worry about this because we don’t know what’s going to happen.”

Shari Redstone, vice chairman of Viacom and president of holding company National Amusements, was instrumental in picking Bakish for the CEO role after he impressed board members with his vision and planning for the international division. She praises Bakish for “his fast work to address the challenges head-on and transform Viacom for the future by pushing into new growth areas.” Redstone says the company, on Bakish’s watch, has steadily exceeded the board’s expectations. “He is an exceptional leader who has reignited the culture that has always been so important to Viacom’s success and to our position as a leader in the industry,” she says.

Former MTV Networks CEO Judy McGrath is one of the many alumni who were alarmed by the state of their alma mater when Bakish took over. She worked closely with Bakish after he became president of MTV Networks International in 2007 until her exit after 30 years with the company in 2011. The two have kept in touch over the years, particularly of late. The approach he took to cleaning up an unprofitable and bloated operation in the international channels division has proven to be a smaller-scale version of his blueprint for reviving Viacom, McGrath says.

“Bob always had his eye on something that would not exactly be in the company’s playbook but would expand the business in a way that was true to the brands. That wasn’t easy to do a lot of the time at Viacom,” McGrath says. “He always brought a real sense of the landscape of opportunity in his deals and a willingness to be experimental.”

Bakish did not come up through the creative development, production or marketing ranks, as was the path for most leaders in McGrath’s day. One thing he did have was a fan’s appreciation for Viacom’s brands and their place in pop culture. He’s an avid music buff who has been playing rock and blues guitar since he was a kid growing up in Englewood, N.J. For a few years, Bakish was a member of the MTV Networks house band, dubbed the Unrehearsed, which included then-VH1 chief John Sykes and MTV ad sales executive Hank Close. McGrath put them together to play the company holiday party and other events; at one point the group landed a few gigs at Times Square’s now-shuttered B.B. King Blues Club.


CREDIT: Celeste Sloman for Variety

Playing guitar is “fun and relaxing,” says Bakish, who is married and has two daughters, ages 18 and 23.

Project New Day was Bakish’s pithy name for the strategic brainstorming process that led to the turnaround plan Viacom unveiled to investors on Feb. 17, 2017, the same day it released unimpressive earnings that highlighted the company’s biggest weaknesses.

The meetings, mostly held in Viacom’s Times Square offices, involved the company’s key division heads and one or two members of their staffs at varying ranks. Bakish wanted a lot of input about how the company was operating in the trenches.

The mood among the executives who gathered in conference rooms was anxious and fearful but not grim. Bakish and Redstone were seen as “liberators,” in the words of a longtime Viacom TV executive. The company had been through the ringer during the last days of Dauman as Sumner Redstone’s longtime consigliere battled the ailing mogul’s daughter for control of the company. His ouster was part of a legal settlement reached in August 2016.

Stylistically, Bakish was the polar opposite of his predecessor. He brought the various fiefdoms within Viacom together to attack the company’s issues head on. “Bob engaged with people more in two weeks than Philippe did in 10 years,” says a veteran Viacom executive.

Bakish’s problem-solving approach reflected his early training as an engineer. He graduated from Columbia University in 1985 with a degree in operations research; in 1989 he earned his MBA, also from Columbia.

His first exposure to Viacom came in the early 1990s during his years as a management consultant for Booz Allen Hamilton. He became well liked by Viacom’s brain trust after working on the integration of Paramount with Viacom and long-term planning for MTV and Showtime.

“If you are committed to being a brand and an IP generator, you have to be where your audience is. If 16-year-olds are spending all of their time on Snapchat and Instagram, then we’re going to talk to them [there].”


CREDIT: Celeste Sloman for Variety

“He wasn’t one of those consultants who believes he has all the answers,” says Geoffrey Sands, who worked with Bakish at Booz Allen. “He has no ego, which is unusual in this industry, and he has no problem changing his mind about something if he’s presented with better facts. But you’d better have the facts.”

Even as a Viacom insider, Bakish was surprised at what he learned about the state of Viacom’s two core divisions when he took over. “Things were a little worse than I thought,” he says. Early on he went on a charm offensive with the heads of Hollywood’s major talent agencies. “They were pretty direct that we had a problem,” he says.

The brainstorming on the strategic plan coalesced around a strategy to make better use of Viacom’s resources by funneling most of the investment to six core brands: MTV, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Comedy Central, BET and the remodeling of the lagging Spike TV into Paramount Network in January 2018.

“Bob made us all go through an exercise of ‘Who are you?’ — defining what your brand was and creating its mission. When you do that, you begin to realize that we’re not actually a cable company,” says Chris McCarthy, who has expanded his turf during Bakish’s tenure to include MTV, VH1, Logo and, most recently, CMT (Read a conversation with McCarthy here). “We have to fix cable, absolutely, but while cable is declining, our universe is expanding.”

Bakish says he was gratified by the response to Project New Day. It proved to him that the culture of inventiveness that led America to demand its MTV, and much more, had not died. “I wanted to make sure people understood that our mission was to unlock the real opportunity inside Viacom and that it would take everyone working together to do it,” he says. “It really created a lot of excitement, which is exactly what I wanted.”

One of Viacom’s biggest swings has been the launch of Viacom Digital Studios to help rev up the overall level of content production at the company. Kelly Day, former chief business officer of Awesomeness, joined the company in the fall of 2017 to head the division. A few months later, Day pounced on the chance for Viacom to buy Awesomeness from NBCUniversal, Hearst and Verizon for around $40 million.

Bakish realized the advertising market on the cable channels wasn’t likely to grow much, so the only way to expand the company’s inventory of commercial time was to move into fresh programming formats on new platforms. Day’s group is producing advertising-supported short-form programs — branded with MTV and other cablers — for Snap, YouTube and Facebook. Awesomeness was the production banner behind Netflix’s recent young-adult smash movie To All the Boys I’ve Loved Before.

“If you are committed to being a brand and an IP generator, you have to be where your audience is,” Day says. “If 16-year-olds are spending all of their time on Snapchat and Instagram, then we’re going to talk to them on Snapchat and Instagram.”

The profits generated from these efforts so far, through licensing and advertising revenues, have been modest but highly promising.

“It’s not television dollars yet, but it’s growing very quickly, and it’s material to the company,” Day says.

His new direct reports credit Bakish as a supportive manager who affords the division lots of autonomy and is a great sounding board for ideas and problems.

Gianopulos, who signed on as chairman-CEO of Paramount in April 2017, has been off to a hot start with the sleeper success of A Quiet Place and Book Club and the worldwide engine of Mission: Impossible — Fallout.

“It became evident early on that he has all the elements of a great leader,” Gianopulos says of Bakish. “He’s innovative; he’s strategic. He has created this culture of collaboration inside of Viacom. And he recognized this wasn’t going to be an overnight effort.”

Robbins, director-producer and founder of Awesomeness, set up shop with Paramount in June 2017 to launch the Paramount Players division for branded films tied to MTV, Nickelodeon, BET and Comedy Central. After some persuasion by Bakish, Robbins shifted in October from Paramount Players to heading Nickelodeon, the cable channel that has continued to struggle during the past year even as viewership and digital activity has improved at MTV, Comedy Central and BET. Taking on a linear channel was an unexpected move for Robbins after leading one of the most successful digital-content start-ups of recent years.

What changed Robbins’ mind was the idea of running Nickelodeon not as a cable channel group but as a consumer brand. “It’s six linear networks, the largest animation studio in the world, a movie studio — it’s a brand,” he says. “It’s one of the few media brands in the world that actually matters. ” Also, Bakish “finally convinced me that they needed me,” Robbins admits.

Wall Street will be closely watching the progress of Nickelodeon under Robbins in the coming months, given that the brand had been the company’s single biggest earnings driver during its 1990s and 2000s heyday.

“The crown jewel at Viacom is Nickelodeon,” says Morgan Stanley’s Swinburne. “I’m interested to see what they do with Nickelodeon in the three- to five-year [term] in an unbundled, OTT world.”

As he begins his third year at the helm, Bakish has become more comfortable with the spotlight and the pressure that comes with leading a company of about 10,400 employees worldwide.

Amid the Shakespearean public battles surrounding Sumner Redstone’s empire, Bakish has not always been painted in the most flattering light as media-biz watchers obsess over the fate of Viacom and CBS Corp. The discord between Shari Redstone and former CBS chairman-CEO Moonves over her desire to bring Viacom and CBS together spurred industry gossip that she favored Bakish for the job of leading the combined companies because he would be more subservient than Moonves. That dynamic changed for good in September, when Moonves was forced out in the face of a cascade of sexual-misconduct claims dating back decades.

“You begin to read a lot about yourself in the press, which is kind of a strange thing,” Bakish says when asked about adjusting to a much more public job. “After a while you realize the press is going to write what the press writes. I’ve got thick skin.”

Bakish insists that the unknowns about Viacom’s future, and his own, cannot become excuses for inactivity.

“The easiest thing to do is to be distracted by this, but if we get distracted by this, we’re not going to be able to move as far along as we planned to had we been focused,” he says. “I said to the management team, ‘The only thing I know at the end of this fiscal year is you’re going to be talking to one of two people — you’re going to be talking to me or you’re going to be talking to someone else. In either case, what you don’t want to do is to say, “Well, we were planning on doing X, but we were kind of distracted.”’

“I said, ‘Let’s not worry about [CBS]. Let’s stay focused. We just gotta keep putting points on the board and let whatever happens happen.’”

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