NickALive!: 01/22/26

Thursday, January 22, 2026

Paramount Introduces Programmatic Access to Marquee Live Sports on Paramount+

Paramount Introduces Programmatic Access to Marquee Live Sports on Paramount+

Launching with UFC's Debut Event on Paramount+ on January 24 — Giving Marketers Real-Time, Guaranteed Entry to Fans During Peak Excitement for Maximum Reach and Relevance

NEW YORK, Jan. 21, 2026 -- Paramount today announced a major evolution to its streaming advertising offering by introducing live, in-game programmatic buying for select commercial ad units within marquee sporting events, kicking off with UFC's highly anticipated Paramount+ debut on January 24 with UFC^® 324: GAETHJE vs. PIMBLETT. Designed to maximize Paramount's biggest tentpole sports moments for marketing partners, this marks the first time advertisers can secure a real-time, guaranteed placement in Paramount+'s lineup of premium sports properties.

Programmatic inventory availability will complement the success of Streaming Fixed Units to deliver high-impact visibility built around Paramount+'s most coveted sports programming.

"This initiative underscores Paramount's commitment to media modernization, expanding opportunities for marketers to show up during the biggest and buzziest moments of scaled audience attention," said Jay Askinasi, Chief Revenue Officer, Paramount. "By bringing guaranteed positions to the streaming sports stage, both directly and programmatically, we're widening the aperture for more advertisers to tap into the passion, energy and engagement of live sports with the agility, optimization and precision of digital."

Through partnerships with Amazon DSP, Google's Display & Video 360, The Trade Desk and Yahoo DSP, Paramount will offer private marketplace, biddable ad inventory for UFC's full slate of Numbered Events preliminaries and Fight Nights in the U.S. All Numbered Event main cards will exclusively be sold as Streaming Fixed Units.

Advertisers can also continue to activate campaigns spanning Paramount's digital portfolio of leading sports programming through Paramount Streaming content bundles, driven by the company's accelerated momentum across Paramount+ and Pluto TV.

About Paramount, a Skydance Corporation

Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (Nasdaq: PSKY) is a leading, next‑generation global media and entertainment company, comprised of three business segments: Studios, Direct-to-Consumer, and TV Media. The Company's portfolio unites legendary brands, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television, CBS – America's most-watched broadcast network, CBS News, CBS Sports, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, Showtime, Paramount+, Pluto TV, and Skydance's Animation, Film, Television, Interactive/Games, and Sports divisions. For more information, please visit www.paramount.com.

###

Shop Paramount+ at ParamountShop.com

Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favorites on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

More Nick: Paramount Plus Expands Kids and Family Programming with New Slate of Films and Series from Nickelodeon Studios!

Official Paramount Skydance Corporation press release courtesy of PR Newswire.

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, Google News, Tumblr, via RSS and more for the latest Nickelodeon and Paramount Plus News and Highlights!

Dreaming Whilst Black Season Two to Premiere on Paramount+ Friday, February 20, 2026

DREAMING WHILST BLACK SEASON TWO TO PREMIERE ON PARAMOUNT+ FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2026

Critically Acclaimed Series Created by and Starring Adjani Salmon Returns to the Paramount+ Premium Plan

January 21, 2026 – Paramount+ today revealed the season two premiere date of DREAMING WHILST BLACK, which will arrive on the service beginning February 20, 2026. New episodes will air weekly on the Paramount+ Premium Plan only.

DREAMING WHILST BLACK is a sharp, funny, and unflinching comedy-drama about ambition, integrity, and the realities of breaking into the entertainment industry. Created by and starring Adjani Salmon, the series follows Kwabena, a driven Black British filmmaker determined to make work that matters - without selling himself out in the process.

In Season two, Kwabena is finally on the brink of his first major directing opportunity when he’s offered the chance to helm a radical, “color-blind” historical drama. What initially feels like a dream come true quickly reveals itself to be far more complicated. As Kwabena peers behind the curtain of a so-called progressive industry, he’s forced to confront uncomfortable truths about power, authorship, representation, and the compromises required to succeed.

Adjani Salmon | Black Sheep (S.2 Ep.1) | Dreaming Whilst Black

Blending biting industry satire with emotional honesty, DREAMING WHILST BLACK explores what happens when creative ambition collides with systemic realities - and asks whether it’s possible to make meaningful art without losing yourself along the way.

Adjani Salmon, Babirye Bukilwa | Blackguard (S.2 Ep.3) | Dreaming Whilst Black

Season 1 of the series received BAFTA^® TV nominations for Scripted Comedy and Male Performance in a Comedy Programme, an NAACP^® nomination for Outstanding Breakthrough Creative (Television) and Film Independent Spirit Awards nominations for Best New Scripted Series and Best Breakthrough Performance in a New Scripted Series.

Adjani Salmon | Black Sheep (S.2 Ep.1) | Dreaming Whilst Black

The series, led by Adjani Salmon, also stars Dani Moseley, Demmy Ladipo, Rachel Adedeji, Babirye Bukilwa, Roger Griffiths, Jo Martin, Martina Laird and Kemi Adekoya.

Adjani Salmon | Black Love (S.2 Ep.4) | Dreaming Whilst Black

The series is created by Adjani Salmon, Maximilian Evans, Natasha Jatania and Laura Seixas. Sebastian Thief directs episodes 201 - 203, while Abdou Cissé directs episodes 204 - 206. This season was written by Adjani Salmon, Thara Popoola, Ali Hughes and Yemi Oyefuwa. Produced by A24, Big Deal Films and Nicola Gregory, executive producers include Adjani Salmon, Ali Hughes and Big Deal Films’ Dhanny Joshi and Thomas Stogdon.

DREAMING WHILST BLACK will stream weekly with the series finale scheduled for Friday, March 27. The series will also air weekly on Paramount+ with SHOWTIME same day at 9PM PT.

***

About Paramount+

Paramount+ is a premium streaming subscription service delivering live sports, breaking news, and a Mountain of Entertainment™, and is a cornerstone of the Direct-to-Consumer division at Paramount, a Skydance Corporation (Nasdaq: PSKY), a leading, next‑generation global media and entertainment company. The Company’s portfolio unites legendary brands, including Paramount Pictures, Paramount Television, CBS – America’s most‑watched broadcast network, CBS News, Nickelodeon, MTV, BET, Comedy Central, SHOWTIME^®, Paramount+, Pluto TV, and Skydance’s Animation, Film, Television, Interactive/Games, and Sports divisions. For more information please visit www.paramount.com.

@ParamountPlus

@PeakParamount

#ParamountPlus

# # #

Shop Paramount+ at ParamountShop.com

Stream a Mountain of Entertainment, including your Nickelodeon favorites on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

More Nick: Paramount Plus Expands Kids and Family Programming with New Slate of Films and Series from Nickelodeon Studios!

Additional imagery courtesy of Vital Thrills.

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, Google News, Tumblr, via RSS and more for the latest Nickelodeon and Paramount Plus News and Highlights!

IDW Set to Continue 'Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' In Comics Following Show's Cancellation

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics continue to create all-new stories and reimagine all aspects of the iconic Turtles franchise, and that doesn’t look to be slowing down anytime soon. There is one part of that comics empire that came into question, however, after the cancellation of Paramount+'s animated Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series.

'Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' Season Two Key Art

ComicBook recently had the chance to speak with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Editor Jake Thomas recently about all facets of the TMNT franchise, and he addressed the state of the Tales of the TMNT series in light of the show’s unexpected ending.

The Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles comics perfectly captured the vibe and lighthearted tone of the show, so ComicBook asked Thomas what the status of the comic series was in light of the show’s cancellation. Not only has ComicBook revealed a first look at issue #5, due Wednesday, March 18, below, but Thomas revealed that the series is going to continue past the show’s end.

'Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5' Cover

“What I think Mikey Levitt and Andrew Joustra have done is really captured the youth and joy of that show, the real fun, silly, endearing brotherly love that permeates every inch of those stories, and then translated it beautifully into comics. And you cannot underestimate Louie Joyce, that movie and TV show came with such a clear style and voice, and Louie picked it up and made it his own,” Thomas said. “The editor of that book, Ellen Boener, has put together some really fantastic plans for that book that will go beyond the show’s conclusion.”

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Is Set For Big Next Era

There’s a lot to be happy about in terms of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise at the moment. The comics side of the franchise has never been bigger or more varied, with projects set in the present day, the animated series, and the multiverse, and that’s not taking into account all of the cool crossovers like Godzilla and Power Rangers, the solo series like Casey Jones and Shredder, and the future books set in the Last Ronin universe.

'Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #5' Preview

Courtesy of IDW Publishing

While the Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles show was canceled, the comic series is set to carry on. Meanwhile, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem, which, set in the same universe as Tales of the TMNT and delighted moviegoers in 2023, will deliver a highly anticipated sequel in 2027, with the possibility of a third movie. There is also the rumored hybrid live-action Turtles movie from Paramount, which is supposedly why the Last Ronin movie was shelved for the time being, as the new Paramount leadership reportedly didn’t want an R-Rated Turtles movie to be the first film to kick off their new Turtles era.

Credit: @AJoustra

Then on the gaming side, a new Turtles game is on the way titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Empire City, which will allow you to play solo and in co-op, teaming up with other players in a one-of-a-kind VR experience. THQ Nordic are also developing a game based on the hit The Last Ronin comic series. Turtles will also join one of the biggest games around with the upcoming Magic: The Gathering x Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles crossover, which is right around the corner.

Even with some of the questions still lingering, the future slate is incredibly promising for the Turtles franchise, and it is already set for a big time next era for franchise fans.

Stream the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Universe, including Mutant Mayhem on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

Stream Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie on Netflix!

Buy TMNT merch on the OFFICIAL Paramount Shop: https://www.paramountshop.com/pages/teenage-mutant-ninja-turtles

Subscribe to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles OFFICIAL YouTube channel - the ultimate home for all things TMNT! Here you’ll find Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, and Donatello’s best moments from all your favorite TMNT series. Join the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in their fight against evil, and be the first to get notified of exclusive original content you won’t find anywhere else! https://at.nick.com/TMNTSubscribe

More Nick: Paramount Launches ‘World of TMNT’ Hub!

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, Google News, Tumblr, via RSS and more for the latest Nickelodeon and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem News and Highlights!

Dark Horse Comics Announces 'The Legend of Korra: Kya and the Secret of the Sand' Graphic Novel

UNCOVER SECRETS AT THE EDGES OF THE EARTH KINGDOM IN THE NEW AVATAR LEGENDS GRAPHIC NOVEL THE LEGEND OF KORRA: KYA AND THE SECRET OF THE SAND

01/21/2026

Arriving Summer 2026

Dark Horse Comics, in collaboration with Avatar Studios and Avatar Legends co-creators Michael Dante DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko, presents The Legend of Korra: Kya and the Secret of the Sand, a brand-new tale about Aang and Katara’s daughter, Kya. It is written by Eisner-nominated graphic novelist Kiku Hughes (Displacement), illustrated by Alexandria Monik (The Legend of Korra: Mystery of Penquan Island), colored by Diana Sousa (Critical Role: Vox Machina Origins) and lettered by Comicraft’s Jimmy Betancourt (Ghostbusters: Dead Man’s Chest).

About The Legend of Korra: Kya and the Secret of the Sand:

While helping Korra recover in the Southern Water Tribe, Kya shares a story from her youth of a time when she was lost and disconnected from herself, far from home in the Si Wong Desert . . .

Young and untested, Kya leaves her family to seek her purpose in the wider world. Hoping to test herself and help struggling communities, she heads to the Si Wong Desert, where scarce resources and fractured communities are making the fringes of the Earth Kingdom increasingly unstable. Kya, arriving in the community of Liyuan to teach healing and help the struggling community defend itself from bandits, finds that the wounds left from decades of conflict run deep, and may be harder to heal than she first thought.

The saga will be told July 28, 2026, when The Legend of Korra: Kya and the Secret of the Sand (paperback, 80 pages, 6” x 9”) arrives in comics shops and bookstores. It is now available for preorder from Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and your local comics shop and bookstore for $13.99.

Be sure to follow DarkHorseComics on social media and check our website, www.DarkHorse.com, for more news, announcements, and updates.

Praise for Avatar: The Last Airbender graphic novels:

“Avatar: The Last Airbender—Suki, Alone develops a key Avatarverse character on a solo journey that turns out deeply interconnected to the storyworld at large. It’s a story that emphasizes how versatile this world is for telling all kinds of stories.” —Multiversity Comics

“All in all, Ashes of the Academy is a fantastic addition to the expanding lore of Avatar: The Last Airbender. It’s fun, it’s thoughtful, and frankly, more Avatar stories are always welcome.” —Gaming Trend

“While rooted in the established world of Avatar: The Last Airbender, Ashes of the Academy brings something fresh and exciting to the table. It blends familiar faces and new challenges, adding depth to the beloved universe.” —Screen Rant

“A meaningful one-off about adapting to change that will satisfy Avatar: The Last Airbender fans.” —School Library Journal on Avatar: The Last Airbender—The Bounty Hunter and the Tea Brewer

###

Stream Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra on Paramount+ and Netflix! Try Paramount+ at ParamountPlus.com

Shop Avatar merch on the OFFICIAL Paramount Shop!

Listen to the official A:TLA podcast, Avatar: Braving the Elements!

Get more Avatar: The Last Airbender on: YouTube | Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

Subscribe to the official Avatar: The Last Airbender YouTube channel!

More Nick: Nickelodeon Orders 'Avatar: Seven Havens' Animated Series, Unveils 'Avatar: The Last Airbender' 20th Anniversary Celebration Plans!

H/T: X/Twitter.

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Reddit, Instagram, Facebook, Google News, Tumblr, via RSS and more for the latest Nickelodeon, Avatar: The Last Airbender and The Legend of Korra News and Highlights!

Calm Adds 'Avatar: Tea, Tails and Tides' Sleep Story

Paramount Consumer Products and Calm, a mental health brand for sleep, relaxation and meditation, have partnered to bring Nickelodeon's beloved Avatar: The Last Airbender animated series to the service.

Available now on Calm is the Avatar: The Last Airbender Sleep Story Avatar: Tea, Tails and Tides, which invites listeners to visit some of their favorite characters, such as Aang, Katara, Toph, and even the Cabbage Seller, before bed.

Narrated by Cat Nguyen, Avatar: Tea, Tails and Tides is an original story set in the Avatar: The Last Airbender universe from authors Donald Chang & Brandon Dzirko. The story has a runtime of 48:15. Check out a sampling from the story below:

The Calm x Avatar: The Last Airbender collaboration follows Calm partnering with Paramount to bring Nickelodeon's PAW Patrol to the service in 2023, which also saw the launch of a Calm x PAW Patrol consumer product line from Hunter Price in 2024.

In additional news, Paramount is also partnering with Tonies to bring Avatar: The Last Airbender to the toniebox audio platform for children.

Aang returns on a soundbending adventure through the Four Nations in a fresh audio play that remixes fan-favorite scenes into a bold new adventure written by original ATLA series writer Joshua Hamilton.

Listeners will be able to explore the power of water, fire, and air - each element is guided by a legendary bending master.

Beloved characters will voiced by cultural care and authenticity.

The Avatar Aang tonie is produced in partnership with Paramount and Avatar Studios, and is set to be released during Fall 2026.