Nickelodeon To Take Over Sydney's Hyde Park To Host Special Summer Playground On Australia Day 2015

Nickelodeon Australia has announced the exciting Nick News on their official website, Nickelodeon.com.au, that, to celebrate Australia Day 2015, the Australian version of the world's number one kids' channel has partnered with the Australia Day Council of NSW (ADCNSW) to hold The Australia Day Summer Playground in Sydney's historic Hyde Park on Monday 26th January 2015 to help make Australia Day 2015 the biggest Australia Day ever!

Will SpongeBob be there? Yes! Can ShellHeads visit the Turtles lair? Of course! Will Luke Ryan and Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd be there? Who else would Nick have in charge of this epic Australia Day event?!

As part of Nickelodeon's Australia Day Summer Playground, Nick will be hosting exciting activities to keep everyone entertained!

Here's what's happening:

See all the stars LIVE on the Main Stage including Luke & Wyatt, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Dora the Explorer, Sam Moran, the Hi-5 crew, and SpongeBob SquarePants, plus Slime Time Live!

NickHeads can meet their favourite Nick characters and snap a snazzy selfie in the Nick Fan Zone!

ShellHeads can visit Nick's Heroes in a Half Shell in their natural habitat, their sewer sweet sewer!

Got a little brother or sister tagging along? NickHeads can jump in the photo booth in Dora's house and be their hero in the "Dora & Friends" area!

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's SuperNick! Get into costume, find your inner super hero, and get a greenscreen shot of you in action in the SuperNick zone!

Visit the Sponge Out of Water area and take a photo with Spongie in his beachy zone!

Plus Nickelodeon's friends at Football NSW will have you covered if you're in a sporty mood. Or you can chill out in the Book Nook and hear a Nickelodeon story, make a mask or colour a masterpiece. And there'll even be sweet Nickelodeon merchandise you can buy on the day!

It's a great chance to celebrate Australia and everything that makes it such an awesome place to live on Australia's national day!

So grab a hat, grab a drink, grab your sunscreen and come along and enjoy Australia Day with your family and friends. And bring your camera! So many photos! So little time!

You can find out much more information about this amazing adventure and other ways you can get involved in Australia Day, such as the Aussie Fan campaign, in which you can win a VIP Magic Pass for Family of 4 to Sea World, a Nickelodeon Bag, poster, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" Pillow Pet and a "SpongeBob SquarePants" LEGO Set, the Little Aussie Songster competition, where entrants can win a P&O Cruise holiday of a lifetime, iPad Mini's and Lego Creative Suitcase's, and Salute to Australia, which is encouraging everyone to bring their friends and family down to Sydney Harbour for 12pm to Salute to Australia and sing the Australian national anthem, "Advance Australia Fair", in harmony with synchronised choirs as Australia's armed forces tip their hat to their great southern land, plus see a amazing 21 Gun Salute and aerial flyover of RAAF Jets, here on Nickelodeon Australia's official Australia Day 2015 website! Plus, follow the latest Australia Day news on social media using the special custom hashtags #AusDayNSW #AussieFan!

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Nickelodeon Australia Presenters Luke and Wyatt Talk About SLIMEFEST 2014; Cody Simpson Slimes Younger Sister Alli Simpson

To celebrate Nickelodeon Australia holding the networks 3rd annual SLIMEFEST event, SLIMEFEST 2014, the BIGGEST kid-powered, star filled family slimefest of the year, which this year is going to be bigger, better and SLIMIER than ever before and feature the most slime of all time, this weekend in Sydney and Melbourne, The West Australian has unveiled a exclusive interview with Nickelodeon Australia presenters Luke Ryan and Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd, who will be hosting SLIMEFEST 2014, which you can read in the article below!

As part of their interview, Luke and Wyatt talk about hosting Nickelodeon, "Camp Orange" and SLIMEFEST, talk about how Nickelodeon is working on increasingly creative ways to deliver slime (a slime cannon is in discussions), and hint that SLIMEFEST could be visiting Perth, their hometown, as part of Nick's fourth annual SLIMEFEST event, SLIMEFEST 2015!

Additionally, in a separate article, The Daily Telegraph Australia is reporting that to further celebrate Nickelodeon SLIMEFEST 2014, Cody Simpson slimed his younger sister Alli Simpson with Nickelodeon's famous green slime in Sydney ahead of their performances at SLIMEFEST 2014, where Alli will be performing live for the first time ever! Alli also hints that she'll be getting slimed at SLIMEFEST 2014!

From The West Australian via Yahoo! News Australia:

It could get messy

Luke Ryan and Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd. Picture: Mark Metcalfe. The West Australian.

For the past five years, West Aussie entertainers Luke Ryan and Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd have had a blast as the hosts of Nickelodeon's children's game show Camp Orange. So when I suggest the now 30-year-old duo may be getting a little old school for the network's primary school demographic, the WAAPA-trained performers and best mates burst into laughter.

"Well I didn't think that, but I do now, thanks," Nixon-Lloyd says in mock shock.

"Yeah, we're getting old," Ryan agrees. "I just turned 30 and that's a scary age in kids' entertainment! When you turn 30 it's like 'jeepers creepers!' But the thing about Nickelodeon is that they're so supportive of us. They allow us to have that Peter Pan thing going on, where we don't have to grow up at work. We just get to be big idiots."

Big idiots is exactly what they will get to be, again, as Nickelodeon's third annual Slimefest gushes into Sydney and Melbourne this weekend with more concerts, games and icky sticky slime than ever before. More than 9000 screaming kids will get to enjoy free rides, games and non-stop performances from the likes of Ricki-Lee, Dami Im, Cody Simpson, Alli Simpson, Justice Crew, Sabrina Carpenter, The Collective, Timomatic and Savage.

"This is going to be the experience of a lifetime," said The X-Factor winner Im. "I'm not afraid to get messy, bring it on!"

Perth viewers will be able to catch the best bits of all the gooey action with a 90-minute special on Monday.

"We're really pumped because we're doing two cities this year," says Nixon-Lloyd, who has co-hosted the sludge-fest with WAAPA theatre arts graduate Ryan for the past two years in Sydney. "We're doubling the fun and we've got a great mix of local acts and great international names. It's going to be good clean messy fun!"

The emphasis, Nixon-Lloyd says, is on mess, with the annual slime-a-palooza aiming to break the Guinness World Record for the most kids slimed - ever!

"When we've been doing rehearsals, we have to keep stopping as they bring in forklifts carrying these big megalitre containers full of slime," Manjimup-raised Nixon-Lloyd explains. "And they bring in unending supplies of the stuff. After 70 or so containers I thought 'yeah, that's enough,' and then they bring in 70 more! So yeah, it's a lot."

"And in past Slimefests," Geraldton-raised Ryan adds, "the goo was distributed in inventive ways, such as a slime guns, a dunk tank and a slime shower. But Nickelodeon is working on increasingly creative ways to deliver dollops of goop. A slime cannon is in discussions.

"And there's a real possibility that we could tour it to our home town of Perth next year, because I really want to see that new Perth Arena covered in slime."

The duo made the move from Melbourne - where they were often roomies - to Sydney last year to be closer to Foxtel and Nickelodeon's HQ.

"It's been really great doing Camp Orange, lots of web stuff and Slimefest. We're involved in all the writing of things and are much more hands on," says Nixon-Lloyd.

The pair also perform various hosting gigs and stand-up comedy as solo and comedy duos. As for Camp Orange, there's no stopping the veteran hosts.

"It's just so much fun to do," Nixon-Lloyd says. "It's all about messing around and being a big kid.

"It's not mean-spirited. It's just great fun. We love doing it."

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Nickelodeon Australia And New Zealand To Close The Voting For Localised Nominations Of Kids' Choice Awards 2014 On Thursday 27th March 2014 - Keep Voting!

TV Tonight, Australia's leading TV blog, is reporting in the following article the KCA 2014 News that Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand will be closing the voting for all five Aussie Nickelodeon 2014 Kids' Choice Awards categories, which are exclusive to Nick AU & NZ's localised version of the "2014 Kids' Choice Awards", online and on Twitter, on Thursday 27th March 2014, so that Nickelodeon Australia can count up all the KCA 2014 votes in time for the "Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards 2014" ceremony!

Aussie and Kiwi NickHeads can cast their votes for Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand's five exclusive KCA 2014 category's and Nickelodeon's 22 global "Kids' Choice Awards 2014" category's at kca2014.com, on Nickelodeon Australia's official mobile website, and on Twitter using custom KCA hashtags.

Nickelodeon Australia's Luke and Wyatt will then announce the winners of the Aussie categories: Aussies' Fave Homegrown Talent, Aussies' Fave Hottie, Aussies' Fave Nick Show, Fave Aussie In Hollywood and Aussies' Fave Hot New Talent from a slime hot tub, in between the live broadcast on Sunday 30th March 2014 at 11:00am/1:00pm NZ (express play) and at 6:00pm (prime time play)!

Below is a full list of Nickelodeon Australia's local "Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards 2014" nominees:

Aussies' Fave Homegrown Talent
Cody Simpson
Guy Sebastian
Samantha Jade
Timomatic

Aussies' Fave Hottie
Ariana Grande
Harry Styles
Redfoo
Selena Gomez

Aussies' Fave Nick Show
Camp Orange
Sam & Cat
Haunted Hathaways
Sanjay & Craig

Fave Aussie in Hollywood
Chris Hemsworth
Hugh Jackman
Liam Hemsworth
Rebel Wilson

Aussies' Fave Hot New Talent
5 Seconds Of Summer
Craig! (from Sanjay and Craig)
Lorde
Taylor Henderson

From TV Tonight:

Votes closing in Kids’ Choice Awards

Voting in the Aussie categories of the Kids’ Choice Awards closes this Thursday, 27 March 2014 ahead of the international broadcast this Sunday, Australian time.

Kids can cast their votes in five Aussie categories, plus 22 global categories.

Nickelodeon Australia’s Luke and Wyatt will announce the winners of the Aussie categories: Aussies’ Fave Homegrown Talent, Aussies’ Fave Hottie, Aussies’ Fave Nick Show, Fave Aussie In Hollywood and Aussies’ Fave Hot New Talent from a slime hot tub, in between the live broadcast.

Nickelodeon will have kids on the edge of their seats as this year’s Kids’ Choice Awards winners are unveiled by an all-new slate of Orange Blimp-handing luminaries. Will Arnett (Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles), Kristen Bell (Veronica Mars), Jim Parsons (The Big Bang Theory) and returning presenters Lea Michele (Glee) Ross Lynch (Muppets Most Wanted) and Kaley Cuoco (The Big Bang Theory) will join host Mark Wahlberg and world-class performers, Aloe Blacc and American Authors, in announcing this year’s winners at Nickelodeon’s 27th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards.

Nickelodeon’s 27th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards will be seen in more than 375 million households around the world and in more than 25 languages. Voting for the 2014 KCAs will span six continents across 17 localised voting sites, giving kids practically everywhere the chance to decide who takes home a coveted blimp.

Vote at: www.kca2014.com and mobile site, Nickelodeon Australia’s Facebook page and on Twitter using custom KCA hashtags.

Kids’ Choice Awards airs 11am Sunday on Nickelodeon.

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Nickelodeon Australia And New Zealand To Premiere New Episodes Of "Marvin Marvin" In January 2014; Lucas Cruikshank To Teach Luke And Wyatt Unique Martian Skills

SKY TV, New Zealand's main pay-television operator, is reporting the exciting Nickelodeon International news on the 'Kids and Family' area of their 'Television Highlights' webpage that Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand will premiere ten brand new episodes of Nickelodeon's intergalactic comedy series "Marvin Marvin" in January 2014!

Nick AU & NZ will start to show the all-new episodes of "Marvin Marvin" on Sunday 12th January 2014 between 12:00pm (midday) to 4:00pm, then continue to debut brand new episodes every weekday from Monday 13th January 2014 at 6:00pm!

Have you always wanted to know if you could make it as an alien on another planet? If the answer is yes, then make sure you join internet sensation and Nickelodeon TV star Lucas Cruikshank (as his character Marvin Forman) as he hosts an exclusive TV special called "Marvin Marvin Earth Diaries"! In a rare moment, Marvin shares his personal video diaries that he sent back home to planet Klooton, explaining life on Earth and how spectacular he is doing playing a human! Before each "Marvin Marvin" episode, Marvin shares unique insights into the human race – like only having one stomach, the delicious creation called chocolate, the power of green purchasing paper (yes money!) and loads of other wonderful human phenomenons. Plus Marvin hangs out with and teaches Nickelodeon Australia's very own presenters Luke Ryan and Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd a few unique martian skills that will keep the talented duo busy during their time on earth!

Catch brand new episodes of "Marvin Marvin", in which Nickelodeon's favourite teenage alien tries to make it as a human on earth with hilarious results, every weekday night at 6:00pm!:

Marvin Marvin

Sunday, January 12, midday – 4pm, then weekdays from Monday, January 13 at 6pm

New Zealand Premiere – 10 new episodes plus TV special event ‘Marvin Marvin Earth Diaries’ hosted by Lucas Cruikshank

Have you always wanted to know if you could cut it as an alien on another planet? If the answer is yes, make sure you join internet sensation and Nickelodeon TV star, Lucas Cruikshank (as character Marvin) host an exclusive TV special Marvin Marvin Earth Diaries. In a rare moment, Marvin shares his personal video diaries that he sent back home to planet Klooton, explaining life on Earth and how spectacular a human he really is! Before each Marvin Marvin episode, Marvin shares unique insights into the human race – like only having one stomach, the delicious creation called chocolate, the power of green purchasing paper (yes money!) and loads of other wonderful human phenomenons. Plus Marvin hangs out with and teaches Nickelodeon’s very own Luke and Wyatt a few unique martian skills that will keep the talented duo busy during their time on earth.

Every weekday night at 6pm don’t miss a brand new episode of Marvin Marvin as Nickelodeon’s favourite teenage alien tries to make it as a human on earth with hilarious results!

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Nickelodeon Australia Nominated For Four 2014 ASTRA Awards

The Australian Subscription Television and Radio Association (ASTRA) has announced the aweslime Nickelodeon News in the following press release, via the Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand publicity team on their official Twitter profile page, @NickPR, and mailchimp.com, that Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand, the Australian and Kiwi version of the popular children's channel, has been nominated for four ASTRA Awards in the industry-voted-for portion of the 2014 ASTRA Awards!

Nickelodeon Australia's second annual "SLIMEFEST" event, "SLIMEFEST 2013", Australia's first music festival just for kids, tweens and teenagers, which, hosted by Nick AU presenters Luke Ryan and Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd, combined all the best bits from the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards with Australian celebrities, and of course, lots and lots of Nickelodeon's world famous SLIME, has been nominated for the "Most Outstanding General Entertainment Program" ASTRA Award, and the 2013 series of "Camp Orange", Nickelodeon's adventure reality show for best friends, called "Camp Orange: Spill Seekers", also presented by hosts Luke and Wyatt, has been nominated in the "Most Outstanding Reality Program" award category! Nick Jr. Channel Australia's new locally produced highly interactive and educational music preschool series called "Play Along with Sam", which premiered in May 2013, has been nominated for the "Most Outstanding Children's Content" ASTRA Award, and the shows host, former Yellow Wiggle from The Wiggles, Sam Moran, has been nominated for the "Most Outstanding New Talent" ASTRA Award!

The announcement of finalists in the 15 industry-voted categories has been brought forward on the entertainment calendar, because in 2014 – for the first time – the awards will be staged in March instead of mid-year, in line with other entertainment and media industry events.

The awards were judged on Monday, 9 December 2013 by 52 senior leaders drawn from Foxtel and 19 independently owned and operated television channels.

The 12th annual ASTRA Awards will take place at Sydney's Carriageworks in Redfern on Thursday, 20 March 2014.

Two new awards – the industry-voted sports entertainment program award and a channel achievement award – will be presented for the first time.

Finalists in the five subscriber-voted categories of the 12th ASTRA Awards will be announced on Monday, 3 February 2014 when voting opens to the public.

ASTRA's Industry Excellence Awards will be announced on Monday, December 16 2013.

The ASTRA Awards recognises excellence in the Australian subscription TV (STV) industry and are in their 12th year in 2014. The ASTRA Awards received 30 percent more entries this year, reflecting the growing diversity and quality of content screened on Australian subscription television throughout 2013.

You can find a full list of nominations in the industry-voted for section of the 2014 ASTRA Awards below.

Congratulations and good luck, Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand!!

Original ASTRA Press Release:

Issued: 13 December 2013

2014 ASTRA Awards: finalists announced

Finalists in the industry-voted categories of the 2014 ASTRA Awards were announced today, with more than 50 contenders across 15 categories representing 20 subscription television channels.

FOX SPORTS received the highest number of nominations, scoring 10 nominations across four categories.

The announcement of finalists in the 15 industry-voted categories has been brought forward on the entertainment calendar, because in 2014 – for the first time – the awards will be staged in March instead of mid-year, in line with other entertainment and media industry events.

"The number of entries was up 30 percent this year, reflecting the growing diversity and quality of content screened on subscription television in 2013," ASTRA CEO, Andrew Maiden, said today.

"The Australian subscription television industry invests $700 million in Australian content, producing more than a quarter of a million hours of Australian television each year."

"The 2014 ASTRA Awards will recognise the quality, diversity and creativity of that content," Mr Maiden said.

The awards were judged on Monday, 9 December by 52 senior leaders drawn from Foxtel and 19 independently owned and operated television channels.

The 12th annual ASTRA Awards will take place at Sydney’s Carriageworks in Redfern on Thursday, 20 March 2014.

Two new awards – the industry-voted sports entertainment program award and a channel achievement award – will be presented for the first time.

Finalists in the five subscriber-voted categories of the 12th ASTRA Awards will be announced on Monday, 3 February when voting opens to the public.

ASTRA's Industry Excellence Awards will be announced on Monday, December 16.

For more information, visit astraawards.com and share your comments and congratulations @astraevent #ASTRAS

Finalists in the industry-voted categories of the 12th ASTRA Awards are:

Most Outstanding Children’s Content

* Disney Channel FanFest TV Special Event (Disney Channel)
* Squeak & Boo (Disney Junior)
* Play Along with Sam (Nick Jr.)

Most Outstanding Music Program

* Kings Of Leon On Sydney Harbour (Channel [V])
* STUDIO at the MEMO (STUDIO)
* The Riff (Channel [V])

Most Outstanding Sports Program

* The Code – Life With The Mariners (FOX SPORTS)
* The DHL Australia 2013 Lions Tour (FOX SPORTS)
* Socceroos’ 2014 World Cup Qualifying campaign (FOX SPORTS)
* Friday Night Footy on FOX (FOX FOOTY)
* 2012/13 Hyundai A-League (FOX SPORTS)

Most Outstanding Sports Entertainment Program

* Monday Night with Matty Johns (FOX SPORTS)
* RUGBY HQ (FOX SPORTS)
* Open Mike (FOX FOOTY)
* AFL 360 (FOX FOOTY)
* Sunday Shootout (FOX SPORTS)

Most Outstanding Factual Program

* Australia: Life On The Edge (National Geographic Channel)
* Building Australia (HISTORY)
* Breaker Morant – The Retrial (HISTORY)
* The People Speak (HISTORY)
* Abalone Wars (Discovery Channel)

Most Outstanding News Program

* Witness to Courage [CNN International’s Coverage of Typhoon Haiyan] (CNN International)
* Election 2013 Coverage (SKY NEWS National)
* Paul Murray Live (SKY NEWS National)
Most Outstanding Reality Program
* Geordie Shore Season 6 – No Delay from the UK! (MTV Australia)
* Australia’s Next Top Model, Season 8 (FOX8)
* Camp Orange: Spill Seekers (Nickelodeon)

Most Outstanding Lifestyle Program

* Paddock to Plate (The LifeStyle Channel)
* Selling Houses Australia (The LifeStyle Channel)
* Grand Designs Australia (The LifeStyle Channel)

Most Outstanding General Entertainment Program

* Aussie Pickers (A&E)
* Oprah’s Next Chapter (Discovery Home & Health)
* SLIMEFEST 2013 (Nickelodeon)

Most Outstanding Australian Drama

* Top of the Lake (UKTV)
* Wentworth (SoHo)

Most Outstanding Use of Innovation

* Skywire Live with Nik Wallenda (Discovery Channel)
* Ref Cam (FOX SPORTS)
* Rugby on FOX SPORTS (FOX SPORTS)

Most Outstanding Performance By An Actor – Male

* Peter Mullan, Top of the Lake (UKTV)
* David Wenham, Top of the Lake (UKTV)
* Aaron Jeffery, Wentworth (SoHo)
* Robbie Magasiva, Wentworth (SoHo)

Most Outstanding Performance By An Actor – Female

* Elisabeth Moss, Top of the Lake (UKTV)
* Danielle Cormack, Wentworth (SoHo)
* Nicole da Silva, Wentworth (SoHo)
* Kris McQuade, Wentworth (SoHo)

Most Outstanding Performance By A Broadcast Journalist

* Kieran Gilbert, AM Agenda, Election Coverage (SKY NEWS)
* Ahron Young, News Coverage (SKY NEWS)
* Daniel Bourchier, News Coverage (SKY NEWS)
* David Speers, PM Agenda, The Nation, Election Coverage (SKY NEWS)
* Gerard Whateley, AFL 360 (FOX FOOTY)

Most Outstanding New Talent

* Shareena Clanton, Wentworth (SoHo)
* Sam Moran, Play Along With Sam (Nick Jr.)
* Kelli Underwood, Back Page LIVE and ANZ Championship (FOX SPORTS)

About the ASTRA Awards

The ASTRA Awards reward the creativity, diversity and quality of the Australian subscription television industry. A total of 22 awards voted by subscribers and industry experts recognise the best content and presenters on more than 100 subscription television channels. Follow us on Twitter at @astraevent and on Facebook at fb.com/astraawards. For more information visit www.astraawards.com.

About ASTRA

ASTRA is the peak body representing more than 30 organisations in the Australian subscription television industry. ASTRA members broadcast content to one in three Australians, invest $700 million in local content, add nearly $1.6 billion to the economy and create jobs for 6600 Australians. For more information visit www.astra.org.au.

For media enquiries about the 12th ASTRA Awards, please contact eckfactor:
astraawards@eckfactor.com or (02) 8570 5555
www.eckfactor.com

ASTRA Awards 2014 Sponsors:

FOXTEL
T - It's How We Connect

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Nickelodeon Australia Partners With Tennis Australia To Hold The Biggest Ever Kids Tennis Day Event In January 2013!

Nickelodeon Australia has unveiled the Nickelodeon News in the following Press Release (via twitdoc.com) that they and Tennis Australia have announced an exciting new partnership that will see Nickelodeon, the world's leading kids' entertainment company, produce the entertainment for MLC Tennis Hot Shots' Kids Tennis Day 2013 event, which will be held at Melbourne Park on Saturday 12th January 2013 as part of the Australian Open 2013. To headline the biggest ever Kids Tennis Day, some of Nickelodeon's best loved characters, such as "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "Dora the Explorer", will share the arena with some of the world's best tennis players. Also in the mix will be Nickelodeon's trademark green slime – relished by kids at events such as the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and "SlimeFest" – which will entertain families in the "Slime Time Live" stage show! Nickelodeon's full schedule of shows and events at MLC Tennis Hot Shots' 2013 Kids Tennis Day will also feature action on Garden Square Stage; a Garden Square Activity Zone; Court 6 wackiness with Nickelodeon's Oz's very own presenters, Luke and Wyatt (also known as Luke Ryan and Wyatt Nixon-Lloyd); and "The Rod Laver Arena Spectacular", where tennis superstars will get silly while showing off their skills – plus, one of Australia’s top music acts (to be announced soon!) will wow the crowd with an on-court concert experience not to be missed!:

MEDIA RELEASE

NICKELODEON PARTNERS WITH TENNIS AUSTRALIA FOR THE BIGGEST EVER KIDS TENNIS DAY!

Kids Tennis Day at Australian Open 2013 – 8.30am-1.00pm, Saturday 12 January, 2013

Event maps and schedule available online: hotshots.tennis.com.au

SYDNEY, 11 December, 2012 - Nickelodeon Australia and Tennis Australia today announced an exciting new partnership that will see Nickelodeon, the world’s leading kids’ entertainment company, produce the entertainment for the next annual Kids Tennis Day in 2013. This year’s event will feature The Rod Laver Arena Spectacular and is set to be the greatest day of tennis and kids' entertainment ever seen at Melbourne Park. Gates open from 8.30am, with activities running from 9.00am -1.00pm
on 12 January as part of Australian Open 2013.

Already a highly-anticipated family event for tennis fans around the country, Kids Tennis Day was established in 2011 in association with Tennis Australia's MLC Tennis Hot Shots program for kids. This year’s event attracted an impressive crowd of more than 8000 people. In 2013, Nickelodeon will play a driving role in designing and promoting Kids Tennis Day activities to its target audience nationwide, and will bring to the table its expertise in producing large-scale entertainment events for kids.

To headline the biggest ever Kids Tennis Day, some of Nickelodeon's best loved characters, such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer, will share the arena with some of the world’s best tennis players. Also in the mix will be Nickelodeon's trademark green slime – relished by kids at events such as the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards and SlimeFest – which will entertain families in the Slime Time Live stage show.

The full schedule of shows and events will feature action on Garden Square Stage; a Garden Square Activity Zone; Court 6 wackiness with Nickelodeon's own Luke and Wyatt; and The Rod Laver Arena Spectacular, where tennis superstars will get silly while showing off their skills – plus, one of Australia's top music acts (soon to be announced!) will wow the crowd with an on-court concert experience.

Ben Richardson, General Manager for Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand, said the partnership between Tennis Australia and Nickelodeon was an excellent match:

“Tennis is one of the world’s best loved sports, with equal appeal to both girls and boys, making it an ideal sports association for Nickelodeon. We’re thrilled to be working on Kids Tennis Day 2013, bringing our brands and music connections to the event,” he said.

“Nick and Tennis Australia enjoyed working together earlier this year promoting the Hot Shots program for kids, integrating our Nick hosts Luke and Wyatt into a national competition to visit one of the tennis camps. We can’t wait to see how many aces we can serve up together at Kids Tennis Day in January – and you can’t ask for a better platform than the Australian Open!”

Craig Tiley, Australian Open Tournament Director, added:

“Kids Tennis Day has fast become one of the feature dates on the Australian Open calendar. We are excited to be taking the event to the next level and presenting our biggest and best program of events ever in 2013,” Tiley said.

“As well as showcasing our major participation program, MLC Tennis Hot Shots, and providing awesome on-court experiences, we will give away 500 racquets throughout the day, encouraging more kids to get involved in our great sport.”

Leader of the MLC Tennis Hot Shots program, former elite coach Craig Morris, can’t wait for the big day:

“Kids Tennis Day gives families the chance to enjoy free tennis events and entertainment as we count down to Australian Open 2013. It is designed to introduce children to the sport in a fun, friendly environment and we are looking forward to welcoming thousands of children through the gates here at Melbourne Park next month,” Morris said.

The entire family will love the Rod Laver Arena Spectacular, featuring tennis superstars, Nickelodeon characters, Nickelodeon hosts Luke and Wyatt and big music acts.

Kids will also have the chance to unleash their inner tennis star on the world famous Melbourne Park courts, and to meet some of their favourite tennis players at Autograph Island.

Entry to Kids Tennis Day is FREE but due to popularity, patrons are encouraged to submit their details online to receive a free venue map and event schedule. To find out more, go to: hotshots.tennis.com.au

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IMAGES AVAILABLE FOR MEDIA USE – please download here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/australian-open/

Media contacts:

Nickelodeon
Vasinee Jordan - Communications Manager
Nickelodeon Australia & New Zealand
02 9813 6262
Vasinee.Jordan@nickaus.com.au

Tennis Australia
Erin Carter - Publicist
Tennis Australia
03 9914 4138
ECarter@tennis.com.au

About Nickelodeon Networks: Now in its 33rd year globally and 17th year in Australia, Nickelodeon is the number one entertainment brand for kids and the company has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. Nickelodeon Australia has been named Channel of The Year twice by the ASTRA Awards and won numerous other awards for local productions, events and digital applications. Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. channels air 24 hours a day, seven days a week and are seen in over 2.2 million households via Foxtel. The company portfolio extends across television, online, mobile, theme parks, consumer products and music. www.nickelodeon.com.au

About Australian Open 2013: Tickets for Australian Open 2013 are now on sale through www.ticketek.com.au

Australian Open 2013, presented by Kia Motors in association with ANZ, Jacob's Creek and Rolex, will take place at Melbourne Park, Melbourne, from 14 to 27 January.