Nickelodeon USA To Produce And Present "Nickelodeon SlimeFest", Immersive Multi-Day Event For Kids And Families

Originally published: Thursday, March 02, 2017; Updated: Thursday, February 08, 2018

Update: Viacom today announced during their 1Q18 Earnings Call that Nickelodeon will host the USA's first-ever SLIMEFEST during Summer 2018!

Original Nickelodeon USA Press Release via NickPress.com:

NICKELODEON TO PRODUCE AND PRESENT

NICKELODEON SLIMEFEST, IMMERSIVE MULTI-DAY EVENT

FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES

Share it: @Nickelodeon

NEW YORK–March 2, 2017–Nickelodeon, the number-one kids’ network, has announced plans to launch Nickelodeon SlimeFest, the first multi-day music festival for kids and families in the U.S. Coming next year, the festival will feature performances by top recording artists, immersive one-of-a-kind experiences, Nickelodeon stars and characters, and plenty of the network’s signature green slime. More details including dates, venue and performer lineup will be announced soon. The news was announced at Nickelodeon’s Upfront presentation, held today in New York City.

“Nickelodeon SlimeFest will combine the best of our brand with all the things we know kids love—pop music, family time and incredibly cool interactive experiences that they can’t get anywhere else,” said Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon Group. “Part music festival and part giant party for the entire family, SlimeFest will bring Nickelodeon to life in a completely new way.”

Nickelodeon SlimeFest has seen success around the globe as a slime-filled, multiplatform music and entertainment event since its inception in Australia in 2012. The event has expanded year over year and currently takes place in additional markets including the U.K., Spain, Italy and South Africa.

In addition to Nickelodeon creating on-the-ground and immersive real-world experiences for its audience, the brand continues to be the top kids’ entertainment destination. Nickelodeon year to date is the number-one kids’ network, with the top shows on all TV in every key demo–the top 10 among Kids 2-11; nine of the top 10 with Kids 6-11; and six of the top 10 shows for Kids 2-5. Nick recently marked its third straight year at number one with kids, outpacing the competition most recently in 2016 by double digits. Nickelodeon also had the top shows in every demo in 2016: nine out of the top 10 with Kids 2-11; six of the top 10 with Kids 6-11; and six of the top 10 preschool programs.

Nickelodeon, now in its 37th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 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).

# # #
More Nick: Top-Rated Nickelodeon Charts Path Beyond TV, Details Content Pipeline Of Almost 700 New Episodes In Every Genre!

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Upfront 2017 and SLIMEFEST 2018 News and Highlights!

First Look At Nickelodeon's Upcoming 'Amusement Park' Theatrical Movie

Nickelodeon has unveiled a first-look at Paramount Animation & Nickelodeon Movies' upcoming theatrical movie, Amusement Park! Check out Nick's super sneak-peek below, via Deadline!:

Nickelodeon upfront; Jeremy Gerard

Nickelodeon unveiled the sneak-peek during the networks Nickelodeon Upfront 2017 presentation earlier this year.

Currently scheduled to be released in theaters by Paramount Pictures on Friday 15th March 2019, the film will feature the voices of Matthew Broderick (Ferris Bueller's Day Off), Jennifer Garner (Nine Lives), Jeffrey Tambor (Mr. Popper's Penguins), Kenan Thompson (All That, Kenan & Kel, Good Burger, SNL), Ken Jeong (Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness), Mila Kunis (Family Guy), John Oliver (The Daily Show, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, live-action Lion King), and Brianna Denski (Momsters: When Moms Go Bad).

Following the release of the film, Nickelodeon will also launch a brand-new television series inspired by the movie in 2019.

Additionally, Paramount Pictures also recently unveiled a first-look at the Amusement Park logo!:

Via the Nickelodeon Wiki

Amusement Park (the movie) is produced by Paramount Animation, Nickelodeon Movies and Ilion Animation Studios (best known for making Planet 51) and directed by Pixar animator Dylan Brown, who is making his directorial debut with Amusement Park.

Amusement Park is part of Nickelodeon Movies' upcoming slate of feature films, which also includes a Henry Danger movie, a The Loud House film, and a third SpongeBob SquarePants movie.

Amusement Park will be Nickelodeon Movies' fifth computer-animated film, after Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, Barnyard, Rango and The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water. It will also be the third animated film from Nickelodeon Movies to spawn an animated series on the Nickelodeon network, after Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and Barnyard.

Additional source: Wikipedia.

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Movies and Amusement Park News and Highlights!

Viacom Unveils Findings From Global Study 'Kid Power' And A Deepdive Into Kids In The Philippines

Original Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Asia Press Release via VIMN Asia's official Pressroom:

VIACOM UNVEILS FINDINGS FROM GLOBAL STUDY “KID POWER” AND A DEEPDIVE INTO KIDS IN THE PHILIPPINES

Study shows how kids exert a powerful influence on household purchasing decisions and how Filipino kids differ from the rest of the world

MANILA – 7 NOVEMBER, 2017 – Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) announced a new global study “Kid Power”, at the Nickelodeon Upfront in the Philippines today. The research explores kids around the world and the powerful influence they exert within their households, and further delves into how Filipino kids differ from the rest of the world. Spanning 30 countries, 4,900 kids aged six to 11, and 4,100 of their parents, the study shows the dynamics between kids and parents around brand choices and decision making.

Christian Kurz, Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Insights at Viacom, said, “There is a different undercurrent in families today and the changing relationship means that parents and kids are now working as teams. Subsequently, this translates to how kids exert surprising influence when it comes to brand choices and decision-making in a home, and our research shows the depth of this influence.”

Kid Power revealed the following insights:

Today, everyone pitches in to keep family households running – including kids! Nearly seven in 10 parents globally say their kids help at home, and this figure is higher in the Philippines where 80% of kids help out at home. According to Pinoy parents, kids’ most common tasks are cooking/shopping/cleaning (53%) and childcare (44%).

Extended family ties matter - help also comes from outside the home. A feature of family households in 2017 is how much help flows into and out of the household. For many, help comes from family members who do not live with them (55% Global, 65% PH). And kids play a key role in these households – they are doing their bit at home, are the beneficiaries of help with childcare from grandparents, but they’re also helping relatives outside of their home! More than half (56%) of Filipino kids render help to family members outside the home, a 26% increase from the global average. Strong help in the Pinoy household may also be due to how the family unit tends to be multi-generational, with 41 percent living in the same house as grandparents (13% Global).

Kids around the world increasingly describe themselves as curious. Kids are changing too. They are more likely to describe themselves as “curious” (89% Global, 92% PH). They have more access to information from online, from friends, from TV—all which provides them with more knowledge.

In addition, their access to internet-enabled technology feeds their curiosity and they have with more devices at their disposal for playing games, communication and finding out information. The percentage of kids 9-11 (Global vs PH) who personally own or regularly use these devices:

• Smartphone: 72% vs 88%
• Tablet: 72% vs 84%
• Smart TV: 50% vs 42%

Most kids are involved in household purchases – and their leverage increases at age 10. Globally, about three-quarters of kids and parents agree that kids have a role in buying things for the household (74% kids, 77% parents). This trend is also seen in the Philippines where kids and parents are in exact agreement (70%) that they play a vital role in the purchase decisions in the home. Starting at age 10, kids’ opinions hold more sway.

Christian Kurz, Senior Vice President of Global Consumer Insights at Viacom

Both genders have similar powers of persuasion in the Philippines. Parents take boys’ and girls’ preferences into account across many areas: clothing/shoe purchases (84% boys, 90% girls), music to play (74% boys, 78% girls), tablet purchases (55% boys, 62% girls), and new cars (27% boys, 20% girls).

Kids with the most influence: single children, two full-time working parents, in urban areas. The power of kids fitting these descriptions will likely increase because global trends are on their side: families are getting smaller, dual-earner couples are on the rise, and the experience of childhood is increasingly urban.

Categories that kids influence the most: entertainment, groceries, restaurants, electronics. Virtually all kids play a role in decision-making processes at home (98% Global, 97% PH) and parents greatly value their children’s opinions. The largest percentages of kids say they influence decisions around entertainment (97% Global and PH), food/groceries (94% Global, 97% PH), restaurants (84% Global, 89% PH), electronics (82% Global, 85% PH), vacation (76% Global, 72% PH), and telecom/pay TV/SVOD (52% Global, 58% PH).

In the Philippines, the specific areas where their input is most powerful are toys (96%), movies at home (93%), snacks (92%), clothes (87%), watching television shows together (85%), and going to fast food or self-service restaurants together (84%).

However, one thing hasn’t changed and that ultimately, the parent is still the boss, anywhere in the world! No matter how much influence kids have, they acknowledge that the parent is the boss of their household (72% Global, 63% PH); and parents of kids (76% Global, 62% PH) say that they or their partner is the boss of their household.

What brands should know about the sum total of the power of kids. With family households becoming more closely connected to each other, and kids participating in decisions, there are new opportunities for brands to engage everyone in the household. Brands should recognise that families are democracies, not dictatorships and that households function with the support of everyone.

About Kid Power

For this quantitative project, we spoke with over 4900 Kids 6-11 and over 4100 Parents of Kids 6-11 in 30 countries through an online questionnaire. Countries surveyed include: Argentina, Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile*, China, Colombia*, France, Germany, Hungary, India, Indonesia*, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, UK, US.

Notes: 27 of these countries were identical to a 2012 study, which is used for trending, * indicates the country was not included in the 2012 study

About Viacom International Media Networks

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), is comprised of many of the world’s most popular multimedia entertainment brands, including MTV, MTV LIVE HD, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., Comedy Central, Paramount Channel, and more. Viacom brands reach more than 3.8 billion cumulative subscribers in 180+ countries and territories via more than 200 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 550 digital media and mobile TV properties, in 40 languages. Keep up with VIMN news by visiting the VIMN PR Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/VIMN_PR. For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com, blog.viacom.com and the Viacom Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/Viacom.

###
About Viacom Global Insights

Viacom Global Insights reveals emerging trends about our audiences around the world. Keep up-to-date with the latest Viacom Global Insights news and information by visiting insights.viacom.com and following Viacom Global Insights' social media feeds: Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn.

More Nick: New Viacom Study Finds Young People Trust Less, But Are Still Happy

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Asia and Viacom News and Highlights!

Viacom18's Kids Cluster Banks On Local Content; Announces New Show "Gattu Battu"

India: Viacom18's cluster of children's channels saw a 20% revenue growth in 2016, and to maintain and further its leadership position in the children's television genre, Viacom18 Broadcast has announced a slew of initiatives for its kids cluster of channels, featuring a sharpened focus on home-grown characters, which the leading media company will roll-out during the current programming year!

Significant among these is the launch of its fourth home-grown show featuring two new characters in the form of Gattu-Battu. To sustain its 20 per cent top line growth and consolidate the network’s position in the kids’ genre further, the kids’ cluster is banking on local content. It is also taking the characters beyond television so that the audience can touch, feel and interact with them.

Viacom18's Kids Nickelodeon Cluster, which houses Nick, Sonic, Nick Jr. and TeenNick, features a mixture of international content (SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora The Explorer, Oggy and the Cockroaches, Power Rangers and Peppa Pig, among others) and local content (Motu Patlu, Pakadam Pakadai, and Shiva), and has identified locally cultivated characters and shows as the focus of its growth strategy.

Nina Elavia Jaipuria, EVP & Business Head, Kids Cluster, Viacom18, says: “We believe in putting our money where the mouth is and we are committed to creating local content and characters which we own the IP (intellectual property rights) to. This allows us to go beyond the TV screen. We have already extended Motu Patlu to the big screen and that has been possible because we own the IP. While Motu Patlu has led growth on Nick, our other home-grown character, Shiva, has helped Sonic (the second kids channel brand from the network) grow from a 4 per cent relative share in 2015 (of viewership) to 10 per cent last year.”

Motu Patlu and Oggy and the Cockroaches at Krackerjack Karnival

Shiva, a show centred on a superhero boy with a penchant for nifty gadgets, was launched by Jaipuria and team in 2015 on Nickelodeon. It shot up to number one spot in the genre within two weeks and once the viewership reached a certain mass and stabilised, the show was shifted to Sonic, so that the channel can attract the audience driven by the show. The strategy seems to have worked as the channel not only showed a spurt in market share but also saw 40 per cent growth in terms of ad rates.

The new show, Gattu Battu, is an attempt to “fill a white space”, as Jaipuria calls it, in detective themed storytelling in the form of an animated show. The show follows the adventures of two friends who solve crimes in their home town, Vishrampur. Gattu Battu will premiere on Nickelodeon India on Monday 1st May 2017.

Jaipuria agrees that the concept is a risk that the franchise is taking, but she believes that is the way to ensure growth. “While crime shows and crime novels (Nancy Drew, Hardy Boys etc) are popular among kids, it is something that hasn’t been tried on Indian television in this way. Our previous initiatives have seen traction and we are hoping this one hits the mark as well,” she adds. The characters have been brought to life by Toonz Animation, an animation company that created Pakadam Pakadai.

Spectators watch as a Dora the Explorer balloon floats down Broadway during Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City

Having full ownership of the shows allows Viacom18 to take the characters out of the TV. This not only means a more immersive experience for the viewers as they can interact with the characters on various platforms such as on-ground and digital, but also gives the advertisers more avenues to engage the audience. This has been crucial to making Sonic turn profitable in 2016 (Nick already was profitable) and to the cluster, showing top line growth of 20 per cent, says Jaipuria.

“On TV, there are just 12 minutes per clock hour. To maximise the potential of the popularity these characters have, we have to think out of the box. So we have mall activations, van activities (a moving van with the show’s characters) and of course digital initiatives. The Nick website hosts close to 407 games that kids can play and of these, around 190 are based on local characters. Advertisers do see value in the holistic reach we offer, and we have been able to maintain a sturdy growth trajectory,” she says.

SHIVA

Demonetisation did prove to be a bit of a speed bump, impacting top line by around 15 per cent. However, Jaipuria says by February, advertisers were back and spending.

More Nick: Nickelodeon India's "Together For Good" Behavioral Change Initiative Returns For A Second Season!

Apart from the usual brands like FMCG and kids apparel, the cluster has observed a spike in advertising by traditionally non-kids categories such as automobiles and BFSIs. These companies have also become big spenders in this category.

Original source: Business Standard News.

Nickelodeon Asia Outlines Plans For 2017-2018 Programming Season

Leading kids and family entertainment brand Nickelodeon is bringing in a bumper crop of over 600 original and acquired episodes of new and returning series to Asia in 2017!

The network has increased its content pipeline year-on-year across preschool, animation, live-action and TV movie/specials genres. During the 2017-2018 programming season, viewers can catch at least seven new shows and TV movies such as the Nickelodeon original animated series Bunsen is a Beast and Pinky Malinky, and the Nickelodeon Original Movie Legends of the Hidden Temple.

Four new preschool series are slated to premiere in the year and these include Rusty Rivets, which debuted across Asia earlier this month on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr., and Nella the Princess Knight. From February 2017 through March 2018, the network will debut an international, year-long “SpongeBob Gold” campaign. Fans can expect new SpongeBob SquarePants episodes, videos, games, and themed on-air packaging, logo, and look for Nickelodeon websites along with activities rolled out all year long.

The “SpongeBob Gold” campaign kicked off with the first initiative “The Golden Krabby Patty Spectacular” where fans could visit www.nick-asia.com/krabbypatty for Krabby Patty themed games, videos, and the chance to win prizes. They were also invited to tune into the channel on 24 February to catch three hours of the wackiest Krabby Patty-themed episodes which also included the premiere of the brand new SpongeBob SquarePants episode "Goodbye, Krabby Patty?", guest starring Jon Hamm (Mad Men) as the charismatic, sharp-witted and devastatingly charming advertising agency executive Don Grouper.

Nickelodeon’s hottest preschool property PAW Patrol has been on a roll with the show being picked up for a fourth season. It is hitting the road with its first-ever live stage show PAW Patrol Live!: Race to the Rescue and in Asia, the show heads first to the Philippines in June. Last year, a number of on the ground PAW Patrol events and appearances were held in Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines and Singapore, and the PAW Patrol Pups Take Flight app based on the series was released.

Other preschool programmes that have been renewed include Blaze and the Monster Machines for season four and Shimmer and Shine for season three. Live-action series that have been renewed include Henry Danger for season four, Game Shakers for season three, and The Thundermans for season four. The second season of animated series The Loud House will premiere on Nickelodeon Asia this year.

Following are details of Nickelodeon’s 2017 content pipeline on-air and on the Nickelodeon Play app (Singapore users):

- Joining Nickelodeon’s preschool lineup in Asia are the following new series along with new seasons of PAW Patrol, which will air on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr., Blaze and the Monster Machines, and Shimmer and Shine:

- Becca’s Bunch is a new animated comedy series which revolves around Becca, a unique little bird. The series will air on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr.;

- The Day Henry Met is a new animated series about Henry, a four-year-old boy who always wants to learn and find out more.

- Additionally, Nick Jr. will air new episodes of Max & Ruby, Wallykazam! and Zack & Quack. Additional Nick Jr. content such as videos, games, and fun activities can be accessed from the newly launched nickjr.tv website.

- Nickelodeon will premiere new seasons of SpongeBob SquarePants (season 10), The Loud House (season two), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (season five) along with a slate of new animated series in Asia.

- Bunsen is a Beast is an original animated comedy which follows the adventures of Bunsen, the first beast to attend a human grade school, and his best friend and classmate Mikey, who guides Bunsen through the ups and downs of life as a human. The series will premiere on the Nickelodeon channel and Nickelodeon Play app.

- Mysticons is a half-hour action series about four girls who transform into legendary warriors and band together to save their realm from an evil queen, Necrafa.

- Pinky Malinky is a mockumentary series following the everyday life of Pinky Malinky, an infectiously positive hot dog living in a human world.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles follows four mutant turtles trained in the art of ninjutsu by their mutant rat sensei, Master Splinter, who teaches the turtles to battle evil from the New York City sewers. To premiere on the Nickelodeon Play app and Nickelodeon channel.

- Nickelodeon will also air new episodes of returning animated series Tales of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (TMNT season five; to air on the Nickelodeon Play app and Nickelodeon channel), ALVINNN!!! and The Chipmunks, Harvey Beaks, Pig Goat Banana Cricket, Rabbids: Invasion, Regal Academy, and The Fairly OddParents.

- Joining Nickelodeon’s live-action lineup are the following new series: Hunter Street is an adventure comedy series. When Mr and Mrs Hunter go missing, it’s up to their foster children to unravel the mystery while keeping up appearances that everything’s fine. Rank the Prank is a unique prank show that empowers everyday kids by teaming them up with the world’s top special effects teams to stage the most incredible and entertaining pranks ever seen on TV! The show is now available on the Nickelodeon Play app and is currently airing on Nickelodeon Philippines.

- Nickelodeon will also air new episodes of returning live-action series Game Shakers (season two), Henry Danger (season three), Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn (season two), School of Rock (season two), and The Thundermans (season four). Nickelodeon’s marquee TV events, movies and specials will return this year. Also, joining Nickelodeon’s lineup are the following new TV movies, Legends of the Hidden Temple is a new action-adventure movie drawing from the iconic game show’s premise of kids competing to retrieve artefacts from a mysterious Mayan temple. Rufus 2 is the sequel you’ve been itching for – Rufus is back as the Dog who became a dude. Starring Jace Norman (Henry Danger) as Rufus, Davis Cleveland (Legendary Dudas) and Manny, Haley Tju (Bella and the Bulldogs) as Paige, and Jade Pettyjohn (School of Rock) as Kat.

More Nick: Top-Rated Nickelodeon Charts Path Beyond TV, Details Content Pipeline Of Almost 700 New Episodes In Every Genre!

Original source: Television Asia Plus.

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Asia News and Highlights!

Gwen Stefani on the gratitude of a childhood dream embraced with a second-season of "Kuu Kuu Harajuku"

Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani is widely known for her success on the music charts, but recently her television endeavors have taken center stage in her career. Stefani, who currently stars as a musical coach for the 12th season of NBC’s hit music competition series The Voice, recently saw her Nickelodeon animated children’s series Kuu Kuu Harajuku, which follows the adventures of the crime-fighting girl music group HJ5, renewed for a second season. Stefani spoke with Multichannel News about the series, her experiences on The Voice and her future musical aspirations!:

What does it mean for you to have had your Nickelodeon series renewed for a second season?

I still haven’t digested that I’m even on Nickelodeon. It was a dream that I had a long time ago that came true later in life. I never thought it could happen. They took a chance on me and now they’re doing season two—it’s just hard to believe. I’ve done so many different things in my lifetime now, and I’m just so proud of it. Around the time I was trying to make my first solo record I really wanted to do something outside music; I wanted to do a live action or animated project. I feel like I’ve made something that I’m so proud of because it’s a really safe place for little girls to go and watch something that’s really entertaining and fun, and about girls being unique, creative and individual.

Why was Nickelodeon the best fit for the series?

I became a fan of the channel, especially after becoming a mom and watching it. It’s funny how life comes full circle, because I grew up with tons of animation in my own life because my brother is an animator [who’s] worked on The Simpsons and Ren & Stimpy, and Nickelodeon is all about animation and creativity. It just seemed like an obvious choice. I just feel like it’s a really good fit for me and I can’t believe we get to do another season. The new season is going to evolve and feature a little more music, dancing and stage performances, which I’m excited about.

Are you considering creating another kids-targeted series?

Of course, I would love to. One of my favorite things about The Voice is that they lowered the age [for competitors] this year, so working with the younger kids to me is just really exciting. There’s something about working with them, having already done all that they’re going through. I get to share this experience with them, and it’s the same with this. It’s like having children and creating stuff that they’re excited about, so yes, I would love to.

You can read Multichannel News' interview with Gwen Stefani here on BroadcastingCable.com.

Tune into Kuu Kuu Harajuku on Nickelodeon USA and Nick Jr., and visit nick.com/kuukuu to find out more about the show and to watch video clips from the series, including full-length episodes!

More Nick: Shout! and DHX Media Strike Home Entertainment Deal for "Kuu Kuu Harajuku"!

Additional source: Screener TV Listings.

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Kuu Kuu Harajuku News and Highlights!

Nickelodeon | Viacom Consumer Products Unveils New Properties At Annual Australian Upfront Event

Original Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) Press Release via Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand's press office:

NICKELODEON | VIACOM CONSUMER PRODUCTS UNVEILS NEW PROPERTIES AT ANNUAL AUSTRALIAN UPFRONT EVENT

‘Fans first’ focus drives growth for PAW Patrol, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Shimmer & Shine, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, SpongeBob SquarePants, Nickelodeon and MTV

Rusty Rivets and Nella the Princess Knight to premiere on Nick Jr. in 2017;

Consumer Products Lines to launch in 2018

MELBOURNE, 7 MARCH 2017 -- Nickelodeon | Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) held its annual Australian upfront event at Studio 3 at Crown Melbourne last night, attracting hundreds of retailers, buyers and licensees from across Australia and New Zealand. During the presentation, NVCP executives shared insights into how its research, content pipeline and long-term, multi-year plans have powered the growth of Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., MTV and Viacom’s other brands and properties on TV, online, at retail and in recreation.

2016 highlights showcased at the event centred around key properties including PAW Patrol, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Shimmer & Shine, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, SpongeBob SquarePants and iconic youth brand MTV. 2017 is poised to be the company’s largest ever with the launch of new properties Rusty Rivets and Nella the Princess Knight and new offerings surrounding its library of existing and evergreen properties.

Senior Vice President and General Manager of Viacom International Media Networks Australia and New Zealand, Ben Richardson said, “In 2016 we worked hard to be everywhere our audiences were and this is only going to grow in 2017.” Richardson added, “As a fans first company, we are committed to creating content, consumer products, events and experiences that connect in exciting and meaningful ways. Our goal is for fans to watch it, play with it, wear it and share it with everyone they can.”

Ben Cox, General Manager and Vice President of Nickelodeon Networks Australia and New Zealand, pointed to the success of Nickelodeon content across all platforms, saying, “Last year, we launched more animated and live action content than ever before and continued to grow share of viewing audiences across broadcast and digital.” Cox added, “21 of the top 25 shows watched by kids 0-4 were on Nick Jr., Nickelodeon reached over 2.8 million viewers on subscription television alone, we attracted over 2.1 million page views across nick.com.au and nickjr.com.au and the Australian Nick Play app has been downloaded onto 245 thousand devices.”

Claire O’Connor, Vice President of Consumer Products and Retail Marketing for Asia Pacific presented Nick Jr.’s pre-school portfolio, which includes the award-winning PAW Patrol, Blaze and the Monster Machines and Shimmer & Shine. O’Connor shared insight on how NVCP has successfully created tailored programs for Consumer Products around key properties to continuously feed product development and retail programs both locally and globally.

Nickelodeon’s world-renowned pre-school content library expands further in 2017 with the Australian launch of two new titles targeting kids 0-4.

- Following the global success of pre-school phenomenon PAW Patrol, Nickelodeon has again partnered with Spin Master to co-produce Rusty Rivets. Rooted in the Maker Movement, Rusty Rivets encourages kids to use their imagination to design and create fun and new inventions. Rusty Rivets premieres on Nick Jr. on Monday, 13 March with toys planned for release within the next year.

- Nella the Princess Knight is a brand-new animated pre-school series following Nella, an unconventional 8-year-old who possesses the royal qualities of a princess such as, compassion and grace, while also embodying the courage and determination of a brave knight. Nella the Princess Knight features a social-emotional curriculum promoting self-confidence, inclusiveness and compassion for others and premieres on Nick Jr. on May 1, with Consumer Products launching in 2018.

NVCP also showcased how Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles continues to build its strong profile through extensive reach across TV, online, apps and last year, in cinema. Demand is high year round and Nickelodeon continues to diversify the evergreen property’s appeal with market-leading partnerships. In 2016 Turtles connected with Australian fans in new ways through collaborations with the AFL, Kinder Surprise Eggs, McDonald’s Happy Meals, The Langham Hotel Melbourne, Peter Alexander sleepwear and Kelloggs Cereal. Season Five of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will launch on Nickelodeon Australia in May 2017.

NVCP also announced that Nickelodeon will reimagine the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with an all-new 26-episode 2D-animated series launching in the US in 2018 (Australian debut to be announced). Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (working title) will follow the band of brothers as they encounter new allies and villains and discover a magical world they never knew existed beneath the streets of New York City.

Attendees at the Nickelodeon Viacom Consumer Products Upfront were also given previews of SpongeBob Gold, a 360-degree marketing and retail global initiative launched via collaborations with six international designers. To further cater to adults, NVCP also unveiled licensing plans for a Nickelodeon retro line featuring classic properties such as Rugrats, Ren & Stimpy and Hey Arnold! and also showcased new global licenses for MTV in the fashion, technology and beverage categories.

Together with Haven Licensing, NVCP concluded the evening with a special presentation recognising key retailers and licensees. The winners were: Target Australia (2017 Softlines Licensee Award), ZAK (2017 Hardlines Licensee Award), Kinnerton (2017 FMCG Licensee Award), Hunter Products (2017 Innovation Excellence), BIG W Australia (2017 Retail Marketing Excellence) and Caprice Australia (2017 Partner of the Year).

“Our success is due to the combination of a strong content pipeline and the partnerships we form to create experiences for fans. We could not achieve this without our incredible partners who have been instrumental in building and maintaining our key properties,” concluded Ben Richardson.

-ENDS-

[...]

About Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP)
Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) oversees all merchandising and retail operations for Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), one of the world’s leading multimedia entertainment companies and home to such powerhouse brands as Nickelodeon, MTV, Paramount Pictures and Comedy Central. With a diverse portfolio spanning animation, preschool, student and youth-oriented licenses, NVCP is committed to providing key partner development and innovative marketing solutions, ensuring the highest quality product offering across some of the world's most powerful TV and entertainment properties, including SpongeBob SquarePants, PAW Patrol and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

###
More Nick: PAW Patrol Live! "Race to the Rescue" Announces First Tour Of New Zealand!

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Australia and New Zealand News and Highlights News!

Nickelodeon Signs Teen Sensation JoJo Siwa To Overall Talent Deal

Original Nickelodeon USA Press Release via NickPress.com:

NICKELODEON SIGNS TEEN SENSATION JOJO SIWA

TO OVERALL TALENT DEAL

Brand-New Docu-Style Special Gives Viewers Exclusive Look into Siwa’s World

Share it: @Nickelodeon @itsjojosiwa

NEW YORK–March 2, 2017–Nickelodeon, the number-one kids’ network, today announced it has signed 13-year-old singer, dancer, performer and social media influencer JoJo Siwa to an overall talent deal. Under the arrangement, Nickelodeon will have the opportunity to work with Siwa on a multi-platform basis including in consumer products, original programming, social media, live events and music. Nickelodeon has already commenced development of an exclusive line of consumer products inspired by the popular teen, and the network is in the process of securing major merchandising and promotional partners in a broad range of categories including apparel, home furnishings, toys, accessories, publishing and more. The news was announced at Nickelodeon’s Upfront presentation, held today in New York City.

“JoJo’s an entrepreneur, her family is everything to her and she is happy just being a kid,” said Shelly Sumpter Gillyard, Executive Vice President, Talent, Music and Events, Nickelodeon. “We have watched JoJo’s career as a real breakout talent and knew when we met with her that our audience would welcome her as part of the Nickelodeon family.”

As part of Siwa’s overall talent deal, Nickelodeon has greenlit a brand-new docu-style special that will give viewers an exclusive look into her exciting world. The half-hour special (untitled) will follow Siwa, as she embarks on a new journey full of surprises with the help of some Nickelodeon friends. Production will begin in the spring and the special is scheduled to premiere this summer on Nickelodeon.

Additionally, Siwa is nominated in the new “Favorite Viral Music Artist” category at Nickelodeon’s 2017 Kids’ Choice Awards, and will appear on the show, airing live on Saturday, March 11, at 8 p.m. (ET/tape delayed for west coast), from USC’s Galen Center in Los Angeles. She is also set to appear in Nickelodeon’s Sizzling Summer Camp Special, a live-action variety special, and on Nick’s hit series School of Rock, as part of a multi-episode story arc airing later this year.

Nickelodeon year to date is the number-one kids’ network, with the top shows on all TV in every key demo–the top 10 among Kids 2-11; nine of the top 10 with Kids 6-11; and six of the top 10 shows for Kids 2-5. Nick recently marked its third straight year at number one with kids, outpacing the competition most recently in 2016 by double digits. Nickelodeon also had the top shows in every demo in 2016: nine out of the top 10 with Kids 2-11; six of the top 10 with Kids 6-11; and six of the top 10 preschool programs.

After quickly realizing she had a love for dance at age two, Siwa began taking classes in tap, jazz, hip hop and ballet. She auditioned for season two of Abby’s Ultimate Dance Competition and became the youngest contestant at eight years old on the show. Following that success, she was then called to join Lifetime’s number-one show Dance Moms. Off screen, Siwa connects with her fans in several different ways: through social media, where she currently has over 4.8 million followers on Instagram, 9.11 million followers on Musical.ly, 254,000 Twitter followers and 427 million views on her YouTube channel; through her SIWANATOR club, which stands against negativity and bullying; through her line of accessories at Claire’s; and with her new single, “Boomerang,” which has been viewed more than 195 million times.

Nickelodeon, now in its 37th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 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).

# # #
More Nick: Top-Rated Nickelodeon Charts Path Beyond TV, Details Content Pipeline Of Almost 700 New Episodes In Every Genre!

Photo via Business Wire.

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Upfront 2017 News and Highlights!

Nickelodeon Greenlights Brand-New "Lip Sync Battle Shorties" Series

Original Nickelodeon USA Press Release via NickPress.com:

NICKELODEON GREENLIGHTS BRAND-NEW

LIP SYNC BATTLE SHORTIES SERIES

10-Episode Order Showcases Talented Kids in Epic Musical Showdowns,

Based on Spike’s Global Hit Series

Share it: @Nickelodeon #LipSyncBattleShorties

EPISODE 101 - PICTURED: MERRICK HANNA IN LIP SYNC BATTLE SHORTIES ON NICKELODEON. PHOTO CREDIT: TRAE PATTON/NICKELODEON (C) 2016 VIACOM, INTERNATIONAL, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

NEW YORK–March 2, 2017–Nickelodeon, the number-one kids’ network, is putting real kids center stage with the greenlight of Lip Sync Battle Shorties, a spinoff of Spike’s Emmy-nominated global phenomenon, Lip Sync Battle. The half-hour, 10-episode series will feature real-life kids lip-syncing pop songs in celebration of their favorite artists and builds upon the success of Nick’s hour-long special of the same name, which premiered in December 2016 and posted double- and triple-digit gains with kids. Lip Sync Battle Shorties will begin production later this year and the series is set to premiere in the fall. The news was announced at Nickelodeon’s Upfront presentation, held today in New York City.

“Lip Sync Battle Shorties is so illustrative of how kids have changed,” said Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon Group. “Our research tells us this generation believes they are all one step away from being famous. This show celebrates real kids with real talent, but more importantly a passion to perform and the confidence to do it.”

Lip Sync Battle Shorties drew more than two million total viewers (Live+7) when it premiered in December and content from the special has garnered over 20 million views on Nickelodeon’s YouTube channel.

Kid participants on Lip Sync Battle Shorties can personalize their performances, allowing them to make decisions on all creative elements from song and costume selection, to choreography and staging. Each episode will feature three talented real-life kids, the Shorties Dance Crew and a host that will be announced soon.

Lip Sync Battle Shorties is created and executive produced by Casey Patterson Entertainment and Matador Content, with John Krasinski, Stephen Merchant and Eight Million Plus Productions also serving as executive producers–the same team behind the original award-winning Emmy-nominated Lip Sync Battle on Spike.

Based on the pop culture phenomenon of lip sync battling, the original Spike Lip Sync Battle series features celebrities going head to head–lip-syncing the song of their choice–battling for the coolest bragging rights on the planet. The series is a ratings and multiplatform superstar for Spike and is the most-watched original series in the network’s history.

Nickelodeon year to date is the number-one kids’ network, with the top shows on all TV in every key demo–the top 10 among Kids 2-11; nine of the top 10 with Kids 6-11; and six of the top 10 shows for Kids 2-5. Nick recently marked its third straight year at number one with kids, outpacing the competition most recently in 2016 by double digits. Nickelodeon also had the top shows in every demo in 2016: nine out of the top 10 with Kids 2-11; six of the top 10 with Kids 6-11; and six of the top 10 preschool programs.

Nickelodeon, now in its 37th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 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).

# # #
More Nick: Top-Rated Nickelodeon Charts Path Beyond TV, Details Content Pipeline Of Almost 700 New Episodes In Every Genre!

Photo via Business Wire.

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Upfront 2017 and The Adventures Of Kid Danger And Captain Man News and Highlights!

Nickelodeon Reimagines The Iconic "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" In All-New Animated Series, "Rise Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"

Original Nickelodeon USA Press Release via NickPress.com:

NICKELODEON REIMAGINES THE ICONIC

TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

IN ALL-NEW ANIMATED SERIES,

RISE OF THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES

New Series, Launching Fall 2018, Will Expand the Turtles’ World,

Introducing New Villains and Allies to a More Mystical New York City

Share it: @Nickelodeon @TMNT #TMNT

NEW YORK–March 2, 2017–Nickelodeon, the number-one kids’ network, will reimagine its iconic, global franchise, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, with an all-new, 26-episode 2D-animated series, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (working title), launching fall 2018. Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles follows this band of brothers as they encounter new allies and villains and discover a magical world they never knew existed beneath the streets of New York City. The new 2D series is co-executive produced by Andy Suriano (character designer, Samurai Jack) and Ant Ward (supervising producer, current Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles) at Nickelodeon in Burbank, Calif. The news was announced at Nickelodeon’s Upfront presentation, held today in New York City.

“The Turtles is a property that has reinvention in its DNA, which keeps it fresh and relevant to every new generation while satisfying the demand from its adult fans,” said Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon Group. “Turtles has been an incredibly important franchise for us since we reignited it five years ago, and we’re excited for the new series to take the characters in a different direction with more humor, a younger and lighter feel and all-new dimensions to explore.”

Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will follow Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo on all-new adventures as they seek to unlock the mystical secrets of New York City. From the tallest skyscraper to the dankest sewer drain, the Turtles will encounter absurd new mutants and battle bizarre creatures all while enjoying their favorite slice of pizza. Tapping into mystic, ninja powers they never knew existed, the four brothers must learn to work together and navigate the perils of the modern age and hidden realms in order to fulfill their destiny to become a team of heroes.

Andy Suriano is an artist, illustrator and performer, and an Emmy and Annie Award-winning character designer and storyboard artist. His past credits include: Star Wars: Clone Wars, The Fairly OddParents, Duck Dodgers, Fosters Home for Imaginary Friends, Disney’s Mickey Mouse shorts, Samurai Jack, and The Powerpuff Girls, among others.

Ant Ward is an animator, writer and producer best known for his work as supervising producer on Penguins of Madagascar and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The Emmy Award-winner was integral to developing Nickelodeon’s CG-animation pipeline.

The new season of Nickelodeon’s current CG-animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will premiere Sunday, March 19, at 9 a.m. (ET/PT). Brand-new episodes will continue to air on Nickelodeon.

Considered one of the most popular kids’ television programs of the 1980s, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a classic, global property created in 1984 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird. It first debuted as a successful comic book series and then became a hit animated TV show, a live-action television series and later spawned numerous blockbuster theatrical releases. The property is a global consumer products powerhouse, winning in every category that has hit shelves to date—with toys, apparel, video games, DVDs and more—and generating billions of dollars at retail. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has been the number-one action figure for the past three years and the franchise is a previous recipient of the Toy Industry Association’s top honor for Property of the Year at the TOTY Awards.

Nickelodeon year to date is the number-one kids’ network, with the top shows on all TV in every key demo–the top 10 among Kids 2-11; nine of the top 10 with Kids 6-11; and six of the top 10 shows for Kids 2-5. Nick recently marked its third straight year at number one with kids, outpacing the competition most recently in 2016 by double digits. Nickelodeon also had the top shows in every demo in 2016: nine out of the top 10 with Kids 2-11; six of the top 10 with Kids 6-11; and six of the top 10 preschool programs.

Nickelodeon, now in its 37th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 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).

# # #
More Nick: Top-Rated Nickelodeon Charts Path Beyond TV, Details Content Pipeline Of Almost 700 New Episodes In Every Genre!

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Upfront 2017 and Rise Of The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles News and Highlights!

Top-Rated Nickelodeon Charts Path Beyond TV, Details Content Pipeline Of Almost 700 New Episodes In Every Genre

Original Nickelodeon USA Press Release via NickPress.com:

TOP-RATED NICKELODEON CHARTS PATH BEYOND TV, DETAILS CONTENT PIPELINE OF ALMOST 700 NEW EPISODES IN EVERY GENRE

Guided by Audience Insights, Number-One Kids’ Net Readies New Shows, Specials

and On-the-Ground Events Expanding Its Global Footprint

Highlights from Network’s Annual Upfront Presentation Include Appearances by Music and TV Superstar Gwen Stefani; Jace Norman from Top-Rated Henry Danger; Social Media Influencer JoJo Siwa; and Special Performance by Multi-Platinum Recording Artist Pitbull

NEW YORK–March 2, 2017–Nickelodeon–the number-one kids’ network–heads into the new season with a content pipeline for every genre kids love, filled with almost 700 episodes of new and returning series across its platforms in preschool, animation and live action; TV movies and tent-pole events; and real-world experiences that will grow the brand further beyond television. Guided by the audience in everything it does, Nickelodeon uses its research insights to create the most relevant and authentic content for kids, resulting in the network’s top-rated status and ownership of the top shows with Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11 and Kids 2-5. Details of Nick’s content pipeline and its plans to expand its footprint past its own screens were outlined today at the network’s annual upfront presentation, held at New York City’s Jazz at Lincoln Center.

“Today’s kids are coming of age in a revolutionary period of change, in tech, entertainment, politics and culture, and these factors have definitely influenced how they see the world,” said Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon Group. “It’s our job to understand everything we can about kids, and connect our audience to relevant content and characters that speak to their need for authenticity and diversity–both on our screens and beyond through on-the-ground experiences.”

Key insights powering Nickelodeon’s content pipeline include data from its recent, nationally representative study, “The Story of Me.” Sample of the findings featured in today’s presentation include:

* Today’s kids are the most diverse generation of Americans ever; and while earlier generations were taught tolerance, today’s kids demand acceptance. 93% of kids say they want friends of different races or ethnicities, and most (81%) say they want friends of a different religion.

* They are entrepreneurs. The majority (69%) want to grow up to be their own bosses.

* Kids today are closer to their parents than prior generations were—they watch the same shows together, play the same video games, and listen to the same music. Mom and Dad are kids’ top role models, and more than half of all millennial-aged parents (54%) say that their children are their best friends.

* Four out of five parents believe they should consult their children for decisions on choosing restaurants, vacation destinations, health and beauty products, technology and cars.

* Helicopter Parenting has morphed into Drone parenting. Kids are growing up supervised by tech at all times, through wireless baby monitors, cell phone trackers, texting parenting apps or smart home cameras.

* More than a third worry about their parents’ health and personal safety; and almost a quarter worry about their parents losing their jobs. But overall, the majority of kids report that they are happy being kids.

In response to what it has learned from today’s kids, Nickelodeon has developed content that is relevant and authentic to their lives today. For example, kids’ love of family is reflected in shows like The Loud House and The Thundermans; their interest in being their own boss is in the premise of shows like Game Shakers; and diversity is woven throughout all quarters of Nickelodeon–from Nella the Princess Knight, to Shimmer and Shine, to the network’s ongoing legacy of strong female leads.

During the upfront presentation, Zarghami previewed the network’s content pipeline, offering a close look at a selection of upcoming projects that underscore Nick’s overall programming strategy, including: an animated series based on the top-ranked live-action hit Henry Danger, starring Jace Norman; a brand-new, reimagined animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series, titled Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles; Lip Sync Battle Shorties, a spinoff of Spike’s global phenomenon Lip Sync Battle; more Kuu Kuu Harajuku from music and TV superstar Gwen Stefani; a TV special and consumer products line based on performer, actress and social media influencer, JoJo Siwa; and the first look at Amusement Park, Paramount Pictures’ animated feature set for release in 2018, which will be followed by a Nickelodeon-produced TV series the next year. The presentation was capped with a performance by multi-platinum recording artist Pitbull.

Nickelodeon also has plans to continue expanding the brand’s footprint through recreation and on-the-ground activations. In addition to adding multiple branded luxury family resorts around the world, and additional tour dates for its preschool PAW Patrol Live! tour, Nick announced Nickelodeon SlimeFest, a multi-day family festival of music, activities and fun. Coming next year, the festival will feature performances by top recording artists, immersive one-of-a-kind experiences, Nickelodeon stars and characters, and plenty of the network’s signature green slime.

As Nickelodeon marks three years and counting as the number-one kids’ network in every demo, its pipeline of content in every genre includes:

Preschool:

Nickelodeon is the number-one network for preschoolers year to date, a leading position it has held for the last three years. As it did in 2016, Nick currently owns six of the top 10 shows for Kids 2-5 this year, led by number-one-ranked PAW Patrol.

This season, the network will premiere almost 200 new episodes of returning hit shows PAW Patrol, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Shimmer and Shine, Mutt & Stuff, and the just-launched Nella the Princess Knight, and the following new series:

* Butterbean’s Café (40 episodes) – This animated series follows a fairy named Butterbean and her adventures running the neighborhood café with her friends.

* Sunny Day (40 episodes) – This animated series centers on Sunny, a 10-year-old master hairstylist and entrepreneur who uses creative problem solving to tackle any dilemma that arises in her seaside town of Friendly Falls.

* Top Wing (26 episodes) – This CG-animated action-adventure series, created by Industrial Brothers and produced by 9 Story Media Group, follows a team of eager young birds as they flock together to help their island community and earn their wings as full-feathered rescuers.

Animation:

Nickelodeon is the number-one network for Kids 2-11 and Kids 6-11 year to date, up +5% among Kids 2-11, with its February performance marking six straight months at number one with Kids 6-11. Besides being home to TV’s top two animated kids’ shows, SpongeBob SquarePants and The Loud House, Nick currently owns the top 10 shows for Kids 2-11 and nine of the top 10 with Kids 6-11. For 2016, Nick owned nine out of the top 10 shows with Kids 2-11 and six of the top 10 shows with Kids 6-11.

This season, the network will air almost close to 200 episodes of returning animated hits like SpongeBob SquarePants, The Loud House and ALVINNN!!! and The Chipmunks, and new shows:

* Amusement Park – Nickelodeon and Paramount Pictures are moving forward together on a slate of films that will bring new and established properties to audiences, a strategy that will allow for the two Viacom divisions to work together on IP that can journey from the big screen to TV and beyond. The first project is the animated Amusement Park theatrical release, directed by Dylan Brown and in theaters July 2018. Nickelodeon will produce a TV series based on the movie for the following year.

* The Adventures of Kid Danger and Captain Man (working title, 10 episodes) – An animated series based on TV’s number-one kids’ show, the live-action Henry Danger. Created and executive produced by hitmaker Dan Schneider (Henry Danger, Game Shakers, iCarly), the series follows the heroic Kid Danger and Captain Man as they face new adventures–battling criminals and super villains with their sharp wit and amazing crime-fighting skills.

* Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (working title, 26 episodes) – Nickelodeon will reimagine its iconic, global franchise Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with an all-new 2D-animated series. Launching fall 2018, the new show follows the band of brothers as they encounter new allies and villains and discover a magical world they never knew existed beneath the streets of New York City.

* Bunsen Is a Beast (20 episodes) –This just-launched original animated comedy, which premiered to 1.6 million total viewers, follows the adventures of Bunsen, the first beast to attend a human middle school, and his best friend Mikey. The series is created and executive produced by animation veteran Butch Hartman (The Fairly OddParents).

* Pinky Malinky (20 episodes) – A mockumentary-style series, Pinky Malinky follows the everyday life of an infectiously positive hot dog living in a human world. Pinky’s experiences will also be shared across social media and Nick’s digital platforms.

* Welcome to the Wayne (20 episodes) – Marking Nick’s first digital short-form content to be greenlit for television, the series follows the comedic adventures of three kids who live in a strange and fantastical apartment building, the Wayne in New York City, where nothing is what it seems.

* Kuu Kuu Harajuku (26 episodes) – Nickelodeon has picked up a second season of this animated series co-created and executive produced by Gwen Stefani. The new season will continue to follow the kuu kuu adventures of the band HJ5–Love, Angel, Music, Baby and G–through their super-cute world of music, fashion and style.

Live Action:

Nickelodeon is the number-one network for Kids 2-11 and Kids 6-11 year to date, up +5% among Kids 2-11, with its February performance marking six straight months at number one with Kids 6-11. Nick currently owns the top 10 shows for Kids 2-11 and nine of the top 10 series for Kids 6-11, led by shows like top-ranked The Thundermans, Henry Danger and Game Shakers. For 2016, Nick owned nine out of the top 10 shows with Kids 2-11 and six of the top 10 shows with Kids 6-11.

In live action, the network will roll out almost 300 brand-new episodes of Henry Danger, Game Shakers, The Thundermans, School of Rock, Nicky, Ricky, Dicky & Dawn and new shows, including:

* Lip Sync Battle Shorties (10 episodes) – A spinoff of Spike’s Emmy-nominated global phenomenon, Lip Sync Battle, this new half-hour series will feature real-life kids lip-syncing pop songs in celebration of their favorite artists. Lip Sync Battle Shorties is created and executive produced by Casey Patterson Entertainment and Matador Content, with John Krasinski, Stephen Merchant and Eight Million Plus Productions also serving as executive producers.

* I Am Frankie (20 episodes) – This series centers on Frankie who looks like a typical teenager, but harbors a very big secret–she’s actually a cutting edge, experimental android who must hide her true identity or risk being powered down forever.

* JoJo Siwa special (untitled) – This brand-new docu-style special will give viewers an exclusive look into the teen sensation’s exciting world. The special was greenlit as part of JoJo Siwa’s overall talent deal, in which Nickelodeon will have the opportunity to work with her on a multi-platform basis including in consumer products, original programming, social media, live events and music.

* Hunter Street (20 episodes) – Set to premiere March 13, this comedy adventure series follows the journey of five foster kids on their quest to find their missing parents after they mysteriously disappear.

TV Movies and Tent Poles:

Nickelodeon will give kids more of what they love from the net’s content pipeline and across the worlds of entertainment, sports, celebrities and pop culture, with TV movies and tent poles including:

* Rocko’s Modern Life special (untitled) – Based on Nick’s beloved ‘90s hit, Rocko’s Modern Life, this original animated one-hour TV special will bring back all the show’s classic characters and offer some surprising new takes on life in O-Town. Rocko’s original creator Joe Murray is on board as executive producer of the special.

* Escape from Mr. Lemoncello’s Library – Based on author Chris Grabenstein’s acclaimed children’s book of the same name, the 90-minute TV movie follows a group of friends whose overnight stay in their town’s new high-tech library turns into a daring, dangerous adventure of escape.

* Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie – The two-hour animated TV movie picks up where the iconic series ended in 2004 and will resolve unanswered questions and plotlines, including Arnold finally getting answers about the whereabouts of his missing parents. Hey Arnold!: The Jungle Movie is written and executive produced by the series’ original creator Craig Bartlett.

* Nickelodeon will also feature three major TV events this year: Kids’ Choice Awards on March 11, hosted by WWE Superstar John Cena; Kids’ Choice Sports in July; and HALO Awards in November.

Nickelodeon year to date is the number-one kids’ network, with the top shows on all TV in every key demo–the top 10 among Kids 2-11; nine of the top 10 with Kids 6-11; and six of the top 10 shows for Kids 2-5. Nick recently marked its third straight year at number one with kids, outpacing the competition most recently in 2016 by double digits. Nickelodeon also had the top shows in every demo in 2016: nine out of the top 10 with Kids 2-11; six of the top 10 with Kids 6-11; and six of the top 10 preschool programs.

Source: Nielsen Media Research (12/26/16-2/26/17), Live+7 blended, 3 t/c min

Nickelodeon, now in its 37th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 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).

# # #

Nickelodeon Upfront 2017 News Round-Up

Below is a collection of articles about Nickelodeon Upfront 2017. Nickelodeon's Upfront 2017 press release, detailing Nick's 2017-2018 programming season, can be found here on NickALive!.

Nickelodeon Upfront 2017 - Live Updates

Welcome to NickALive!'s live feed of news from Nickelodeon's 2017 Upfront presentation at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall in New York City! Keep refreshing for the latest!:

Nickelodeon USA Sweeps February 2017 To Win All Three Major Kid Demos: K2-11, K6-11 And K2-5

Original Nickelodeon USA Press Release via TheFutonCritic.com:

NICKELODEON SWEEPS FEBRUARY TO WIN ALL THREE MAJOR KID DEMOS: K2-11, K6-11 AND K2-5

Nick is Number One for the Month and Year To Date, with the Top Shows in Every Demo

NEW YORK - Feb. 28, 2017 - Headed into its Upfront presentation this week, Nickelodeon closes February as the top-rated kids' network in total day--continuing its winning streak for the month and year with Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11 and Kids 2-5 as competitors face declines. According to Nielsen Media Research for February (Jan. 30-Feb. 26, '17), Nickelodeon averaged a 2.2/608K with Kids 2-11 (on par with last year); a 1.8/302K with Kids 6-11 (on par); and a 2.9/307K among Kids 2-5 (+up 7%).

For the year to date, Nick is also firmly number one with all three demos, notably up +5% with Kids 2-11, up +11% with Kids 2-5 and marking its sixth straight month number one with Kids 6-11. Nick also owns the top shows in every kid demo; for just February, Nick has 7 of the top ten shows for Kids 2-11; 8 of the top ten with Kids 6-11; and 6 of the top ten among Kids 2-5.

Nick finished this month ahead of Disney Channel by +57% with K2-11, by +20% among K6-11; and by +123% among K2-5. Disney Channel's monthly performance was marked by declines: down -18% with K2-11 (1.4/401K); down -21% with K6-11 (1.5/258K); and down -7% with K2-5 (1.3/142K).

Nickelodeon also finished February ahead of Cartoon Network by +100% among K2-11; +64% among K6-11; and +190% among K2-5. Cartoon Network's February performance was down -8% among K2-11(1.1/297K); down -15% among K6-11 (1.1/183K); and on par with last year's K2-5 levels (1.0/113K).

Nickelodeon, now in its 37th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B).

###
More Nick: Nick To Host Nickelodeon Upfront 2017 Presentation On Thursday 2nd March 2017 In New York City!

---

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Ratings News and Highlights!