Nickelodeon News Bytes | September 25, 2024

NickALive!'s pick of Nickelodeon news, highlights and more from around the internet!:

• An end of an era: Legendary creator Arlene Klasky is officially retiring from Animation, and handing the keys of Klasky-Csupo off to her son. The classic studio she ran will be shutting down, and they will be relocating operations and continuing on their work. [TRAFON]

• SpongeBob SquarePants Bath and Body Collection from Lush won the Best Licensed Health and Beauty Range at The Licensing Awards 2024! The Peppa Pig x Natural History Museum Collection for F&F at Tesco from Blues Group was also named Best Licensed Pre-School Apparel or Accessories Range (0-5 Years) at the ceremony. [Licensing.biz]

• Funko has expanded its fan-favourite Bitty Pop! range with Bittyverse. An exciting and refreshing extension of the core Bitty Pop! line, Bittyverse focuses on enhancing the playability of the miniature Funko products by inviting fans to mix and match with new, IP-driven Rides, Towns and Displays. Funko’s Bittyverse takes mini collectibles to a whole new level with licensor partners including DC Comics, Star Wars and Harry Potter. Many more are still to come, from Disney and Marvel all the way through to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Lord of The Rings and beyond. This depth and breadth of range means all fans can expect to see their favourite Pop! collectible in miniature form in the Bittyverse. [Toy World]

• Australian-based stationery and accessories retail chain, Smiggle, has released two product ranges inspired by Habro’s Peppa Pig and PJ Masks Power Heroes. The limited-edition Peppa Pig collection celebrates the show’s 20^th anniversary and features backpacks, lunch boxes and other school-friendly accessories. The PJ Masks Power Heroes collection includes snack containers, pencil cases and more. The product ranges are available across Australia and New Zealand in-store and online at Smiggle. [License Global]

• Pinkfong has launched its first Baby Shark store in Hong Kong'S Times Square shopping center! the retail outlet featureS more than 600 Baby Shark products and dedicated play zones for kids. [Kidscreen]

• Susan Abraham, Spin Master and Josephine Rotolo, Paramount Global both won the "Unsung Hero > 500 Employees" award at the Women in Toys, Licensing & Entertainment's (WiT) 19th annual Wonder Women Awards! [License Global]

• Sony Pictures TV’s Children’s division has launched a new YouTube channel called Kidzuko. The channel, which began its life on September 19, offers episodes of Octonauts, The Creature Cases, Peter Rabbit and Chico Bon Bon: Monkey with a Tool Belt as well as clips, compilation videos and how to videos showing how to draw characters. [Animation Magazine]

• Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. has announced a collaboration with Paramount Consumer Products to celebrate the 20^th anniversary of the iconic film and pop-culture phenomenon Mean Girls with the launch of Mean Girls x Ocean Spray^® Ocean Spray^® Zero Sugar Cranberry and Mixed Berry Juice Drinks. Cranberry juice cocktail had a cameo in the original film – and it did have sugar, despite what Regina thought. But now 20 years later, just like the stars of the movie have evolved, Ocean Spray has too, with the introduction of Ocean Spray^® Zero Sugar Juice Drinks to its product line up. It has zero sugar and no artificial sweeteners – just fierce flavor. [PR Newswire]

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

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

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TV Animation Veteran Andrei Svislotski Passes Away, Aged 62

Animation veteran Andrei Svislotski sadly passed away on Monday, Dec. 19th at age 62. The Russian-Born animator had a rich and colorful career, which he embarked upon after studying architecture and animation in Moscow and working on Russian shows such as Kubik, Doremi and Cat Leopold.

In the 1990s he joined L.A.-based Klasky Csupo studio, working on animated shows such as Edith Anne, Santo Bugito and Duckman as character designer, layout supervisor and animator.

Svislotski was an in-demand animation director for popular Nickelodeon series such as Aaahh!!! Real Monsters, Rocket Power, Rugrats and its sequel All Grown Up! He also helmed several Curious George home-video projects. He received a Daytime Emmy nomination for his work on Aaahh!!! Real Monsters in 1995 and another Emmy nom for directing the Curious George series in 2014, an acclaimed 2D show that he worked on for many seasons. He was also character layout supervisor on The Rugrats Movie in 1998 and was animation director on the studio’s adult animated project The Immigrants. He also directed several episodes of Disney Jr.’s Sheriff Callie’s Wild West.

He also worked as a storyboard artist on a wide variety of projects including A Very Pink Christmas, Doc McSuffins, DreamWorks Dragons, Peter Rabbit, Masha and the Bear, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse and Mission Force One. In addition to Klasky Cuspo, he worked with Nickelodeon, Paramount, Brown Bag Films, Universal, Disney Junior, and DreamWorks Animation TV through the years.

Svislotski’s friends have set up a fundraiser to support his family during this difficult time.

They wrote, “On December 19th, 2022, our dear friend Andrei Svislotski suddenly passed away at work. He was 62 years old. Andrei was a man of enormous talent and a very fun guy to be around. He will be gravely missed by his wife Elena, their son Kirill, and all of his friends and colleagues which are many.”

To contribute to the late artist’s fundraiser visit: http://spot.fund/rXcpG2sc

R.I.P. Andrei Svislotski, June 3, 1960 - December 19, 2022

Original source: Animation Magazine.

Peter Rabbit Theme - Saturday Morning Acapella - Triforcefilms

Peter Rabbit Theme - Saturday Morning Acapella - Triforcefilms

Mr. Dooves performs a capella cover version of Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and CBeebies' hit CG-animated series Peter Rabbit opening theme song!

This is a remastered reupload of our Saturday Morning Acapella cover of The Peter Rabbit TV Series.  Our previous video was copyright blocked in most regions.  Thanks for your understanding.

Original Composer - "Let's Go"  Stuart Kollmorgen.

Stream your favorite Nick Jr. shows on Paramount+ and Noggin! Try Paramount+ for FREE at ParamountPlus.com!

More Nick: Nickelodeon Supercharges Its Franchise Strategy With Steady Stream of New Premium Content for 2022-23 Season!

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A Bunny-Ful Day | Saturday April 20th at 4:10pm ET! | Treehouse

A Bunny-Ful Day | Saturday April 20th at 4:10pm ET! | Treehouse



If you're eyeing colourful eggs or have bunnies on the brain, then come on over to Treehouse! They have a bouncy day of bunny-ful shows, including Peppa Pig, Peter Rabbit, and Max & Ruby that will keep you hopping happily! Visit https://www.treehousetv.com for more information!

More Nick: Nickelodeon USA's April 2019 Premiere Highlights!

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How Do You Create a Hit Kids' TV Show Like 'PAW Patrol'?

The stories may be fun, but there is some serious money to be made from children's TV programmes.

For the shows that catch the imagination of kids around the world, pots of cash can be made, not only from the programmes itself, but from toys, merchandising, clothes, books, theme parks, and stage shows.

But for every idea that turns into a global phenomenon like Peppa Pig or Octonauts, there are thousands of talking animals that don't make the grade.

So how do you make sure your cute creatures become a monster hit?

The builder

Keith Chapman is an unassuming millionaire. He is the man who came up with the concept of Paw Patrol, the global smash for young children. He also dreamt up Bob the Builder, a $5bn (£3.7bn) franchise which is getting on for two decades old, and still pulling in young fans.

PAW Patrol follows the adventures of a pack of talking animated puppies, who also drive emergency vehicles.

Keith Chapman unleashed both Bob the Builder and Paw Patrol on the world. Photo: ALAMY.

The denizens of Adventure Bay call on the Paw Patrol whenever they get into scrapes, which needless to say, is every episode. The puppies seem to spend quite a lot of time rescuing the Mayor's pet chicken.

Mr. Chapman came up with the idea for Paw Patrol after being approached by Canadian toy company Spin Master, which wanted to develop a kids TV franchise evolved from ideas they had for an existing franchise called Bakugan.

Spin Master wanted to take the idea a stage further with a transforming toy based on emergency vehicles.

Mr Chapman came up with Robbie and the Rescue Dogs - a group of puppies with different skills sets, led by a boy.

In each episode, the pup's leader Ryder briefs the pups on the situation, then decides which pups to send to sort out the problem.

They slide out of their helter-skelter Lookout Tower to a rock theme tune, drop into their transformed emergency vehicles, and away they go.

It takes a lot of effort to produce each episode. The number of animators has increased to around 150, and the franchise is worth more than $1bn each year to Spin Master, the BBC understands, including licensing, toys and other spin-offs.

Mr Chapman has had not one, but two global kids' TV hits, as Bob the Builder has also been a world-wide runaway success.

He tested Bob the Builder at the time on his sons - and can now test out new ideas on his baby daughter Daisy with his girlfriend Emily.

So what makes a kids' show so popular?

"If you were to sit there and throw it into a cauldron, this magic formula… You need great characters, hero characters," Mr Chapman says.

Also, don't underestimate your audience, he adds.

"Kids are much smarter than we think. If you don't keep them entertained and glued to the screen - that's where you fall down.

"You need the heart [of the show] to be strong. You've got to have an emotional hook. It's all light and dark. You've got to have emotional moments. It's almost a reflection of real life."

But it helps if you have access to cash to begin with, he says.

"Really it's just being prepared to invest. The best animators, the best script writers, the best music - then you stand a chance of success."

Earth Buddy

The founders of Spin Master got their first big break selling Earth Buddy, toy heads made of nylon stockings stuffed with sawdust that grew grass seed hair.

Initial success with the "Earth Buddy" let Spin Master diversify into toy aircraft. It later bought model construction firm Meccano, and now owns brands including Hatchimals.

Ronnen Harary says he isn't the inspiration for the Ryder character in Paw Patrol, but no-one believes him.

Ronnen Harary says he isn't the inspiration for the Ryder character in Paw Patrol, but no-one believes him. Photo: Spin Master.

Ronnen Harary is the billionaire co-founder and co-chief executive of Spin Master, who entirely coincidentally happens to look very like the Ryder character in Paw Patrol.

Was Mr Harary the inspiration for the character? "Why dispel the myth?" he says. "I've denied it, but no one believes me."

The success of Paw Patrol is down to many factors, he says, including "love", talented production staff, and luck.

"Paw Patrol was created collaboratively and with a lot of love. With love comes attention to detail… Carefully thinking through every aspect increases a property's odds for success significantly."

It's primarily the content of the show that resonates with kids, he says.

"The premise of the show is all about teamwork and collaboration. Every episode there is a situation that needs to be solved.

"Every episode the Pups go out and do good. It's universal messaging liked and loved around the world."

But shows must be original, he says.

"The commonality we find with highly successful children's animation is that the storytelling is vibrant," he says. "The key components: fantastic writing, directors, voice talent, storyboard artists, must be there.

"That is where the similarity [between hit shows] stops. The stories are all dramatically different with distinct characters, pacing, styles, tone and messaging. If a show is replicating another show, the odds of success are reduced to single digits," he adds.

Collaboration is key to getting the shows seen by large audiences, too. Spin Master managed to strike good partnerships, and started working with preschool powerhouse Nickelodeon early on in developing Paw Patrol, he says.

Nickelodeon is a kids' TV brand owned by Viacom, and is responsible for global smashes such as Dora the Explorer.

The partnership helped Spin Master promote Paw Patrol, and the show was able to use Nickelodeon's global licensing infrastructure, he says. Paw Patrol now airs on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. channels in more than 160 countries and territories around the world.

Adventures in Asia

Children's TV is a global business, and the more different countries you can sell your product, the more money you make.

Like most of the industry, Silvergate Media, the company behind Peter Rabbit and Octonauts, has been targeting the vast consumer markets of Asia.

Peter Rabbit is big in Japan. Photo: Silvergate Media.

Peter Rabbit is "loved particularly in the English-speaking world, led by the UK where our revenues have more than doubled in the past two years," says Ron Allen, Silvergate Media vice president.

But the biggest market for the quintessentially British creation Peter Rabbit, though, is… Japan.

"Beatrix Potter and Peter Rabbit have over 98% brand awareness [in Japan]," says Mr Allen.

"Our licensing programme there includes one of the biggest consumer promotions in kids licensing with the Bank of Mitsubishi, there is a Peter Rabbit-branded theme park, and even an exact reproduction of Hill Top outside Tokyo," says Mr Allen.

For Octonauts, however, the next adventure is an assault on the world's second largest economy, China.

The fifth season of Octonauts is being co-produced with Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

The show follows the undersea adventures of a group of animal explorers led by polar bear Captain Barnacles, and the forthcoming fifth season of Octonauts will be produced alongside the state broadcaster, China Central Television.

CCTV is "in a unique position to reach kids throughout China", says Mr Allen.

"CCTV's endorsement also means our other partners in China, from broadcast to retail, are confident of Octonauts' longevity in the market," he says.

To reinforce their appeal in China, the fifth season will introduce a new character, a Chinese red panda called Min, and the Octonauts will go "down the Yangtze river for the first time," Mr Allen says.

Silvergate Media is one firm setting its sights on the Chinese market

Rough or smooth?

The media industry, like many other sectors, has a reputation for being hard-nosed and cut-throat, and with billions of pounds at stake, it's hard not to see why.

But does that extend to kids' entertainment, despite the fluffy nature of the content?

Keith Chapman pulls no punches about the hard-nosed nature of toy sales.

"The retailers will pull you off the shelves immediately if you don't sell. It's quite ruthless. You're soon off the shelves and out of it if you're not doing well," he says.

Ron Allen says kids' media "is a business, and of course commercial objectives and revenue growth matters.

"However I've been in this industry in different roles for over 20 years and I think it is still exceptionally friendly, and relationships are paramount," he says.

Ronnen Harary agrees. "At the end of the day, it is the kids' entertainment industry, so we try not to take ourselves too seriously."

More Nick: Nickelodeon USA To Premiere New 44-Minute 'PAW Patrol' Special "The Mighty Pups" During Fall 2018; 'Abby Hatcher, Fuzzly Catcher' During Late 2018 - Early 2019!

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Peter Rabbit | Saturday Morning Acapella | Triforcefilms

In their latest addition to Triforcefilms' Saturday Morning A Capella playlist, Mr. Dooves performs a capella cover version of Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. and CBeebies' hit CG-animated series Peter Rabbit opening theme song!



Original Composer - "Let's Go" Stuart Kollmorgen.

Watch Peter Rabbit on Nick Jr.! Visit NickJr.com and the Nick Jr. App for more Peter Rabbit videos and games!

More Nick: COUNT DUCKULA Theme - Saturday Morning Acapella | Triforcefilms!

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Powerhouse Series 'PAW Patrol' Debuts Today on NOGGIN, Nickelodeon’s Preschool Subscription Service

Original Nickelodeon USA Press Release via NickPress.com:

POWERHOUSE SERIES PAW PATROL DEBUTS TODAY ON NOGGIN,

NICKELODEON’S PRESCHOOL SUBSCRIPTION SERVICE

NOGGIN’S LIBRARY REACHES 1,500 FULL-LENGTH EPISODES

All-New Educational Play-Along Videos from Blaze and the Monster Machines,

Bubble Guppies and Team Umizoomi also Added to NOGGIN’s Lineup

Powerhouse Series PAW Patrol Debuts Today on NOGGIN

NEW YORK–Feb. 22, 2018– Nickelodeon is setting up NOGGIN, its top-ranked video subscription service for preschoolers, for even more growth in 2018 with the launch of the first two seasons of the hit series PAW Patrol (produced by Spin Master Entertainment) and brand-new science and reading hubs featuring original short-form content on the app, beginning today. In the last six months, NOGGIN has grown its library by over 40% with the addition of interactive, curriculum-based play-along videos and new library titles including Dora the Explorer and Peppa Pig.

In addition to PAW Patrol, NOGGIN will further expand its library to more than 1,500 full-length, on-demand episodes in the coming months with the introduction of: Max & Ruby and Peter Rabbit; all-new, interactive play-along library episodes from Blaze and the Monster Machines, Bubble Guppies and Team Umizoomi; and new episodes from existing titles Twirlywoos, Miffy and Friends, Trucktown and Go, Diego, Go!. As NOGGIN’s user base continues to grow, Nickelodeon will be adding even more new library content and educational play-along videos to its content slate later this year.

NOGGIN’s play-along videos allow preschoolers to engage with their favorite characters by tapping, touching, swiping or speaking to navigate through enhanced educational experiences that promote science, technology, engineering, math and social-emotional skills—all while having fun every step of the way. To date, Nickelodeon has launched 54 play-along videos from top-performing library episodes Blaze and the Monster Machines, Bubble Guppies and Team Umizoomi.

Since its launch in February 2015, NOGGIN has consistently ranked at the top of the charts in the Family and Kids categories, and it’s one of the Top 10 Kids Apps on the Free Apps chart on the App Store, in addition to being the number-one grossing app for Music and Video in the Family Category on Google Play. NOGGIN was also selected by Apple as an Apple TV app of the year.

Currently in its fourth season, PAW Patrol, produced by Spin Master Entertainment, follows a pack of heroic rescue pups– Chase, Marshall, Rubble, Skye, Rocky, Zuma, Everest and Tracker –who are led by a tech-savvy boy named Ryder. Together, they work hard to show the people of Adventure Bay that “no job is too big, no pup is too small!” The series features a curriculum that focuses on citizenship, social skills and problem-solving.

NOGGIN is an ad-free, video subscription service that features over a thousand iconic, full-length library episodes, short-form videos, educational content, music videos featuring preschoolers’ favorite Nickelodeon characters, and more, with new content added weekly. Currently available for iPad, iPhone, Apple TV, Android, Fire tablet and Roku devices, NOGGIN has 33 series to date including the recently added Dora the Explorer, Zack & Quack and Peppa Pig. Additional titles in the NOGGIN lineup include Yo Gabba Gabba!, Trucktown, Miffy and Friends, Teletubbies, Blue’s Clues, Go, Diego, Go!, Franklin, The Backyardigans and Pocoyo.

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More Nick: Nickelodeon Launches Nick Jr. Play App Internationally!

Additional source: Business Wire.

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Nickelodeon News Bytes - Wednesday 1st March 2017

NickALive!'s pick of Nickelodeon news, highlights and more from around the internet!:

Nickelodeon News Bytes - Monday 27th February 2017

NickALive!'s pick of Nickelodeon news, highlights and more from around the internet!:

- Nickelodeon UK backs 2017 Blackpool Light Fund event!

- Shane's Inspiration, an international nonprofit dedicated to creating inclusive playgrounds and educational programs that foster social inclusion for children with disabilities, is hosting its 16th annual fundraising gala on Saturday, March 4, 2017. Game Shakers star Cree Cicchino as a honoree.

- Netflix UK to add episodes 9-13 of Power Rangers Dino Super Charge on Wednesday 15th March 2017!

Former Nickelodeon star Steve Burns from Blue's Clues (US version) is now in a band with Steven Drozd of The Flaming Lips! The 43-year-old, who cut his teeth on acting by playing the quirky, mystery-solving owner of a blue cartoon puppy in the '90s, is now writing and performing music for the pint-sized crowd in the group STEVENSTEVEN. Their album, "Foreverywhere," which debuted Friday, features 11 songs that are not quite just for kids. The first single off the album "The Unicorn and Princess Rainbow" has hints of David Bowie and Neil Diamond and is complete with a psychedelic guitar solo. "It was a little bit of rebelling against the clichés of what makes kiddie music, kiddie music," Burns explained. "What age group is 'Puff the Magic Dragon for?" he questioned. "I don't know." "We both don't think there's a huge difference anyway in what makes music awesome for kids and what makes music awesome for adults," he continued. Drozd explained that the kid part of the album isn't necessarily the music, but what Burns is trying to get across. "It's what you're saying, and how you re explaining certain things, and certain things that make it — "oh oh now I'm pooping in the toilet bowl,'" he told The News, referencing some of the song lyrics. "If you're an adult and that's really moving you, then you got some other things to worry about," Drozd joked. Burns quickly chimed in: "I disagree, our criteria was … if we're writing a funny song it has to be funny to us, and if we're writing an inspiring song about loss and longing it has to move us." Burns hasn't appeared on screen for a television show since. In fact, he never intended to in the first place. He thought his Blue's Clues audition was for a voice-over role. "I just wasn't paying attention," he said of his 1995 audition.

- Nickelodeon's PAW Patrol and Nick Jr. UK's Peppa Pig continue to do well in preschool toys sector!

- A host of stars and their families came out to wish DHX Media's Teletubbies a happy 20th anniversary on Sunday 26th February 2017!

- Alison Bakunowich, General Manager, Nickelodeon UK & Ireland meets with Cyma Zarghami, President of Nickelodeon to find out about her career journey, business plans and forecasts for the industry!:

Popular Nickelodeon Shows Nominated For Awards In The 2016 British Academy Children's Awards

The British Academy of Film and Television Arts (BAFTA) has announced the exciting news that Nickelodeon has been nominated for awards in the 2016 British Academy Children's Awards, BAFTA's annual awards ceremony which honours the very best in children's media!

Nickelodeon's hit original animated series (Nicktoon) SpongeBob SquarePants and the Nickelodeon USA-BBC CG-animated preschool series Peter Rabbit have both been nominated in the best 'International' series category for the 2016 BAFTA Children's Awards, and the hit Nickelodeon comedy series SpongeBob SquarePants and The Thundermans have both been nominated in the Favourite TV Show category of the BAFTA Kids Vote, the part of the 2016 British Academy Children's Awards in which kids have their say in a nationwide poll to choose their favourite film, television programme, website and game, along with the acquired series The Next Step, which currently airs on Nickelodeon Germany (Deutschland).

The BAFTA Kids' Vote launched on the Tuesday 18th October 2016 and, until Friday 18th November 2016, children aged seven to 14 can cast their votes at the BAFTA Kids website - www.baftakids.org - which includes online challenges, competitions, and information on BAFTA's year-round events and initiatives that give families an insight into creative excellence within film, television and games, through behind-the-scenes roadshows, workshops and masterclasses, and special hospice screenings.

Additionally, Sixteen South, the team behind Nick Jr. UK's popular animated preschool series Lily's Driftwood Bay, and Blue-Zoo Animation Studio, the production studio behind Nick Jr. UK's latest hit series Digby Dragon, have also bagged nominations in the Independent Production Company of the Year category of the 2016 British Academy Children's Awards, along with the preschool series Teletubbies and Teletubbies, which air on Nick Jr. USA, who have been nominated in the Preschool - Live Action and Preschool - Animation categories, respectively.

The winners of British Academy Children's Awards 2016 will be announced at a prestigious ceremony hosted by British actor, writer and comedian Doc Brown at the Roundhouse in London on Sunday 20th November 2016.

Below is the full list of 2016 British Academy Children's Awards nominations. Congratulations and good luck to Nickelodeon and everyone who has been nominated for a Children's BAFTA award!:

ANIMATION

THE AMAZING WORLD OF GUMBALL
Ben Bocquelet, Mic Graves, Sarah Fell - Cartoon Network Studios Europe/Cartoon Network

COUNTERFEIT CAT
Ben Marsaud, Sarah Mattingley - Wildseed Studios/Disney Channels EMEA/Disney XD

SHAUN THE SHEEP: THE FARMER'S LLAMAS
Production Team - Aardman Animations/BBC One

STICK MAN
Production Team - Magic Light Pictures/BBC One

CHANNEL OF THE YEAR

CARTOON NETWORK
CBBC
CBEEBIES
TRUETUBE

COMEDY

DIDDY TV
Dez McCarthy, Julian Kemp, Steve Ryde - CBBC Production/CBBC

THE DOG ATE MY HOMEWORK
Production Team - CBBC Production/CBBC

HORRIBLE HISTORIES SPECIAL: SENSATIONAL SHAKESPEARE
Production Team - Lion Television/CBBC

SO AWKWARD
Production Team - Channel X North/CBBC

DRAMA

THE DUMPING GROUND
Emma Reeves, Phil Leach, Sallie Aprahamian - CBBC Production/CBBC

HETTY FEATHER
David Collier, Delyth Thomas, Emma Reeves - CBBC Production/CBBC

REFUGEE Production Team
CTVC Ltd/TrueTube

ROCKET'S ISLAND
Lucy Martin, Paul Cotter, Nick Leather - Lime Pictures/CBBC

ENTERTAINMENT

ART NINJA
Production Team - Dot To Dot Productions/CBBC

DENGINEERS
James Knight, Jennifer Morrison, Annette Williams - CBBC Production/CBBC

MATILDA AND THE RAMSAY BUNCH
Paul Ratcliffe, Colin Steele, Matilda Ramsay - One Potato Two Potato/CBBC

SAM & MARK'S BIG FRIDAY WIND-UP
Sid Cole, Steve Ryde, Dave Skinner - CBBC Production/CBBC

FACTUAL

THE BOY ON THE BICYCLE (MY LIFE)
Rachel Drummond-Hay, Tamsin Summers, Stefania Buonajuti - Drummer TV/CBBC

BLUE PETER
THE WALK THAT CHANGED THE WORLD
Zoe Thorman, Matthew Peacock, Andrew Hassall - CBBC Production/CBBC

NEWSROUND HIROSHIMA SPECIAL Georgina Bowman, Leah Boleto, Will Pilkinton - CBBC Production/CBBC OPERATION OUCH! Production Team - Maverick Television/CBBC

FEATURE FILM

THE GOOD DINOSAUR
Peter Sohn, Meg LeFauve - Pixar Animation Studios/Walt Disney Pictures/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

THE JUNGLE BOOK
Jon Favreau, Brigham Taylor - Walt Disney Pictures/Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
J.J. Abrams, Lawrence Kasdan, Kathleen Kennedy, Bryan Burk - Lucasfilm/ Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

ZOOTROPOLIS
Byron Howard, Rich Moore, Clark Spencer - Walt Disney Animation Studios//Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures

GAME

LEGO DIMENSIONS
Development Team - TT Games/Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment

LEGO STAR WARS: THE FORCE AWAKENS
Jamie Eden, James Norton, Tim Wileman - TT Fusion/Warner Bros.

Interactive Entertainment

RATCHET & CLANK
Development Team - Insomniac Games/Sony Interactive Entertainment Europe

TEARAWAY UNFOLDED
Development Team - Media Molecule/Sony Computer Entertainment Europe

INDEPENDENT PRODUCTION COMPANY OF THE YEAR

BLUE-ZOO
FACTORY
KARROT ENTERTAINMENT
SIXTEEN SOUTH

INTERACTIVE - ADAPTED

CBEEBIES ADVENT CALENDAR AND NEW YEAR COUNTDOWN
Development Team - CBeebies Production

GET WELL SOON HOSPITAL APP
Juliet Tzabar, Anne Brogan, Ranj Singh - Plug-in Media & Kindle Entertainment

PJ MASKS OFFICIAL WEBSITE
Development Team - Entertainment One/Kids Industries

STAR WARS ARCADE
Development Team - Disney and Goodboy Digital


INTERACTIVE - ORIGINAL

BLINKES
Development Team - Lost My Name

DIXI:3 - GAME OF DIXI
Dan Berlinka, Nina Metivier, Melanie Stokes - Kindle Entertainment Ltd

DOGBISCUIT
Development Team - Blackstaff Games

SECRET LIFE OF BOYS
Development Team - Zodiak Kids Studios

INTERNATIONAL

NOWHERE BOYS
Beth Frey, Tony Ayres, Peter Salmon - Matchbox Pictures/CBBC

PETER RABBIT
Production Team - Nick Jr., Silvergate Media and Frederick Warne & Co Limited, in association with Brown Bag Films/CBeebies

SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS
Production Team - Nickelodeon/Nicktoons

WE BARE BEARS
Daniel Chong, Manny Hernandez, Carrie Wilksen - Cartoon Network Studios/Cartoon Network

LEARNING - PRIMARY

AN INTRODUCTION TO EXETER CATHEDRAL
Robert Edmonds, Andrew Chater, Paul Trainor - NRG Digital

I CAN'T GO TO SCHOOL TODAY
Production Team - Mosaic Films for BBC Learning

SEARCH IT UP!
Production Team - Azoomee & ArthurCox

SHAKESPEARE IN SHORTS
Production Team - Fettle Animation/The Firm Music Group/BBC Learning

LEARNING - SECONDARY

KATIE
Production Team - CTVC Ltd/TrueTube

SLEEPING LIONS
David Barnes, Louise Lynch, Neil McKay - Libra Television/David & Goliath/BBC Two

TEN PIECES II
Production Team - Somethin’ Else and BBC Music production for BBC Learning/BBC Two

WALTER TULL - BRITAIN'S BLACK OFFICER
Michael Davies, David Cortese - Off the Records

PERFORMER

NICK JAMES as Hank Zipzer in Hank Zipzer - CBBC

TOM STOURTON as William Shakespeare in Horrible Histories Special: Sensational Shakespeare - CBBC

JUSTIN FLETCHER as Mr Tumble in The Tale of Mr Tumble - CBeebies

LEONA VAUGHAN as Jana in Wolfblood - CBBC

PRESCHOOL - ANIMATION

CLANGERS
Production Team - Coolabi Productions, Factory, CBeebies/CBeebies

GO JETTERS
Adam Redfern, Joanne Allen - CBeebies Production/CBeebies

HEY DUGGEE
Grant Orchard, Janine Voong, Sue Goffe - Studio AKA/CBeebies

SARAH & DUCK
Production Team - Karrot Entertainment/CBeebies

PRESCHOOL - LIVE ACTION

ANDY'S PREHISTORIC ADVENTURES
Production Team - BBC Natural History Unit/CBeebies

SOMETHING SPECIAL
Claire Taylor, Helen Sheppard, Oli Jones - CBeebies Production/CBeebies

TELETUBBIES
Production Team - Darrall Macqueen Limited, DHX Worldwide Limited/CBeebies

TOPSY AND TIM
Production Team - Darrall Macqueen Limited/CBeebies

PRESENTER

MAGGIE ADERIN-POCOCK, CBeebies Stargazing - CBeebies
IAIN STIRLING, The Dog Ate My Homework - CBBC
NAOMI WILKINSON, Naomi's Nightmares of Nature - CBBC
ALEXANDER AND CHRIS VAN TULLEKEN, Operation Ouch! - CBBC

SHORT FORM

CITV SHARE A STORY
Production Team - CITV/CITV

DRAW MY LIFE: MO'S BULLYING STORY
Amy Macaulay/Helen Varley - CBBC Production/CBBC

GOOD AS GOALED
Tom Gran, Martin Woolley - Wildseed Studios/Disney Channels EMEA/Disney XD

TEE AND MO: COME ON GET UP
Dominic Minns, Ellie Wyatt, Nathaniel Cooper - Plug-in Media/CBeebies

WRITER

WRITING TEAM
The Amazing World of Gumball - Cartoon Network

DANIEL POSTGATE, DAVE INGHAM
Clangers - CBeebies

HELEN BLAKEMAN
Hetty Feather - CBBC

WRITING TEAM
Horrible Histories Special: Sensational Shakespeare - CBBC

Kids' Vote - Favourite Film

Alvin and The Chipmunks: The Road Chip
The BFG
Finding Dory
The Good Dinosaur
Hotel Transylvania 2
The Jungle Book
Kung Fu Panda 3
The Secret Life of Pets
Zootropolis

Kids' Vote - Favourite TV Show

The Dumping Ground
Horrid Henry
Jessie
Liv and Maddie
The Next Step
Ninjago: Masters of Spinjitzu
SpongeBob SquarePants
Thunderbirds Are Go
The Thundermans
We Bare Bears

Kids' Vote - Favourite Game

Crossy Road
Disney Infinity 3.0
FIFA 16
Just Dance 2016
LEGO Dimensions
LEGO Star Wars: The Force Awakens
Minecraft
Pokémon GO
Skylanders Superchargers
Super Mario Maker

Nominations are correct at the time of going to print. BAFTA reserves the right to make changes to the names listed at any time up until 20 November 2016.

H/T: Licensing Source.

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Nickelodeon UK Wins Three Accolades At The Licensing Awards 2016

The Licensing Awards has announced the very exciting news in the following press release that Nickelodeon UK & Ireland won three prestigious awards at The Licensing Awards 2016!

Nickelodeon Consumer Products (UK and Ireland) Retail Marketing Executive Sarah Patel was crowned with the LIMA UK Rising Star award, which recognises excellence among junior licensing industry professionals in the United Kingdom.

Nick Jr.'s hit CG-animated series PAW Patrol also nabbed two awards to add to the property's ever-growing awards cabinet, winning both the Best Licensed Toys or Games Range and Best Preschool Licensed Property awards.

Additionally, the popular Nickelodeon USA-BBC CG-animated preschool series Peter Rabbit won the Best Licensed Home Décor, Tableware or Housewares Range Licensing Award at the ceremony, with the iconic property also winning the Best Classic Licensed Property Award.

Original The Licensing Awards Press Release:

Retail, Product, Property, Marketing and Honorary Achievement winners crowned in glittering ceremony.

The winners of this year’s Licensing Awards have been crowned in a glittering ceremony, presided over by Tim Vine, which saw almost 1,500 retailers, licensors, licensees and industry executives pack into The Grosvenor House Hotel, London.

The assembled crowd was treated to a number of surprises throughout the evening. These included a message from the Cookie Monster himself and a special visit to The Great British Bake Off tent, which produced some rather ‘inventive’ creations.

Pre-awards entertainment was also provided by Warner Bros. this time celebrating Wonder Woman’s 75th with IMD Legion – as seen on Britain’s Got Talent and The X Factor – and the phenomenal vocal talent, Gabriella Champkins.

Awards goers were also treated to a dinner aperitif to make them tingle from the Disney Voices Choir.

“This industry never ceases to amaze me,” said Jakki Brown, joint md of Max Publishing, the organiser and owner of the Licensing Awards. “It is absolutely extraordinary the level of support and commitment everyone in the licensing community has given to make the UK Licensing Awards and tonight something for us all to be truly proud of.

“It’s great that BLE is totally on board as our headline sponsor and that we also have the full support of LIMA, the licensing industry’s trade association. Just think, we have the entire industry under these glittering chandeliers. Thank you for making it happen.”

The ceremony built to an emotional finale, as Ian Downes – md of Start Licensing – was presented with the Honorary Achievement award to a standing ovation.

The winners of the Licensing Awards 2016 are:

The LIMA UK Rising Star

Sarah Patel, Nickelodeon Consumer Products (UK and Ireland)

Best Preschool Retailer of Licensed Products

Argos

Best Kids Retailer of Licensed Products

Tesco

Best Retailer of Adult Licensed Products

Tesco

The Radar Award

M&Co

Best Licensed Retail Execution

Minions Summer Takeover from Asda

Top Retailer Award

Tesco

Best Licensed Toys or Games Range

PAW Patrol Range from Spin Master

Best Licensed Dress-Up or Party Range

DC Super Heroes Range for Sainsbury’s from Rubie’s Masquerade

Best Licensed Preschool Apparel (0-5 years)

Star Wars Babywear for Tesco from Paul Dennicci

Best Licensed Children’s Apparel Range

DC Comics Swimwear Range for Sainsbury’s from Aykroyd & Sons

Best Licensed Adult Apparel Range

Adventure Time Boots from Dr. Martens

Best Licensed Written, Listening or Learning Range

Winnie the Pooh 90th Anniversary from Egmont Publishing

Best Licensed Paper Products or Stationery Range

Star Wars Stamp Range from Royal Mail

Best Licensed Giftware Range

The Simpsons x Skinnydip Krusty the Clown Range – Skinnydip

Best Licensed Home Décor, Tableware or Housewares Range

Peter Rabbit 150 Nursery Range for Mothercare from Suncrest Trading

Best Licensed Food or Drink Range

Minions Banana Tic Tacs from Ferrero

The Innovation Award

Star Wars Bluetooth Speakers from ACWorldwide

Best Preschool Licensed Property

PAW Patrol – Spinmaster & Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products

Best Children’s or Tween Property (age group 5-12)

Shopkins, Bulldog Licensing

Best Teen or Adult Licensed Property

Adventure Time by Cartoon Network

Best Film Licensed Property

Star Wars: The Force Awakens

Best Music or Celebrity Licensed Property

The Beatles, Caroline Mickler

Best Sports Licensed Property

England Rugby, Rugby Football Union

Best Classic Licensed Property Award

Peter Rabbit, Penguin Random House

Best Licensed Marketing Communication Award

Roald Dahl’s Messy Adventure with Persil

The Honorary Achievement Award

Ian Downes, Start Licensing

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A huge congratulations to all the winners of The Licensing Awards 2016!

You can read a super interview with Sarah Patel, Retail Marketing Executive, Nickelodeon Consumer Products (UK and Ireland) here on Licensing Source!

Additional sources: LinkedIn, LIMA Licensing, Licensing Source (II).

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Nickelodeon's "Peter Rabbit" Wins Two Awards At The 2016 Daytime Emmy Awards

Original Silvergate Media Press Release via SilvergateMedia.com:

Peter Rabbit wins two Emmy Awards

New York, London – 3 May 2016

Silvergate Media ("Silvergate"), the international TV production and licensing company focused on pre-school children's entertainment based in New York and London, is thrilled to announce that Peter Rabbit, its 3D Computer-generated imagery animated TV series for pre-schoolers has won two Daytime Emmy awards.

Peter Rabbit won the Outstanding Special Class Animated Program award and also won the Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation award (Storyboard Artist, Benjamin Sanders). Peter Rabbit was also nominated for Outstanding Direction in an Animated Program.

Peter Rabbit was developed by Silvergate and Penguin Books. Beatrix Potter's classic character, Peter Rabbit, returned to the screen in 2013, in a brand new 3D animation series for Nickelodeon (Nick Jr) and the BBC (CBeebies).

When the series launched on Nick Jr in 2013, it hopped to the top of the charts delivering 1.7 million viewers. The premiere also ranks as Nick's highest-rated preschool series premiere since 2011.

Since its debut in 2013, Peter Rabbit has won a number of Emmys, with this new award being its sixth.

Waheed Alli, CEO, Silvergate Media said:

"We're very proud of the production. It's an amazing testament to Paula Rosenthal and the team for bringing back this timeless classic to a new audience."

[...]

Notes to Editors
Silvergate Media Silvergate Media is a creative content and licensing company driven by big ideas and big collaborations. Formed in 2011 by Waheed Alli and William Astor, with offices in New York and London. Silvergate develops and produces world-class content built to inspire, entertain and engage audiences of all ages through innovative storytelling, great products and strong partnerships. Silvergate has a number of assets based on characters and brands developed for pre-school children. Among their portfolio of projects in production are Peter Rabbit (currently in its second season), Octonauts (currently in its fourth season) and its newest preschool series, Sunny Day (first season to be aired in 2017). Silvergate are currently in pre-production on several brand new programmes for partners including Disney, Nickelodeon and Netflix and their development slate continues to grow.

Peter Rabbit
The Tale of Peter Rabbit by Beatrix Potter was first published in 1901, and has never been out of print since. Over the course of its 110-year history, it has sold more than 250 million copies, been translated into 35 different languages, and led to one of the world's oldest licensed product ranges. In partnership with co-producers Nickelodeon and publishers Frederick Warne, Silvergate has developed Peter Rabbit into a new 3D Computer-generated imagery (CGI) animated TV series for preschoolers.

The new animation is an inspiring and playful re-imagining of Beatrix Potter's timeless children's classic. Mischievous, charming and brave, Peter is a hero who overcomes obstacles, outwits predators and avoids danger as he embarks on a series of exciting adventures with his best friends Benjamin and Lily.

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Additional source: Animation World Network.

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Nickelodeon Wins Three Awards At The 43rd Annual Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) has announced the fantastic Nickelodeon News that Nickelodeon, one of the world's leading recognized entertainment brands for kids and families, and Nickelodeon production staff have won three awards at the 2016 Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards, the 43rd Annual Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards!

The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences announced the winners of the 43rd Annual Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards at a special star-studded grand gala at the California Ballroom of the Westin Bonaventure Hotel and Suites in downtown Los Angeles, California on Friday 29th April 2016.

The Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards recognize outstanding achievement in all fields of daytime television production and are presented to individuals and programs broadcast from 2:00am to 6:00pm during the 2015 calendar year.

Below is a list of awards Nickelodeon won at the prestigious 43rd Annual Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards ceremony, via Animation World Network:

Outstanding Special Class Animated Program

Peter Rabbit - Nickelodeon

Executive Producers
Cathal Gaffney, Darragh O'Connell, Paula Rosenthal
Co-Executive Producers
Mark Huckerby, Nick Ostler
Supervising Producer
Olexa W. Hewryk
Senior Producers
Sarah Blondine Mullervy
Producers
Gillian Higgins, Karen Ialacci, Erik Vignau
Line Producer
Rachel Simon
Executive Producer for Silvergate Media
Mary Durkan
Executive Producers for Frederick Warne
Ronnie Fairweather, Francesca Dow

OUTSTANDING INDIVIDUAL ACHIEVEMENT IN ANIMATION
WINNERS

Dinotrux - Netflix
Character Designer
Chad Weatherford

Peter Rabbit - Nickelodeon
Storyboard Artist
Benjamin Sanders

The Mind of a Chef - PBS
Production Designer
Mike Houston

Tumble Leaf - Amazon
Supervising Animator
Michael Granberry

OUTSTANDING SOUND MIXING - ANIMATION

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - Nickelodeon

Production Mixer
Justin Brinsfield, Matt Corey, Manny Grijalva
Re-Recording Mixer
DJ Lynch
SFX Mixer
Jeff Shiffman

You can find a full list of 43rd Annual Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards here on AWN.com.

A huge congratulations to Nickelodeon and production teams who work on these excellent Nickelodeon shows, and to everyone who won a award at the 43rd Annual Daytime Creative Arts Emmy Awards!

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Nickelodeon's "Peter Rabbit" Wins Award At The 2016 Daytime Emmy Awards

Dublin animation studio Brown Bag Films has been honoured at the 43rd Annual Daytime Emmy Awards in the US for its work on the Nickelodeon-BBC CG-animated preschool series Peter Rabbit!

The series won the Outstanding Special Class Animated Program award in Los Angeles on Friday 29th April 2016, with storyboard artist Benjamin Sanders also honoured with an Outstanding Individual Achievement in Animation award.

Silvergate Media Producing Brand-New Show For Nickelodeon

Silvergate Media, a international TV production and licensing company focused on pre-school children's entertainment based in New York and London and the co-producer of Nickelodeon's popular CG-animated preschool series "Peter Rabbit", has announced the exciting news in a press release that they are currently in pre-production on a brand-new show for Nickelodeon!

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Peter Rabbit Encourages Kids to Eat Healthy and Be Active through New Special Edition Book and Education Campaign

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation has announced the exciting news in the following Press Release, from PRWeb and HealthierGeneration.org, that they have partnered with Nickelodeon, the National AfterSchool Association and Penguin Young Readers for a brand-new health and wellness initiative featuring the globally beloved Peter Rabbit character called "Hop to Health"! The new kid-targeted campaign, due to launch during Fall 2014, aims to educate children and their families about the importance of healthy eating habits and being active.

Original Alliance for a Healthier Generation Press Release:

Peter Rabbit Encourages Kids to Eat Healthy and Be Active through New Special Edition Book and Education Campaign

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, National AfterSchool Association, Nickelodeon and Penguin Young Readers Join Forces to Launch Peter Rabbit Hop to Health Campaign

Peter Rabbit Encourages Kids to Eat Healthy and Be Active

New York, NY (PRWEB) November 06, 2014

The globally beloved Peter Rabbit character will be featured in a new health and wellness initiative, Hop to Health, launching this fall. The new kid-targeted campaign was created through a partnership with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation, the National AfterSchool Association, and Nickelodeon who joined forces with Penguin Young Readers to educate children and their families about the importance of healthy eating habits and being active.

This fall, 60,000 free copies of a new special edition Peter Rabbit book, On Your Mark, Get Set, Hop!, will be distributed to more than 300 out-of-school time providers across the United States. The books will be accompanied by posters and placemats, empowering children and families to develop healthy habits for life. This new book features art inspired by Nickelodeon's Peter Rabbit CG-animated series, which is based on the characters created by Beatrix Potter in her classic children's book collection The Tales of Peter Rabbit.

The Peter Rabbit Hop to Health campaign is an important part of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's mission to combat childhood obesity. Childhood obesity has almost tripled in children and adolescents in the past 30 years. Today about one out of three children and adolescents (ages 2-19) in the United States is overweight or obese, putting them at risk for serious health problems.

"The Peter Rabbit brand is the perfect pathway to teaching kids and families about the importance of leading healthier lives," said Dr. Howell Wechsler, CEO of the Alliance for a Healthier Generation. "We are thrilled to be joining with the National AfterSchool Association, Nickelodeon and Penguin Young Readers Group to ensure out-school-time providers, families and kids themselves, have the tools and resources they need to develop lifelong, healthy habits."

More than 15 percent of American youth are involved in afterschool programs and millions more engaged in summer camps, community centers and faith-based organizations. Out-of-school time providers are poised to create environments for young people where healthy eating and physical activity options are accessible and encouraged. They play an essential role in empowering youth to make healthy choices and become leaders and advocates for healthy changes.

In addition to educating children and families on the importance of healthy living, the campaign also provides out-of-school time staff with fun and easy-to-use tools to talk to children and families about the importance of eating healthy and staying active. The five tips the Peter Rabbit Hop to Health campaign teaches about healthy, active living include:

* Eat your fruits and vegetables with every meal, including snacks.
* Get up, move and sweat every day.
* Sleep for at least 9 hours every night.
* Drink water every day.
* Get outside and play! Cut down on the time you spend watching TV or playing on the computer.

"Out-of-school time programs play a vital role in whole child development and contributing to healthy communities. Afterschool professionals continue to look for innovative ways to help children learn about health and wellness and to increase literacy skills," said Gina Warner, ‎Executive Director at National Afterschool Association. "The Peter Rabbit Hop to Health campaign effectivity combines these two key areas, creating meaningful experiences for students. The NAA is pleased to partner with these great organizations to provide resources aligned with the NAA Healthy Eating and Physical Activity Standards."

Additionally, Nickelodeon will support the Peter Rabbit Hop to Health campaign through its social media channels to spread the message of healthy living to millions of children. Nick's CG-animated Peter Rabbit preschool series is produced in conjunction with Silvergate Media and follows the adventures of the mischievous Peter Rabbit and his best friends Benjamin Bunny and Lily Bobtail, as well as many of the much-loved and iconic Beatrix Potter characters.

"Nickelodeon is pleased to join this effort to reach kids across the county with tools they can use to make healthy lifestyle choices," said Jean Margaret Smith, Senior Vice President, Public Affairs, Nickelodeon Group. "Afterschool organizations are increasingly the place where kids are learning good habits, and the iconic Peter Rabbit connects with kids on being active, fit and fun."

"We are so excited to introduce Peter Rabbit to new readers across the US. Our partnership with Alliance for a Healthier Generation, the National AfterSchool Association, and Nickelodeon is a perfect alignment to educate kids and their families about wellness through Peter Rabbits's fun and healthy habits," said Francesco Sedita, President and Publisher of Warne, an imprint of Penguin Young Readers.

The 60,000 books will be distributed to more than 300 out-of-school time providers across the United States enrolled in the Alliance for a Healthier Generation's Healthy Out-of-School Time Initiative including more than 100 Boys & Girls Clubs and National Recreation and Park Association sites across the country. The Alliance's Out-of-School Time Initiative provides out-of-school time programs with evidence-based professional development and the processes, tools and resources needed to increase children's access to healthier foods and physical activity.

Parents are encouraged to visit the Peter Rabbit website (http://www.peterrabbit.com/us) for free resources from the Peter Rabbit Hop to Health campaign to empower children to lead healthy lives.

Out-of-school time staff should visit the Alliance for a Healthier Generation (http://www.healthiergeneration.org) and National AfterSchool Association (http://www.naaweb.org) websites for fun and easy-to-use tools to educate children about the importance of healthy eating habits and being active.

About the Alliance for a Healthier Generation

The Alliance for a Healthier Generation, founded by the American Heart Association and the Clinton Foundation, empowers kids to develop lifelong, healthy habits. The Alliance works with schools, companies, community organizations, healthcare professionals and families to build healthier environments for millions of children. To learn more and join the movement, visit HealthierGeneration.org.

About the National AfterSchool Association

NAA's mission is to foster development, provide education, and encourage advocacy for the out-of-school-time community. It is the membership organization for professionals who work with children and youth in diverse school and community based settings to provide a wide variety of extended learning opportunities and care during out-of-school hours. In 2011 NAA created Standards for Healthy Eating and Physical Activity in Out-of-School Time Programs to provide evidence-based, practical Quality Standards to foster the best possible nutrition and physical activity outcomes for children.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 35th 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 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 19 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, VIA.B).

About Penguin Young Readers

Penguin Young Readers is one of the leading children's book publishers in the United States. The company owns a wide range of imprints and trademarks including Dial Books, Dutton, Grosset & Dunlap, Philomel, Puffin, Speak, Firebird, G. P. Putnam's Sons, Viking, Razorbill, and Frederick Warne. These imprints are home to such award-winning, New York Times- bestselling authors as, Laurie Halse Anderson, Jay Asher, Judy Blume, Jan Brett, Eric Carle, Ally Condie, Roald Dahl, Tomie dePaola, Sarah Dessen, Anna Dewdney, John Flanagan, John Green, Anthony Horowitz, Oliver Jeffers, Mike Lupica, Richelle Mead, Richard Peck, Patricia Polacco, and dozens of other popular authors. Penguin Young Readers Group is also the proud publisher of perennial brand franchises such as The Little Engine That Could, the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys series, Peter Rabbit, Spot, the Classic Winnie the Pooh, The Very Hungry Caterpillar, Strega Nona, Madeline, Mad Libs, Alex Rider, the Rangers Apprentice, Skippyjon Jones, Flower Fairies, and Pippi Longstocking, among many others. Penguin Young Readers Group is a division of Penguin Group LLC, a Penguin Random House company.

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Nickelodeon Gets Smart With Their New Preschool Lineup

In the highly competitive preschool space, where global demand for cross-platform content that both entertains and educates continues to grow, kidcasters are increasingly looking to develop quality new concepts that best reflect the changing needs of today's early learners and their parents.

In a series of special article, below, Kidscreen and The New York Times takes a look at Nickelodeon's legacy of delivering high-quality preschool shows driven by engaging characters, stories and interactivity, such as "Blue's Clues" and "Dora the Explorer", and a look at Nickelodeon's preschool programming highlights for the networks 2014-2015 season, including "Dora and Friends: Into the City!", "Blaze and the Monster Machines", "Shimmer & Shine" and "Fresh Beat Band of Spies", plus brand-new episodes from current preschool series such as "PAW Patrol", "Bubble Guppies", "Dora the Explorer", "Peter Rabbit" and "Team Umizoomi"! The articles also talk about why Nickelodeon Preschool decided to delay the release of their highly anticipated Nick Jr. App until Fall 2014.

From Kidscreen.com:

Nick gets smart with its new preschool lineup

In the highly competitive preschool space, where global demand for cross-platform content that entertains and educates continues to grow, kidcasters are increasingly looking at new concepts that best reflect the changing needs of today's early learners and their parents.

For Nickelodeon, which has maintained a legacy of delivering high-quality preschool shows (Blue's Clues, Dora the Explorer) driven by engaging characters, stories and interactivity, its 2014/15 season is notably significant.

It marks Nick's biggest ever in terms new content production across multiple platforms, demos and genres. And the kidsnet is zeroing in on its youngest viewers with particular vigor. Stateside, more than 100 episode premieres are lined up for the channel's preschool block, from a bevy of brand-new animated series including Wallykazam!, Dora spin-off Dora and Friends: Into the City!, Blaze and the Monster Machines, Shimmer & Shine and Fresh Beat Band of Spies. (Also on-deck are a whack of new eps from current preschool series such as PAW Patrol, Bubble Guppies, Dora the Explorer, Peter Rabbit and Team Umizoomi.)

"Two years ago we made a decision to increase our pipeline by developing and producing more content than ever before, and now we are seeing the fruits of our labor," says Teri Weiss, EVP of production and development for Nickelodeon Preschool. "With every market, there is more content and stronger worldwide competition than ever, especially in the preschool space. So it's crucial that we cut through the clutter and remain best-in-show for kids content."

Playful learning

A big reason for Nickelodeon's success with preschoolers is its ongoing commitment to research and curriculum diversification. Among its new shows, Wallykazam! is Nick's first literacy-themed series. Blaze and the Monster Machines is billed as the first preschool show dedicated to all aspects of STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). Dora and Friends: Into the City!, meanwhile, examines social-emotional skills like community service and peer relationships. Shimmer & Shine stresses learning from mistakes in its emotional-intelligence curriculum, while Fresh Beat Band of Spies teaches problem-solving.

"What we bring is the strength of our characters and storytelling, combined with a really unique way to approach the curriculum of each show, and integrate it in a way that feels very organic. This is our domestic and global challenge," says Weiss.

She points to Wallykazam! and Blaze and the Monster Machines as great examples of how Nick is integrating curriculum in new ways. For both series, in fact, Nickelodeon took its usual storybook episode-testing and curriculum consultations a step further.

"In addition to educational consultants, we started to integrate preschool and kindergarten teachers into our collective group for feedback, which was tremendously helpful. They could really identify what kids are struggling with and the things they are interested in/responding to," says Weiss.

To ensure STEM concepts in Blaze would resonate with its youngest audience, for example, Weiss says Nick paid special attention to visual and musical cues. "When you talk about force, adhesion and inertia, they can be very heady concepts. But because we have the ability to demonstrate them visually by showing vehicle impact, or the way car suspension works, it helps get the difficult concepts across more easily," she says. The use of catchy songs is also a good method to help kids define scientific terms, she adds. "If kids can recite the songs in their heads, the science will stick. Repeat viewing is really important, too."

Building momentum

So far, Nick's 2014/15 programming strategy for preschool is paying off. As of April, its preschool block's year-to-date average sat at 4.9 for kids ages two to five on US television—an 11% increase versus the same period a year ago, according to Nielsen ratings.

PAW Patrol and Wallykazam! also filled the number- one and two spots, respectfully, as the top-rated preschool shows for kids ages two to five on all US cable TV for the same period.

As new shows continue to roll out (Dora and Friends in late summer, Blaze this fall, Shimmer & Shine and Fresh Beat Band of Spies in 2015), Weiss says the future is bright for Nick's preschool production, noting the importance of cultivating talent internally and identifying new talent outside the network through its Nick Jr. animated shorts program.

"Our success rate for developing preschool series out of our shorts program has been terrific, and we'll soon be able to showcase shorts on the Nick Jr. App, giving us another great opportunity to expose talent," says Weiss.

The Nick Jr. App, originally slated to launch in the US this spring, is now expected to debut this fall, according to Nickelodeon's SVP of digital Matthew Evans. "It gives us a better opportunity to launch with our upcoming new shows like Dora and Friends," he says. "And it gives us extra time to ensure we will have double the amount of interactive activities and more original content. It will ultimately be a stronger experience for our audience and better reinforce our focus on curriculum."

Also, from NYTimes.com:

Television That Is More Than Child's Play

TV Networks Aim to Develop Quality Shows for Preschoolers

Talking trucks. Dinosaur trucks. Builders who use elaborate trucks. Then there are space adventurers, animal and alien, as well as genies and fairies. Television networks and their online streaming equivalents are awash in new characters intended to appeal to preschoolers.

In recent years, adult television viewers have reveled in an overflow of quality programs that critics have called a new golden age. So why shouldn't preschoolers be equally spoiled?

At a family-focused charity benefit on a sultry June day in Central Park, kids lined up to strap into the "Astroblast! Zero Gravity Bungee Jump" hovering high overhead. The lengthy wait was encouraging to executives at Sprout, a cable channel for preschoolers that this summer is taking this ride and other attractions on a seven-city tour to raise awareness for its newest show, "Astroblast!" That animated series chronicling the adventures of the smoothie-drinking animal crew of a space station is based on Bob Kolar's books and will debut next Saturday.

[...]

Sprout is just one of several channels and online outlets going to great lengths to court 2-to-5-year-olds. PBS in September will double up on "Sesame Street," adding a half-hour version to its afternoon lineup, in addition to the traditional morning hour — all part of an effort to appeal to the younger set. Disney Jr. is prepping a cartoon spinoff of "The Lion King," one of its parent company's major franchises. Within the next year, its rival Nickelodeon will push out five new preschool series, many pegged to an educational curriculum, starting Aug. 18 with "Dora and Friends: Into the City!," a spinoff of its still-going-strong "Dora the Explorer."

Online, Hulu in April started rolling out 52 episodes of "Doozers," its first Hulu Kids original, based on the construction worker characters from the 1980s series "Fraggle Rock." Amazon's new shows include "Creative Galaxy" and "Wishenpoof!" from Angela Santomero's Out of the Blue Enterprises; her past hits include Nickelodeon's "Blue's Clues." Among the original preschool shows that DreamWorks Animation is making for Netflix are a remake of the religious theme "Veggie Tales" for this fall and "Dinotrux" for next spring.

Media companies are focused on preschoolers because there are currently so many of them: nearly 16 million in the United States, said Cyma Zarghami, president of the Nickelodeon Group. Her channel expects that figure to grow in the coming years. Get them early, the thinking is, and these viewers can be hooked for decades, shepherded through a media company's offerings, whether ad-dependent or subscription-driven, as the youngsters grow up. "As the generation turns over at this particular point in time, they're more important to us than ever before," Ms. Zarghami said.

Just as grown-ups now expect hundreds of cable channels along with YouTube and streaming services to serve up an endless supply of video discoveries, so, too, do preschoolers, who increasingly are joined in their viewing by parents. (The number of adults 18-49 watching Nick with their preschoolers has risen 18 percent in two years, according to the channel.) "There's a premium put on new," Ms. Zarghami said.

At least some of the frenzied competition also reflects the entry of deep-pocketed players. NBCUniversal bought full control of Sprout in November, and in May the Sprout chicken character Chica walked the red carpet along with the Kardashians and the "Sharknado" cast at an event for advertisers. This fall, Sprout's live morning show will move from Philadelphia to a studio in NBCUniversal's 30 Rockefeller Plaza, where Sprout executives hope celebrity guests will stop by when in the building for "Today." The company's Universal Studios Hollywood theme park will help with Sprout's marketing, and its sister channel Syfy will run 90 minutes of "Astroblast!" the morning after the premiere.

When Scholastic Media pitched "Astroblast!," said Sandy Wax, Sprout's president, the channel was drawn to the graphic style and the concept of a group of friends in space. The show, she said, also has humor that will appeal to parents and older siblings, and with all sorts of aliens stopping by the space station, "an embedded diversity message."

"There were not really that many space shows," she added. Both Amazon and American Public Television have since introduced space-theme preschool programs.

Next year, Sprout, which broadcast reruns of "Caillou" and "Bob the Builder," among others, when it started in 2005, will introduce a new original show every quarter. Two others feature aliens.

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The proliferation of outlets has been good for program producers. Sprout picked up "Astroblast!," which now promotes social and emotional themes, after PBS passed on its original incarnation as a show with a math curriculum. The Jim Henson Company, which is co-producing "Doozers" for Hulu and also produces PBS's "Dinosaur Train" and "Sid the Science Kid," is developing shows for Amazon and others. "We have a very supportive, mutually friendly relationship with PBS Kids, but they only launch one or two series a year, and their real estate is quite rare and hard to get," said Lisa Henson, the company's chief executive.

The barriers to getting a show in front of the audience "are pretty much dissolving in front of us," said Ann Daly, chief operating officer at DreamWorks Animation.

Creators with a good idea have more of a shot, too. Nickelodeon's coming "Shimmer and Shine" is from a first-time creator. "The number of people who make preschool programming is not unlimited," said Linda Simensky, vice president of children's programming for PBS, who has been seeking out authors to convince them to try their hand at a preschool show. Competition, she said, "has made everyone hungry for new voices."

The online services, in particular, are providing "more opportunity for a more diverse slate of programming to be available," said Deborah Forte, who is president of Scholastic Media, which produces "Clifford the Big Red Dog," and executive producer of "Astroblast!" She added that until recently preschool television had been stuck in something of a rut, with each outlet locked in to specific brand parameters. "They really are open to new and inventive things," she said.

Photo: Characters from "Dora and Friends: Into the City!" Credit Nickelodeon/Viacom International, Inc.

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But the glut of new shows has made getting attention more challenging. Scholastic will use its book fairs to promote "Astroblast!" Henson is in the early stages of a project to make "Doozers" the subject of a traveling children's museum show. And Nickelodeon, which will debut a Nick Jr. app in the fall, is taking the unusual step of starting the "Dora" spinoff, featuring an older version of the Hispanic title character even as the original show remains on the air.

"Dora" still has what Ms. Zarghami called a "magical" relationship with viewers, so Nickelodeon decided it did not make sense to "recreate a second heroine when we already had one."

The new Dora has grown to the age of 10 and with her friends works to give back to her community. Despite 14 years of success with the original Dora, nothing is being left to chance. At a March testing session at a Chelsea preschool, three groups of progressively older children gathered in lines on the floor to watch Alyssa Mazzei, a research assistant, read aloud a flip-page storyboard of an episode in which the group saves a golden parrot and the hidden city of El Dorado.

Two researchers and a camera monitored the kids' faces. After each episode, the kids answered questions to determine if they had followed the plot, learned the Spanish, absorbed the empathy lessons, seen anything that made them sad and thought the parrot was funny. A subsequent test of an animated black-and-white storyboard would check at what point the young viewers' eyes wandered.

Chris Gifford, co-creator of both "Dora" shows, sat in the back taking detailed notes, miming story actions along with the kids and laughing silently as Ms. Mazzei squawked like a parrot.

But when it came to cutting dialogue that the kids didn't understand, he was ruthless, reworking the episode on the fly. "We write these lines, and we laugh and laugh," he said. But ultimately, he said, it would be the children who would determine what made the cut.

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