Canada's Family Channel To Premiere Season Three of Zoey 101 In March

From Cynthia Turner's Cynopsis:

The third season of the live-action comedy Zoey 101 will premiere on Canada's Family Channel on Friday, March 16 at 6p, the series' regular time period. The network will offer a broadband preview of the first the episode of the new season of Zoey 101, which is comprised of 13x30' new episodes, on www.family.ca where it will be streamed from Friday, March 9 at 4p through Wednesday, March 14 at 9p. Created and executive produced by Dan Schneider, Zoey 101 is produced by Nickelodeon, Schneider's Bakery and ApolloProScreen.

Ofcom Confirms Television Junk Food Ban

From Digital Spy:

Junk food ban confirmed

Ofcom has confirmed it is to go-ahead with plans to ban junk food advertising to children under 16.

The regulator today released a final statement on the restrictions which were announced in November last year.

The ban includes all television advertising of food and drink products high in fat, salt and sugar on programmes and channels which hold a particular appeal to children under 16, regardless of what time they air.

November's announcement surprised the industry, with many expecting the restrictions to apply only to programmes which appeal to children under 10 at certain times of the day.

Broadcasters showing programming for the under 16s will be given until January 2008 before the restrictions come into force. Existing ad campaigns or those in the final stages of creative execution can be broadcast until the end of June 2007, though from July 1 2007 all advertising campaigns must comply with the new content rules.

Children's channels will be allowed a graduated phase-in period with full implementation required by the end of December 2008.

Ofcom has said it will review the effectiveness and scope of the new restrictions in autumn 2008, one year after the full implementation of the restrictions.

Also, from C21 Media:

Ofcom sticks by under-16s ad ban

UK regulator Ofcom has published its final statement about the television advertising of food and drink aimed at children, and is standing by its decision to extend restrictions to all kids under 16.

From April 1, 2007, high fat, salt and sugar (HFSS) food ads will not be permitted in or around programmes made for children under 10. From January 1, 2008, HFSS ads will not be permitted in programming targeted at under-16s.

As stated in November, specialised children's channels will be allowed a graduated phase-in period, with full implementation required by the end of December, 2008.

Last November Ofcom left the TV and ad industries reeling when it said that in addition to a total ban on junk food ads around all children's programming and on all children's channels the restrictions would be extended to all shows that have a "particular appeal" to under-16s, regardless of when they air. This means programmes such as The Simpsons, Hollyoaks and The X Factor could be affected.

Ofcom has also brought forward its review of the future of children's programming, in which it will investigate the extent to which the BBC, ITV, Channel 4, S4C, Five and Teletext are fulfilling their public service responsibilities. It is expected to take into account the impact of the recent junk food ad ban. The findings of its research will be published this summer.

Jules Grant
22 Feb 2007
© C21 Media 2007

C21 Media also reports that Viacom Networks UK, who run Nickelodeon UK, has reacted to media regulator Ofcom's latest statement on 'junk' food advertising, claiming the response is "disproportionate" and based on "insufficient and inconclusive research."

Nickelodeon gives kids run of the schedule with ME:TV

From C21 Media:

Nickelodeon gives kids run of the schedule

Kids television network Nickelodeon has launched a TV programming block featuring user-generated content provided by US viewers, scheduled to air live on weekdays.

Nickelodeon's ME:TV, airing nightly from 17.00 to 18.00, will integrate Nick.com and the network's broadband player TurboNick, allowing American kids to programme the TV block with their own original content uploaded online.

The interactive online show will be broadcast in front of a live New York studio audience and hosted by comic actors and presenters Alexandra Gizela and Jordan Carlos, featuring live footage of kids via web cam, online voting, gaming, giveaways and celebrity guests.

Nickelodeon said the new show follows in the vein of U-Pick Live and Slimetime Live, offering kids a chance to participate in-studio or by phone, as well as via on-screen message boards and voting on Nick.com.

Tom Ascheim, executive VP and general manager at Nickelodeon Television, said ME:TV "empowers kids" by letting them programme the network for two hours every day.

"Nickelodeon's ME:TV is you TV," he said. "It gives us the opportunity to showcase the talents of our audience and give life to the content that they are creating. It is the next step in convergent entertainment for this multiplatform generation of kids."

To facilitate the new online venture, Nickelodeon is launching an ME:TV website to allow kids to submit their own original content and then watch, rate or share it on broadband player TurboNick, before featuring the best of the UGC work on-air.

The first week of ME:TV will feature appearances from musician Paula DeAnda and Bill Faggerbakke, the voice of Patrick Starfish on SpongeBob SquarePants.

Antony Reeve-Crook
20 Feb 2007
© C21 Media 2007

Viacom To Be Key Content Partner With Joost

From Viacom.com:

Viacom To Be Key Content Partner With Joost™, The World’s First Online Global TV Distribution Platform

Popular Programming From MTV Networks, BET Networks And Paramount Pictures Will Be Available For Joost’s Launch

NEW YORK, Feb. 20, 2007 – Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B), a leading global entertainment company, and Joost™ (www.joost.com), the world’s first broadcast-quality Internet television service, announced today that Viacom will be a key content partner and will offer a full range of brands and programming for free to consumers on the innovative Joost distribution platform. Under the agreement, Viacom’s divisions – MTV Networks, BET Networks and Paramount Pictures – will provide television and theatrical programming on the Joost platform. Founded by Niklas Zennström and Janus Friis, Joost is powered by a secure, efficient, piracy-proof Internet platform that enables premium interactive video experiences while guaranteeing copyright protection for content owners and creators. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Joost will allow users to have free access to thousands of programs and channels not readily available on the Web. Through Joost, viewers can watch programming from many of Viacom’s brands on their computers through a customizable platform with advanced television viewing features such as links that lead to more information or related websites based on the content; and a variety of plug-in applications, such as instant messaging, message boards, and news tickers.

Currently available in limited beta, Joost combines the best of TV and the best of the Internet by offering viewers a unique, TV-like experience enhanced with the choice, control and flexibility of Web 2.0. Joost is the first online, global TV distribution platform, bringing together advertisers, content owners and viewers in an interactive, community-driven environment. Joost can be accessed with a broadband Internet connection and offers broadcast-quality content to viewers for free.

“We’re extremely pleased to be working with Joost, and couldn’t be prouder to be a key partner in the launch of the next generation in broadband video technology,” said Philippe Dauman, Viacom President and Chief Executive Officer. “We have the number one portfolio of entertainment sites in the world and unrivaled distribution on mobile devices, but we’re determined to keep pushing and growing our digital presence and bring our programming to audiences on every platform and device that they want. In addition to strong partnerships we have with traditional distributors, we will continue to seek out partners like Joost, which has created an exciting breakthrough platform that represents not only a fantastic user experience, but one that is built on a compelling and sustainable business model that respects both content creators and consumers.”

Janus Friis, founder of Joost said, “We built this platform from the ground up, with companies like Viacom in mind. Our platform provides scalable distribution, in a completely safe environment that protects the interest of content owners and advertisers, while delighting viewers. We’re extremely excited about this partnership and look forward to enabling Viacom to reach new audiences for its new and classic programming.”

Yvette Alberdingkthijm, executive vice president, content strategy and acquisition for Joost said, “Viacom’s properties are perfectly suited to Joost. We’re thrilled to be a part of Viacom’s digital strategy.”

MTV Networks will provide premier content from several of its brands for launch. MTV will offer popular shows, both past and present, including Laguna Beach, Beavis & Butthead, Real World, Punk’d and My Super Sweet Sixteen, while COMEDY CENTRAL will feature episodes from Stella, CCP’s and Freak Show. Nickelodeon, CMT: Country Music Television, MTV2, Logo, Spike TV, mtvU, and Gametrailers.com will also provide content. VH1's offerings will include episodes of Flavor of Love, Surreal Life, and I Love New York. BET’s Networks’ offerings will include some of its biggest shows, including Beef, DMX: Soul of a Man, Comic View and recent smash hit American Gangster. Also, Paramount Pictures, Paramount Vantage and Paramount Classics will be providing full-length feature films from their catalog of classics and recent releases.

About Viacom

Viacom is a leading global entertainment content company, with prominent and respected brands in focused demographics. Engaging its audiences through television, motion pictures and digital platforms, Viacom reaches its audiences wherever they consume content. Viacom’s leading brands include the multiplatform properties of MTV Networks, including MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, COMEDY CENTRAL, CMT: Country Music Television, Spike TV, TV Land, Logo and more than 130 networks around the world, as well as digital assets such as Neopets, Xfire, IFILM and Atom Entertainment; BET Networks; Paramount Pictures; Paramount Home Entertainment; DreamWorks; and Famous Music. More information about Viacom and its businesses is available at www.viacom.com.

About Joost™

Joost™ provides a new way of watching TV that combines the best of full-screen television entertainment with online interactive and community benefits to bring an unprecedented selection of video content to viewers anytime, anywhere. Joost is based on a state-of-the-art, secure, peer-to-peer streaming technology.

To learn more about Joost or to become a beta-tester, visit www.joost.com.

Nickelodeon UK Orders Series 2 Of Genie in the House

According to C21 Media, Nickelodeon UK has commissioned brand new episodes of it's popular live-action comedy series Genie in the House.

Nickelodeon, Canal J uncork Genie again

NEWS BRIEF: Nickelodeon UK and French broadcaster Canal J have jointly commissioned a second series of live-action comedy series Genie in the House, bringing the total number of episodes to 52.

The Moi J'aime la Télévision/Helion Pictures series has been a major success for both channels since it launched last year. It was Nickelodeon's number one live-action series at launch and continually wins its time slot for Canal J.

16 Feb 2007
© C21 Media 2007

Nickelodeon Spain (Nickelodeon España) and Nickelodeon Italy (Nickelodeon Italia) have also started to show Genie in the House. According to Nickelodeon España's Genie in the House website, the Spanish name for Genie in the House is 'Un genio en casa', and according to Nickelodeon Italia's Genie in the House website, the Italian name for Genie in the House is 'Un Genio Sul Divano'.