Nickelodeon Hopes For Ratings Rescue By The "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles"

From Los Angeles Times:

Nickelodeon hopes for rescue by 'Ninja Turtles'

A newer, hipper version of the '80s and '90s cartoon franchise is the latest effort by the children's network to combat a ratings plunge.

A hipper version of “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” a hugely popular cartoon franchise in the ’80s and ’90s, is the latest effort by Nickelodeon to combat a ratings plunge. (Nickelodeon / July 24, 2012)

The turtles are being unleashed in the nick of time.

On Saturday morning, Nickelodeon will take the lid off a slicker, hipper version of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles." The armed reptiles, a hugely popular cartoon franchise in the '80s and '90s, are the latest effort by the children's network to combat a dramatic ratings plunge.

Over the past year, Nickelodeon has lost 28% of its young audience, according to ratings firm Nielsen. The network's signature programming, "SpongeBob SquarePants" and tween sensation "iCarly," have lost cache with kids who are turning to other channels and other entertainment such as video games.

That has provided an opening for competing networks to make gains. Arch rival Disney Channel last year surpassed Nickelodeon among its target audience of viewers aged 2 to 11, shattering Nick's 16-year streak of ratings victories.

"I can't think of another instance in television history in which a network that has been so dominant for so long has fallen so far and so fast," said Todd Juenger, media analyst with investment firm Sanford C. Bernstein & Co.

Nickelodeon's ratings stumbles have captured the attention of Wall Street because the network is a crucial profit center for parent company Viacom Inc. The Nickelodeon networks, which include Nick Jr. and TeenNick, last year generated $2.5 billion in revenue for the company — and more than 37% of Viacom's cash flow, according to consulting firm SNL Kagan.

Although Viacom's stock has not suffered because of the market's general enthusiasm for media stocks, analysts nevertheless have become increasingly concerned about the youth defection.

With so much at stake, Viacom has thrown tens of millions of dollars into development of new programs for Nickelodeon, including the latest reboot of the masked marauders from the sewers of New York who first towered over the cartoon landscape in the 1980s.

Viacom acquired the rights to "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" three years ago for $60 million and has given them an updated, computer-generated look and more contemporary cronies. For example, April O'Neil, originally a grown-up TV reporter, is now a spunky, pony-tailed 16-year-old girl.

The network has ordered 26 new episodes of the turtles. And more new shows are on the way.

Last week, Viacom's chief executive told investors that Nickelodeon stepped up its production pipeline, and would run 70% more original programming during the fourth quarter than it did in the year-earlier period. Nickelodeon said that it plans to launch four new series, including "See Dad Run" with '80s heartthrob Scott Baio.

Last year, Nickelodeon spent nearly $400 million on programming, according to SNL Kagan.

The network desperately needs new animated hits that will delight young children and send them and their parents to stores to buy action figure toys, T-shirts, backpacks and DVDs.

"Content, and the creation of great content, drives everything," Viacom Chief Executive Philippe Dauman said last week during an investor conference. The company was particularly excited by the turtles' revenue prospects, he said. "We are already selling out the merchandise we are putting out there," Dauman said.

Even muscle-bound reptiles won't be enough to fend off challenges from competitors Disney Channel, Disney XD, Cartoon Network, PBS Sprout and the Hub, a 2-year-old channel owned by Discovery Communications and toy company Hasbro Corp.

Walt Disney Co.'s Disney Channel has been notching gains after overhauling its animated division in recent years. The company brought in Eric Coleman to lead Disney Television Animation four years ago. Coleman spent 15 years at Nickelodeon, where he championed such shows as "SpongeBob SquarePants."

Disney's revitalized cartoon studio produced the TV network's first $1-billion animated franchise, the abstractly drawn series "Phineas and Ferb." The show, about two step-brothers who create fanciful machines, rolled out in 2007.

While competitors ramped up, Nickelodeon continued to rely on old stalwarts, including its famous squid, sponge and starfish.

"More than 40% of Nickelodeon's schedule has been 'SpongeBob,' " said Brian Wieser, senior analyst at Pivotal Research Group, an equity research firm. "A workhorse would be a charitable definition of the situation, but we would call it dependency."

Three years ago, "SpongeBob" attracted 2.8 million viewers an episode during its daytime runs, including nearly 1.5 million children in Nickelodeon's target audience of children aged 2 to 11, according to Nielsen. This year, the "SpongeBob" audience had fallen to 2.1 million viewers in daytime, including 1.1 million in the 11 and under set.

Declines for "SpongeBob" in the evening, when more adults were watching, were even greater. Two years ago, "SpongeBob" episodes attracted 3.5 million viewers in the Nick-at-Nite programming block. By this year, 1.75 million viewers were tuning in at night.

Some analysts worry that Nickelodeon's declines signal a fundamental shift in viewing behavior. Many young viewers are as likely to watch streamed episodes of cartoons on their game consoles, smart phones and tablets as they are on cable TV channels. Currently, the industry's profitability depends on cable subscription revenue, a source that is threatened by the incursion of online video services such as Netflix and Hulu.

Juenger, the Bernstein analyst, made waves earlier this year when he suggested that Nickelodeon's ratings erosion was caused, in large part, by more children watching "SpongeBob" reruns on Netflix.

He and his colleagues began scrutinizing children's networks because their ratings declines were more pronounced than for channels targeting broader audiences.

Young viewers are a bellwether of future trends.

Viacom and others disagreed with Juenger's conclusions, saying he relied on too narrow a data sample.

Wieser, of Pivotal Research, doesn't buy into the "Netflix effect" as the primary cause for the network's troubles.

"It's the programming. Nickelodeon's programming just hasn't produced the ratings," said Wieser. "They have been overly reliant on just a few hits. 'SpongeBob' and 'iCarly' have gotten a bit stale and now the issue becomes whether this is a fixable problem."

Zodiak Kids' And Anchor Bay Entertainment Join Forces For The UK And North American Home Entertainment Release Of The Hit Nick Jr. Preschool Show "Tickety Toc"

Below is a Anchor Bay Entertainment Press Release from the official Anchor Bay Entertainment website, AnchorBayEntertainment.com:

Zodiak Kids’ and Anchor Bay Entertainment Join Forces for the Home Entertainment Release of the Hit Preschool Show Tickety Toc

Zodiak Kids is delighted to announce that they have secured a North American & U.K. home entertainment partner for the hit preschool show Tickety Toc (52 x11') produced by The Foundation, part of Zodiak Kids, and Korea-based FunnyFlux Entertainment. Anchor Bay Entertainment has picked-up the North American and U.K. home entertainment rights to the series. They will launch in fall 2013, at the same time as U.S. & U.K. master toy partners Just Play LLC & Vivid Imaginations. Zodiak Kids has also secured deals with several other broadcasters internationally including: PTS (Taiwan) and ATV (Turkey).

Karen Vermeulen, SVP Global Sales and Coproduction, Zodiak Kids, comments: “We are delighted Tickety Toc will be joining the brilliant Anchor Bay stable which includes preschool favourites such as Chuggington in the U.S. It's also great to be able to follow the U.S. broadcast with the announcement of more free to air TV partners set to broadcast the series later this year.”

"Anchor Bay has consistently been home to quality preschool programming," stated Bill Clark, president of Anchor Bay Entertainment. "We're excited to offer Tickety Toc as well and look forward to working with Zodiak Kids."

Tickety Toc is a colourful CGI animated series which follows the fast-paced, energetic, comedic adventures of twins, Tommy and Tallulah and their remarkable friends as they race against time to keep the clock ticking and chime in the time. Through Tommy and Tallulah’s madcap adventures, Tickety Toc explores concepts of teamwork, social responsibility and problem solving in a fun and engaging way.

Tickety Toc launched on Nick Jr. in the U.K. this April as its number one show for that month* and on Nickelodeon® U.S. and France 5 earlier this month. Tickety Toc is originated and directed by FunnyFlux Entertainment founder and president, Gil Hoon Jung. Executive producers are Nigel Pickard and Vanessa Hill for The Foundation and the Series Producer is Karina Stanford-Smith.

Tickety Toc was an enhanced acquisition deal with Nickelodeon® channels around the world. Zodiak Kids has previously announced free TV sales of the 52 x 11’ series to Channel 5/Milkshake! (UK); France 5 (France); Disney Junior (Canada); TG4 (Gaelic-language terrestrial channel in Ireland); Pop TV (Slovenia); NRK Super (Norway) and YLE (Finland).

Zodiak Kids control all worldwide rights for Tickety Toc except in Korea and Japan.

About Zodiak Kids

Zodiak Kids is the global independent leader in kids’ entertainment, combining Zodiak Media Group's dedicated kids’ Production Companies, Consumer Products and Sales Division. Zodiak Kids represents a yearly output of over 350 episodes of new programming produced by prominent producers: The Foundation (UK); Marathon Media (France) and Tele Images Productions (France).

Sales for Zodiak kids are handled by a dedicated team within Zodiak Rights, one of the leading international distributors in the industry.

Zodiak Kids boasts one of the largest, high-quality kids catalogues in the world, which includes Totally Spies!, the international hit animation series; Waybuloo, the CBeebies pre-school hit; Redakai, a brand new series on Cartoon Network US; Mister Maker, the ultimate arts and craft show; Gormiti, based on the extraordinarily successful figurine range that sold over 100 million pieces; Street Football, one of the top rated animated shows in France and Italy.

About Anchor Bay Entertainment

Anchor Bay Entertainment is the home entertainment division of Starz Media, LLC. It includes the Anchor Bay Films and Manga Entertainment brands. It distributes feature films, children’s entertainment, fitness, TV series, documentaries, anime and other filmed entertainment on Blu-ray™ and DVD formats. Headquartered in Beverly Hills, CA, Anchor Bay Entertainment has offices in Troy, MI, as well as Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia. Starz Media is an operating unit of Starz, LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Liberty Media Corporation.

*Source: BARB, C&S homes, K4-15, Nick Jr., April 2012, July 2012.

-Ends-

Also, from Home Media Magazine:

Anchor Bay Picks Up Rights to ‘Tickety Toc’

Anchor Bay Entertainment has nailed down the North American and U.K. rights to preschool show “Tickety Toc,” with plans for a multiplatform release in late 2013.

Toy companies Just Play and Vivid Imaginations will partner on merchandising timed with the release, while show owner Zodiak Kids will have the show broadcast on Taiwan’s PTS and Turkey’s ATV channels.

“Anchor Bay has consistently been home to quality preschool programming,” said Bill Clark, president of Anchor Bay Entertainment. “We’re excited to offer ‘Tickety Toc’ as well and look forward to working with Zodiak Kids.”

Karen Vermeulen, SVP of global sales and coproduction for Zodiak Kids, added: “We are delighted ‘Tickety Toc’ will be joining the brilliant Anchor Bay stable which includes preschool favorites such as ‘Chuggington’ in the U.S. It’s also great to be able to follow the U.S. broadcast with the announcement of more free to air TV partners set to broadcast the series later this year.”

The CGI animated series follows the adventures of two twins and their friends, and launched on Nick Jr. in the U.K. in April, and on Nickelodeon in the United States and France earlier in September.

Nickelodeon UK Unveils Extensive "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" Launch Promotion

From The Drum:

Nickelodeon undertakes one of its biggest programme launches with the return of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Children's entertainment channel, Nickelodeon, is embarking on one of the biggest UK programme launches in its history as it promotes the return of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, premiering Monday 1 October at 5pm.

The 3D art installation at Riverside Walkway
Leonardo, Donatello, Raphael and Michelangelo will emerge onto the streets on London’s Southbank this morning through a specially commissioned 3D art installation at Riverside Walkway by St Gabriel’s Wharf. On top of this Nickelodeon has already commissioned promotional spots, phone boxes, ring tones, and taxis to support the launch.

“The marketing campaign is inspired by the show itself, with the Turtles emerging from the sewers onto the city streets, first with the phone boxes that has each one of our heroes in situ and now with a literal unveiling of the lair below our feet,” said Alison Bakunowich, VP Director of Marketing and Communications, Nickelodeon UK. “Nickelodeon has a fantastic history in creating iconic animation that captures the imaginations of audiences and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an awesome addition to the canon. I cannot wait for audiences to see it.”

[Nickelodeon UK's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" telephone box promotion, featuring Leonardo (also known as Leo)]

On air, 60 and 30-second promotional spots, created by the Nickelodeon creative team, are currently airing across Nickelodeon and Nicktoons, in addition to other kids' networks and ITV and Channel 5. Across the UK, 2500 phone boxes have been adorned with Turtles with each box featuring a QR code that gives fans access to a free download of the show's opening theme.

A comprehensive online campaign, including site takeovers, is currently running across selected kid-focussed sites, and 50 digital screens across two Westfield retail locations feature a ten-second reel for the show. Future roll outs include a fleet of 37 Turtles-branded taxis to appear nationwide from Tuesday 16 October. All media for the campaign was planned and booked by UM London.

The all-new CG-animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will air on Nickelodeon just two days after the U.S. premiere. Considered to be one of the most popular kids' television programmes of the 1980s, the re-working, featuring the voices of American Pie’s Jason Biggs (Leonardo) and Lord of the Rings’ Sean Astin (Raphael), hopes to bring the show to a new generation.

Extra tags: Advertising Design Entertainment Marketing Public Relations UK Nickelodeon Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Nickelodeon UK Unveils 3D "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" Art Installation On London's Southbank!

Nickelodeon UK and Ireland has unveiled their very special "Top Secret Super Special Plan" which Nick UK and Eire hinted at earlier this week: Nickelodeon UK has commissioned a very special three-dimensional (3D) art work installation featuring a sewer scene from Nickelodeon's brand new CGI-animated "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" television series on London's Southbank which was unveiled today (Thursday 27th September 2012) to celebrate and promote Nickelodeon UK premiering and showing Nickelodeon's brand new CGI-animated "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" television series from Monday 1st October 2012 at 5.00pm (BST (GMT+1)), starting with a very special one-hour television event! Tweeted (posted) by Nickelodeon UK and Ireland on their official Twitter profile page (@NickelodeonUK):

AWESOME art for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - watch 5pm Monday!! #nickturtlesuk pic.twitter.com/Z6gbudGu

Also:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles artwork is at Southbank, London. Head there and show me your pics! I'll RT some! :) #nickturtlesuk.

And:

More cool Turtles art from fans! RT if you like ! :) #nickturtlesuk pic.twitter.com/wGhqjJrc

Also, from Licensing.biz:

NCP reveals Turtles 3D art installation on London's Southbank

Stunt is latest part of nationwide promotional campaign to launch new Ninja Turtles series.

A specially commissioned 3D art installation featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles can be seen on London's Southbank today.

The piece, which can be viewed until 5pm today (Thursday September 27th), is the latest part of Nickelodeon's nationwide promotional blitz to launch the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series.

It is due to premiere on Monday October 1st at 5pm.

The campaign is set to be one of the largest UK launches in Nickelodeon's history and includes promotional spots, phone boxes, ring tones and taxis.

On air, 60 and 30-second spots have been created to air across Nickelodeon and Nicktoon, in addition to other kids networks, ITV and Channel 5. An online campaign includes site takeovers, while 2,500 phones boxes across the country have been adorned with Leo, Donnie, Raph or Mikey.

"The marketing campaign is inspired by the show itself, with the Turtles emerging from the sewers onto the city streets, first with the phone boxes that has each one of our heroes in situ and now with a literal unveiling of the lair below our feet," explained Alison Bakunowich, VP director of marketing and communications at Nickelodeon UK.

"Nickelodeon has a fantastic history in creating iconic animation that captures the imaginations of audiences and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is an awesome addition to the canon."

Also, from Digital Spy:

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles erupt onto the Southbank - pictures

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles celebrate their return to television.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have erupted onto the street of London's Southbank to mark their return to television.

In an artwork created by British artists 3D Joe and Max, Leonardo, Michelangelo, Donatello and Raphael burst out onto the streets of the capital.

> 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' returns - preview

The show returns this month with Jason Biggs as Leonardo, Rob Paulsen as Donatello, Sean Astin as Raphael and Greg Cipes as Michelangelo.

All new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles premieres on October 1 at 5pm on Nickelodeon with a one-hour special.

There have been two previous animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series.

The first began in 1987, spawning ten seasons and 193 episodes. This was followed by a new series in 2003, consisting of seven seasons and 156 episodes.

Jeff Gordon, Drive To End Hunger Join Forces With Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles For High-Speed Adventure At The Sprint Cup Series Race At Charlotte Motor Speedway In The USA; To Include Special Performance By Nickelodeon Star Victoria Justice

Below is a Charlotte Motor Speedway Press Release from AARP:

JEFF GORDON, DRIVE TO END HUNGER JOIN FORCES WITH NICKELODEON'S TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES FOR HIGH-SPEED ADVENTURE AT THE SPRINT CUP SERIES RACE AT CHARLOTTE MOTOR SPEEDWAY

Gordon to Drive Special No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet Featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

JEFF GORDON, Drive to end hunger JOIN FORCES WITH Nickelodeon's

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for HIGH-SPEED ADVENTURE AT THE sprint cup series race at Charlotte motor speedway

Gordon to Drive Special No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet Featuring the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

NEW YORK (September 20, 2012) – What does Jeff Gordon have in common with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Beyond a history of breakdancing and a family member named Leo? Turtle Power!

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will have a powerful new force joining their crime-fighting team – Jeff Gordon and Drive to End Hunger. Leonardo, the leader of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, will be featured on the No. 24 Drive to End Hunger Chevrolet at the Sprint Cup Series race at Charlotte Motor Speedway on October 13, 2012.

Off the track, Gordon, AARP and AARP Foundation are teaming up with Nickelodeon's Helping and Leading Others program on Drive to End Hunger, which helps create awareness, resources and solutions around the fight against older adult hunger. The new collaboration will extend Drive to End Hunger and engage a whole new audience of young people. Through a national PSA airing on Nickelodeon channels to reach kids, parents and grandparents, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Gordon hope to leave hunger in their dust. Fans can learn how at www.DriveToEndHunger.org.

“There are nearly nine million Americans age 50-plus who face the risk of older adult hunger,” said Jo Ann Jenkins, AARP Foundation President. “This is an issue that impacts every community, every neighborhood, and every generation. We’re excited to be working with Nickelodeon to engage more people in our work to help people in need put food on the table.”

The famous turtles – Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo -- will bring their fast-action, high-adventure style of fun to the NASCAR Sprint Cup Series for a weekend of family entertainment, including:

Special 500 Pre-Race Show presented by Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, featuring free concerts with Victoria Justice and Big & Rich – Enjoy special concerts with Nickelodeon star Victoria Justice, the star of Nickelodeon's hit series Victorious and the feature film Fun Size, and Grammy nominated duo Big & Rich, along with a daredevil stunt by high-wire walker Nik Wallenda. Special front stage passes are available for adults and children for each show at 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Family Section, Fun Zone and POWERADE PLAY ZONE – Immerse your family in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles adventures with a seat in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Family Section, located in Turn Four of Charlotte Motor Speedway, visit the unique Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Family Fun Zone in the Turn Four Family Section Concourse, where there will be appearances by the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, games, activities and photo opportunities for fans young and old. Throughout race day, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will visit the POWERADE Play Zone in the frontstretch fan area for photo opps, Ninja adventures and fun.

Unique race broadcast of the race for young fans – Led by young fans of NASCAR and available exclusively on PRN and Nickelodeon channels, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles broadcast will have a special announcing team of young NASCAR stars covering the race from the broadcast booth and pit road. The broadcast will be available at www.GoPRN.com and through the track broadcast.

Kids' Driver Autograph and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Lunch Party – See the stars of the NASCAR Nationwide Series and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for a fun lunch event under the Ford Grandstand on Friday, October 12. Danica Patrick, Ricky Stenhouse and Elliott Sadler are scheduled to appear. Tickets are $20 per child and the event is limited to the first 750 kids. Participants receive a free Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle backpack.

Special ticket packages for Nickelodeon's Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles invasion of Charlotte Motor Speedway include the Family Four-Pack with tickets for two adults and two kids in the smoke- and alcohol-free Family Section, priced at $118. Children's tickets are free to the Dollar General 300 with an adult purchase. All children must have a ticket. For tickets and information call 1-800-455-FANS (3267) or visit www.charlottemotorspeedway.com.

Drive to End Hunger supports the hunger solutions of AARP Foundation through donations from individuals, corporations and other non-profits and through a unique cause-marketing campaign with NASCAR Cup Champion Jeff Gordon and team owner Rick Hendrick. Since AARP and AARP Foundation launched Drive to End Hunger, the initiative has donated more than 13.1 million meals and driven corporate and individual donor commitments with an expected value of $17 million.

About the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Nickelodeon launches an all-new, CG-animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series on Saturday, Sept. 29, at 11 a.m. (ET/PT) in a special one-hour television event, bringing the turtles up from the sewers with the mythology and comedic sensibility for a new generation of fans. The series stars Jason Biggs (American Pie) as "Leonardo," Sean Astin (Lord of the Rings) as "Raphael," Rob Paulsen (Planet Sheen) as "Donatello" and Greg Cipes (Teen Titans) as "Michelangelo." Additional cast members rounding out this iconic hit franchise include Mae Whitman (Parenthood) as "April O'Neil," Hoon Lee (Royal Pains) as "Master Splinter" and Kevin Michael Richardson (Penguins of Madagascar) as "Shredder." The half-hour weekly series is layered with action, fantasy and comedy and draws inspiration from both American and Japanese animation, showcasing a stylistic effect of a printed comic. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles will air regularly on Saturdays at 11 a.m. (ET/PT).

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 33rd 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 17 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B). For more information on the upcoming Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series premiere, visit http://nickpress.com/tmnt

About AARP Foundation

AARP Foundation is working to win back opportunity for struggling Americans 50+ by being a force for change on the most serious issues they face today: housing, hunger, income and isolation. By coordinating responses to these issues on all four fronts at once, and supporting them with vigorous legal advocacy, the Foundation serves the unique needs of those 50+ while working with local organizations nationwide to reach more people, work more efficiently and make resources go further. AARP Foundation is the charitable affiliate of AARP. Learn more at www.aarpfoundation.org.

About Charlotte Motor Speedway

For more than 50 years, Charlotte Motor Speedway has set the standard for motorsports entertainment for fans of all ages. Charlotte Motor Speedway is the only race vacation destination where fans can immerse themselves in the heart of NASCAR country. Visitors can attend one-of-a-kind race spectacles such as the Bank of America 500, the Coca-Cola 600 and the NASCAR Sprint All-Star Race; take behind-the-scenes speedway and race shop tours; explore the new NASCAR Hall of Fame; and drive an 800-horsepower stock car.

The Bank of America 500 is the only Saturday night race in the Chase for the Sprint Cup Championship. Adding to the drama and excitement, the event also serves as a homecoming for drivers and race teams, 90 percent of which are based within a two-hour drive of the legendary 1.5-mile superspeedway.

For ticket and camping information, call 1-800-455-FANS (3267). To stay up to date with everything going on at the Greatest Place to See the Race, log on to www.charlottemotorspeedway.com or connect with Charlotte Motor Speedway on Twitter at www.twitter.com/CLTMotorSpdwy or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/charlottemotorspeedway.

###

Deborah Robinson
President
Victory Management Group PR
Drobinson@vmg1.com
312.505.4336

Scott Cooper
VP, Communications
Charlotte Motor Speedway
scooper@charlottemotorspeedway.com
704.455.3209

Also, from CBSSports.com:

EyeOnNascar

Turtle Power: Jeff Gordon teams up with Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for Charlotte paint scheme

(Hendrick Motorsports photos)

Jeff Gordon unveiled the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles paint scheme he will run during the Oct. 13 race at Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The paint scheme is being done as a partnership between Gordon, AARP, AARP Foundation and Nickelodeon's Helping and Leading Others program on Drive to End Hunger. As part of the program, national PSA have been airing on Nickelodeon channels to reach kids, parents and grandparents.

I didn't even realize the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles had made a resurgence, but I love the paint scheme.

“To have a cool car like this, I know the kids are going to be excited about it,” Gordon said. “They love Nickelodeon, my kids, that's all we DVR, that's all we watch is Nickelodeon programming and I know they're going to big fans of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. The kids love racing and they love the paint schemes. As a parent now, these types of moments are very special.”

If he wins at Charlotte, Gordon promised to breakdance in Victory Lane.

Tags: Jeff Gordon, Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR