Poland's 'N' Television Operator To Add Nick Junior Poland And Nickelodeon HD To Channel Lineup In January 2012

From C21Media:

New Polish pay-TV platform launches

France’s Canal+ has finalised its move into Polish pay-TV, cementing a plan to merge two of the latter territory’s largest paycasters to create a rival to market leader Cyfrowy Polsat.

The Vivendi-owned company and Polish partners ITI Group/TVN and UPC today announced they had agreed to merge pay-TV platforms N and Cyfra+ to create digital pay-TV operator N/C+. The new platform will have an initial 2.5 million subscribers.

TVN CEO Marcus Tellenbach and Cyfra+’s chairman and director general Beata Monka will jointly run the new venture as president and VP respectively. Canal+ takes a 51% stake, with TVN holding 32% and Liberty Global-owned UPC taking the remaining 17%.

N/C+ is valued at PLN5.94bn (US$1.7bn) and will have an estimated three million subscribers by 2015, the partners said. They added the venture would benefit from “the effect of scale, synergies and increased efficiency.”

The move places the company up against Polish pay-TV market leader Cyfrowy Polsat, which has around 3.5 million subscribers.

“The combination of our satellite platforms realises a strategic goal of consolidation of the Polish pay-TV market while laying the foundation for future growth. Its construction has huge potential for the TVN Group and helps Canal+ to open a new chapter for our shareholders,” said Tellenbach.

The agreement includes Vivendi taking a 40% stake in ITI’s holding company N-Vision, which holds about 51% of TVN, for about €230m (US$300m). In the long term, this could see Vivendi owning all of TVN as the France-based company has the option to buy the rest within three or four years of the deal’s closure.

The agreement includes clauses that protect each party in the event of the deal collapsing. It requires regulatory approval, which could come in mid-2012.

In related news, N has lined up a new kids film and TV package, the Kids XL, which will bundle Nickelodeon HD with three further children’s channels. Additionally, Nick Jr will be added to N’s existing kids TV package, of which Nickelodeon [Nickelodeon Poland/Nickelodeon Polska] is already a part.

Kids XL will launch in January free of charge to all subscribers for three months, after a survey revealed N subscribers were satisfied with the service but felt the children’s TV offering wasn’t up to scratch.

Ed Waller
19-12-2011

C21Media

Also, from DigitalTVEurope.net:

Poland’s ‘n’ launches HD kids package

Poland’s ‘n’ is launching a new kids package that includes the pay TV operator’s first HD kids channel.

The TVN-owned operator’s new package, Kids XL, will consist of Nickelodeon HD, Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. It will launch in January and will be free for all subscribers for three months.

Christian Anting, vice-president and chief operating officer of ‘n,’ said, “Creating a perfect complement of common values. Nickelodeon’s three channels deliver a high amount of educational programs for kids, integrated with child & family friendly content. These are the channels our subscribers most often cite, so our new Kids XL package is perfectly suited to meet their demands. The new Kids XL package will give our customers greater access to an even larger amount of kids focused content and engaging educational programming.”

Official Nickelodeon Websites Unveil Their Christmas Downloads

To celebrate Christmas 2011, the official Nickelodeon websites of Nickelodeon channels around the world have put up some exclusive thoroughly festive Christmas-themed Nickelodeon goodies to download, which you can download by clicking on the links below:

The official Nickelodeon North America (Nickelodeon USA) website, Nick.com, have a selection of exclusive printables featuring characters from popular Nickelodeon shows to celebrate the Nickelodeon holiday season. Printables include Nickelodeon Christmas cards and Nickelodeon Christmas present gift tags featuring the casts of "Big Time Rush", "Victorious", and "iCarly", and a Nickelodeon orange snowflake (Clicking on the links will take you to .SWF Adobe Flash file format files hosted on the official Nick USA website which aren't geo-locked, so the Nickelodeon printables should be available to everyone).

The official Nickelodeon Japan website, NickJapan.com, has a selection of Christmas Nickelodeon computer desktop wallpapers in 800x600 1024x768 1280x1024 screen resolution sizes featuring festive scenes featuring characters from the popular Nickelodeon animated shows "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "The Penguins of Madagascar", including one of a Snowman SpongeBob SquarePants (SpongeBob SnowPants), and one featuring a montage of NickToon (original Nickelodeon animated shows/cartoons) characters old and new, including from the NickToon "RugRats". The official Nickelodeon Japan website also has Christmas downloads featuring "SpongeBob Squarepants", "RugRats", and "Dora the Explorer" colouring in/painting activities, and Christmas Nickelodeon printables/crafts (including a printable Nickelodeon Christmas tree, Nickelodeon Christmas cards, and "To Santa..." letter templates featuring "SpongeBob SquarePants" and "Dora the Explorer".

The official Nickelodeon Spain/Nickelodeon España website, Nickelodeon.es have also got a few NickMas (Christmas/Navidad) downloads, including a Christmas "SpongeBob SquarePants" computer desktop wallpaper, a colouring in Christmas "SpongeBob SquarePants" scene, a printable calendar for December 2008, a printable "Dora the Explorer" Christmas card featuring Dora dressed as Santa Claus, a printable "SpongeBob SquarePants" Christmas card with SpongeBob dressed as a Snowman and Patrick Star wearing a Santa hat and holding a bell, a "SpongeBob SquarePants" Christmas card featuring SpongeBob tangled in Christmas lights and Squidward Tentacles being hit by a snowball, a printable "SpongeBob SquarePants" Christmas picture, a printable featuring SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star singing Christmas carols to colour in, printable "Dora the Explorer" Christmas Tree ornaments, featuring Dora, Backpack, a yellow star and a blue star, and a "SpongeBob SquarePants" Christmas tree base decoration featuring SpongeBob SquarePants in the shape of a Christmas tree.

The official Nickelodeon Italy/Nickelodeon Italia website, NickTV.it, has also unveiled some thoroughly festive Christmas-themed Nickelodeon goodies to download, including printable "SpongeBob SquarePants" Christmas decorations, featuring SpongeBob SquarePants catching snowflakes in his mouth, a printable "SpongeBob SquarePants" Christmas letter template, featuring Patrick Star as Santa Claus/Father Christmas, printable "SpongeBob SquarePants" Christmas tree baubles (Christmas ornaments), a snowy winter themed "SpongeBob SquarePants" computer desktop wallpaper, a Christmas "Dora the Explorer" computer screensaver, a printable "To Mum..." Christmas letter template, printable SpongeBob SquarePants and Patrick Star winter cutouts, a "SpongeBob SquarePants" printable Christmas star, a "SpongeBob SquarePants" Christmas tree ornament printable featuring SpongeBob SquarePants in the shape of a Christmas tree, "SpongeBob SquarePants" printable Christmas garlands, a computer desktop wallpaper featuring a Christmas scene with the cast of "SpongeBob SquarePants", a printable "SpongeBob SquarePants" Christmas stocking name tag, a "SpongeBob SquarePants" computer desktop wallpaper depicting a winter scene and SpongeBob SquarePants, a printable Nickelodeon Christmas colouring in page featuring "SpongeBob SquarePants" on ski's, a printable "Dear Santa Claus" letter template featuring a underwater Christmas tree from "SpongeBob SquarePants", a few more printable "SpongeBob SquarePants" Christmas decorations, a print and cutout "SpongeBob SquarePants" Christmas decoration, a "SpongeBob SquarePants" Christmas letter template, printable Nickelodeon Christmas tree baubles, and more! The official Nickelodeon Italy website also have a printable Nickelodeon-themed Christmas Carol songbook/lyric book which can be downloaded in multiple parts, and include the lyrics to the Christmas carols "Astro Del Ciel", "Tu Scendi Dalle Stelle", "Bianco Natale", "Jingle Bells", "Silent Night", "Oh Happy Day", and "We Wish You A Merry Christmas" (and the printable cover to the Nickelodeon Christmas Carol Book cover)

Notes - Most of the above Nickelodeon Christmas downloads are in PDF format (Portable Document Format), and will require a PDF reader such as Adobe Reader X to be opened, viewed, and printed.

Also, some of the NickelMas downloads above may be in another language, but can be changed by copying, pasting, and editing the pictures in your favourite picture editor.

I will add more Nickelodeon-themed Christmas downloads if I spot any, so check back often!

Nickelodeon UK To Host "Winx Club" Marathon On 24th December 2011 (Christmas Eve)

According to Nickelodeon UK and Ireland's and Nickelodeon HD UK's schedule listings for Saturday 24th December 2011 (Christmas Eve) on the online television schedule guide TV Guide UK, to celebrate Christmas on Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK 2011, Nickelodeon UK will be holding a special "Winx Club" marathon, featuring the four special episodes of "Winx Club" that Nick UK and Ireland and Nick HD UK have premiered since September 2011 (the first "Winx Club" special, "Revenge of the Trix", "The Battle for Magix", and "The Shadow Phoenix"), on Christmas Eve 2011 (Saturday 24th December 2011) between 1.00pm and 5.00pm (2.00pm and 6.00pm on Nick Replay UK):

1:00pm Winx Club (first special)
2:00pm Winx Club Revenge of the Trix
3:00pm Winx Club The Battle for Magix
4:00pm Winx Club The Shadow Phoenix - Only five magical girls can save the universe! Nickelodeon's biggest stars lend their voices to the first of four specials following a group of super-fashionable fairies.

(all times +1 on Nickelodeon UK and Ireland's timeshift channel Nick Replay UK)

Below is a streaming video and transcript of Nick UK's "Winx Club Christmas Eve Marathon" trailer/promo to promote Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon UK HD hosting the "Winx Club" specials marathon as part of Nickelodeon UK's Christmas Lineup:

This Christmas on Nickelodeon, the magical world of Winx is taking over.

["Winx Club" members cheering]

Four times the magic.

Four times the powers.

It's four enchanting specials back-to-back.

Don't miss the magic of the "Winx Club" specials, this Christmas Eve, only on Nickelodeon!

Nickelodeon UK Unveils Exclusive Sneak Peeks Of Brand New Xmas Special Of "Victorious" Called "A Christmas Tori"

The official Nickelodeon UK Christmas 2011 website, Nick.co.uk/christmas, has unveiled two brand new sneak peek video clips from the upcoming brand new Christmas special episode of the hit Nickelodeon show "Victorious" called "A Christmas Tori" to celebrate "Christmas On Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK 2011" and Nickelodeon UK premiering the brand new Christmas special episode the popular Nickelodeon show "Victorious" titled "A Christmas Tori" on Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon UK HD on Monday 19th December 2011 at 6.00pm (7.00pm on Nick Replay UK). Click on the links below to view the official Nickelodeon UK Christmas 2011 websites exclusive "Victorious - A Christmas Tori" sneak peek video clips:

Watch Victorious / Christmas 2011 - Tori Vega (Victoria Justice) is upstaged by a Cotton Candy (Candy Floss) machine;

Watch Victorious / Christmas 2011 - It's secret Santa time at Hollywood Arts High School.

Nickelodeon UK and Ireland have also posted (Tweeted) some exclusive pictures from the upcoming brand new Christmas special of "Victorious" called "A Christmas Tori" on their official Twitter profile page (@NickelodeonUK):

@Victorious fans, ru EXCITED for #AChristmasTori ? To celebrate brand new festive ep on Monday, I'll be tweeting exclusive pics all wkend! - 11.00am Saturday 17th December 2011

Sneaky peek of #AChristmasTori number one...! Looking good girls! http://ow.ly/i/nycW - 1.00pm Saturday 17th December 2011

Sneaky peek of #AChristmasTori number two. Is Tori Andre's secret santa? Lucky him! http://ow.ly/i/nyde - 2.00pm Saturday 17th December 2011

Sneaky peek of #AChristmasTori number three. How excited are you for tomorrow?! http://ow.ly/i/nydr - 1.00pm Sunday 18th December 2011

FINAL Sneaky peek of #AChristmasTori.... How cute is Tori all wrapped up warm :D http://ow.ly/i/nydH - 3.01pm Sunday 18th December 2011

Nickelodeon UK's Official Christmas 2011 Website Unveils Sneak Peek Video Clip From The Brand New "Life with Boys" Xmas Special "Christmas With Boys"

The official Nickelodeon UK Christmas 2011 website, Nick.co.uk/christmas, has unveiled a brand new sneak peek video clip from the upcoming brand new "Life with Boys" Christmas special episode called "Christmas with Boys" to celebrate "Christmas On Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK 2011" and Nickelodeon UK premiering the brand new Christmas special episode of one of Nickelodeon UK's latest brand new shows "Life with Boys" called "Christmas with Boys" on Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon UK HD on Monday 19th December 2011 at 6.30pm (7.30pm on Nick Replay UK). Click on the link below to view the official Nickelodeon UK Christmas 2011 websites exclusive "Life with Boys - Christmas with Boys" sneak peek video clip:

Watch Life with Boys / Christmas 2011 - Tess has an exciting surprise.