The Paley Center For Media To Honor Former MTV Networks CEO Tom Freston At Annual New York Benefit Dinner At Gotham Hall In Manhattan

Below is a Press Release from The Paley Center for Media via PR Newswire:

The Paley Center for Media to Honor Tom Freston for Innovation and Excellence at Annual New York Benefit Dinner Thursday, May 31, at 6:30 p.m. at Gotham Hall in Manhattan

NEW YORK, April 10, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Paley Center for Media will honor Tom Freston (principal, Firefly3) at its annual benefit dinner in New York, which will take place on Thursday, May 31, at 6:30 p.m. at Gotham Hall in Manhattan. Freston will be awarded the Paley Prize for Innovation and Excellence for his achievements in leading media transformations and using media to effect social change around the globe. Proceeds from the evening will benefit the Paley Center's ongoing programs to increase the public's understanding of media and its growing significance in today's society through public, industry, international, and education programs for students and teachers.

"While Tom Freston's career at MTV Networks, Viacom Inc., and now Firefly3 exemplify his penchant for blazing new territory in programs, personalities and networks, what also makes him one of the most widely respected leaders in the media industry is his steadfast commitment to global humanitarian issues," said Pat Mitchell, president and CEO of The Paley Center for Media. "Tom's inspiring activism and groundbreaking media innovation make him an ideal recipient of the Paley Prize."

Tom is currently a principal in Firefly3 LLC, a consulting and investment company, and was the former CEO and President of Viacom. He was also CEO of MTV Networks for eighteen years and in that role he was a leading pioneer in the creation of MTV, VH1, Comedy Central, Nickelodeon, and other related networks. He is currently Board Chair of Bono's anti-poverty advocacy ONE Campaign. He is a consultant to Moby Media in Afghanistan and Vice Media here in Brooklyn. He serves on the boards of Dreamworks Animation, Oprah Winfrey's OWN network, and Asia Society, where he funded a new department focusing on issues in Afghanistan.

Recent recipients of the Paley Prize are Jeff Skoll, and Frank A. Bennack, Jr. For more information go to www.paleycenter.org/ny-annual-benefit-dinner-2012.

Press Contact:
Carrie Oman in New York
212 621 6785
coman@paleycenter.org

Event Contact to attend:
Erin Frederick
212.621.6622
efrederick@paleycenter.org

SOURCE The Paley Center for Media

RELATED LINKS
http://www.paleycenter.org

Nickelodeon UK To Premier Brand New Episodes Of "Life With Boys" From 20th April 2012

According to Nickelodeon UK's new "Catch Tess in brand new episodes of Life With Boys" trailer/promo (below with transcript), Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK (Nickelodeon/HD) will start to premiere and show brand new episodes of the Canadian teen sitcom "Life with Boys" every Friday at 6.30pm (repeated from 7.30pm on Nickelodeon UK's plus one (+1) timeshift channel Nick Replay UK) from Friday 20th April 2012:

Catch Tess in brand new episodes, every Friday, on Nickelodeon!

All new singing, all new dancing, and all new brotherly love.

Come join Tess, for brand new Life With Boys, starting the 20th April, only on Nickelodeon!

Below is a streaming video (with transcript) featuring Nickelodeon UK's (Nick UK's) latest "Brand new Life With Boys, every Friday at 6.30, only on Nickelodeon" promo:

Spend your Friday nights with family...

...Tess's family.

Brand new Life With Boys, every Friday at 6.30, only on Nickelodeon.

Also, Tweeted by Madison Pettis, who portrays Tess Foster's best friend 'Allie Brooks' on the popular sitcom "Life with Boys", on her official Twitter profile page (@MadisonPettis22):

Hey UK fans! Don't forget 2 watch a *new* #LIFEWITHBOYS Friday night at 6:30pm on Nick UK w/ special guest @EmilyOsment [Emily Osment] from Hannah Montana!

And:

Hey UK fans! Watch a NEW episode of #LifeWithBoys Friday night 6:30pm on Nick UK! See what happens when Tess lies to Allie & it backfires!

Also (ReTweeted by Nickelodeon UK):

You can see pics & clips of my new show #LifeWithBoys on the @NickelodeonUK website here! >> http://www.nick.co.uk/shows/lifewithboys/

Also, Tweeted (posted) Nickelodeon UK and Ireland on their official Twitter profile page (@NickelodeonUK):

BRAND NEW LIFE WITH BOYS TODAY AT 6.30PM! #LIFEWITHBOYS Keep your eyes peeled for an exclusive twitter pic!

And:

One hour to go until #LIFEWITHBOYS! Here's a sneak peek from the ep - RT! http://ow.ly/i/CuEf What trouble is Tess in now?!

Also:

One hour to go til BRAND NEW #LifeWithBoys !! Whos your fave character?? I think Allie is SO funny!!

And:

BRAND NEW Life with Boys coming up right after #AnubisSeason2 !!

Also:

Who loves Life with Boys?? Back to back episodes are on RIGHT NOW!

Nick Jr. UK To Air Five "Dora The Explorer" Specials This Week (9th-13th April 2012) As Part Of Easter On Nick Jr.

Nick Jr. Channel UK and Ireland have announced in a Tweet (post) on their official Twitter profile page (@NickJrUK) that, to celebrate the second week of the Easter holidays, Nickelodeon UK's preschool channel, Nick Jr. Channel UK And Ireland, will be airing and showing five "Dora the Explorer" specials all week long (Monday 9th April 2012 to Friday 13th April 2012) at 4.30pm:

Not only do we have #Barbie movies on #NickJrUK but we also have a week of #Dora specials too!Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom tmrw @ 4.30pm

According to the online British television schedule guide on the official Radio Times website, RadioTimes.com, the special "Dora the Explorer" episodes Nick Jr. Channel UK and Ireland will be showing this week at 4.30pm, as part of "Easter On Nick Jr.", will be:

Monday 9th April 2012 - Dora Saves the Mermaids
Tuesday 10th April 2012 - Dora's World Adventure
Wednesday 11th April 2012 - Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom
Thursday 12th April 2012 - Dora's Pirate Adventure
Friday 13th April 2012 - Dora's Fairytale Adventure

Also Tweeted (posted) by Nick Jr. UK on their official Twitter feed (their official Twitter profile page (@NickJrUK):

Dora is going on a voyage to a treasure island, in her Pirate Adventure! You can watch it today [12/4/2012] @ 4.30pm on #NickJrUK http://pic.twitter.com/xDZBrvSx

Greek Television Network ERT Says Wow! to "Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!"

From C21Media:

Greek net says Wow! to Wubbzy

A Greek broadcaster has acquired Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!, the Emmy-winning animated preschool toon from Starz Media and Bolder Media.

Pubcaster [public broadcaster] ERT has acquired two seasons of the comedy, totalling 52 half-hours, and plans to launch them later this year. Viacom-owned kids’ channels have aired the show since its launch in 2006 and it currently broadcasts daily on Nick Jr.

ERT secured the deal through distributor Elastic Rights’ local Greek office. The show also broadcasts on Panda and RTP2 in Portugal and Playhouse Disney in Spain, and will soon launch on TV Clan and Cartoon Network in Turkey.

Irish animation house Bolder Media produces the show in association with Film Roman, the Starz-owned US toon house that’s also behind The Simpsons.

Starz came close to selling Film Roman in 2010 but last year admitted the deal, with a consortium led by toon producer Scott D Greenberg, had stalled.

Jesse Whittock
10-04-2012
©C21Media

Nickelodeon Germany And Movie Park Germany Renew Partnership For Nickland

From Animation Insider:

Nickland Germany Partnership Renewal

Nickelodeon Theme Park News

Movie Park Germany covers roughly 40 hectares, operates more than forty attractions and shows on a regular schedule, and pulls in an estimated 1.5 million visitors each year. The immense film/movie-themed park is a massive family entertainment experience, to say the least. By comparison, Nickland Germany, within the theme park, is relatively small and covers only about 50,000 sq. ft. However, the Nickelodeon-themed section has done its best to immerse guests into the world of Nickelodeon cartoon programming since it opened for business in April 2007.

Last year was the fifteenth anniversary of Movie Park Germany, located in Bottrop-Kirchhellen, Germany. Nickland has been a good supplement to the entertainment complex, and looks to be an ally for several years in the coming future. According to news from the theme park's owners, Nickelodeon [Nickelodeon Germany/Nickelodeon Deutschland] and Movie Park Germany have reached a licensing extension that will see Nickland share space with the complex for another six years (effective April 2012). The new agreement also includes the development of re-themed attractions, an expanded (international) marketing campaign, a larger merchandizing footprint, and more.

"We are more than happy with the extension of the partnership with Nickelodeon. During the last year, Nickland has played an important role in our success story and it is an everyday pleasure to see kids hugging SpongeBob or Patrick," Wouter Dekkers, General Manager of Movie Park Germany, commented on the contract extension.

"We are looking forward to welcoming new Nickelodeon family members during the next years."

Nickland wasn't "finished" until spring 2009, two years after it initially opened. The entertainment complex grew and expanded the Nickelodeon section significantly following its initial debut, reaching its current summit of sixteen themed attractions.

Highlights of Nickland include the "Avatar Air Glider," a ride that allows visitors to lie down and spread their arms out for "a unique flying experience" as they whirl around on an immense flying apparatus; and the "Danny Phantom Ghost Zone," a hall that invokes the mood and humor of the original animated series.

There's also the relatively new "Splat-o-Sphere," in which attendees are given the chance to see the world in a whole new way, courtesy of a 30-meter nose dive. Additional attractions are branded after characters and series like SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, and My Life as a Teenage Robot, among several others.

"We're thrilled to continue our strategic partnership with Movie Park Germany," Patrick Alders, Managing Director, Nickelodeon Germany, commented. "Nickland has been such a thriving and exciting destination for kids and families to interact with Nickelodeon's brand and characters, and we're really looking forward to expanding the Nickelodeon experience there over the next six years."

Nickland is one of a handful of Nickelodeon theme park segments outside of the United States, including installments in Australia [Nickelodeon Central at Dreamworld (now closed)] and the United Kingdom (Nickelodeon Land at Blackpool Pleasure Beach). Movie Park Germany is located in the eastern part of Germany, and so frequently attracts visitors from neighboring Netherlands and other countries. According to park figures, 74% of visitors are from Germany and 20% from the Netherlands. The Nickelodeon Shop, in Nickland, is one of fifteen shops spread throughout the family entertainment complex.

Also, from M&M Global:

Nickelodeon renews theme park alliance in Germany

Nickelodeon has renewed its partnership with Movie Park Germany around its Nick-themed interactive adventure area Nickland in Bottrop-Kirchhellen.

Under the new six-year licensing agreement, Movie Park Germany will retain the theme park rights to incorporate Nickelodeon characters into attractions and features at its theme park.

The deal includes the development of re-themed attractions, co-branded merchandise and expanded marketing campaigns across Germany, Belgium and the Netherlands.

Nickland is a 50,000 square feet interactive adventure area at Movie Park Germany. Its attractions are based around Nickelodeon children’s TV shows including SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and Jimmy Neutron.

“We are thrilled to continue our strategic partnership with Movie Park Germany,” says Nickelodeon Germany managing director Patrick Alders. “Nickland has been such a thriving and exciting destination for kids and families to interact with Nickelodeon’s brand and characters, and we’re really looking forward to expanding the Nickelodeon experience there over the next six years.”