Wednesday, July 24, 2013

Nickelodeon USA To Launch Brand New CG-Animated Preschool Series "Paw Patrol" And Premiere New School-Themed Episode Of "Bubble Guppies" On Monday 12th August 2013

Nickelodeon, one of the world's leading entertainment brands for kids and families, has announced, in the following press release from TVbytheNumbers, the exciting Nickelodeon News that Nick USA will start to premiere and show the networks brand new CGI-animated preschool series, "Paw Patrol", on Monday 12th August 2013 at 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT). Puppy Power!

"Paw Patrol", formally called "Ryder's Paw Patrol", stars a pack of six heroic rescue pups – Chase, Marshall, Rocky, Rubble, Zuma and Skye - who are led by a tech-savvy boy named Ryder. Together they work hard to protect the Adventure Bay Community believing, "no job is too big, no pup is too small!" The series features a curriculum that focuses on citizenship, social skills and problem-solving.


Follow the show's primetime debut, "Paw Patrol", a co-production with Spin Master Entertainment, will regularly air weekdays at 12 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon USA. The series will begin airing on Nickelodeon's international channels in Autumn/Fall 2013.

The Paw Patrol launch follows a brand-new episode of the hit preschool series, "Bubble Guppies", at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT). In "Get Ready For School!" the Guppies show viewers that school is a great place to learn, play, and meet new friends. "Bubble Guppies" is the number-one preschool series across all TV in its 11 a.m. (ET/PT) timeslot.

In conjunction with the "Paw Patrol" launch, Nickelodeon has partnered with the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) to help deliver the organization's message promoting the humane treatment of animals. Preschoolers will learn about pet care and how to be an animal advocate through events, online activities and printables featuring "Paw Patrol" characters and themes.

In the series premiere episode of "Paw Patrol", "Pups and the Kitty-tastrophe"/"Pups Save a Train", Ryder and the Paw Patrol rescue a lost kitty from the bay, but who will save them from all the mayhem she causes? Then, Ryder, Rubble, Rocky and Chase must help free Katie and Cali's train from a rockslide.

At NickJr.com, Nickelodeon's award-winning website, viewers can watch the "Paw Patrol" trailer, print exclusive activity packs, and will be able to submit photos of their preschoolers with their pets for a chance to be on TV. On Tuesday 13th August 2013, the series premiere will be available on the site. The excitement for "Paw Patrol" will continue as printable party supplies and a new game are scheduled to launch in October 2013. Also at the official Nick Junior website, parents can help their kids prep for preschool on the "Bubble Guppies" "Get Ready For School" page featuring exclusive activities and printables.

Original Nickelodeon Press Release:

NICKELODEON UNLEASHES NEW PRESCHOOL SERIES PAW PATROL MONDAY, AUG. 12, AT 8:30 P.M. (ET/PT)

New School-Themed Episode of Top-Rated Bubble Guppies to Premiere at 8 P.M. (ET/PT)

NEW YORK, July 24, 2013Nickelodeon celebrates the dog days of summer with the launch of the new CG-animated preschool series, Paw Patrol, on Monday, Aug. 12, at 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT). Paw Patrol stars a pack of six heroic rescue pups – Chase, Marshall, Rocky, Rubble, Zuma and Skye - who are led by a tech-savvy boy named Ryder. Together they work hard to protect the Adventure Bay Community believing, “no job is too big, no pup is too small!” The series features a curriculum that focuses on citizenship, social skills and problem-solving. Paw Patrol, a co-production with Spin Master Entertainment, will regularly air weekdays at 12 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. The series will begin airing on Nickelodeon’s international channels in the fall.

The Paw Patrol launch follows a brand-new episode of the hit preschool series, Bubble Guppies, at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT). In “Get Ready For School!” the Guppies show viewers that school is a great place to learn, play, and meet new friends. Bubble Guppies is the number-one preschool series across all TV in its 11 a.m. (ET/PT) timeslot.

In conjunction with the Paw Patrol launch, Nickelodeon has partnered with the ASPCA® (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals®) to help deliver the organization’s message promoting the humane treatment of animals. Preschoolers will learn about pet care and how to be an animal advocate through events, online activities and printables featuring Paw Patrol characters and themes.

In the Paw Patrol series premiere, “Pups and the Kitty-tastrophe/Pups Save a Train,” Ryder and the Paw Patrol rescue a lost kitty from the bay, but who will save them from all the mayhem she causes? Then, Ryder, Rubble, Rocky and Chase must help free Katie and Cali’s train from a rockslide.

At NickJr.com, Nickelodeon’s award-winning website, viewers can watch the Paw Patrol trailer, print activity packs, and will be able to submit photos of their preschoolers with their pets for a chance to be on TV. On Tuesday, Aug. 13, the series premiere will be available on the site. The excitement for Paw Patrol will continue as printable party supplies and a new game are scheduled to launch this October. Also at nickjr.com, parents can help their kids prep for preschool on the Bubble Guppies “Get Ready For School” page featuring activities and printables.

About Spin Master Ltd.

A multi-category children’s entertainment company since 1994, Spin Master has been designing, developing, manufacturing and marketing consumer products for children around the world and is recognized as a global growth leader within the toy industry. Spin Master is best known for such popular brands as boy’s action phenomena and 2009-2010 Boys Toy of the Year winner Bakugan Battle Brawlers™, and award-winning brands Air Hogs®, Appfinity™, Aquadoodle™, La Dee Da™, Nano Speed™, Spin Master Games™, Tech Deck™, and Zoobles™. The company has also marked an entry into children’s media with the launch of Spin Master Entertainment, a subsidiary focusing on the design, development and production of television and other media properties. Spin Master employs over 900 people with offices in Toronto, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Hong Kong, Mexico, Munich, Italy, Spain and central Europe. For additional information please visit: www.spinmaster.com

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 34th 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 18 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: VIAB, VIA).

Tags: Bubble Guppies Ratings, Paw Patrol Ratings

Also, from Kidscreen:
Spin Master unveils its first preschool series

In a co-production partnership with Nickelodeon, Canada’s Spin Master Entertainment is set to launch brand new CG-animated preschool series Paw Patrol, the company’s first original preschool TV property.

Making its US debut on Nickelodeon on August 12 at 8:30 p.m. (ET/PT), the series features animation from Toronto’s Guru Studio (Justin Time) and is based on an idea from Keith Chapman (Bob the Builder).

Paw Patrol follows the adventures of a 10-year-old, tech-savvy boy named Ryder and his pack of heroic rescue pups who work together to protect their Adventure Bay community. The series is highlighted by a curriculum that focuses on social skills, citizenship and problem solving.

After its American debut, Paw Patrol will bow in Canada on TVO and Knowledge Network on September 2, then roll out across Nick’s international channels in the fall.

Corresponding with the August launch, Nick has partnered with the ASPCA to produce Paw Patrol-branded events, online activities and printables to help kids learn more about the humane treatment of animals.

Additional activity on NickJr.com will allow viewers to watch the show’s trailer, print activity packs, and photos of preschoolers and their pets can be submitted by parents for a chance to be on the kidsnet. The series premiere will hit the site on August 13 and printable party supplies and a new game are expected to launch in October.

Spin Master owns the worldwide toy rights to the series while Nick manages the global (excluding Canada) distribution, licensing and merchandising rights on behalf of Viacom International.

Tags: Guru Studio, Keith Chapman, Nickelodeon, Paw Patrol, Spin Master Entertainment

Nickelodeon Star Jennette McCurdy Leads New Campaign To Help Families Rewrite The House Rules On Dinner Time And Put Play On The Plate; To Lead Up To Nick's 10th Annual Worldwide Day of Play In Fall 2013

Birds Eye has announced in the following press release, via PRNewswire's MultiVu, that the international brand of frozen foods owned by Pinnacle Foods in North America has teamed up with Nickelodeon USA and Nickelodeon Star Jennette McCurdy, who plays Sam Puckett in Nick's brand new buddy sitcom, "Sam & Cat", to launch a brand new campaign called "Rewrite the Dinnertime Rules" to inspire children to eat more vegetables!


Ninety percent of kids in the USA don't eat the recommended amount of veggies each day and summer is an ideal time to try a new approach. Nickelodeon's "Sam & Cat" star Jennette McCurdy is on a mission to put the play back on the plate. As part of the initiative, Jennette will be hosting a multi-week challenge for families to seize the fun and 'Rewrite the Dinnertime Rules' leading up Nickelodeon's 10th annual Worldwide Day of Play in September 2013!

In addition to playing with their veggies and enjoying more relaxed family dinners, this summer kids and parents can also enter for a chance to win an all-expense paid trip to join Jennette McCurdy at Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play! Through this campaign families have an opportunity to learn new ideas that could help shape a lifetime of healthy eating. Each week kids can follow along online at Nick.com/BirdsEye for veggie-themed games and exclusive behind-the-scenes videos with McCurdy. Parents should visit www.BirdsEye.com for easy advice on getting kids to eat their veggies, more dinner "rules" and recipe ideas created for and tested by kids. The sweepstakes deadline is Monday 26th August 2013 at 12pm (noon).

"I'm excited that kids get to be in charge of the dinner rules this summer!" McCurdy says. "I'm passionate about kids eating their veggies and can't wait to see the ideas from families out there."

Birds Eye's "Rewrite the Dinnertime Rules" campaign is part of the Nickelodeon Play with your Birds Eye Veggies initiative, in support if Nickelodeon's Worldwide Day of Play (WWDoP).

Birds Eye's "Rewrite the Dinnertime Rules" campaign comes after the success of Birds Eye's 2012 campaign in partnership with Nickelodeon and Nick celebrity Jennette McCurdy, called "iCarly iCook with Birds Eye".

Enter Now


Original Birds Eye Press Release:

NICKELODEON STAR JENNETTE MCCURDY LEADS NEW CAMPAIGN TO HELP FAMILIES REWRITE THE HOUSE RULES ON DINNER TIME AND PUT PLAY ON THE PLATE

Birds Eye® and Nickelodeon Help Kids Eat Healthier By Eating More Veggies

Parsippany, NJ. (July 23rd, 2013) – /PRNewswire/ – Ninety percent of kids don’t eat the recommended amount of veggies each day and summer is an ideal time to try a new approach. Nickelodeon’s Sam & Cat star Jennette McCurdy is on a mission to put the play back on the plate. She’s teamed up with Birds Eye Vegetables for a multi-week challenge for families to seize the fun and Rewrite the Dinnertime Rules leading up Nickelodeon’s 10th annual Worldwide Day of Play this fall.

In addition to playing with their veggies and enjoying more relaxed family dinners, this summer kids and parents can also enter for a chance to win an all-expense paid trip to join Jennette McCurdy at Nickelodeon’s Worldwide Day of Play flagship event. Through this campaign families have an opportunity to learn new ideas that could help shape a lifetime of healthy eating. Each week kids can follow along online at Nick.com/BirdsEye for veggie-themed games and exclusive behind-the-scenes videos with McCurdy. Parents should visit www.BirdsEye.com for easy advice on getting kids to eat their veggies, more dinner “rules” and recipe ideas created for and tested by kids. The sweepstakes deadline is August 26 at noon.

“I’m excited that kids get to be in charge of the dinner rules this summer!” McCurdy says.” I’m passionate about kids eating their veggies and can’t wait to see the ideas from families out there.”

Rewriting the Rules Inspiration

McCurdy and Birds Eye have the following suggestions for getting started Rewriting the Dinnertime Rules. These rules are only the beginning, McCurdy says. "Kids have endless imagination — veggie tacos, veggie faces, veggie ‘try’ outs and on and on. Rewriting the rules means letting them put the fun in the picture. I had so much fun filming as I played with my Birds Eye veggies, so I hope kids will watch my videos and they will provide inspiration!"

Rule #1: Role Reversal. Kids pick the menu and the veggies, help shop for the groceries and are in charge (with a little help from mom and dad) in the kitchen. Plus, they get to pick the theme and dress and decorate accordingly, whether it’s hitting the “beach,” bringing out your family’s wild side in the “jungle” or cheering on your favorite sports team.

Rule #2: Play with Your Birds Eye Veggies! You can use your veggies to make smiley faces or create colorful rainbows on your plate … you can even give your broccoli a mohawk haircut (really!) – just have fun!

Rule #3: Celebrate Every Bite. It can take up to 12 times for a kid to try a new type of veggie, or any new food before he or she begins liking it (http://www.choosemyplate.gov). So, keep it up! And while you're at it, give yourself a high five for every bite your kid takes.

Rule #4: Be a Veggie Explorer. There are all sorts of cool and surprising ways to serve veggies. Like smoothies (mixed veggies with yogurt, OJ and honey), popsicles (carrots and OJ) and salad dressings (carrot ginger). You AND your kids will be amazed at all the cool ways you can eat your veggies.

The Birds Eye and Nickelodeon partnership is in its second year. In 2012, the program drove a 20 percent increase in incremental volume for Birds Eye versus 2011. Not only did last year’s program drive brand sales and overall category growth, the effort helped in reversing a negative trend in the category and increased vegetable consumption in a fun, engaging way.

The program also is part of Birds Eye’s commitment to the Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA), which works with the private sector and PHA Honorary Chair First Lady Michelle Obama to end childhood obesity within a generation.

First Lady Michelle Obama has lauded Birds Eye’s innovative approach to inspiring kids and helping support families in healthier eating.

“This year’s program is about getting kids to try new vegetables by making dinner time fun for them. We know that when kids are involved in the dinner process, they are more likely to want to eat what they helped create,” said PHA Chief Marketing Officer Drew Nannis. “Birds Eye is showing not only that companies can be a positive, proactive part of making the healthy choice easier for kids, but also that they can be profitable while doing it.”

Along with the consumer education programs and contests, this summer Birds Eye has launched an entire new product line called Recipe Ready that helps families save time with ingredient ready, fresh frozen vegetables assortments for the most popular meals we cook today. With more than 20 vegetable combinations for meals like fajitas, beef stew, pasta primavera, stir fry and grilling favorites, the Recipe Ready product line cuts down on the prep work of gathering and prepping the vegetables so instead of slicing and dicing the cook can focus on the rest and deliver weeknight meals more often.

“When families eat dinner together more often, children receive many benefits including better eating habits,” Birds Eye Senior Vice President of Marketing Rodrigo Troni said.“ We believe our product and programs are helping make a difference.”

Consumers can enter the Rewrite the Dinnertime Rules sweepstakes, receive weekly ideas for increasing family fun with kid-friendly veggie-eating ideas and more at Birdseye.com or by following the brand page at Facebook.com/BirdseyeVegetables.

# # #

About Birds Eye

Birds Eye® unlocks the wonder of vegetables and makes them accessible and enjoyable to everyone, everyday. Using vegetables picked and frozen at their peak of freshness, Birds Eye® helps Americans make vegetables a meaningful part of everyday life. Providing a range of tasty and exciting solutions that make eating vegetables a memorable taste experience, Birds Eye® has something for everyone: with pure and simple vegetables under the Birds Eye®, C&W®, Freshlike® and McKenzie's® brand names; Birds Eye Steamfresh® vegetables and vegetable rich blends; and Birds Eye Voila!® complete frozen meals. For more information on Birds Eye® visit www.birdseye.com or www.facebook.com/BirdsEyeVegetables. Birds Eye® is a portfolio brand of Pinnacle Foods Inc.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 34th 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 almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 18 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, VIAB)

About The Partnership for a Healthier American

The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) is devoted to working with the private sector to ensure the health of our nation’s youth by solving the childhood obesity crisis. In 2010, PHA was created in conjunction with – but independent from – First Lady Michelle Obama’s Let’s Move! effort. PHA is a nonpartisan nonprofit organization that is led by some of the nation’s most respected health and childhood obesity experts. PHA brings together public, private and nonprofit leaders to broker meaningful commitments and develop strategies to end childhood obesity. Most important, PHA ensures that commitments made are commitments kept by working with unbiased third parties to monitor and publicly report on the progress our partners are making. For more information about PHA, please visit www.aHealthierAmerica.org and follow PHA on Twitter @PHAnews.

Viacom Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend

Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), the parent company of the Nickelodeon brand, have announced in the following press release, from PRNewswire, that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share on both its Class A and B common stock. The dividend will be payable on Tuesday 1st October 2013 to stockholders of record at the close of business on Friday 13th September 2013.

Original Viacom Press Release:

Viacom Declares Quarterly Cash Dividend

NEW YORK, July 23, 2013 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB and VIA) today announced that its Board of Directors has declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.30 per share on both its Class A and B common stock. The dividend will be payable on October 1, 2013 to stockholders of record at the close of business on September 13, 2013.


About Viacom

Viacom is home to the world's premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms in over 160 countries and territories. With media networks reaching approximately 700 million global subscribers, Viacom's leading brands include MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, BET, CENTRIC, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick at Nite, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV Land, SPIKE, Tr3s, Paramount Channel and VIVA. Paramount Pictures, America's oldest film studio and creator of many of the most beloved motion pictures, continues today as a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. Viacom operates a large portfolio of branded digital media experiences, including many of the world's most popular properties for entertainment, community and casual online gaming.

For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom's blog at blog.viacom.com and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/Viacom.

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains both historical and forward-looking statements. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company's current expectations concerning future results, objectives, plans and goals, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to predict and which may cause future results, performance or achievements to differ. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: the public acceptance of the Company's programs, motion pictures and other entertainment content on the various platforms on which they are distributed; technological developments and their effect in the Company's markets and on consumer behavior; competition for audiences and distribution; the impact of piracy; economic conditions generally, and in advertising and retail markets in particular; fluctuations in the Company's results due to the timing, mix and availability of the Company's motion pictures and other programming; changes in the Federal communications laws and regulations; other domestic and global economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting the Company's businesses generally; and other factors described in the Company's news releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including but not limited to its 2012 Annual Report on Form 10-K and reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document, and the Company does not have any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.

SOURCE Viacom Inc.

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Tuesday, July 23, 2013

NPD Announces Nickelodeon's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" Takes Number One Action Figure Brand Spot For June 2013

ToyNews, a monthly trade magazine for the toy business, is reporting the fantastic Nickelodeon UK news in the following article that Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products UK brand new "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" toy line, by Playmates and Flair, was the number one Action Figure brand in June 2013, according to NPD data! Booyakasha!

In the same article, ToyNews is also reporting the exciting Nick News that Mark Kingston, General Manager (GM) and Senior Vice President (SVP) of Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products, Europe, Middle East, Africa and Australia, has announced plans to launch more brand new "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" products and merchandise across multiple categories in the run up to Christmas 2013 and into 2014, to help make sure Turtle Power continues in the UK!:
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles takes number one action figure brand spot for June, says NPD


The Turtles Action Figures have consistently featured in the best selling category month on month.

Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has taken the number one Action Figure brand spot for June, according to NPD data.

Flair reports that since returning to screens in October 2012, Nickelodeon's popular brand has swept the UK, and attributes much of this success to the character figures - the number one best selling Action Figure time since the beginning of the year.

The Turtles Action Figures have consistently featured in the best selling category month on month, driving the brand into the top slot overall.

Mark Kingston, GM and SVP Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products, Europe Middle East, Africa and Australia, said: "For Turtles to reach the number one spot in such a competitive category is a testament to the strength of the property and the translation of the innovative animation into engaging action figures.

"With new products rolling out across multiple categories in the run up to Christmas and into 2014, Turtle power is only set to continue."

Andrew Brown, product manager, GP Flair, added: "What a great start to the year. As more lines are being added to the Turtles collection this summer, these latest results have given us every confidence that Turtles' popularity will continue to grow."

TAGS[:] flair,nickelodeon,teenage mutant ninja turtles

Nickelodeon USA To Premiere One-Hour Series Finale Episode Of "Big Time Rush", "Big Time Dreams", On Thursday 25th July 2013

The television news website The Futon Critic is reporting that bittersweet Nickelodeon News that Nick has announced that Nick USA will premiere and show the brand new one-hour season four finale episode of their hit original musical comedy series "Big Time Rush", called "Big Time Dreams", which also could be the series finale episode of BTR, on Thursday 25th July 2013 at 8:00 PM ET/PT.


In the all-new episode of "Big Time Rush", called "Big Time Dreams", which is rumored to be the shows final episode, the BTR guys are invited to the 24th annual Tween Choice Awards, where the boy banders are nominated for a award and are booked to close the show.

However, before the foursome can take the stage, they uncover an evil plot to brainwash everyone in the audience. So Big Time Rush have to take down the bad guys and make sure the show rolls on as scheduled. The episode will guest star Austin Mahone as himself, Mindless Behavior as themselves, Nick Cannon ("All That", "The Nick Cannon Show", "Rags", the host of the "TeenNick Halo Awards" and the Chairman of 'TeenNick') as himself, Karmin as themselves, and Alexa Vega as herself. Episode notes: The Tween Choice Awards is a parody of the Teen Choice Awards. The goop that fell on Camille and Jo when they went up to present an award was a parody of the green slime used at the Kids Choice Awards. This is an hour-long TV special which could possibly connected with "Big Time Movie", based on similarities in plots (both contain spy elements and dream plot points).

Although currently unconfirmed by Nickelodeon and his band mates/co-stars, Carlos Pena, Jr., who portrays Carlos Garcia in the popular Nick show, has hinted in Tweets (posts) on his official Twitter profile page (@TheCarlosPena) that BTR and Nickelodeon might not be making a fifth season of "Big Time Rush" ("Big Time Rush" season 5), including in the following Tweet he posted on Monday 22nd July 2013 stating that "Big Time Dreams" would be the last ever episode of "Big Time Rush":
such a HUGE week!! #bigtimenewtown today! And on thursday make sure to tune into the LAST episode of Big TIme Rush!!!!!!
Currently in its fourth season, Nickelodeon's popular live-action original comedy show, "Big Time Rush", ranks as one of the top ten live-action series with kids 2-11, kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14 across all of North American TV. The North American series premiere of "Big Time Rush" on Nickelodeon USA was the highest-rated and most-watched live-action debut among all Nickelodeon series with kids, tweens and total viewers (6.8 million). Also an international breakout hit, "Big Time Rush" ranks within the top 10 programs on Nickelodeon in key markets with key demos, including Germany, Mexico, Italy, Brazil, UK, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, South Africa and Australia, and is seen in over 100 territories and in 20 languages via Nickelodeon channels and syndication.

Nickelodeon's hit Kids' Choice Awards winning original musical series "Big Time Rush" (or "BTR") is an North American television series created by Scott Fellows (Nickelodeon's "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide", Cartoon Network first original show "The Moxy Show", and The WB's "Johnny Test") about the Hollywood misadventures of four hockey players from Minnesota — Kendall, James, Carlos, and Logan, after they are selected to form a boy band. The series premiered with an hour-long pilot episode, "Big Time Audition", on Nickelodeon USA, on November 28, 2009. Its official debut episode premiered on January 18, 2010, earning 6.8 million viewers, making it Nickelodeon's highest-rated live-action series debut ever. Nickelodeon's "Big Time Rush" stars Kendall Schmidt as Kendall Knight, the leader of the band, James Maslow as James Diamond, the handsome one in the band, Carlos Pena, Jr. as Carlos Garcia, the one who always wears his helmet, and Logan Henderson as Logan Mitchell, the smartest one in the band, and co-star's Ciara Bravo as Katie Knight, Kendall's little sister, Stephen Kramer Glickman as Gustavo Rocque, the band's manager, Tanya Chisholm as Kelly Wainwright, Gustavo's assistant, Erin Sanders as Camille Roberts, Logan's girlfriend, and Challen Cates as Jennifer Knight, Kendall and Katie's mother.

Nickelodeon boyband Big Time Rush is currently touring the USA with Nickelodeon Star Victoria Justice ("Zoey 101", "Victorious") in their all-new summer tour called "Summer Break Tour".
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Big Time Rush News!