NICK Jr. Germany To Premiere "Zack & Quack" On Monday 5th May 2014

Nickelodeon Germany (Deutschland) has announced in the following press release, from Nick Germany's "Nick Pressecenter", the exciting Nickelodeon International news that Nick Germany will start to premiere and show Nickelodeon's brand new CG-animated preschool series "Zack & Quack", locally titled "Zack und Quack", weekdays at 8:20am (8:20 Uhr) in Nickelodeon Germany's preschool programming block, NICK Jr. Deutschland, from Monday 5th May 2014!

Although mostly the same as the UK version of "Zack & Quack", the German version of the series features a few slight differences. In the German version of "Zack & Quack", 'Belly Up' the wise frog will be known locally as 'Herr von Quapp' ('Lord of Quapp') and Fluffy the ever cautious hedgehog as 'Puschel' ('Pompom').

Set in a fantastical immersive pop-up book where where imagination and creativity rule, "Zack & Quack" is a brand-new CG-animated preschool series which follows the adventures of an inventive boy named Zack and his best friend, a young duck called Quack. There are surprises abound, as pulling pop-ups triggers unexpected wonders and causes exciting new worlds to literally unfold before their eyes. Resourceful friend and neighbour, Kira, joins the dazzling duo on each adventure and is on hand to fix any paper problem with her expert pop-up tool kit.

Zack and Quack meet plenty of quirky friends along the way including a wise frog called Herr von Quapp, Skip und Hop - a pair of acrobatic squirrel sisters - and an ever cautious hedgehog called Puschel. Together with their friends, Zack and Quack soon discover that anything's possible with the power of pop up. The Nickelodeon and Zodiak Rights co-production has a unique visual style which re-imagines the pop-up book format for television.

To celebrate Nick Jr. Germany starting to show the all-new preschool series "Zack und Quack" on Monday 5th May 2014, NickJr.de has unveiled Nick Junior's official "Zack & Quack" website, which features information about the characters in "Zack & Quack" and cast pictures!

Original Nickelodeon Deutschland Press Release:

Jedes Kapitel eine neue Überraschung – Die neue Nick Jr. Serie 'Zack & Quack' erzählt zauberhafte Abenteuer im Stil eines Aufklappbuchs

Was klappt als nächstes auf? In der Welt von 'Zack & Quack ' ist nichts unmöglich // die neue Nick Jr. Serie fördert Fantasie und kreative Problemlösung // Premiere am 5. Mai um 8.20 Uhr bei Nickelodeon

'Zack & Quack's Welt ist das aufregendste Aufklapp-Buch aller Zeiten. Der siebenjährige Zack, ein Junge voller Fantasie und Tatendrang, erlebt mit Quack, einer Ente, spannende Abenteuer. Mit der Sekunde, in der die unzertrennlichen Freunde Zacks magischen Aufklapp-Garten betreten, kann alles passieren. Die beiden wissen nie was als nächstes vor ihnen aufklappt: Eine Papp-Rakete, die Zack und Quack zum Mond fliegt, ein Papierflieger, der sie auf seinen Flügeln in die Wolken trägt, oder ein Kobold auf der Suche nach Gold hinter dem atemberaubend schönen Falt-Regenbogen. Zacks Fantasie ist grenzenlos und er findet immer einen Weg seine Träume wahr werden zu lassen.

Doch was, wenn plötzlich ein riesiger Spaghetti-Berg erscheint und gigantische Fleischklopse aus Pappe ins Tal zu kullern drohen? Kein Problem. Mit der Hilfe ihrer Freunde schaffen es Zack und Quack immer eine Lösung zu finden.

'Zack & Quack' erweitert das Nick Jr.-Portfolio edukativer Formate um eine weitere, zauberhaft animierte Serie für Vorschüler zwischen zwei und fünf Jahren. Die lebendige Erzählweise der Show fördert neben der Fantasie der jungen Zuschauer, kreative Problemlösungsansätze und führt spielerisch an das Thema Lesen heran. Die erste Staffel, produziert in Kooperation mit Zodiak Media, hat 26 Episoden á 22 Minuten.

Die Abenteuer von 'Zack & Quack' starten am 5. Mai im Nick Jr. Block bei Nickelodeon und laufen ab dann immer montags bis freitags um 8.20 Uhr.

Zack und seine Freunde:

Zack: Zack ist sieben Jahre alt und ein Genie in der Welt der Aufklapp-Bücher. Hier kann er seiner Fantasie freien Lauf lassen – und davon hat er eine Menge. Nichts bringt ihn aus der Ruhe. Zusammen mit seiner Ente Quack ist er immer auf der Suche nach neuen Abenteuern.

Quack: Super neugierig und immer eine Schnabellänge voraus, das ist Quack. Die kleine blaue Ente und Zack sind unzertrennlich.

Kira: Mit ihrem Papier-Reparatur-Set ist Kira zur Stelle wenn etwas kaputt ist. Auf sie können sich Zack und Quack immer verlassen.

Herr von Quapp: Herr von Quapp ist ein Frosch und ein Besserwisser. Er hat immer eine Weisheit parat und ist selbsternannter Experte – in allem. Vor allem ist er aber liebenswert und für seine Freunde da.

Skip und Hop: Ein typisches Schwesternpaar: Skip und Hop sind ständig am Zanken. In der Luft jedoch sind die zwei akrobatischen Eichhörnchen ein Herz und eine Seele, die sich aufeinander verlassen können.

Puschel: Seine Stacheln täuschen. Der kleine Igel mit den großen Kulleraugen ist das Nesthäkchen der Gruppe und sehr sensibel.

Zusätzliche Informationen:
- Bildmaterial kann in der Mediathek heruntergeladen werden
- Informationen zum TV Programm von Nickelodeon auf nick.de
- Informationen rund um Nick Jr. auf nickjr.de
- Presseseite mit Bildmaterial und Presseinformationen auf presse.nick.de
- Nick Jr. auf Facebook
- Screener auf Anfrage [Screener on Request]

Über Nickelodeon:

Nickelodeon ist ein weltweit ausstrahlender Kindersender und die Heimat einiger der beliebtesten Kinderserien derzeit, darunter 'SpongeBob Schwammkopf', 'iCarly', 'Die Pinguine aus Madagascar', 'Victorious', 'Kung Fu Panda', 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' und 'Dora'. Besonderes Programm-Highlight sind die jährlich stattfindenden 'Nickelodeon Kids‘ Choice Awards', eine starbesetzte Show, in der Kinder weltweit über die Preisträger abstimmen. Nickelodeon gehört zu der Viacom International Media Networks GmbH. Zum Nickelodeon Unternehmen gehören neben dem abwechslungsreichen Fernsehangebot für Kinder außerdem der Bereich Consumer Products, Online- und Freizeitangebote sowie Publishing Produkte. Nickelodeon Northern Europe, mit Hauptsitz in Berlin, strahlt die Nickelodeon Inhalte in 14 Länder Nordeuropas auf seinen Kanälen Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, Nick Jr., Nick Hits, Teen Nick und Kindernet aus. Die Eigenproduktionen 'Het Huis Anubis' / 'Das Haus Anubis', 'Hotel 13', 'Nickelodeon Alaaarm' und 'Nick Battle' runden das Angebot von Nickelodeon in Nordeuropa ab.

Viacom International Media Networks Northern Europe
Kontakt: Sarah Prill
Fon: 49 30 700 100-426, Fax: 49 30 700 100-9426
E-Mail: [...], Info: presse.nick.de

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Viacom Reports Results for Second Quarter 2014

Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), the parent company of the Nickelodeon brand, has reported, in the following press release, from Business Wire, the company's revenue, earnings and EPS growth for the fiscal second quarter of 2014, ended Monday 31st March 2014.

Nick Star Amber Montana Announces Nickelodeon Making "Haunted Hathaways" Movie

Nickelodeon Star Amber Montana, who plays Taylor Hathaway in the hit Nick original comedy series "The Haunted Hathaways", has announced the very exciting Nick News in a Tweet (post) on her official Twitter profile page, @Amber_Montana, that the cast and crew of "The Haunted Hathaways" have been very busy over the last few weeks filming (shooting) a brand-new "Haunted Hathaways" movie for Nickelodeon!:

Been working hard the last few weeks on the #HauntedHathaways movie.... It's crazyyyy [...]

The exact details of Nickelodeon's all-new "Haunted Hathaways" movie, including the films storyline, are yet to be announced, as the movie is still in production.

Photo from Nickelodeon Italy's (Italia's) official Facebook profile page

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"Lily's Driftwood Bay" - The Making Of SixteenSouth's Brand-New Preschool Series For Nick Jr. UK

To celebrate and promote Nickelodeon UK's preschool channel, Nick Jr. UK and Ireland, starting to premiere and show the brand-new mixed media animated preschool series "Lily's Driftwood Bay" from Monday 5th May 2014, the official website of the television industry magazine Broadcast has unveiled a special 'Behind the Scenes' guest article by Colin Williams, the founder of the Belfast-based independent children's television production company Sixteen South Television, who are producing "Driftwood Bay" from Nick Jr. UK, and Julie Gardner, the Head of Production at SixteenSouth, who talk in-depth about the making of Nick Jr. UK's brand-new preschool series, from pitch to production, which you can read below.

Catch Nick Jr. UK's brand-new show, "Lily's Driftwood Bay", premieres daily at 5:45pm, 5:50pm and 6:05pm from Monday 5th May 2014, only on Nick Jr. UK and Ireland (repeated at 6:45pm, 6:50pm and 7:05pm on Nick Jr.+1)!:

Lily's Driftwood Bay, Nickelodeon

There was no room for compromise on a series crafted from objects found on the beach, says Colin Williams

When I first pitched the show that became Lily's Driftwood Bay, broadcasters asked what its touchpoint was. I struggled to find comparisons. It's a mixed-media show in which everything you see on screen – sets, props, characters, you name it – has been crafted from things found washed up on the beach.

But underneath the unique design, it's a show about what it means to live in a community of inter-generational relationships. Ultimately, it's telling stories about life.

Lily is a five-year-old who lives a simple, organic existence with her dad in a beach hut on the shore. He's a woodcarver who sells his creations at the market every Saturday to buy food.

Being a dad to a young daughter, I wanted to celebrate this special relationship, which is rarely seen on screen.

Across the way is Driftwood Bay, an amazing island community of friends of all ages. Every day when a new treasure is washed up by the sea, Lily and her best friend Gull go on an imaginary adventure to the island with it.

Every producer knows that with tariffs being squeezed, compromise is often the only way to get a show made.

But I believed this show was special and committed at the outset to stand my ground on story, design and music.

When I shopped an early trailer for the show three years ago, we received many co-production offers. One of the hardest decisions I've ever had to make was to turn down a handsome commission. It would've closed our finance gap and kicked off production, but I knew that the real cost would have been shared creative control with a foreign broadcaster.

We eventually funded the show by pre-selling it as an acquisition to 20 territories and bringing in The Jim Henson Company to handle further distribution. Northern Ireland Screen, a long-time supporter, came in with production funding, and although it took longer than I had hoped, we got the greenlight with no compromises.

I wanted to avoid the familiar stories of caring and sharing and instead tell stories about the world and life around Lily – her community, her environment and her relationships.

She's not a prim princess who is never in the wrong. She often messes up and causes confusion and upset to others around her, just like the rest of us. It's real life, and I wanted us to tell stories of real life – like jealously, selfishness, love, birth and death.

Five-year journey

The journey started five years ago when artist Joanne Carmichael got in touch with me. She was selling simple pictures in her local art gallery on the Isle of Arran, which she had made from bits of pottery and seaglass found washed up on the local beach. I immediately fell in love with the idea and began to think about creating a complex world made from things washed up by the sea.

At the outset, I set some design rules. We could adjust the colour and size of the objects, but not digitally manipulate them by twisting, bending or warping. When you look closely at each object, you can see the individual items that make it up.

The sound was created at the very start, alongside the organic look. The show had to sound like it looks and look like it sounds. I took influence from modern acoustic folk artists like Mumford and Sons and Laura Marling.

Every note is played by session players on guitar, banjo, mandolin, ukulele, accordion, Hammond, harmonium, xylophone, marimba, pots and pans and more. It is 100% real.

I wanted the setting to be a real community of different accents and drew up a wishlist of actors who played comedy characters I adored: Ardal O'Hanlon, Stephen Fry, Annette Crosbie, Peter Mullan, Jane Horrocks, Tameka Empson and Richard Dormer.

I never expected to get any of them – but they all fell in love with the show and said yes.

Creating Lily's Driftwood Bay has been the loveliest, most fulfilling, amazing – and exhausting – creative journey I have ever been on. It is a beautiful work of art and testament to a brilliant creative team of 100, every one of whom raised the bar to the highest level in story, character, casting, direction, design and score.

LILY'S DRIFTWOOD BAY: BREAKING NEW GROUND

Julie Gardner Head of production

We knew from the start we were breaking new ground. Colin wanted to create a show that looked like stop-motion using stones and ceramic fragments, which inherently would refuse to behave in a straightforward stop-motion way.

A pebble or a piece of driftwood might give the shape necessary for a character from one angle, but looked at from another, it might jar.

We couldn't achieve the look with stop-motion, so we had to photograph the beach finds from a range of angles, see what positions they would look right in, and work with those limitations.

How do you set up and manage a workflow that hasn't been done before? We looked to world-leading talents to advise us on animation techniques, software and production scheduling.

With that grounding, we were able to set up our in-house animation studio in Belfast and build a work able pipeline, which we shaped and refined as production progressed.

Last March, I battled through a blizzard to bring all 50,000 pieces of Joanne Carmichael's beach fragments from Scotland to Belfast in a transit van. In the studio workshop, all of the pieces were painstakingly sorted and individually photographed. Each one of these 50,000 pictures then had to be clipped in Photoshop, creating a huge library of digital materials.

The artwork was then digitally composited and rigged for our 12 animators to produce a style that is true to the handmade feel of cel animation.

Twelve months later, we've seen 26 episodes through to delivery and will deliver 26 more in July. We've deviated considerably from the original blueprint but have shaped a show, and a way of working, that is unique.

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Nickelodeon's "AwesomenessTV" Returns With Season Two, Premiering Monday 5th May 2014 On Nick USA; First Episode To Be Hosted By Jack Griffo And Kira Kosarin

Nickelodeon and AwesomenessTV have announced the exciting Nick News in the following press release, from The Futon Critic, that Nickelodeon's "AwesomenessTV" kicks off its brand-new second season on Monday 5th May 2014 at 8:00pm (ET/PT) with special hosts Jack Griffo and Kira Kosarin, stars of Nickelodeon's superhero-themed original comedy series "The Thundermans"! Don't miss all-new pranks, character sketches and parodies of popular music videos. All-new episodes will continue to premiere every Monday night at 8:00pm (ET/PT) and are sure to be filled with fast-paced unpredictable sketch comedy! Guest hosts this season include 5 Seconds of Summer, who recently won a 2014 Kids' Choice Awards blimp award for Aussies' Fave Hot New Talent, plus Rixton, Fifth Harmony, Emblem3, Smosh and more!

Before the return of "AwesomenessTV", NickHeads in the USA can watch Jack and Kira in brand-new back-to-back episodes of "The Thundermans" on Saturday 3rd May 2014, beginning at 8:00pm ET/PT! In the premiere of "Pretty Little Choirs", a mean girl named Veronica sabotages Phoebe in choir and then takes advantage of Max by making him do her homework for her. Once they realize what has happened, the twins team up get even with her. The action continues in "Paging Dr. Thunderman" where Max and Phoebe take Billy to the hospital when he hurts his thumb while they are babysitting him. After Max sees a needle and faints, they all must make sure the doctors don't see his brain scan which can expose their powers.

To celebrate the all-new episodes of "The Thundermans" and "AwesomenessTV", Nickelodeon USA's press office has unveiled super sneak peeks of both brand-new episodes of "The Thundermans" and Nick USA's aweslime "AwesomenessTV" season trailer/promo, which you can watch in the online streaming video clips below!

Original Nickelodeon and AwesomenessTV Press Release:

NICKELODEON'S "AWESOMENESSTV" RETURNS!

Nickelodeon's AwesomenessTV kicks off its second season on Monday, May 5, at 8:00p.m. (ET/PT) with special hosts Jack Griffo and Kira Kosarin, stars of The Thundermans. Don't miss new pranks, character sketches and parodies of popular music videos. All-new episodes premiere every Monday night at 8:00p.m. (ET/PT) and are sure to be filled with fast-paced unpredictable sketch comedy! Guest hosts this season include 5 Seconds of Summer, Rixton, Fifth Harmony, Emblem3, Smosh and more!

Before the return of AwesomenessTV, watch Jack and Kira in brand-new back-to-back episodes of The Thundermans on Saturday, May 3, beginning at 8:00p.m. ET/PT. In the premiere of "Pretty Little Choirs," a mean girl named Veronica sabotages Phoebe in choir and then takes advantage of Max by making him do her homework for her. Once they realize what has happened, the twins team up get even with her. The action continues in "Paging Dr. Thunderman" where Max and Phoebe take Billy to the hospital when he hurts his thumb while they are babysitting him. After Max sees a needle and faints, they all must make sure the doctors don't see his brain scan which can expose their powers.

About AwesomenessTV:

AwesomenessTV is a #1 destination for teens and tweens for original programming on YouTube! Founded by Brian Robbins (Sonny With A Chance, Smallville, So Random, FRED) and Joe Davola (In Living Color, Smallville, MTV Networks, One Tree Hill), the channel features a broad cross section of series built around pop musicians, A-list athletes, TV personalities and YouTube stars. From talk shows to sketch comedy, plus scripted series and a handful of reality series, AwesomenessTV is redefining what it means to be a fan by blurring the lines between viewership, engagement and user generated content. Since launch in June 2012, AwesomenessTV has grown to over 1.1 million subscribers and over 260 million views; since launch in November 2012, AwesomenessTV's MultiChannel Network boasts over 84,000 channels, an aggregate subscriber base of over 35 million subscribers and over 2.9 billion views!

AwesomenessTV premieres Monday, May 5, at 8:00p.m. (ET/PT)

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AWESOMENESSTV Premieres Monday, May 5th!! from Elizabeth Cain on Vimeo.

Nickelodeon’s AwesomenessTV kicks off its second season on Monday, May 5, at 8:00p.m. (ET/PT) with special hosts Jack Griffo and Kira Kosarin, stars of The Thundermans. Don’t miss new pranks, character sketches and parodies of popular music videos. All-new episodes premiere every Monday night at 8:00p.m. (ET/PT) and are sure to be filled with fast-paced unpredictable sketch comedy! Guest hosts this season include 5 Seconds of Summer, Rixton, Fifth Harmony, Emblem3, Smosh and more!

The Thundermans "Pretty Little Choirs" Saturday, May 3 from Elizabeth Cain on Vimeo.

Before the return of AwesomenessTV, watch Jack and Kira in brand-new back-to-back episodes of The Thundermans on Saturday, May 3, beginning at 8:00p.m. ET/PT. In the premiere of “Pretty Little Choirs,” a mean girl named Veronica sabotages Phoebe in choir and then takes advantage of Max by making him do her homework for her. Once they realize what has happened, the twins team up get even with her. The action continues in “Paging Dr. Thunderman” where Max and Phoebe take Billy to the hospital when he hurts his thumb while they are babysitting him. After Max sees a needle and faints, they all must make sure the doctors don’t see his brain scan which can expose their powers.

The Thundermans “Paging Dr. Thunderman” Saturday, May 3 from Elizabeth Cain on Vimeo.

Before the return of AwesomenessTV, watch Jack and Kira in brand-new back-to-back episodes of The Thundermans on Saturday, May 3, beginning at 8:00p.m. ET/PT. In the premiere of “Pretty Little Choirs,” a mean girl named Veronica sabotages Phoebe in choir and then takes advantage of Max by making him do her homework for her. Once they realize what has happened, the twins team up get even with her. The action continues in “Paging Dr. Thunderman” where Max and Phoebe take Billy to the hospital when he hurts his thumb while they are babysitting him. After Max sees a needle and faints, they all must make sure the doctors don’t see his brain scan which can expose their powers.

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