Nickelodeon Denmark And Nickelodeon Sweden Announce Plans To Premiere "It's A SpongeBob Christmas!" On Saturday 8th December 2012!

Nickelodeon Denmark and Nickelodeon Sweden have announced the Nickelodeon News on their official websites (Nickelodeon.dk and Nickelodeon.se) that Nickelodeon Denmark (also known as Nickelodeon Danmark), the Danish version of the popular kids' channel, and Nickelodeon Sweden (also known as Nickelodeon Sverige), the Swedish version of the popular children's channel, will premiere and show Nickelodeon's first full-length stop-motion animated special "It's A SpongeBob Christmas!", which is based on the mega-hit Nickelodeon Original animated series (Nicktoon) "SpongeBob SquarePants", on Saturday 8th December 2012 at 3.35pm, as part of "Christmas on Nickelodeon 2012"!

After the initial premiere of "It's A SpongeBob Christmas!", Nickelodeon Denmark will encore the brand new SpongeBob Christmas special on:

Monday 10th December at 4.30pm
Sunday 16th December at 7.55am
Friday 21st December at 4.25pm
Monday 24th December (Christmas Eve) at 8.45am
Tuesday 25th December (Christmas Day) at 1.30pm
Wednesday 26th December (Boxing Day) at 7.55am

And Nickelodeon Sweden will repeat Nick's brand new "It's A SpongeBob Christmas!" Xmas special on:

Monday 10th December at 4.30pm
Sunday 16th December at 8.40am
Friday 21st December at 4.30pm
Saturday 22nd December at 8.40am
Monday 24th December (Christmas Eve) at 8.40am
Tuesday 25th December (Christmas Day) at 8.40am
Wednesday 26th December (Boxing Day) at 8.15am

Below is a translation of Nickelodeon Denmark's "SpongeBob's Christmas" Nick News article from Nickelodeon.dk:

MERRY SpongeBob-CHRISTMAS!

It's Christmas and Bikini Bottom looks like you've never seen it before, made ​​entirely using stop-motion animation. It will be a svamptastisk Christmas, and this very special Christmas section will certainly become a holiday classic in the future.

In this special double section, all of Bikini Bottoms inhabitants in a festive mood as they prepare for Santa's arrival. All except plankton, which in turn expect a lump of coal. He therefore presents his most diabolical plan to date. A plan that virtually guarantees that he will finally get the gift he always wanted - the secret recipe for crab burgers! Warm your fins in this cold holiday season, SpongeBob style!

See the special section on TV: (on Nickelodeon)
8th December at. 15.35

And here ...
December 10 pm. 16.30
December 16 pm. 7.55
December 21 pm. 16.25
December 24 pm. 8.45
December 25 pm. 13.30
December 26 pm. 7.55

[Danish to English translation provided by Google Translate]

Also, below is a translation of Nickelodeon Swedan's "SpongeBob's Christmas" Nick News article from Nickelodeon.se:

SpongeBob CHRISTMAS!

It's Christmas and Bikini Bottom is like nothing you've seen before! In this special section, Bikini Bottom recorded using animation technology "Stop Motion" and now it's SpongeBob Christmas at real! This will become a Christmas classic to see if and ON again!

In this special two-section celebrates throughout Bikini Bottom to Christmas is coming and they are waiting patiently for Santa to come and visit them. But not Plankton, which again forges evil plans. He plans his most diabolical plan yet that virtually guarantees that he will get the gift he always wanted - Krabby Burga's secret recipe! Heat fins properly this Christmas, SpongeBob-style!

When sent special section on the TV (Only on Nickelodeon!)
December 8 at. 15:35

replays:
10 December at. 16:30
December 16 at. 8:40
December 21 at. 16:30
December 22 at. 8:40
December 24 at. 8:40
December 25 at. 8:40
December 26 at. 8:15

[Swedish to English translation provided by Google Translate]

Also, below is the original untranslated Nickelodeon Denmark News article from Nickelodeon Denmark's official website, Nickelodeon.dk:

GLÆDELIG SVAMPEBOB-JUL!

Det er jul og Bikini Bottom ser ud som du aldrig har set den før, lavet udelukkende ved hjælp af stop-motion animation. Det bliver en svamptastisk jul, og dette helt specielle juleafsnit vil bestemt blive en ferieklassiker fremover.

I dette specielle dobbeltafsnit er alle Bikini Bottoms beboere i feststemning, mens de forbereder sig på julemandens ankomst. Alle undtagen Plankton, der igen forventer en klump kul. Han lægger derfor sin mest djævelske plan til dato. En plan der praktisk talt garanterer at han endelig vil få den gave, han altid har ønsket sig – den hemmelige opskrift på krabbeburgere! Varm dine finner i denne kolde juletid, SvampeBob style!

Se det særlige afsnit på TV: (kun på Nickelodeon)
8. december kl. 15.35

Og her...
10 december kl. 16.30
16 december kl. 7.55
21 december kl. 16.25
24 december kl. 8.45
25 december kl. 13.30
26 december kl. 7.55

Also, below is the original untranslated Nickelodeon Sweden News article from Nickelodeon Sweden's official website, Nickelodeon.se:

SVAMPBOBS JUL!

Det är Jul och Bikinibotten liknar ingenting du sett förut! I det här specialavsnittet har Bikinibotten spelats in med hjälp av animationstekniken ”Stop motion” och nu är det SvampBobs Jul på riktigt! Det här kommer bli en julklassiker du vill se om och OM igen!

I det här speciella dubbelavsnittet firar hela Bikinibotten att Julen är på väg och de väntar tålmodigt på att Jultomten ska komma och besöka dem. Men inte Plankton, som åter igen smider onda planer. Han planerar sin mest djävulska plan hittills som praktiskt taget garanterar att han ska få julklappen han alltid önskat sig – Krabb Burgarens hemliga recept! Värm fenorna ordentligt den här julen, SvampBob-style!

När sänds specialavsnittet på TV: (Bara på Nickelodeon!)
8 december kl. 15.35

Repriser:
10 december kl. 16.30
16 december kl. 8.40
21 december kl. 16.30
22 december kl. 8.40
24 december kl. 8.40
25 december kl. 8.40
26 december kl. 8.15

Popular Animated Nickelodeon Original Shows Nominated For Awards In The 40th Annual Annie Awards!

According to The Hollywood Reporter, the popular Nickelodeon original animated series (Nicktoons) "The Legend of Korra", "T.U.F.F. Puppy", "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", "Penquins of Madagascar", "Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness", "Robot and Monster", Nickelodeon's first full-length stop-motion animated special "It's A SpongeBob Christmas!", and Nickelodeon Preschool Animations' special "Bubble Guppies" episode "Bubble Puppy’s Fin-tastic Fairytale!" have received nominations in the 40th Annie Awards, an annual awards show which honors the best in animation!

Below is a list of the nominations for the 40th Annual Annie Awards, featuring only the awards Nickelodeon shows have been nominated for, from The Hollywood Reporter:

Character Animation in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production
Dan Driscoll 'SpongeBob SquarePants: It's a SpongeBob Christmas!' – Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Jennifer Dickie 'Justin Time: Yodel Odel Day' – Guru Studio
Keith Kellogg 'Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Revenge' – Lucasfilm Animation Ltd.
Forrest Savelen ‘SpongeBob SquarePants: It's a SpongeBob Christmas!’ – Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Shi Zimu ‘Dragons: Riders of Berk’ – DreamWorks Animation
Sihanouk Marinona ‘Before Orel: Trust’ – Starburns Industries, Inc.
Teri Yam ‘Dragons: Riders of Berk’ – DreamWorks Animation
Yan Jiazhuang ‘Dragons: Riders of Berk’ – DreamWorks Animation

Character Design in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production
Andy Bialk ‘Dragons: Riders of Berk: Alvin and the Outcasts’ – DreamWorks Animaton
Andy Suriano ‘DC Nation-Plastic Man: The Many and the Fowl’ – Big Hair Productions, Inc.
Bryan Konietzko, Joaquim Dos Santos, Ryu Ki-Hyun, Kim Il Kwang, Kim Jin Sun The Legend of Korra: Welcome to Republic City – Nickelodeon Animation Studios
“C” Raggio IV Kick Buttowski: Petrified – Disney TV Animation
Derrick Wyatt, Chap Yaep, Steven Choi Ben 10: Omniverse: The More Things Change, Pt. 2 – Cartoon Network Studios
Gordon Hammond T.U.F.F. Puppy: Dudley Do-Wrong – Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Robert Valley Disney Tron: Uprising: The Renegade, Part I – Disney TV Animation
Thaddeus Paul Cauldron ‘Secret Mountain Fort Awesome: Secret Mountain Uncle Grandpa’- Cartoon Network Studios

Directing in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production
Howie Parkins – Disney TV Animation
John Eng Dragons: Riders of Berk: Animal House – DreamWorks Animation
Mark Cabalero, Seamus Walsh SpongeBob SquarePants: It’s a Spongebob Christmas – Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Mic Graves The Amazing World of Gumball: The Job – Turner Broadcasting System Europe Ltd.
Michael Chang Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Never Say Xever - Nickelodeon Animation Studio
Zack Keller Dick Figures: Kung Fu Winners – 6 Point Media

Music in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production
Adam Berry ‘Penquins of Madagascar: Private and the Winky Factory’ – Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Alf Clausen ‘The Simpsons: Treehouse of Horror XXIII’ – Gracie Films in Association with 20th Century Fox TV
Frederik Wiedmann ‘Green Lantern The Animated Series: Into the Abyss’ - F. Wiedmann, Composer
Guy Moon ‘T.U.F.F. Puppy: Really Big Mission’ – Nickelodeon Animation Studios
John Paesano ‘Dragons: Riders of Berk: How to Pick Your Dragon’ – DreamWorks Animation
Michael Rubin ‘Bubble Guppies: Bubble Puppy’s Fin-tastic Fairytale!’ – Nickelodeon Animation Studios

Storyboarding in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production
Andy Kelly Doc McStuffins: Righty-On-Lefty – Disney TV Animation
Cole Sanchez, Rebecca Sugar Adventure Time: Lady & Peebles – Cartoon Network Studios
Doug Lovelace Dragons: Riders of Berk: Portrait of Hiccup as a Buff Man – DreamWorks Animationv
Holly Forsyth Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess – Disney TV Animation
Irineo Marramba, Ciro Nieli Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: I Think His Name is Baxter Stockman – Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Robert Valley, Kalvin Lee Tron: Uprising: The Reward – Disney TV Animation
Ryan Kramer, Paul Linsley, Kenji Ono, Le Tang, Alice Herring, Mike Mullen, Aaron Hammersley Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness: Enter the Dragon – Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Tom Herpich, Skyler Page Adventure Time: Goliad – Cartoon Network Studios

Voice Acting in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production
James Patrick Stuart as Private Penguins of Madagascar: High Moltage – Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Jeff Bennett as Keswick T.U.F.F. Puppy: Pup Daddy – Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Jessica Walter as Malory Archer Archer: Lo Scandolo – Weissman Markovitz Communications for FX Network
Kevin Michael Richardson as Willem Viceroy Randy Cunningham: 9th Grade Ninja: Gossip Boy – Disney TV Animation
Kristen Schaal as Mabel Pines Gravity Falls: Tourist Trapped – Disney TV Animation
Mae Whitman as April O'Neil – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Rise of the Turtles – Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Sam Witwer as Darth Maul Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Revenge – Lucasfilm Animation Ltd.
Tom McGrath as Skipper Penguins of Madagascar: The Otter Woman – Nickelodeon Animation Studios

Writing in an Animated Television/Broadcast Production
Doug Langdale - Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness: Kung Fu Day Care - Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Eric Horsted – Futurama: The Bots and the Bees – Gracie Films in Association with 20th Century Fox TV
Gabe Garza – Penguins of Madagascar: Endangerous Species - Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Ian Maxtone-Graham, Billy Kimball The Simpsons: How I Wet Your Mother - Gracie Films in Association with 20th Century Fox TV
Kacey Arnold – Robot and Monster: The Blimp – Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Mike Teverbaugh, Linda Teverbaugh - Dragons: Riders of Berk: Animal House – DreamWorks Animation
Stephanie Gillis The Simpsons: A Tree Grows in Springfield – Gracie Films in Association with 20th Century Fox TV
Trey Parker – South Park: Jewpacabra – Central Productions

Editorial in an Animated Television Production
Bret Marnell Puss in Boots: Three Diablos – DreamWorks Animation
Chris Hink Robot and Monster: Cheer Up Mr. Wheelie – Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Hugo Morales, Adam Arnold, Davrik Waeden, Otto Ferraye Kung Fu Panda: ‘Monkey in the Middle – Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Hugo Morales, Adam Arnold, Davrik Waeden, Otto Ferraye Kung Fu Panda - Enter the Dragon – Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Jason Tucker Star Wars: The Clone Wars: Revival – Lucasfilm Animation Ltd.
Lynn Hobson Dragons: Riders of Berk: Animal House – DreamWorks Animation
Pieter Kaufman Sofia the First: Once Upon a Princess – Disney TV Animation
Steffie Lucchesi, Matt Steinauer, May Blaisdell Dan Vs Monster Under The Bed – Film Roman

You can find a full list of nominated for the 2013 Annie Awards here on the official The Hollywood Reporter website, hollywoodreporter.com. The 40th Annual Annie Awards will take place on Saturday February 2, 2013 at UCLA's Royce Hall, in Los Angeles, California.

Good luck to everyone who has been nominated to receive a prestigious 40th Annual Annie Award!

Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman Touts Viacom's Overseas Growth Plans At The UBS Global Media And Communications Conference

From Deadline.com:

Philippe Dauman Touts Viacom’s Overseas Growth Plans: UBS Confab

This is part of the Viacom chief’s no-worries pitch to Wall Street, where many investors have been freaked out by the ratings woes at Nickelodeon and MTV. “We’re looking to expand everywhere in the world” Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman said in a lunch presentation at the UBS Global Media and Communications Conference. The company’s strongest in Europe, especially the UK. But it’s looking everywhere to add overseas channels for Nickelodeon and Nick Jr, Comedy Central, and the relatively new Paramount Channel. Viacom “will announce several launches over the next year,” Dauman says. Over time “I expect the Paramount Channel to be one of our global channels and present on every continent.” He acknowledged that “there are difficult economic conditions” in parts of Europe including Greece and Portugal. But he says that “we’re reaching a point of bottoming out” and “outside of Europe there are pockets of strength” including in Mexico. Viacom already has a strong foothold in India where it’s one of the top four media groups “and will be forever.” Meanwhile Dauman is looking at other opportunities in Asia. He’s encouraged to see that as a result of changes in trade rules with China, there have been 34 western movies released there this year vs 20 the previous year. Titanic 3D, which Paramount co-distributed with Fox, generated more than $10M at box offices there. Dauman also sees fertile ground abroad for his effort to promote sales of merchandise built around his company’s characters. For example, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is a property it can roll out virtually everywhere, including on channels not controlled by Viacom. “What Turtles adds for us is a boy oriented property,” he says. “This is a long term initiative.”

Also, from The Hollywood Reporter:

Viacom CEO Touts Recent Nickelodeon, MTV Ratings Gains

Philippe Dauman says new hits "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" and "Catfish" are helping U.S. ratings, but ad markets in Southern Europe remain "very difficult."

NEW YORK - Viacom has seen ratings at key network brands return to growth in recent weeks, president and CEO Philippe Dauman emphasized at a big year-end investor conference here Monday.

Speaking at the 40th annual Global Media and Communications Conference, he said: "I'm happy to see that our [programming] investments are paying off" at Nickelodeon, as well as MTV, emphasizing ratings are up at Nickelodeon and MTV year-over-year over the past few weeks.

He particularly cited the MTV success of Catfish, arguing its origin is a case study for how content ideas increasingly come from new sources in the digital age. The series is based on an independent movie and has managed to capture the zeitgeist, Dauman argued, but also mentioned online content as a source of ideas for TV programming these days.

Asked about Nickelodeon, he cited the success of the rebooted Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles as a key turning point for ratings. Asked about SpongeBob Square Pants, Dauman called it "a perennial" and "a very strong franchise." SpongeBob will continue to be a mainstay on Nickelodeon, he added.

Viacom's stock has been under pressure amid ratings challenges at Nickelodeon and, more recently, at MTV.

In his lunch keynote appearance, Dauman was also asked about the TV advertising outlook in Europe. "It's a still challenging environment," Dauman said. "Southern Europe is still bad." Plus there is weakness in some Northern parts of Europe as well, he added. But for Viacom, international ad growth will return in the first quarter of 2013 when adjusting for currency effects, he predicted. "For us, we are reaching a point of bottoming out," Dauman said. He called economic conditions in Europe "difficult," with the situation "very difficult" in Southern Europe.

But he said that overall, he is content with the company's international development despite challenging economies, highlighting India as a major growth market. The CEO said Viacom will continue to expand distribution of its content across devices, platforms and geographies.

He also highlighted that Viacom has continued to launch more channels in Europe over the past year, including a Paramount Channel in Spain despite economic weakness in that country. Dauman reiterated that the Paramount Channel would become a global franchise, with a presence on all continents, over the coming years.

Asked if Viacom could acquire content owners abroad, Dauman said he continues not to expect big acquisitions. Networks in such countries as India and content franchises, such as the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, are the likeliest acquisition targets, he said.

Faced with a question if Viacom is concerned about Washington talks about what has been called the "fiscal cliff," he said the overall expectation among CEOs is that a deal will be reached between the White House and Republicans sooner or later. The phrase "fiscal cliff" refers to automatic increases in taxes and reductions in public spending that could come into effect in January if no deal is reached.

The Paramount film studio wasn't a major focus of discussion Monday, but Dauman lauded its "vibrant pipeline of franchise films that are ours." And he added that margins continue to rise at the studio.

Dauman on Monday also reiterated that the Turtles and the development of animated films will allow Viacom to expand its consumer products business.

Also, from The Telegraph:

Viacom, the sprawling media group behind channels such as Nickelodeon and MTV, has also been focusing more of its spend on Europe and experimenting with different ways of getting content to viewers, such as striking a partnership with online video streaming service Hulu.

News Corp. Names Viacom UK Board Member Mike Darcey As New Head Of UK Newspaper Unit

From Bloomberg:

News Corp. Names Darcey as Head of U.K. Newspaper Unit

Rupert Murdoch’s U.K. newspaper unit, reeling from a phone-hacking scandal, named its third chief executive officer in less than 18 months as the parent company prepares to split into two.

Mike Darcey, 47 years old and currently chief operating officer at pay-TV operator British Sky Broadcasting Group Plc (BSY), will replace CEO Tom Mockridge, who plans to step down by the end of the year, the company said. Mockridge last year took over from Rebekah Brooks, who quit over the hacking and bribery scandal and faces a criminal trial next year.

News Corp., bowing to pressure from shareholders, agreed in June to break off the publishing assets, which are growing more slowly than its Fox entertainment businesses. The company today named Wall Street Journal editor Robert Thomson to lead the publishing spinoff. Darcey’s task will be to make sure the U.K. publishing business moves on from the scandal, said Warren Johnson, a London-based media consultant at W Communications.

“Getting someone from a trusted and untarnished bit of their organization makes sense,” Johnson said in an interview. “He’s someone from outside the news business but still within the company so he understands how News Corp. (NWSA) works.”

Dropped Takeover

News Corp., based in New York, owns about 39 percent of BSkyB, the U.K.'s biggest pay-TV operator. The company bid 7.8 billion pounds ($12.5 billion) for the rest of BSkyB it didn’t own and then dropped the offer amid the phone-hacking revelations.

BSkyB rose 1.3 percent to 769 pence in London as of 3:02 p.m. while News Corp. gained 0.9 percent to $24.87 in New York.

Mockridge resigned because he wasn’t “comfortable” with the role offered to him amid the separation of Murdoch’s publishing businesses from entertainment, he told staff in an e- mail.

Darcey, who took over as BSkyB COO in November 2006, also sits on the boards of National Geographic Channels International and the U.K. unit of Viacom Inc. (VIAB)'s Nickelodeon TV business. He is also chairman of the board of trustees of the Royal Television Society. Before joining Sky in 1998, he had worked as an economic advisor for 11 years.

Police Probe

News International has been embroiled in government and police probes over phone-hacking at its best-selling Sun daily and the News of the World tabloid, which has been shut down.

News Corp. has spent more than $315 million on civil settlements, legal fees and other costs related to the scandal. More than 80 people have been arrested for intercepting voice mail and bribing public employees. Results from a press-ethics probe last week recommended Britain set up an independent media regulator in response to wrongdoing by journalists.

In addition to being an outsider to the phone-hacking debacle, Darcey brings digital expertise to News International, which is struggling like many of its peers to adapt to online formats amid declining print-based revenue and the migration of readers to the Internet, said Douglas McCabe, a media analyst at Enders Analysis in London.

“There are big changes at all these businesses in order to be able to operate in a digital world, and that’s where Mike’s expertise will be brilliant,” he said. “Sky is one of most forward-thinking media platforms in the world.”

BSkyB said it will divide Darcey’s role among other members of the executive team and isn’t currently searching for a replacement.

Bloomberg LP, the parent of Bloomberg News, competes with News Corp. units in providing financial news and information.

In addition to operating the Wall Street Journal and Times of London, News Corp.’s publishing spinoff will include newspapers in the U.S., U.K. and Australia, as well as the HarperCollins book division, education and marketing assets. News Corp. plans to complete the breakup by the middle of next year.

Also, from The Telegraph:

Mike Darcey: profile

Mike Darcey, an Antipodean like so many of his peers among the senior levels of Rupert Murdoch’s publishing empire, has long been tipped for promotion to one of the key roles with News Corp.

Mike Darcey sits on the boards of National Geographic Channels International and Nickelodeon UK

Mr Darcey, who is replacing his fellow New Zealander Tom Mockeridge as chief executive at New International, publisher of The Sun and The Times, has been chief operating office at BSkyB since November 2006.

As such, he has looked after product development, leading the broadcaster’s push into gaming and its relationship with third parties, including syndication agencies. He previously held the position of director of strategy at BSkyB.

As well as his work at BSkyB, Darcey sits on the boards of National Geographic Channels International and Nickelodeon UK.

He is also on the board of Argos owner, Home Retail Group.

Mr Darcy’s move into an executive role with BSkyB was somewhat of a career change. Prior to this he was an economic advisor with Lexecon, working across a wide range of industries including media and telecoms.

The 47 year-old graduated from Victoria University in Wellington with a degree in Mathematics and Statistics. He also has an MSc from the London School of Economics.

Like many Antipodeans he favours outdoor pursuits in his spare time, skiing, surfing and occasionally playing golf.

Cupcake Digital Releases Brand New Interactive Christmas Storybook App Based On Nick Jr.'s "Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!" Called "Wubbzy's The Night Before Christmas"

From Kidscreen's iKids news column:

Cupcake Digital releases new Wubbzy Christmas app

New York-based developer Cupcake Digital has launched Wubbzy's The Night Before Christmas, its newest app based on the Nick Jr. animated comedy series Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!

The interactive storybook app, based on the popular The Night Before Christmas holiday poem, is now available on iTunes, Google Play, Amazon and Barnes & Noble.

It features three reading modes, read and play/tap functionality, in-story games, narration and sing-along music videos.

Cupcake released its first app based on the TV series, Wubbzy's Pirate Treasure, in spring 2011, which has since become a top-ranked digital storybook on iTunes and Amazon.

Tags: apps, Cupcake Digital, Nick Jr., Wubbzy's The Night Before Christmas