Saturday, July 28, 2007

Nickelodeon to launch virtual world and social network in UK

From Technology Weekly:

Nickelodeon to launch virtual world and social network in UK

Nickelodeon is readying itself for a major push into social networking for children in the UK.

The children's TV channel, owner of nick.co.uk, is preparing to roll out Nicktropolis, its version of virtual world Second Life, in Britain.

It's also preparing to launch a separate social network that will be tailored towards children's needs.

The strategy has emerged following the publication of a report commissioned by Nickelodeon and MTV into the internet habits of 18,000 8-14-year-olds around the world.

Among the headline findings were that UK children are more frequent users of social networks than those in other developed nations, such as Japan and Germany. Some 26% of UK kids use them over three times a week.

The research also found UK social networkers have larger friend networks than those in any other country - 117 on average.

Andy Goodhead, VP of planning and presentation at Nickelodeon, said it's with these findings in mind that it's launching the virtual world, which will compete with a CBBC version currently being planned.

"We'll be looking at launching Nicktropolis in this country," he said. "It's exciting because it has been so successful in the US.

"But there are perils. For children, social networking isn't about making new friends, it's about existing friends. It's the playground brought into the home, which is something we understand," Goodhead added.

"Also, next year we'll be launching a new show with user-generated content for kids. This will be interesting as they're not great at creating it but they love to watch it. For them to create it you need to give them the parameters, and this is what we'll be trying to do."

Goodhead said that the advancement of the internet would sound the death knell for red-button technology.

"We still use it at the moment but feel that it doesn't have a future," he said. "We'll be looking to online for the future."

The domain name www.nicktropolis.co.uk currently redirects to the official Nick Jr. Channel website.

Saturday, July 14, 2007

Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards UK 2007 Press Release

From TX Media:

Nickelodeon Announces Date and Venue
For 1st Ever
Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards UK!
Saturday 20th October 07
At London Excel Centre

**2,000 Venue Audience, All Tickets Will Be Free**
**MTV Networks International Announced As Talent Booking Office**
**Viacom Brand Solutions: Announce Commercial Air-time and Sponsorship Opportunities**
**Event To Be Produced by: Nickelodeon UK Productions**


Bafta Children's Channel of the Year and the UK’s number 1 rating commercial kids’ TV network, Nickelodeon UK is thrilled to announce that London will host the first ever Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards UK on Saturday 20th October 2007, in the capital city’s famous London Excel Centre.

In March 2007, Los Angeles hosted the 20th Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards, the world’s biggest, slimiest and most successful made-for-kids awards show in television history. Celebrating this incredible milestone in children’s television broadcasting, Nickelodeon UK’s first ever Kids’ Choice Awards will star an audience of thousands of kids and feature a spectacular all-star all-sliming line-up from the world of kids’ animation, books, burps, movies, music, sports, television, toys and video gaming.

The UK event will be produced by Nickelodeon UK and the team behind MTV's European
Music Awards.
(Nickelodeon UK is a joint venture with BSkyB and MTV Networks). The show will be Executive Produced by Debbie Phillips (Party In The Park), with Director Phil Heyes (Mercury Prize Awards) and Producer Daniel Baldwin (Ministry of Mayhem). All talent bookings are being spearheaded by MTV Networks International, Head of Celebrity Talent, James Dearlove in the UK and Andrea Fair in the US.

The Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards UK on-air and event sponsorship and commercial air-time are being managed by affiliated company, commercial sales house Viacom Brand Solutions UK (VBS). All commercial deals will be managed by Partnership Director, Jennifer Gibbons.

All tickets to the event will be free, courtesy of Nickelodeon UK. Kids and their guests will be able to win tickets, including VIP passes, throughout the summer and autumn season via Nickelodeon and associated partnerships.

The Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards UK winning nominees will be 100% chosen by
Nickelodeon viewers. Kids’ will be able to vote digitally at nick.co.uk and through red-button facility on the Nickelodeon channels. Nominees will be announced in July.

Howard Litton, SVP & Managing Director Nickelodeon UK said: "We are proud to be bringing the Kids' Choice Awards to the UK for the first time this year. Nickelodeon is dedicated to making and commissioning the very best in high quality and innovative entertainment. Our viewers deserve the biggest and best event in children’s television, we're going to deliver a spectacular live event on stage and on TV".

Continued…

Notes to Editors
Nickelodeon UK is watched by over 9.6 million people every month and is the number 1 outlet to directly reach kids aged between 2 and 12 years old and their families. The Nickelodeon Kids Choice Awards currently airs around the globe to an audience in excess of 205 million Choice Awards currently airs around the globe to an audience in excess of 205 million households. In 2006, Italy launched it's first ever Kids Choice Awards in Milan, and later this year Nickelodeon in Australia, Germany and Holland will join London in hosting their own special events.

Nickelodeon UK broadcasts five entertainment channels dedicated to kids, including Bafta Children's Channel of the Year Nickelodeon, Nick Replay and NickToons for kids aged 6-12 years old and pre-school specialist channels Nick Jr (Broadcast Best Specialist Channel) and Nick Jr 2 plus Nick Jr on TMF for Freeview subscribers. The network is the official home to hugely successful shows including SpongeBob Squarepants, Drake and Josh, Nicktrition, Dora the Explorer and LazyTown.


For further information about the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards UK contact:

Print and Online PR:
Amazing Media
- Jacquie Chalmers
- Lisa Faichney
- Victoria Rose
Telephone: 0207 292 8860
Email: firstname@amazingmedia.co.UK

TV and Radio PR:
TX Media
- Tony Barker
- Dawn Estefan
Telephone: 0208 883 4244 / 07813 336664
Email: tony@tx-media.co.UK
dawn@tx-media.co.u k

Monday, July 09, 2007

Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards UK Nomination Show To Premiere On 30th July 2007

From The Satellite and Cable Broadcasters Group:

On 30 July the series [Slime Across the UK] will also premiere the first Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards UK Nomination Show. Thereafter the schedule will feature Kids' Choice Awards Nominations Specials every Friday, featuring candidates for Best Film, Best Band, Best TV Show, Best Cartoon, Best Book and Best Singer.

Up to 50 viewers will see their names on screen, announcing they have won tickets to the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards UK ceremony in London on 20 October.

Nickelodeon UK To Premiere Slime Across the UK On 30th July at 11am

From The Satellite and Cable Broadcasters Group:

Nickelodeon: Slime Across the UK 30 July, 11am

Nickelodeon’s award-winning live and interactive TV departments are to join forces this summer to produce 4 weeks of summer holiday continuity programming – themed Slime Across the UK.

Hosted on the road by Ugly Mark and Laura Hamilton, and in the studio slime laboratory by Ed and Sy from Nickelodeon's meTV, the series will be live from a different UK and Ireland beach resort every day in August.

Each daily show features four children, who spend two hours being slime students – complete with lab coats and protective goggles. They take part in a variety of experiments and games while trying to create the perfect slime formula. They must each stand in the slime shower and try to make a faultless speech. Every time they stumble… they get slimed.

Viewers will interact with the live show via web and red button interactivity.
On 30 July the series will also premiere the first Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards UK Nomination Show. Thereafter the schedule will feature Kids' Choice Awards Nominations Specials every Friday, featuring candidates for Best Film, Best Band, Best TV Show, Best Cartoon, Best Book and Best Singer.

Up to 50 viewers will see their names on screen, announcing they have won tickets to the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards UK ceremony in London on 20 October.

Thursday, July 05, 2007

Nickelodeon UK Announces New Interactive Summer Roadshow - Slime Across the UK

From Broadcast Freelancer:

Nickelodeon's live and interactive departments are set to make a new interactive roadshow programme to coincide with the live summer tour Slime Across the UK, hosted on the road by Ugly Mark and Laura Hamilton. The series will be filmed live from a different UK and Ireland beach resort every day in August. The show will air daily from 11am to 1pm for four weeks from 30 July.