ITV

Category: Television

  • Times Now VP and business head Partho Das Gupta quits

    Times Now VP and business head Partho Das Gupta quits

    MUMBAI: Times Global Broadcasting vice-president and business head Partho Das Gupta is said to have put in his papers, according to reliable sources. Though Das Gupta’s next destination is yet to be revealed, Indiantelevision.com learns that, Das Gupta will continue to work in the media and entertainment space.

    When contacted, the Times Global Broadcasting spokesperson refused to comment on Das Gupta’s departure. 

    Das Gupta played a key role in the birth of the Times Now and also witnessed the transition of the then proposed business channel to the general English news channel. He was also instrumental in executing the collaboration deal between The Times of India Group and Reuters, the international multimedia news agency. 

    At Times Global Broadcasting, he was responsible for managing the marketing, sales and distribution aspects of the pay channel. He was responsible for setting up the distribution team. 

    A qualified mechanical engineer and an alumnus of the Indian Institute of Management, Calcutta, Das Gupta had been associated with the Times Group for last seven and a half years. He had been actively involved with brands including The Economic Times, Times Multimedia and the ET Intelligence Group, the research wing of The Economic Times. He has also worked with companies like Crisil, Union Carbide and Tetra Pak, to name a few.

  • Hutch Kalakkapovathu Yaaru Special on Vijay TV

    Hutch Kalakkapovathu Yaaru Special on Vijay TV

    The judges chinni Jayanth and Madan Bob, along with the host Uma Riaz Khan are real boost to the participants as they have been encouraging the new talents. Each week a ‘comedy king’ is chosen. Viewers can also take part in the SMS and online contests and choose their favourite comedians. Log on to vijay.indya.com to choose your favourite participants and win prizes!

    These comedy kings are sure to shine in silver screen in future, as the response from the viewers is tremendous. These participants who are stepping on to the stage for the first time also have performed astonishingly and have scored high marks in the contest. People who had come from small towns from Tuticorin, Trichy, Coimbatore and Madurai are now become popular amongst the viewers. Their comical performances are totally based on incidents and culture of their hometowns.

    Second Semifinals contestants are:

    Muthu Irulapandi from Madurai:

    Muthu gives a brief introduction about what comedy is all about and its basics. His jokes and themes were out of his personal experience. His jokes mainly revolve around family, children, couple & student comedy relationships. He says, “so far I have participated in more than 3 episodes of KPY, but every show gives me a fresh experience and enables me to know what’s happening around me as it generates new ideas”.

    Kovai Ashok from Coimbatore

    Kovai Ashok started his performance with automobile sound effects specially auto rickshaw…He made many modulation in his vocal to bring out various sounds of ‘Auto’ when it is driven by different Tamil film stars like ‘vennira aadai’ Murthi, Raguvaran, Surli Rajan and Goundamani… He says, “I am an ardent fan of all the comedians of black and while films. I used to admire them and wanted to become a good comedian. I am happy that my talent is recognized and now am able to perform in front of audience and make them laugh”.

    Robo Shankar from Chennai

    Robo Shankar performs the AIDS awareness program keeping humor as base; leading Tamil film star’s voices used for ‘Aids’ awareness. ‘Captain’ Vijaykanth and Raguvaran’ were the ones which got more applause. He says, ‘Kalakkapovathu Yaaru has helped me bring forth the talent from our very old Tamil movies that has been lying within me all these years”.

    Gopinathan from Chennai

    Gopi presented a song from Vasoolraja M.B.B.S (Kalaka Povadhu Yaaru) with this opening line he preceded the song with the lyrics about the show KalakkaPovadhu Yaaru.

    He performed a mime of a person got the habit of digging his ears with feathers finally he shows how a person suffer to take the feather from his ears. He says, ‘it’s a great platform for persons who are craving for a chance to prove their talents, thanks for shows like this’.

    MICHEL AUGUSTIN:

    He enacted a situation in which comedy actors Vadivelu & Vivek were caught in a wrestling arrina and how they happened to escape from the place. And he played the Trumpet music using his vocal sound for the patriotic (Jahe Jahahe Achcha). He says, ‘I am happy that on watch my performance people do laugh forgetting their distress at least for a while’.

    Through their rib-tickling jokes and performance the chosen ‘comedy king’ will be given a chance to host an all-new comedy show on Vijay TV. The finals will be held on 03 March 2006, as one and half hour show as well.

  • Nick US’ broadband platform TurboNick 2.0 gets 19 million content streams

    Nick US’ broadband platform TurboNick 2.0 gets 19 million content streams

    MUMBAI: US kids channel Nickelodeon has launched an enhanced version of TurboNick its broadband video platform. It has called it TurboNick 2.0.

    It has continuous video streaming, customised play lists, content in multiple languages, the ability to search the broad Nickelodeon content library.

    Since its initial soft launch (20 September to 1 October), TurboNick 2.0 has generated close to 19 million content streams, an increase of 911 per cent versus last year’s equivalent time period, which is almost 10 times the amount of streams for the same time period in 2005.

    TurboNick 2.0 is averaging 236,000 daily unique visitors, a 489 per cent increase over last year. TurboNick is one of several multiplatform experiences that allow kids to access Nickelodeon content, joining its Video on Demand offerings on cable, podcasts, Nick Arcade, and video clips through wireless providers, among others. In third quarter 2006, Nickelodeon television took the lead across all kid and tween demos, and achieved record Video on Demand numbers.

    With turbonick kids now have the opportunity to control their individual entertainment experiences and become ‘programmers’ with mash-up applications, the ability to rate videos, or interactive games. Featuring Flash video technology, TurboNick 2.0 now allows PC and Mac users to access hundreds of Nick long and short form programming videos online, including select new episodes immediately after they air on the network.

    Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group executive VP digital media Stephen Youngwood says, “In keeping with our philosophy of putting kids first in everything we do, we are thrilled to provide these unparalleled features on TurboNick 2.0 that will empower kids to take charge of their internet experience. TurboNick 2.0 not only provides a hub for our vast library of content, but allows kids to become ‘programmers’ and ‘creators’ in their own right.”

    TurboNick premiered as the first broadband player for kids in July 2005 to compliment Nickelodeon’s on-air programming, and initially featured 20 hours of new programming every week organized by channels. TurboNick 2.0 is organised by content channels as well as by property icons. Users are able to search from a library of hundreds of long and short form videos of Nickelodeon favorites. And the video streaming on TurboNick 2.0 never stops, even as users watch, browse, interact with and personalize their experience.

    TurboNick 2.0 is also scheduled to rollout in international territories including Germany, Italy and the United Kingdom in late 2006/early 2007.

    Nickelodeon Television executive VP. GM Tom Ascheim says, “With access to a vast library of great Nickelodeon content and unprecedented user flexibility, TurboNick 2.0 is keeping our audience connected with our programming like never before.

    “The applications we are creating for kids on the internet are distinct and age appropriate. Whether it’s creating their favorite Avatar and Mr. Meaty play lists, or mashing up SpongeBob clips to share with their friends, kids rule on TurboNick 2.0. We also plan to use kids’ feedback and user generated content to inform what takes place on our air.”

    TurboNick 2.0 also provides appointment viewing for users with special content features like the Teenick Extra Scoop. This programming block offers extras or behind-the-scenes content, sneak peeks at next week’s new Teenick episodes, new games and more, in addition to the latest TEENick episodes immediately after they debut on-air.

    The TurboNick 2.0 features:

    Play lists – This a new option that allows users to drag and drop videos to create play lists, trade play lists with friends and send videos through links via email. With “My TurboNick,” users can save their play lists or other’s favorite play lists or videos.

    Nick Mash-ups – Users create their own mini-movies using clips, stills and audio from videos within TurboNick 2.0, using provided graphics and transitions. These mash-ups can be displayed on TurboNick 2.0 or emailed to friends, or displayed on users’ personalized internet pages. Some content might even be chosen to air on Nickelodeon.

    User ratings – Users are able rate videos and the top rated videos become a category on TurboNick 2.0. Select videos will be highlighted editorially on the site.

    Search function – allows users to search for their favorite videos from hundreds of videos from the Nick library by character or show.

    Games in TurboNick – TurboNick 2.0 offers trivia, quizzes, sliders, memory games and other basic level casual gaming to play while the video player streams content. It will soon feature interactive video-related gaming, which will correlate directly with the property you are viewing.

    New languages – Content is now available in Spanish, German, and French, and will soon roll out in Italian and other languages in the coming months.

    Skinnable designs – the player will, in the future, be customisable with themes and colour.

  • MTNL to expand IPTV service by 74 channels

    MTNL to expand IPTV service by 74 channels

    MUMBAI: State-owned telecom major MTNL has added 74 channels after the initial launch of 26 free-to-air channels, earlier this month as part of its IPTV (Internet Protocol Television) service. 

    MTNL had signed a deal with Time Broadband Services and its Israeli partner Optibase to develop and handle the content delivery network for its IPTV services.

    The state-owned telecom provider recently launched IPTV services, through Time Broadband, utilizing Optibase’s IPTV MGW 5100 platforms for its digital IPTV head-end operation at the company’s network operating centre, according to an official statement.

    Time Broadband will have Israel-based Infogate Online as its middleware vendor while Verimatrix Inc will provide content protection solutions. The digital headend will be from Optibase. 
    Together with Time Broadband, Optibase is enabling the launch of the IPTV services in Delhi.

    Service provider, Time Broadband is geared up to deploy IPTV services on both TV & PC delivery, through network and internet service providers across the country. 

    Following the initial deployment of Optibase MGW 5100 IP video head-ends providing 26 channels of Telco-grade streaming, Optibase will now be supplying an additional 74 channels, totaling 100 MPEG-4 Part 10 H.264/AVC channels.

    “During the initial deployment, Optibase demonstrated their extensive IPTV know-how relating to H.264 AVC. We were impressed by the quality of the Optibase solution and the superior level of service. Therefore we decided to select the Optibase MGW 5100 integrated digital head ends for the full-scale commercial launch,” said Time Broadband Services’ MD Sujata Dev.

    Optibase CFO Danny Lustiger stated, “We are delighted with the success of our first installation of Time Broadband at MTNL Delhi Network and look forward to a long-term collaboration with our globally eminent CDN partners, driving the large scale deployment of IPTV in India.”

    IPTV is a system wherein digital quality television service is delivered to consumers using broadband connections.

  • Nick celebrates ‘Worldwide Day of Play’ on 30 Sept; analyses American leisure habits

    Nick celebrates ‘Worldwide Day of Play’ on 30 Sept; analyses American leisure habits

    MUMBAI: As Nickelodeon celebrates Worldwide Day of Play by “going dark” on air 30 September to encourage kids to get up, go out and go play, Leisure Trends Group takes a look at recent trends in America’s leisure habits.

    Sponsored by Nickelodeon and its partners, Worldwide Day of Play is the highlight of its Let’s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge that has evolved into a health and wellness movement. Leisure Trends, the market research company has conducted an ongoing US survey to examine the changing landscape of Americans at play and publishes results in its quarterly LeisureTRAK.

    Leisure Trends data confirms Worldwide Day of Play is well timed to encourage continued activity when most households are burrowing in for winter. On average, as Americans move from summer into fall, they lose 20 minutes of leisure time per day, according to Leisure Trends Research director Laurel Hyslop, PhD. Americans lose an additional 10 minutes of leisure time once winter rolls around, she added.

    As time outdoors declines, TV becomes a bigger lure. Americans begin spending 13 more minutes on average a day watching television in September as compared to summer months. In fact, when asked what leisure activities they participated in the previous day, an analysis indicate outdoor sports decline 28 per cent from summer to fall and decline 40 per cent from fall to winter.

    In addition to seasonal changes in leisure habits, Leisure Trends has identified differences in leisure motivations and activities Americans pursue, with the tragedy of 9/11 marking a pivotal shift in priorities. Spending time with family and friends has always been a high priority, but since 9/11 it has become the top priority – moving ahead of the two traditional top choices, reading and TV. Family and friends matter, and Americans are finding time for them. This trend cuts across all ages and includes both sexes. As a favourite activity, socializing has risen from 23 per cent of Americans prior to 9/11 to 36 percent more recently.

    According to Hyslop another key trend is Americans 16 and older are moving away from team sports to individual sports. Team sports require more time, both to play and to organize playing partners. With all the things Americans want to do in their leisure, individual sports provide the most flexibility.

    “These trends also point to the shift toward pleasure and away from competition that has altered the very hierarchy of leisure motivations,” Hyslop said. The company has been studying leisure motivators for the past 15 years, finding they yield stronger consumer insights than such traditional dimensions as demography and geography. “Pleasure-seeking now exerts a stronger pull than competition in determining leisure pursuits. The changes point toward a growing desire to have fun and a declining interest in competition and getting ahead in life.”

    The clearest manifestation of the changing motivations is the long-term growth in participation in entertainment activities, up from 42 percent to 52 percent since 1990. “The ongoing battle between sport and entertainment will determine the future of leisure time in America,” Hyslop said.

    The absolute authority on leisure in America, Leisure Trends Group provides powerful insight into the changing habits of America at play and the implications to business.

  • Catvision undergoes restructuring

    Catvision undergoes restructuring

    MUMBAI: Catvision, a provider of cable TV and broadband networking products and services to the cable television and hospitality industry, has initiated a restructuring of its operations into two main divisions: cable television equipment (CATV) and interactive television systems (ITV).

    The two businesses of the company, namely sales of cable television equipment and sales of interactive television systems, are expected to grow with the implementation of the conditional access system (CAS). The CATV division develops manufactures and markets networking equipment used in cable television system wherein the major client base is cable operators.

    In the cable television sphere, the competition from direct-to-home (DTH) is expected to trigger digitalization of cable networks in India. It is expected to provide a huge hardware opportunity since this would require large scale upgradation of all existing networks. This in turn would provide a business opportunity for the company.

    According to a media market analyst, “In case the cable distribution business becomes more organised with the implementation of CAS, the fortunes of the company will turn.” DTH itself is set to create a massive market for dishes, set top boxes and IF distribution system (for multi-dwelling units), all markets the company can address.

    The government’s intention to implement of CAS in Delhi, Mumbai and Kolkata by 1 January 2007 and also the aggressive launch of DTH services by Dish TV and Tata-Sky, has for the first time provided a serious competitive threat to cable operators. These developments are likely to transform the cable television landscape. The only way forward for cable operators is to digitalize their networks and professionalise their services. Only then they will be in a position to compete with DTH, avers the analyst.

    In the US, cable still maintains 80 per cent of the market share. If digitization were to happen – and there is every reason to believe it will – it will throw up an enormous market for digital cable hardware. In addition, manufactures of cable television equipment are equipped to manufacture DTH products since they are technically similar.

    To address these above business opportunities Catvision has set up a manufacturing facility at Dehra Dun in Uttar Pradesh for digital cable and DTH products and to expand its marketing operations in ITV and CCTV.

    The company has also forayed into security systems, starting with high-end digital CCTV systems targeted at premium hotels and shopping malls, which is driven by the heightened security risk perceived by public institutions from terrorist threat.

    The ITV division installs, operates and maintains cable satellite television and interactive television systems. Major customers are premium hotels in India and the Middle East (where the company operates through distributors).

    US based KoolConnect Technologies, a supplier for in-room entertainment solutions recently picked up a small stake in Catvision through a preferential allotment.

    The tie-up will enable Catvision to offer services like Video On Demand entertainment and information systems, high-speed internet access, virtual concierge services, which has become standard in premium hotels the world over. Interestingly, the company has secured a contract with the Hyatt group of hotels to provide multimedia interactive products and services.
    The company has also joined hands with a UK based firm Dedicated Micros, worldwide provider for CCTV surveillance applications and will be offering their systems in India. With this tie-up, the company believes it can address another emerging segment — shopping malls, which also have concerns of security.

  • Neo Sports launches 1 October; looks to lock in 8 sponsors to 5-year deals

    Neo Sports launches 1 October; looks to lock in 8 sponsors to 5-year deals

    MUMBAI: Nimbus has announced that its cricket centric TV channel Neo Sports, positioned as “The Home of Indian Cricket on TV” will debut on 1 October with the Challenger Series for NKP Salve Trophy.

    Nimbus Communications chairman Harish Thawani tells Indiantelevision.com, “Our internal benchmarks are the soft launch on 1 October, commercial launch on 1 November. 1 January 2007 is when we want to arrive as a globally benchmarked competitive sports network. Before that date comes I can say that we will have eight sponsors locked in on five year contracts. They want it. People approach us and say, ‘When do we sit down and do a five year deal?’

    “Between the eight sponsors that we will have locked in, 60 per cent of the channel’s inventory will have been snapped up.

    “They do not believe in the artificial division of three and a half or four years. The momentum anyway gets carried to the next period. The eight charter partners will enjoy the best positions and exclusivity on cricket advertising.”
    Soon after the comercial launch of Neo Sports, will come a second channel Neo Sports Plus, which will look to converge somewhere between sports and entertainment. And some time in the second half of 207 will come the sports news channel – Neo Sports News.

    Speaking about Neo Sports Plus, Thawani says, “We had earlier scheduled to launch it in the second quarter of 2007 which is April – June. But I can confirm that we are likely to bring that forward. We have been able to get ready faster. It is running ahead of schedule. For Neo Sports, the momentum will start building up towards the end of December just ahead of the first major international series.”

    Neo Sports has entered into an exclusive distribution tie-up with Star India, which will roll out over 10,000 decoders in the coming weeks to take Neo Sports across the length and breadth of this country. The channel will be available on Cable, DTH and new media platforms.

    Speaking about the pricing for the two channels, Thawani says, “We are looking to charge a premium price. Broadcasters so far have not had the guts to charge the price that they feel reflects the true value of their product. What I can confirm is that our pricing will be considerably higher than ESPN Star Sports.

    “Neo Sports is premium not just in cricket but also in product feel, the technology investment we are making. We are building up for high definition ready. We are the first company to install complete station automation software for the channel from day one. When you invest and create a premium product you expect premium pricing.”

    Neo Sports will focus on various cricket related programming, live coverage of both domestic and international cricket, interviews with top cricketers, analysis and sports entertainment. Neo Sports subscribers, specifically for domestic cricket, would be able to enjoy features like top angle shots and pan vision, speedometer, 3D animation and graphics, spin vision camera for tight bowl vision and spin action, informs an official release.

    Neo Sports will broadcast on an average three international cricket series every year featuring India and six domestic tournaments, in addition to which it will broadcast several other international cricket matches. It promises to broadcast close to 150 days a year of live cricket.

    Among the key people who have recently joined Neo Sports include Shashi Kalathil as CEO, Hitesh Sabharwal as VP affiliate sales, Ranjith Rajasekharan as VP marketing, Shakeel Memon as creative director and Sonali Rege as GM production.

  • BBC focusses on US mid terms elections with ‘USA Direct’

    BBC focusses on US mid terms elections with ‘USA Direct’

    MUMBAI: Next month in the lead-up to the mid-term elections in the US on 7 November, the BBC will have a USA Direct season.

    This will feature news coverage, interviews and documentaries looking at American society, culture, economics, and politics. In addition some of BBC World’s regular programmes such as flagship interview programme HARDtalk, technology weekly Click and the interactive multimedia discussion programme Have Your Say, will offer an assessment of ‘the state of the nation’, asking has the US reached its peak as the world’s only superpower?

    World Business Report will be reporting on the topical issue of immigration and the role of immigrants in the work force. A special It’s My Country Too airs on 21 October at 7:40 pm. It’s five years since 9/11, and the US is a changed country, especially for Muslims. Islam is one of the fastest-growing religions in the US, yet one in four Americans regard Muslims living among them with suspicion. As part of the USA Direct season, It’s My Country Too follows Salman Ahmed, the founding member of successful rock band Junoon, as he explores what it means to be an American Muslim. Salman talks to taxi drivers, students and law reform campaigners, including a mother whose desperate search for her Muslim son after 9/11 turned her into a political activist.

    The World Debate Advancing Sands: Deserts and Migration airs on 14 October at 5:40 pm. A dust bowl the size of the US threatens our world. The UN says that desertification is forcing 100 million people to leave their homes. Marking the UN Year Of Deserts and Desertification, The World Debate comes from the headquarters of the World Conservation Union in Switzerland. Six experts will take questions from viewers on the Internet on why so little has been done to halt the degradation of fertile lands and what can now be done to ensure that tens of millions more are not forced to leave their villages.

    Is A Free Media Essential For Development? airs on 28 October at 5:40 pm. ‘Communications for Development’ is a new and expanding field, which places the media at the heart of international development efforts. At its basic level it’s about using the media, for instance, to encourage people to wash their hands before eating or to use condoms – simple, non-controversial campaigns that can potentially save millions of lives. However increasingly the media’s role in promoting good governance is being recognised by donor countries, and not always welcomed by the governments of some developing countries. Many place restrictions on their domestic media, with actual or self-censorship rife.

  • BBC, Microsoft in content alliance

    BBC, Microsoft in content alliance

    MUMBAI: UK pubcaster The BBC and software major Microsoft have signed a nonexclusive memorandum of understanding (MoU).

    This will define the framework within which the companies can explore opportunities for the delivery and consumption of BBC content and the evolution of next-generation broadcasting.

    BBC DG Mark Thompson and BBC director of new media and technology Ashley Highfield met Microsoft Chairman Bill Gates to officially sign the memorandum of understanding and discuss the BBC’s digital strategy. This includes plans for its online archive, for a radically re-invented Web site in the Web 2.0 world — a second generation of Internet-based services — and for ways to share its online content in the future.

    Thompson said, “We are currently witnessing unprecedented rates of change in technology and audience expectations. To ensure that the BBC is able to embrace the creative challenges of the digital future, we need to forge strategic partnerships with technology companies and distributors for the benefit of licence payers.”

    Gates says, “Microsoft’s strength is in driving digital innovation, and our vision is to open up rich, new consumer experiences that allow people to enjoy digital content anytime, anywhere and on any device.”

    “This vision fits squarely with the BBC’s charter to lead the industry in delivering content that is compelling and accessible. I’m delighted that we’re taking this important step, and I look forward to working together to develop new models for content delivery and consumption.”

    Highfield said, “Microsoft is not just a key supplier to the BBC, it is also a key gateway to audiences that the BBC needs to reach through Web services it runs like MSN and Windows Live(TM) Messenger, and hardware such as Xbox and the Windows Media Center. The BBC needs to work with all players in this space to make sure our programmes and content are enjoyed by the widest possible audience, without always having to come to bbc.co.uk to find it. The learnings from our US visit will very much inform our thinking on the BBC’s creative future.”

    The MoU aims to identify areas of common interest between the BBC and Microsoft on which a strategic alliance could be developed. Areas of potential investigation and collaboration include search and navigation, distribution, and content enablement. Any actual procurements of new technology, or launch of new services by the BBC, would be subject to appropriate regulatory approval.

  • Nickelodeon’s ‘Let’s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge’ kicks off in US

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation has kicked off the “Go Healthy Challenger Search 2007,” today, a nationwide US campaign that seeks to find the kids who will be featured in next year‘s Let‘s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge.


    Kids are encouraged to send in personal home videos sharing how they want to “go healthy” and why they want to be a 2007 role model for the campaign. The Let‘s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge follows real kids on-air on their personal journeys towards healthier lifestyles. It is part of Nickelodeon‘s Let‘s Just Play pro-social initiative, with partner the Alliance for a Healthier Generation — a joint initiative between the American Heart Association and William J. Clinton Foundation — to encourage kids to participate in active, healthy and playful lifestyles, informs an official release.


    To be considered as a Let‘s Just Play Go Healthy Challenger, kids will need to submit a “Performer Application,” which is available for download on http://www.nick.com/letsjustplay, along with no more than 10 minutes of home video footage.



    The 2007 Let‘s Just Play Go Healthy Challengers will be determined in early November. The chosen participants will be notified and those selected will be posted on http://www.nick.com/letsjustplay.


    Nickelodeon and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation will also be holding local casting calls open to kids on 14 and/or 15 October. The casting calls will consist of a videotaped interview, in which kids will be asked to answer questions about their health goals, how they would like to achieve those and why? A location for the casting call in New York is still to be determined.


    In addition, local American Heart Association divisions and Boys and Girls Clubs of America will support the casting process in various cities. Local volunteers will be on-site (specific venues to be determined) with required paperwork and video cameras to create the home video footage for kids to participate. Kids attending any casting calls are required to be accompanied by a legal guardian to provide permission to participate.


    The solicitation for the 2007 Go Healthy Challengers begins on 30 September, marking the network‘s Worldwide Day of Play celebration which includes the Let‘s Just Play Go Healthy Celebration finale at 7:30 pm ET/PT, adds the release.


    The 2006 Let‘s Just Play Go Healthy Challenge inspired more than 150,000 kids across the country to “go healthy” and become more active by following four real kids on-air in their personal health quests, and with tactical online tips that kids could use in their own lives. The Go Healthy Challenge, an on-air and grassroots campaign developed by Nickelodeon and the Alliance for a Healthier Generation encourages real kids to make their lives, schools and communities healthier.


    Nickelodeon is currently in its fourth year of its award-winning pro-social initiative, Let‘s Just Play. In November 2005, Let‘s Just Play entered into a partnership with the Alliance for a Healthier Generation to combat the spread of childhood obesity. The three organizations combined forces on a comprehensive media and public awareness campaign, encouraging young people to engage in healthy and active lifestyles.