Category: Kids

From 5 February 2007 the channel will be available to Sky Digital viewers in the UK that subscribe to the Kids Mix package. In the UK the channel is already available on NTL and Telewest.

Globally over 50 platforms carry babytv. From the outset, the Baby Channel was envisaged as more than just a television channel. It manifests on all media platforms – television, Internet, DVDs, books – and also in retail and merchandise. The idea is to become a one-stop shop for parents, a single venue where parents can get everything they require, beginning with information.

“Nickelodeon is honored to be a part of this forum today, and to be able to discuss with the President and First Lady, and many leaders in the food, beverage and media industries, how we can all work together to further the solution to childhood obesity,” said Zarghami. “We‘ve taken great strides as a company to encourage healthy lifestyles among kids, and we‘re pleased to see so many corporations collaborate to move the needle on this issue.”

Participants, along with Zarghami, included: Indra Nooyi, CEO, PepsiCo, Inc.; Marc Belton, Executive Vice President, Worldwide Health, Brand and New Business Development, General Mills; Peggy Conlon, President and CEO, The Advertising Council; Alexander “Sandy” Douglas, Jr., President and COO, Coca-Cola North America; Roger Enrico, Chairman of the Board, DreamWorks Animation SKG; Ivelisse Estrada, Senior Vice President, Corporate and Community Relations, Univision Communications, Inc.; Lance Friedmann, Senior Vice President, Global Health and Wellness and Sustainability, Kraft Foods, Inc.; Jeff Montie, Executive Vice President of North America, Kellogg Company; Tom Seddon, CEO, Subway Franchisee Advertising Fund Trust; and Don Thompson, President, McDonald‘s USA.

More than 10 million school-age children in the United States are now considered overweight. The proportion of overweight kids tripled among adolescents over the last 25 years, and nearly doubled for children ages 6 to 12. This increases their risk for adult heart disease and diabetes, lowers life expectancy, and creates additional health-care costs. The Federal government spends more than $600 million annually to fight obesity, adds the release.

The channel claims to have committed more than $30 million and 10 percent of its non-programmed airtime to health and wellness messaging. This year marks the fifth year of Nickelodeon‘s “Let‘s Just Play” pro-social initiative, which is a multi-media campaign that empowers kids to recapture the spirit and benefits of active play for themselves and their communities. The campaign builds on

Nickelodeon‘s connecting with kids through all its lines of business including online, magazines and on-air messaging. Over the past two years, Nickelodeon has also awarded approximately $2.5 million in grants and through its “Let‘s Just Play Giveaway” to schools and after-school programs to help provide resources that will create and expand opportunities for physical play.

Following the ruckus, Cartoon Network‘s parent company Turner Broadcasting released a statement: “We apologize to the citizens of Boston that part of a marketing campaign was mistaken for a public danger.

“We also directed the third-party marketing firm who posted the advertisements to take them down immediately.”

The apology didn‘t satisfy incensed Congressman Ed Markey, who released a statement slamming the campaign: “Scaring an entire region, tying up the T and major roadways, and forcing first responders to spend 12 hours chasing down trinkets instead of terrorists is marketing run amok. It would be hard to dream up a more appalling publicity stunt. Whoever thought this up needs to find another job.”

That the “suspicious devices” had been in place for two to three weeks in Boston and in nine other cities — New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta, Seattle, Portland (Oregon), Austin (Texas), San Francisco and Philadelphia — is the most curious aspect of this terror-filled tale.

Commenting on the announcement, BVITV-AP senior vice president and managing director Steve Macallister said, “We are delighted to be launching Toon Disney on HTV7 and bringing to Vietnam some of Disney‘s most celebrated titles. Around the world the Disney brand represents imagination, fun and positive values, so we are confident that young Vietnamese viewers will be excited by these animated series.”

HTV‘s director general, Huynh Van Nam highlighted, “Ho Chi Minh Television was honoured to be the very first Vietnamese broadcaster to run the two channels, Disney Channel and Playhouse Disney on our pay-tv package HTVC since May 2005. And now, once again we are proud to be the first broadcaster to launch Disney‘s top animated series on our free TV channel – HTV7. We look forward to having Mickey Mouse and Donald join our local children in a new and comfortable playground.”

In 2006, Disney‘s BVITV-AP announced several television licensing deals in Vietnam which include Desperate Housewives, Lost, Alias, Criminal Minds and Ghost Whisperer as well as the first live broadcast of the 78th Annual Academy Awards on HTV7. In November 2005, one of the first Jetix branded animation blocks in Asia Pacific launched on Vietnam Television (VTV).

The Walt Disney Company continues to expand its presence in Vietnam, a strategic market for the Company. In April 2006, Buena Vista International, Inc., The Walt Disney Studios‘ international theatrical distribution unit, announced its entry to the Vietnam market through a distribution deal with MegaStar Joint Venture Company Limited (“MegaStar”). And in May 2006, Disney Consumer Products and East Media Holdings Inc. (EMHI), via its subsidiary EMHI Licensing Inc., announced a master licensing agreement for consumer products for Indochina, including Vietnam, Cambodia and Laos.

Catch SpongeBob on his way to Australia

The idea behind the contest, Nick India vice president and general manager Nina Elavia Jaipuria explains that the theme is centered around the fact that SpongeBob is fatigued after a whole year‘s work and is planning a holiday get away to theme park Nick Central in Australia. Unfortunately, his best buddy Patrick refuses to let him go and it is here that the viewers get involved to help SpongeBob in his efforts to escape from Patrick only to be rewarded with a free trip for one lucky winner and his family to Nick Central. Thus the tagline “SpongeBob Pakro Australia Jao.”

What‘s more, kids can also win television sets, discmans, mobile phones remote controlled cars and MP3 players everyday for spotting SpongeBob getting away from Patrick.

To promote the contest, Nick has adopted a 360 degree approach and has tied up for cross channel promotions with Sony, SAB, MAX, Zee, Zee Cinema and Sahara as well as regional channels like ETV Marathi or Zee Bangla.

Additionally, the campaign will be supported with a school contact programme which will be conducted across 350 schools in Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata reaching out to almost 3, 00,000 kids. “We will distribute activity sheets, stickers, small quizzes to create a very comprehensive programme at schools. Nick will also have ‘meet and greet‘ events with SpongeBob and Patrick in malls and multiplexes during the weekends when the footfalls are high,” says Jaipuria.

Members of the ‘Nicksters Club‘ will also be intimated via direct mailers or post so as to reach out to every Nick fan giving them an opportunity to compete for the grand prize.

The contest has roped in four key sponsors including LIC as the main sponsors, co-presenting sponsors Maggi rice noodles Mania and associate sponsors Perfitti‘s Big Babool and Tata Sky.

The SpongeBob themed initiative follows as a continues and concerted effort by the channel to build a bond between the character and kids, so as to make SpongeBob synonymous with Nick. At the same time this will drive kids to sample the show and up the presence of the channel in India.

By way of on-ground events Nick is going to bring other characters to Indian shores so kids can better relate to them. “In a similar manner, we will bring Dora The Explora for our juniors in India sometime later this year,” adds Jaipuria.