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Tag: Diego

  • Nickelodeon to launch its first theme park in US by 2008

    Nickelodeon to launch its first theme park in US by 2008

    MUMBAI: Viacom kid’s entertainment brand Nickelodeon and Mall of America have announced a partnership to set up the first-ever stand alone Nickelodeon theme park in United States by spring 2008. This initiative is also part of a re-branding initiative of the Mall’s seven-acre amusement park.

    SpongeBob, Dora, Diego & Jimmy to come alive at first Nickelodeon theme park in US
    An official announcement states that the construction will begin after the architectural plans are complete. Though the majority of the creative elements are in development, including the official name of the new park, one of the first rides to be introduced in the park is a roller coaster based the animated Nick series, Avatar: The Last Airbender. Construction is expected to begin in 2007.

    Nickelodeon will also aim to establish its largest retail presence in the world at Mall of America, with a brand new Nick store occupying more than 4,000 square foot space, offering consumers items such as branded tee-shirts, souvenirs, novelties and more. The network will also introduce healthy dining options throughout the parks’ eateries, in line with its four year old health and wellness pro-social initiative for kids and families, Let’s Just Play.

    Throughout the design and creative process, Mall of America and Nickelodeon will conduct research and gain feedback on different concepts and designs by working with an advisory panel of kid experts to weigh in on key decisions and issues, adds the release.

    Nickelodeon Recreation senior vice president Howard Smith. “We’re absolutely thrilled to expand our brand with our first stand alone Nickelodeon theme park and our largest retail presence in such a wonderful destination.”

    As part of the partnership, Nickelodeon will bring its top characters, interactivity, and its signature iconic green slime to Mall of America. The newly revamped park, and the first ever Nickelodeon theme park, will feature new rides, live shows, retail, games and entertainment, and food service establishments themed with top ranking network properties including: SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Danny Phantom, Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius, The Backyardigans and many more. Costumed characters and live interactive entertainment from these Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. shows will also find a home at the Mall.

    Mall of America vice president business development Maureen Bausch. “We expect the newly themed park will draw even more new visitors from around the United States, as well as international travel markets.”

  • Nick US forms alliance with a zoo

    Nick US forms alliance with a zoo

     MUMBAI: Miami Metrozoo, one of the top 10 zoos in the US, the Zoological Society of Florida (ZSF) and US kids broadcaster Nickelodeon have entered into a five-year strategic alliance.

    Nick Jr.’s Go, Diego, Go! will be featured in the Zoo’s newest and largest exhibit, Amazon and Beyond.

    The partnership involves having Diego, a preschool show at the Zoo’s Amazon and Beyond exhibit, when it opens in late 2008. While the 27-acre tropical exhibit is under continued construction, until then, beginning spring 2007, Diego will make a temporary home at the Commercebank Children’s Zoo inside Miami Metrozoo, with special Nick Jr. programming and appearances.

    Nickelodeon executive VP marketing and worldwide partnerships Pam Kaufman says, “This is a truly unique and extremely fitting partnership of which we are thrilled to be a part. Diego is the perfect match for the Amazon and Beyond exhibit since his home on television is in the rainforest. This exhibit brings to life Diego’s sense of adventure and love of animals and science, and provides a tangible experience which kids can learn from, which is wonderful.”

    This exhibit of tropical American flora and fauna will be the largest of any zoo in the US. It will include more than 1,000 animals including harpy eagles, giant river otters (only the third Zoo in the US to house them), anacondas, and Orinoco crocodiles in different settings representing the flooded forest, Amazon forest, and clouded forest, among others.

    ZSF president and CEO Glenn Ekey says, “This high-profile partnership with Nickelodeon and one of the top preschool properties brings us closer to our goal of creating the best Zoo in the country. Children will be elated to see Diego everyday at the Zoo and we are making Amazon and Beyond one of the world’s most varied and comprehensive tropical exhibits .

    “Amazon and Beyond is a demonstration of the fundraising efforts of the ZSF as we partner with Miami Dade County to stretch the public’s commitment to the Zoo.”

    The Go, Diego, Go! presence within the Amazon and Beyond exhibit will include a regularly scheduled stage show, featuring Diego, a host, and various animals with handlers; Diego branded stamping stations at the animal exhibits; field journals that will be distributed to kids to customize as they learn about the animals; and integration of Diego into Zoo marketing collateral and educational materials that are distributed to schools. In addition, some of the animals within the Amazon & Beyond exhibit will be those that are featured in Go, Diego, Go!.

    Amazon and Beyond’s promise to be impressive is backed by the Zoo’s design firm Jones and Jones Architecture of Seattle who has designed many of the sections of the San Diego Zoo. The exhibit is funded by a combination of public and private donors, including the Building Better Communities general obligation bond and The Safe Neighborhood Parks Bond.

     

  • Nick Jr US to celebrate Valentine’s Day with special programming

    Nick Jr US to celebrate Valentine’s Day with special programming

    MUMBAI: In keeping with the theme of Valentine’s Day, Nick Jr. in the Unites States will deliver special treats to preschoolers with three new, holiday-themed half-hour episodes of the animated series Go, Diego, Go!, The Backyardigans, and Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! on 14 February.

    To complement the on-air programming, Nick Jr.’s website (http://www.nickjr.com/) will feature love-themed arts and crafts activities, recipes, e-cards, and customized printables highlighting characters from Dora the Explorer, Blue’s Clues, The Backyardigans and The Wonder Pets!, among others.

    The site will also feature an exclusive Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! printable storybook entitled “Wubbzy Saves Valentine’s Day,” informs an official release.

  • Nickelodeon Preschool unifies Nick Jr. & Noggin creative & management teams

    Nickelodeon Preschool unifies Nick Jr. & Noggin creative & management teams

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon Television executive VP/GM Tom Ascheim has announced that Nick Jr. and Noggin will blend their creative and management teams to live as one unified group — Nickelodeon Preschool.

    The new preschool team will be led by Brown Johnson who has been named Nickelodeon Preschool executive vice president, executive creative director and Noggin general manager. Additionally, it was announced that Teri Weiss has been promoted to senior vice president, development and production for Nickelodeon Preschool and Angela Leaney has been named senior vice president, creative director, Nickelodeon Preschool.

    Johnson, a 19-year veteran of Nickelodeon, has been the driving force behind Nick Jr. and its preschool properties including Blue’s Clues, Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, The Wonder Pets!, The Backyardigans, among others. In her new role, Johnson will oversee development and production for all preschool programming across Nickelodeon networks, including Nick Jr., Nickelodeon’s programming block dedicated to preschoolers and Noggin, Nickelodeon’s commercial-free digital educational network for preschoolers, states an official release.

    “Brown has pioneered genuinely interactive TV and created a place where parents and kids will find the most diverse, unique programs and characters around,” said Ascheim. “Under her leadership, Nickelodeon Preschool will continue these traditions and invent new ways for the audience to play along, new ways for parents to feel great about our brands.”

    Weiss will report to Johnson and expand her role to develop and produce the next generation of series.

    In addition, Leaney will also report to Johnson and will bring her branding experience and creative eye to Nick Jr. and Noggin. In addition, Leaney will partner with Nickelodeon marketing and Nickelodeon digital to continue to build both brands.

  • Nick enters into publishing deal with Activision for CD Roms

    Nick enters into publishing deal with Activision for CD Roms

    MUMBAI: US kids channel Nickelodeon has entered into a distribution agreement with Activision.

    Activision will be the exclusive distributor of three new Nick Jr. PC CD-ROM titles, published by Nickelodeon and based on the preschool series Dora The Explorer, The Backyardigans, and Go, Diego, Go!. The titles will be available
    later this month.

    Dave Oxford, General Manager for Activision Value Publishing

    Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family VP, digital media products Paul Jelinek says, “This is an exciting digital initiative for Nickelodeon since it is the first time our company is publishing computer games on a cross platform.

    “With a leading partner like Activision on-board to distribute these original Nick published games, based on some of our
    leading preschool properties, we are now able to fulfill consumer demand for this kind of entertainment both online and at retail.”

  • Robert Traub is Nick, Viacom Consumer Products senior VP, retail development

    Robert Traub is Nick, Viacom Consumer Products senior VP, retail development

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon and Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) in the US has made Robert Traub the senior Vice President, retail development in the organisation.

    In his expanded role, Traub has been charged with building NVCP’s international retail relationships and maximising world-wide product presence for Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon Movies, Paramount Pictures, Comedy Central, MTVN International and Spike TV licensed properties — all of which are part of the Viacom family.

    Currently, NVCP products are sold in 23 countries worldwide, with an increasing number of retail partners operating globally. NVCP has recently expanded its licensing programmes to include recent hit properties including Go, Diego, Go!; The Backyardigans and Avatar: The Last Airbender.

    Traub will now develop US and international programmes, business models and strategies for the full NVCP portfolio, that increase distribution, sell-in and sell-through in all
    retail classes of trade.