ITV

Tag: MTVNE

  • Nick to launch in Germany in September

    Nick to launch in Germany in September

    MUMBAI: MTV Networks Europe (MTVNE) has announced that it will launch kids’ channel and web site Nickelodeon in Germany on 12 September 2005. This will be part of the company’s commitment to providing high quality, complementary programming on its four channels in the market.

    A new cross-brand advertising sales house, Viacom Brand Solutions, has been created to market the portfolio of the channels. Additional investments will include the launch of new programming on both Viva and MTV in Germany.

    MTV Networks Europe CEO Somon Guild says, “We are committed to offering a broad range of programming to German audiences through diverse, complementary channels. The launch of Nickelodeon as a dedicated channel created specifically for German kids is a significant development in the overall expansion of the brand across Europe. By launching Viacom Brand Solutions, we will offer clients unparalleled flexibility through customised, multi-platform sponsorship opportunities targeting kid, youth and adult audiences in Germany.”

    Nickelodeon will be a locally managed and programmed channel and Web site seen in 28.6 million German households. It will feature animated series such as the global phenomenon, SpongeBob SquarePants, Danny Phantom, Avatar and Jimmy Neutron, as well as the Emmy nominated preschool series, Dora the Explorer and Blue’s Clues. Live-action series will include Drake and Josh and Unfabulous, starring Julia Roberts’ niece Emma Roberts. In the
    evening Nickelodeon will switch to series for a 14+ demo.

    Local productions and acquisitions will be announced shortly. Nickelodeon will replace the music channel MTV2 Pop in the market, broadcasting alongside MTVNE’s other German channel offerings that include VIVA, VIVA PLUS and MTV. The newly launched Viacom Brand Solutions sales house will market MTVNE’s new German channel family.

    A one-stop shop, Viacom Brand Solutions (VBS) will plan and develop creative, as well as deliver airtime, sponsorships, promotions, events and digital media opportunities for clients. With successful launches in the UK, Ireland and Spain, VBS will work with German agencies and clients to deliver results driven solutions based around its kid and youth entertainment brands.

    Viva and MTV’s complementary positioning will provide German youth audiences with greater music and programming diversity. Viva will address viewers with mostly German artists, chart-oriented pop music and a quirky programming schedule. MTV will skew towards edgier programming mixed with international and trend setting music play lists. 17 new VIVA and MTV shows will premiere over the coming months. New MTV shows include Pimp My Bicycle (a local take on the international hit Pimp My Ride). New Viva shows include Shibuya (a karaoke challenge), Liebe, Sex & Videos (a music and talk show offering advice on relationships) and Mein Block (a real life soap about family, friends and hip-hop).

     

  • British PM Tony Blair on MTV’s global forum

    British PM Tony Blair on MTV’s global forum

    LONDON: MTV’s global forum has chosen British prime minister Tony Blair to field questions from 40 young people hailing from Europe, the Middle East and the United States during the hour-long programme.

    MTV Networks Europe will produce the special titled “An MTV Forum with Tony Blair: Is war the answer?” It is scheduled to begin airing on MTV channels in Australia, Asia, Latin America, the Middle East and the United States starting 7 March 2003. The forum will be hosted by Trevor Nelson of MTV Base.

    The forum will likely follow the same format and tone as last year’s “Be heard: an MTV global discussion with Colin Powell,” in which young people from around the world spoke with the US secretary of state Powell about the threat of terrorism and the United States’ military action in Afghanistan.

    A digitalsky report adds that Viacom, MTVNE’s parent company, says that the audience will reflect a “balanced cross-section” of MTV’s 16-24 target demographic.

    MTV Networks Europe president and CEO Brent Hansen says: “MTV Europe’s philosophy is to offer young people from all over Europe the opportunity for open dialogue on a number of issues, regardless of race, religion or political standpoint. This forum will not be a vehicle for any political message; instead, we wish to offer an open and unscripted dialogue between Prime Minister Tony Blair and young people in Europe. MTV’s European audience are particularly attuned to the issue of war and an MTV forum will offer a lively debate with a truly pan-European perspective.”

    Tony Blair: a profile

    At the age of 43 , Tony Blair became the youngest Prime Minister since Lord Liverpool in 1812. The son of a barrister and lecturer, Blair was born in Edinburgh, but spent most of his childhood in Durham. At the age of 14 he returned to Edinburgh to finish his education at Fettes School. He studied law at Oxford, and went on to become a barrister himself.

    After standing unsuccessfully for the Labour Party in a by-election, Blair went on to win the seat of Sedgefield in the 1983 General Election, aged 30.

    Blair made a speedy rise through the ranks, being promoted first to the shadow Treasury front bench in 1985. He subsequently served as a trade and industry spokesman, before being elected to the shadow cabinet in 1988 where he was made shadow secretary of state for Energy. In 1989 he moved to the employment brief.

    After the 1992 election Labour’s new leader, John Smith, promoted Blair to shadow home secretary. It was in this post that Blair made famous his pledge that Labour would be tough on crime, tough on the causes of crime.

    Blair immediately launched his campaign for the modernisation of the Labour Party, determined to complete the shift further towards the political centre which he saw as essential for victory. The debate over Clause 4 of the party’s constitution was considered the crucial test of whether its members would commit to Blair’s project. He removed the commitment to public ownership, and at this time coined the term New Labour.

    The Labour Party won the 1997 General Election by a landslide, after 18 years in Opposition.

    The government began to implement a far-reaching programme of constitutional change, putting the question of devolution to referendums in Scotland and Wales.

    An elected post of Mayor of London was established at the head of a new capital-wide authority, and all but 92 hereditary peers were removed from the House of Lords in the first stage of its reform. The government has also implemented an investment programme of ?42 billion in its priority areas of health and education.

    Blair was re-elected with another landslide majority in the 2001 General Election.

    Blair is married to the barrister Cherie Booth QC, and they have four children. Their youngest, Leo, was the first child born to a serving prime minister in over 150 years.

    One hopes that the Indian audiences will also get a chance to view the proceedings of the MTV Global Forum live from 10 Downing Street.