MUMBAI: Viacom has appointed NTDV Media as its exclusive sales and marketing partner for Nick, the kids’ channel from MTV Networks stable.
This is the second such deal that NDTV Media has signed in recent times, following an agreement with MSN India.
Keep tuned in for more details.
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.
MUMBAI: MTV Asia has launched a Nickelodeon block on Malaysia’s terrestrial television channel, TV9. Branded as Nick di 9, it will reach over seven million households in Malaysia.
Nickelodeon’s properties include SpongeBob SquarePants, Dora the Explorer and The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius. Dubbed in Bahasa Melayu, Nick di 9 will be aired daily for three hours from 3pm to 6pm. Now kids in Malaysia can also enjoy these award-winning pre-school shows including Blue’s Clues and Dora the Explorer on Mondays to Thursday; while from Friday to Sundays, they can look forward to hilarious fun with Nicktoons like SpongeBob SquarePants and The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius.
TV 9 is Malaysia’s first free-to-air channel to provide an uninterrupted kids’ block 7 days a week. With the tagline Dekat di Hati, TV9 is the Malay channel targeting to Malays who strongly associate themselves with positive values.
MTV South East Asia senior VP and GM Christopher James says, “At Nickelodeon, we put kids first in everything we do and with Nick di 9, we will be reaching out to Malaysian kids in the language that they speak. This mutually rewarding relationship with TV9 will help both parties to better reach out to kids and families in Malaysia.
“The launch of Nick di 9 as a Bahasa Melayu block is a significant development in the overall expansion of the brand across South-East Asia”
TV9 COO Bukhari Che Muda says, “Responding to the Government’s call to put Bahasa Melayu as the first spoken language in Malaysia, TV9 has taken the initiative to dub all Nick’s cartoons into Bahasa Melayu. This cartoon lineup being dubbed in Bahasa Melayu is the best way of educating kids to speak in their first language. Now TV9 kids can truly enjoy their favorite cartoon characters, singing and laughing along with them in the same language”.
MUMBAI: Nick India general manager and vice president Hema Govindan has put in her papers. An official release cites personal reasons as the reason for her departure from Nick after being at its helm for close to a year.
MTV Networks India managing director and MTV Networks Asia executive vice president Amit Jain said, “Within the short span of her tenure Hema has done a commendable job with Nick to put it on the right trajectory of growth path. Over the last eight months, Nick’s ratings have tripled and viewership has risen by over 30 per cent. More than anything else, she is leaving behind a team that is one of the most competitive teams in this space.”
“Nick is a priority brand for MTV Networks India and we will continue to invest substantially in this business to help it attain a leadership position in this country, as it has done across the rest of the world markets, where it occupies the no. 1 or no. 2 position in every territory.”
Govindan will continue in her current assignment till a replacement is finalised and in this period Jain would work closely with the Nick team to continue to pursue Nick’s growth objectives for the year.
MUMBAI: US media conglomerate Viacom has announced that its channel Nick at Nite’s hidden-camera series, Hi-Jinks, returns for more laughs and pranks for kids of all ages on 11 July.
Each week features a celebrity prank segment in which famous faces use their talents to dupe unsuspecting targets, from ages 7 to 27, no one is safe. Actors Ted McGinley Hope & Faith, John Schneider Smallville, Alfonso Ribeiro Fresh Prince of Bel Air, Corbin Bernsen L.A. Law and Bo Bice American Idol are among the celebrities who have conspired with parents to prank kids.
Each half an hour episode features several pranks taking place everywhere from homes, malls and even schools across the country. Grammy Award-winner Patti Labelle, Academy Award-winner Susan Sarandon, boxing champ Evander Holyfield, NBA All-Star Chris Webber and The View’s Meredith Vieira were among the celebrities who conspired with parents to prank kids in past episodes.
In the first episode, viewers will find out what breaks loose when John Schneider tries a hazardous stunt, Dukes-style. Also featured are pranks involving an overzealous crossing guard, an ice cream machine that goes haywire, a Panda bear that steals candy and a messy experience at a salad bar.
MUMBAI: US kids channel Nickelodeon has announced that Noggin its commercial-free, educational network for preschoolers goes ‘Blue’ this month.
The network invites American kids and their families to help celebrate the 10th anniversary of Blue’s Clues a show that the broadcaster says changed the way preschoolers watch television.
Throughout this month Noggin will pay tribute to the blue puppy with Blue’s Clues-themed activities at Club Noggin in General Growth (GGP) malls across the US. In addition to appearances by series host ‘Joe’ (Donovan Patton) in select malls. Noggin will also kick off a month-long on-air celebration of Blue’s Clues with a ‘Red, White and Blue’ marathon on independence Day 4 July 2006.
The Club Noggin celebration will lead up to the August anniversary of Blue’s Clues, when Nick Jr. and Noggins will introduce viewers to a new character — Blue’s new brother — on the hour-long movie Meet Blue’s Baby Brother on 6 August on Nickelodeon.
For the first time, the special melds the two worlds of Joe and the classic animated world of Blue’s Clues with the puppets on Blue’s Room. Meet Blue’s Baby Brother will feature a game of Gold Clues as preschoolers help search for Blue’s baby brother and share another milestone with their favourite blue puppy.
Blue’s Clues will take over Club Noggin, the network’s interactive educational in-mall experience for preschoolers and their parents. Participating malls will present special Blue’s Clues-themed activities throughout the month of July. Club Noggin reaches consumers in 78 GGP malls across the US. Blue’s Clues host Donovan Patton is scheduled to appear for “meet and greets” and book readings in New York, Chicago, San Jose, Houston and Dallas. Throughout July, GGP and NOGGIN will also launch “Club NOGGIN On the Go!” a take-away extension of Club NOGGIN’s in-mall experience for parents to help entertain and educate their kids wherever they are.
Club Noggin’s Blue’s Clues educational curriculum will focus on themes from the hit series including:
Letters: Activity to feature the Blue’s Clues book “Alphabet Power”
Numbers: Activity to feature a Blue’s Clues video clip with a corresponding lesson
Shapes: Activity to feature an arts and crafts project — build a sailboat — which mirrors a lesson on Meet Blue’s Baby Brother
Colors: Coloring activity based on Meet Blue’s Baby Brother
The earlier mentioned Red, White and Blue on-air marathon will feature the following Blue’s Clues milestones: the three-part special Meet Joe where Steve goes to college and viewers are introduced to new host Joe, the half-hour special Legend of the Blue Puppy where Blue talks for the very first time; Blue’s 100th Episode Celebration a retrospective look at the first five seasons with Steve, Joe and Blue; and the 90-minute movie Blue’s Big Musical.
MUMBAI: MTV US and Apple have announced that new television programming from Spike TV, Nick at Nite, TV Land, Logo, MTV and The N is now available on the iTunes music store.
Adding to the hit MTV Networks content already on iTunes, this new round of programming available for purchase and download crosses virtually every genre and includes Spike TV’s brand-new action series Blade: The Series MTV’s prank-comedy show Viva La Bam and TV Land’s Sit Down Comedy with David Steinberg. MTV’s programming had debuted earlier this year on iTunes. Comedy Central’s South Park sold over one million episodes. iTunes now offers over 150 TV shows for $1.99 per episode for viewing on a computer or iPod.
MTV digital media executive VP Nicholas Lehman says, “At MTV Networks, our brands create some of the most vibrant, entertaining and pop culture-defining programming today. We are excited to add more of our diverse programming to iTunes and to connect a broad digital audience with our bold entertainment content.”
Apple’s VP iTunes Eddy Cue says, “MTV Networks’ programming has been a hit with customers since launching on iTunes earlier this year. iTunes is the world’s most popular online video store with over 35 million videos sold, and we continue to expand the catalogue of great television content now with over 150 network and cable programmes available.”
MUMBAI: Some proposals in a draft Broadcast Bill 2006, prepared by the information and broadcasting ministry for the Union Cabinet’s consideration, has evoked mixed reaction from the industry.
The Indian animation industry is excited that the government is mulling mandating a certain percentage of programming on TV channels to be sourced from India.
“We are absolutely delighted. The proposed bill is a surprise and will be a catalyst for growth. I would like to however add that Cartoon Network, Nick and Disney have anyways gotten interested in local content and this regulation is a bit late, “DQ Entertainment CEO & MD Tapas Chakravarti.
He went on to add that 15 per cent is too less and that China and Japan have close to 50 per cent of local programming share on TV channels.
Chakravarti also reveals that the development has inspired DQ to go ahead with its investment plans in Intellectual Property (IP) in India.
“At DQ, we have taken a decision internally almost six months back for creating Intellectual Property (IP) in India. We are planning $10 million investments on our part and our French and American partners will bring in similar numbers. The idea is to create products for global market but with Indian stories. This will be something similar to what Disney did with Jungle Book,” he explained.
As per the draft bill, TV channels on a mandatory basis would have to have 15 per cent of their total weekly programming produced locally. It’s also being proposed the share of public service/socially relevant programme content shall not be less than 10 per cent of the total programme content of a channel broadcast during every week.
This would mean that channels like Cartoon Network, Animax, Discovery, Animal Planet and Discovery Travel and Living would have to have a prescribed percentage of content generated from India, which has been a long-standing demand of Indian animators.
Concurring with Chakravarti is Phoebus Media CEO Rahul Bakshi. “15 per cent is too less, but is a good start and will have a multiplier effect. It gives companies like ours conviction and confidence that we are on the right track having already invested a lot in local content,” he added.
The industry also feels that the move will give it shelter from the rain as well as boost the job scenario.
“Such a government move will help us get more conviction to stick to original content. Thousands of jobs will be created and more animators means more animation outsourcing also,” says Green Gold Animation CEO Rajiv Chilakalapudi.
According to Graphiti Multimedia director Munjal Shroff, the proposed regulation could help content creators look at other markets to compliment the revenues.
“Usually there has always been a block because TV channels find it much more economical to buy animated content from markets like Mipcom at $500 to $1000 per episode rather than commissioning new shows in India. If the bill is passed and local content does become compulsory, then it will give local content creators a space to exist and once there is a minimum local market, then content creators can always look at other markets to compliment the revenues,” says Shroff.
Color Chips CEO Sudhish Rhambotla felt that channels would either commission local content or also have the option of shifting production of some of their shows being produced elsewhere into the country, which again would be “good for the business.”
On their part, the kids channels expressed their readiness to make changes in their programming structure if need be.
The Walt Disney Company India managing director Rajat Jain said, “Whatever changes have to be made, will be made in our programming according to the Broadcast Bill when it is passed. At the end of the day, one has to comply with the laws of the land.”
When queried as to what percentage of programming on Disney Channel and Toon Disney were local presently, Jain said, “It is difficult to calculate at this point in time what the percentage of local content is.”
Hungama TV COO Zarina Mehta says her channel already plays more than 15 per cent of local content.
“I don’t know the exact percentage of local content that we have on the channel but currently it will definitely be more that 15 per cent. If fact, we will be the only kids channel that have that much of local content,” she says.
MUMBAI: Nick Jr. has launched three original mini pilots across multiple platforms with the first window kicking off on wireless carriers starting 6 June.
The mini pilots, originated from Nick Jr.’s Institute of Applied Play, premiered on wireless carriers marking the network’s first-ever launch of original short-form content on a wireless platform.
Nick Jr. will continue the multi-platform roll-out of the mini pilots — Pass the Pinha, Jinny Starfly and All Aboard — on Nick Jr. Video, Nick Jr.’s broadband video service available on Nickjr.com and on-air on Nick Jr. television. Each of the mini pilots range in length from one to three minutes.
The Institute of Applied Play is Nick Jr.’s creative lab, where the network partners with new talent including illustrators and writers on a variety of projects. The Institute explores a fantastic array of production techniques to produce innovative interstitials for multiple platforms. On an average, Nick Jr. produces over 15 shorts per year.
“The Institute of Applied Play is Nick Jr.’s playground for meeting new creators and artists. We’re excited to showcase their handiwork across all of these platforms,” said Nickelodeon Preschool Television executive creative director Brown Johnson.
The multi-platform schedule for the launch of the three mini pilots is as follows:
“It’s not magic — it’s science!” In the live-action and animated short Jinny Starfly, produced, written and directed by Syr-Ivan Bennett, two kids patiently wait for a caterpillar to turn into a butterfly. But their patience begins to wane. Is it make-believe? Nick Jr.’s animated science expert Jinny Starfly flies in to show them how the caterpillar changes and that it’s not magic — it’s science!
In the animated short Pass the Pinha, created and directed by Elanna Allen, Bing the musical bird and her siblings find a Brazilian fruit called a pinha which makes a super samba Brazilian sound when shaken. But little Bing rocks out so much that she drops the pinha, which shatters. They sadly gather around the broken fruit, until Bing nibbles on a piece and sings her conga sound. The others join in, munching and dancing to their samba song.
In the animated short All Aboard, created by Nancy Wolff, a billy goat and a raccoon turn a boring morning in to a choo-choo train game. They discover that all you need are some friends and imagination to turn a seemingly boring day into an exciting ride.
The shorts that come out of The Institute of Applied Play have a history of being used as back-door pilots. Nick Jr.’s original hit series The Wonder Pets! which premiered in March 2006 started out as a series of interstitials called Linny the Guinea Pig. Ni Hao, Kai-lan an upcoming new animated series slated to premiere in fall 2007 began as a series of shorts called Downward Doghouse. Additionally, Nick Jr.’s short-form series Mighty Bug 5, started out as an interstitial called The Grumpy Bug. All these are available on Nickjr.com.
MUMBAI: Nick is now hoping to ride on the success of its sister channel MTV’s much popular show – Bakra.
Starting 5 June, Nick will air Bakra, which is produced by MTV, in the Nick Hahaha comedy block. The Bakra episodes on Nick, chosen from the existing library, have already run on MTV over the last few years.
Bakra will air every weekday at 6.30 pm with repeat telecasts at 9.30 pm. On weekends, the show will be aired as a one-hour specials at 4 pm.
Nick India vice president and general manager Hema Govindan said, “Bakra, whose popularity transcends all ages, will be a valuable addition to our already laugh-riotous Nick Hahaha block, which also includes Kenan & Kel, Drake & Josh and Laurel & Hardy. We’re sure that during summer vacations, Bakra on Nick will keep our young audiences smiling.”
Bakra is a half-hour show sportingly cons and makes ‘bakras’ of unsuspecting people. Host Cyrus Broacha and his team put the regular junta through strange situations with sometimes unexpected – but always hilarious – results, all captured on hidden cameras.