ITV

Tag: TurboNick

  • Nickelodeon US hits record with SpongeBob ‘Best Day Ever’ marathon

    Nickelodeon US hits record with SpongeBob ‘Best Day Ever’ marathon

    MUMBAI: Nickelodeon’s SpongeBob SquarePants all-day marathon titled “Best Day Ever” which was held on 10 November, earned the network it’s most-watched and highest-rated total programming day in its history, averaging 1.9/4.4 million total viewers (P2+).

    An official release issued by the channel stated that overall, during its total programming day (from 6:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET/PT) on 10 November, Nick averaged a 7.6/2.5 million kids 2-11, a network high average in terms of kid 2-11 viewers, and a 7.5/1.5 million kids 6-11.

    The Nickelodeon celebration of the happy-go-lucky sponge began on 9 November at 8 pm featuring viewers’ top 100 cartoon picks, and culminating in an all-new “Best Day Ever” SpongeBob SquarePants special on 10 November at 7:30 pm ET/PT. The marathon was followed by the network premiere of the Paramount Pictures/Nickelodeon Movies feature film, The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie at 8 pm ET/PT.

    The “Best Day Ever” special recieved an average of 12.0/4.0 million kids 2-11, 12.8/2.6 million kids 6-11 and 6.7 million total viewers. The SpongeBob SquarePants Movie averaged a 13.3/4.4 million kids 2-11, 14.6/2.9 million kids 6-11 and 7.3 million total viewers, adds the release.

    The marathon kicked off on Thursday with the initial telecast on 9 November at 8 pm – 9 pm earned a 7.1/2.3 million kids 2-11, 7.7/1.5 Kids 6-11, with 3.9 million total viewers (P2+). The portion of the SpongeBob SquarePants marathon on Nick at Nite (9 p.m. to 11 p.m.) increased ratings and delivery by triple digits among kids 2-11 and 6-11 with a 5.3/1.8 million K2-11, an increase of +204 per cent, and 6.1/1.2 million K6-11, an increase of +188 per cent. An average of 3.2 million viewers tuned in during primetime, with 831,000 adults 18-49.

    The “SpongeBob Best Day Ever” game went live on 9 November and in three days, generated 1.3 million game plays and more than 867,000 unique visitors. SpongeBob’s “Best Day Ever” full length music video was the number-two video of last week on TurboNick (Nov. 6 to Nov. 12) generating more than 1.4 million streams, with 471,000 unique visitors. The “Best Day Ever” promotion video on TurboNick ranked within the top 10 videos on the broadband player during the same time period with 370,000 streams, adds the release.

    In addition, during the week of 6 November, Nick.com experienced a +35 per cent increase in unique visitors over last year, and page views were up 16 per cent over year ago levels. TurboNick also witnessed a +327 per cent increase in streams over year ago levels. Activity increases can be attributed to the online campaign surrounding the SpongeBob “Best Day Ever” television event (source: Omniture SiteCatalyst 2006 & 2005).

    Leading up to the “Best Day Ever” event, Nickelodeon invited kids to vote (beginning Oct. 5) for their favorite SpongeBob SquarePants cartoons on a new super-site http://www.nick.com/bestdayever. Kids were encouraged to choose their 10 favorites by viewing clips from multiple SpongeBob SquarePants episodes. The super-site received almost 5 million streams and 3.2 million votes. The fans’ votes determined the order of the 24-hour marathon leading up to the premiere of the “Best Day Ever” special. Overall, SpongeBob’s “Best Day Ever” campaign was the most successful online campaign for the property to date.

  • 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.

  • ‘Nick News’ with Linda Ellerbee turns 15

    ‘Nick News’ with Linda Ellerbee turns 15

    MUMBAI: The Emmy, duPont and Peabody award-winning Nick News with Linda Ellerbee, the longest-running and most-watched kids’ news show in television history, celebrates 15 years on Nickelodeon in May 2006.

    Informed by a philosophy that ignorance is not bliss, that kids deserve and need information about the world and events that shape it, Nick News has covered major world events and other issues that affect kids in a way that no show on television ever has, earning the respect of parents, educators and, most important, kids.

    To celebrate this milestone, Nickelodeon will air Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow – Celebrating 15 Years of Nick News on 28 May.

    The half-hour, commercial free special is a retrospective of 15 of Nick News’ most compelling stories over the last decade and a half, and a fast-forward to meet some of the players and see what their life is like today, when they’re grownups. It shows how Nick News — and kids-have never shied away from talking, in no-nonsense language, about the crucial issues of our time-war, AIDS, terrorism, natural disasters, gay parenting, homelessness, racism, genocide-and how kids have responded by working to change their world for the better.

    “No other show gives kids the opportunity to speak their minds on important issues quite like Nick News. Nick News and Linda Ellerbee present stories about issues in a manner that empowers kids and enables them to take action. The show provides a great way for kids to initiate a dialogue with their parents. Nickelodeon is proud that for the past 15 years, we have been able to offer our audience a unique outlet like Nick News to help them do that,” said Nickelodeon Television president and MTVN Kids and Family Group head Cyma Zarghami.

    “I am the luckiest journalist in television. We tried to teach kids about life. Instead, they taught me what life is all about. I look forward to my continuing education on Nick News,” said Nick News host and executive producer Ellerbee.

    A sneak peek of Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow – Celebrating 15 Years of Nick News will be broadcast on TurboNick, Nickelodeon’s broadband video service on Nick.com, two weeks before the on-air special.

  • Nickelodeon is No 1 cable network in the US for 11th year

    Nickelodeon is No 1 cable network in the US for 11th year

    MUMBAI: Extending its run at the number-one top spot into its eleventh year in the US, Nickelodeon led basic cable as the top-rated network within the total programming day for the just-completed first quarter of 2006 among total viewers and across all kids’ demos, according to Nielsen Media Research.

    In addition, the network grew double digits in its multiple media offerings, including Nick.com and Nickjr.com from year-to-year, and excelled on its broadband, online gaming and video- on-demand platforms.

    Among the network’s primary demo of kids 2-11, the network posted a 4.0/1.3 million K2-11, up +5 per cent over last quarter and +90 per cent ahead of Cartoon Network (2.1/657,000 K2-11) and +48 per cent ahead of Disney Channel (2.7/857,000 K2- 11).

    With preschoolers, the network also ranked first, averaging a 4.8/597,000 K2-5, up +9 per cent over last quarter, ahead of Cartoon Network by +140 per cent (2.0/244,000 K2-5) and +66 per cent versus Disney Channel (2.9/350,000 K2-5). And with tweens 9-14, Nickelodeon remained flat for the year, earning a 2.5/514,000 T9-14, and beating its competition by double digits.

    Contributing to the Nickelodeon’s quarter-to-quarter growth, were several large events and series’ launches. The Wonder Pets, the newest series on the Nick Jr. block, has averaged a 7.8 rating with kids 2-5, and is now performing well along with top preschool programs Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go!

    In addition, the first-ever Drake and Josh made-for-TV movie event earned big numbers, delivering more tweens than ABC’s Rose Bowl (2.1 million tween 9-14 viewers, +34 per cent higher in delivery than the Rose Bowl), and 5.4 million total viewers (P2+). SpongeBob SquarePants continues to be a top performer, drawing an average of more than 8.6 million total viewers (P2+) for the “Lost In Time” telecast, the highest-rated SpongeBob program with kids 2-11 ever.

    As Nickelodeon continues to build its leadership in new and emerging media platforms, it has increased usership on multiple media platforms in the kids’ space, particularly with its broadband platforms, TurboNick and Nick Jr. Video, and its online sites, Nick.com and Nickjr.com.

    TurboNick, Nickelodeon’s broadband video service on Nick.com, has had more than 30 million content streams, an increase of +29 per cent from fourth quarter 2005. It is heading towards the 100th million stream since its July 2005 launch.

    Nick Jr. Video, Nick Jr.’s broadband video service on Nickjr.com, garnered more than 28 million content streams in first quarter 2006.

    For the quarter, Nick.com has had more than 32 million unique visitors, which is up +26 per cent increase versus fourth quarter and +44 per cent versus first quarter 2005, making 2006 the best year so far for Nick.com.

    Nick.com has also had more than 228 million game plays on the site this quarter. This is partially attributed to the “New Game of the Week,” where Nick.com launches a brand new game on the site every Friday. SpongeBob SquarePants Dunces and Dragons alone racked up more than 15 million game plays since first quarter.

    Nickjr.com has had more than 14 million unique users this quarter, a +14 per cent increase from fourth quarter 2005, and +41 per cent increase from first quarter 2005, also a best-ever quarter for Nickjr.com.

    The network also continues to maintain its leadership position in Video-on-Demand. Nick programming was held the top position for the month in terms of all kid offerings on Comcast (roughly 8.9 per cent of all Comcast set top boxes viewed Nick programming). Nickelodeon garnered 5.7 million Nick VOD views in February 2006, double the number of views versus last year’s like time period.