Nickelodeon's 'Victorious', 'Big Time Rush' Snapped Up By UK's ITV

A bit more about the ITV network, the UK's biggest commercial television network, picking up the rights to show the hit Nickelodeon shows "Victorious" and "Big Time Rush", from Digital Spy:

Nickelodeon's 'Victorious', 'Big Time Rush' snapped up by ITV

Nickelodeon has announced that its live-action shows Victorious and Big Time Rush are to go free-to-air this month on ITV's terrestrial and digital channels.

ITV has picked up 33 episodes of Victorious, the show starring Victoria Justice, along with 49 episodes of Big Time Rush, which has become the highest-rated live-action series in Nickelodeon's 30-year history.

The programmes, previously shown only on pay-TV, will be broadcast during the breakfast slots on weekend mornings on ITV1, and after-school slots in weekdays on CITV, as well as in high definition.

Season one of Victorious launches on ITV's channels on October 30, and season one of Big Time Rush will break on the following day.

"Our clients around the world look for top-performing programming which travels and resonates with kids no matter where they are and Nickelodeon's latest hits, Victorious and Big Time Rush, really have it all," said Caroline Beaton, the senior vice president of programme sales at Nickelodeon-parent Viacom.

"I'm delighted that we're able to extend these two hit live-action series to even more audiences, this time across the UK, through our long-standing and fruitful partnership with ITV."

Tina McCann, the managing director of Nickelodeon UK, said: "Victorious and Big Time Rush have been huge hits for Nickelodeon UK. Each features outstanding young talent who really engage with UK fans.

"Both shows feature friendship, music, dance, fashion and aspirational lifestyle that really resonate with our audiences. We are delighted to be bringing these properties to a wider market."

Jamila Metran, the programme manager at CITV, added: "We are very pleased to have secured Victorious and Big Time Rush for broadcast on CITV and ITV Breakfast.

"The deal continues ITV's successful partnership with VIMN (Viacom International Media Networks) on past titles which include Drake and Josh and SpongeBob SquarePants."

Also, from Kidscreen:

ITV channels pick up Nickelodeon programs

Nickelodeon live-action series Victorious and Big Time Rush are going free-to-air on ITV channels in the UK starting this month.

The programs will be shown during peak viewing slots on breakfast weekend mornings on ITV1 and during after school slots on CITV, as well as in HD.

Season one of Victorious launches on ITV’s channels this Sunday and the first season of Big Time Rush will follow on Monday. The latter became the highest-rated live-action series launch in Nickelodeon’s 30-year history.

The deal furthers ITV’s partnership with Nickelodeon parent company Viacom on past titles such as Drake and Josh and SpongeBob SquarePants.

Also, from Licensing.biz:

Nickelodeon takes Victorious and Big Time Rush to ITV

The first two seasons of the live action shows will air on CITV and ITV breakfast.

Nickelodeon has secured peak time viewing slots for Victorious and Big Time Rush across ITV's terrestrial and digital channels.

33 episodes of Victorious and 49 episodes of Big Time Rush will show on breakfast weekend mornings on ITV1 and after school slots on CITV, as well as in HD.

The deal represents the continuation of the partnership between ITV and Viacom; CITV has previously aired Viacom shows like SpongeBob Squarepants and Drake and Josh.

Caroline Beaton, SVP, programme sales, Viacom International Media Networks, said: “Our clients around the world look for top performing programming which travels and resonates with kids no matter where they are and Nickelodeon’s latest hits, Victorious and Big Time Rush, really have it all.

“I’m delighted that we’re able to extend these two hit live action series to even more audiences, this time across the UK, through our long standing and fruitful partnership with ITV.”

Tina McCann, SVP and MD of Nickelodeon UK, said: “Victorious and Big Time Rush have been huge hits for Nickelodeon UK. Each features outstanding young talent who really engage with UK fans. Both shows feature friendship, music, dance, fashion and aspirational lifestyle that really resonate with our audiences. We are delighted to be bringing these properties to a wider market.”

Also, from C21 Media:

Viacom Victorious with more [international] sales

Broadcasters across the globe have bought Victorious, Viacom-owned Nickelodeon's high school-set live action series.

The music-themed show has gone to ORF (Austria), DR (Denmark), Telenica (Nicaragua), Venevision (Venezuela), Montecarlo TV (Uruguay) and Fiji Broadcasting (Fiji). TV Globo (Brazil), CiTV (UK), TF1 (France), Rai (Italy) and Vrak TV (Canada) are among others that have recently acquired the show.

Sister Nickelodeon's live-actioner Big Time Rush has scored sales with TVE (Spain), Teletica (Costa Rica) and Telenica. RTM (Malaysia) and Fiji Broadcasting also bought the show from Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN).

Elsewhere, teen fashion series True Jackson has found homes on Latin Americans broadcasters, while iCarly has gone to Network Ten (Australia) and Venevision. TVE has relicensed the latter until 2016 and new seasons will run on Mediaset (Italy), DR, RSI (Switzerland), CNBC-e (Turkey) and Vrak.

Further deals have been struck with New Zealand, Brazilian, Colombian and Fijian broadcasters.

The sales comes after VIMN's parent Viacom took a undisclosed majority stake in mixed martial arts promotion Bellator last week. It will begin running Bellator programming on male-skewed US cablenet Spike TV in 2013.

This came after Viacom's deal with Bellator's rival UFC came to an end this year. UFC subsequently signed am alternative deal with Fox.

Jesse Whittock
1 Nov 2011
© C21 Media 2011