Video Of Nickelodeon's "Big Time Rush" Appearing On ITV's "Daybreak" On 6th February 2012

The official ITV websites' official "Daybreak" website has put up a streaming video featuring the Nickelodeon Stars and band members of the Nickelodeon boyband "Big Time Rush" being interviewed on ITV1's weekday breakfast television programme "Daybreak" where the cast and band members of the hit Nickelodeon show and boyband "Big Time Rush" (Kendall Schmidt (Kendall Knight), James Maslow (James Diamond), Carlos Pena (Carlos Garcia), and Logan Henderson (Logan Mitchell)) made a special appearance on "Daybreak" on Monday 6th February 2012 during Big Time Rush's current UK tour to celebrate Big Time Rush's second audio album called "Elevate" being released in the UK and Ireland on Monday 6th February 2012, which you can view here on the official "Daybreak" website, www.itv.com/daybreak.

Also, posted by Nickelodeon UK and Ireland's Press Office on their official Twitter profile page (@NickelodeonUKPR):

did u see the #BigTimeRush boys on #Daybreak this morning?!? Watch their interviere here http://www.itv.com/daybreak/entertainment/tv/big-time-rush-elevate/

Also, Tweeted by Nickelodeon UK's Director of Original Production, David Kangas, and Nickelodeon UK Presenter Anna Williamson on their official Twitter profile pages:

@kangas911 - OMG! What time is it? Yes people, it's 4:30AM!! Now I truly know how @annawilliamsTV feels as I'm on my way to ITV @Daybreak studios [The London Studios; Studio 7]. - 4.39am Monday 6th February 2012

@annawilliamsTV - @Daybreak ouch gotta love an early monday huh?! How was it? - 9.49am Monday 6th February 2012

@kangas911 - @daybreak like chewing chalk!! - 7.40pm Monday 6th February 2012

Also posted by Nickelodeon UK's Director of Original Production, David Kangas, on his official Twitter feed @kangas911:

covering bits of Nick's Big Time Rush. Great to the old folks. Some v bitter [very bitter]!! - 7.42pm Monday 6th February 2012

"Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids" Delivering Great TV Ratings For NickToons UK

According to this Nickelodeon UK News article on Broadcast about the animated Nickelodeon UK and Ireland show "Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids" winning the Broadcast Award for "Best Children's Programme" at the recent "Broadcast Awards 2012" ceremony on Thursday 2nd February 2012 at London, UK's Grosvenor House Hotel, "Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids", a animated series of cautionary grizzly animated tales for lovers of squeam, guaranteed to spook even the naughtiest kids, with tales of how misbehaving children get their comeuppance, is delivering great ratings for Nickelodeon UK's animation channel, NickToons UK and Ireland, and is a regular fixture in NickToons' and/or NickToon Replay's top 10 rated programmes since "Grizzly Tales for Gruesome Kids" premiered on Nickelodeon UK and NickToons UK in March 2011:

Best Children’s Programme

Grizzly Tales

Grizzly TV for NickToons and ITV Global Entertainment

The 26 Grizzly Tales try to effect change in kids’ bad behaviour by both amusing and terrifying them - “a brave, raw and original approach”, according to our panel.

The 11-minute tales often stray dangerously close to TV horror for kids but by carefully balancing content and taste, they manage to get the tone pitch perfect.

“It is unusual for children’s TV to produce such daring, funny and outrageous storytelling,” said one judge. “And that deserves to be celebrated.”

However, another judge added that even with its daring approach, it remains “absolutely child-focused.”

Episodes such as Death By Chocolate and Sick To Death sum up the series’ distinctive feel. The latter tells the story of a foul little girl who screams herself sick to get her own way… until, that is, she meets the super-sucking power of the new Shark Deluxe vacuum cleaner, which polishes her off in one guzzling gulp.

Based on the books by Jamie Rix, who also scripts the series, the panel also noted how “the author’s spirit shines right through it”.

Grizzly Tales originally aired on ITV1 and CiTV, where it was one of its highest-rating series. When it unexpectedly came up for grabs, Nickelodeon was quick to make an offer.

The new series was redeveloped in both content and design, with Nickelodeon keen to build on the shows’ edge and dark humour.

Voiced by actor Nigel Planer, mixing 3D and 2D animation, the main body of each episode is produced in Flash by Honeycomb Animation. The panel said that despite the limited budget, the series was “exceptional”.

And it’s proved to be a hit with the target audience, becoming a regular fixture in NickToons’ and/or NickToon Replay’s top 10s since its launch in March.

“Great storytelling made with love” is how one judge summed it up.

Nickelodeon Benelux and Nickelodeon Scandinavia Pick Up The Rights To Animated Preschool Show "Peppa Pig"

From C21Media:

eOne finds Peppa, Raymond more homes

Entertainment One (eOne) preschool programming including Peppa Pig and The Secret World of Benjamin Bear has found new homes across the globe.

The Transatlantic entertainment firm’s Family division has sold Astley Baker Davies-produced Peppa to Nickelodeon's Benelux (comprising of Nickelodeon Belgium, Nickelodeon Netherlands (Nickelodeon Nederland), and Luxembourg) and Scandinavian (comprising on Nickelodeon Denmark, Nickelodeon Norway and Nickelodeon Finland) feeds.

Italian kidscaster [kids broadcaster] Rai has also acquired seasons three and four and renewed the first two seasons, while Ireland’s RTÉ has relicensed Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom and Peppa seasons one and four.

Both Nick and Rai plan to launch their new acquisitions this month.

Elsewhere, Germany’s KiKa has acquired Porchlight Entertainment/Amberwood Entertainment coproduction The Secret World of Benjamin Bear; and ZDF has taken Raymond, which follows the adventures of an eight-year-old boy.

Cartoon Network’s Japanese channel has also acquired seasons two and three and plans to broadcast them shortly.

eOne Family’s head of international sales Joss Duffield has secured further deals with Estonia TV for Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom and the Czech Republic’s Ceska Televisa.

eOne Family’s MD Olivier Dumont said he hoped these latest sales would “undoubtedly” increase the profile of the division’s content in new markets.

Jesse Whittock
06-02-2012
©C21Media

Also, from Kidscreen:

eOne inks international deals

Toronto Canada’s Entertainment One (eOne) has secured a slew of new broadcast deals for children’s TV series Peppa Pig, Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom, Raymond and The Secret World of Benjamin Bear.

Broadcasters on board include RAI in Italy (season three and four of the Astley Baker Davies-created Peppa Pig), it’s preschool channel YO YO (renewals of Peppa Pig season one and two from February 2012), Nickelodeon (Peppa Pig from February 2012 for Benelux and Scandinavia), RTE in Ireland (renewals of Holly’s Little Kingdom and Peppa Pig series one and four), KIKA in Germany (The Secret World of Benjamin Bear) and Germany’s ZDF (Raymond), Cartoon Network in Japan (series two and three of Raymond to air from early 2012), Estonia TV (Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom), and Ceska Televise (Pat and Stan).

The agreements follow on the heels of recent deals by eOne for Ben and Holly’s Little Kingdom to air in countries including Australia, Spain, and Russia.

HRH Prince Edward, Earl Of Wessex To Visit Nickelodeon Land UK On 7th February 2012

According to this news article on The Blackpool Gazette, His Royal Highness The Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex will be visiting "Nickelodeon Land" UK, Nickelodeon UK's theme park at Pleasure Beach Blackpool, England, UK, on Tuesday 7th February 2012 during his current two day tour of Lancashire, UK which started on Monday 6th February 2012:

Cam's your man ma'am

Blackpool has bagged one of the first royal visits of Diamond Jubilee year proper.

Barely has the ink dried on Blackpool Pleasure Beach company secretary and director David Cam’s appointment as deputy lieutenant, he’s shaped the itinerary for Tuesday’s visit by HRH Prince Edward, Earl of Wessex.

David explains: “I know he’s a family man and has a real interest in entertainment and young people, so the itinerary reflects that. We should feel enormously honoured that Blackpool is getting one of the first visits of the Diamond Jubilee year proper.”

Elizabeth II was crowned on June 2, 1953, in Westminster Abbey but acceded to the throne on February 6, 1952, when her father died. The British throne is never left vacant so the new monarch succeeds the old monarch immediately, the coronation allowing a sufficient period of mourning.

The Earl, recently revealed as the successor to the Duke of Edinburgh title, starts a two day tour of Lancashire on Monday. That night he attends a Duke of Edinburgh Awards dinner in Blackburn, before heading to Bowland, one of his mother’s favourite spots, the following morning to meet the Bowland Mountain Rescue team before heading for the resort.

In Blackpool the Earl will visit the newly restored areas of Blackpool Pleasure Beach, including the Big Pizza Kitchen, Nickelodeon Land, before going by tram as the first VIP, to travel by Blackpool’s new Bombardier to Festival House.

He will then visit the University Centre at Blackpool and the Fylde College, Bennett Avenue, to meet students and staff at what’s effectively the hub of creative arts.

David adds: “It is so gratifying that HRH will be following the itinerary I designed to the letter. I’ve been working on the detail of organising a royal visit to Blackpool long before my appointment as DL was officially announced.

“I am glad it’s found royal favour. I wanted to impress upon him the way the town is reshaping itself and show the results of 10 years of really hard work by a lot of people.

“He will become the first passenger on our new trams and will coast slowly along the Promenade, so we can show off the seafront, headland, Dune Grasses, and Comedy Carpet, before officially opening and naming the Jubilee Tourist Information Centre, looking at the wedding chapel, and moving on to the University Centre, highlighting the emphasis Blackpool places on the future.”

David is also preparing for the official reception of new deputy lieutenants in March. He and fellow Lytham man, rugby legend Billy Beaumont, were among six new Lancashire DLs announced this week, assisting Lord Lieutenant Lord Shuttleworth in duties as HM’s representative in the county. There are 50 DLs in the county.

He’s yet to get to the royal tailors in London for fitting for his special dress uniform. “It will be lounge suit only next week.

“The uniform is military in styling, with a sash, and cap. You can buy a sword and spurs but they are particularly expensive.

“I have lived here from the age of nine and this is a wonderful honour and privilege.”

The lieutenancy dates back to Henry VIII, when the holder maintained order and military defences.

Lancashire is one of only two royal duchies, the other being Cornwall, held in trust for the Sovereign since the 14th century.

Deputies arrange and escort royal visits, lead magistracy, present medals and awards, take part in ceremonial duties.

They retain links with the military, including cadet forces, and have a significant role with Blackpool – affectionately regarded as the UK’s Veterans capital.

Former Nickelodeon UK Presenter To Join Channel 4's "A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun" Presenting Team

From Kent Online:

Our Laura heads abroad

Meopham star Laura Hamilton has ditched freezing temperatures back home for sunshine abroad as she returns to our screens next week.

Ms Hamilton, 29, a former Dartford Grammar School for Girls student, will join the presenting team of the new series of Channel 4's A Place in the Sun: Winter Sun on Monday [Tuesday 7th February at 11.00am; Channel 4 +1 at 12.00pm].

The Dancing On Ice runner-up will help sun seeking couples hunt for their ideal homes outside the UK.

She said she had landed her 'dream job' after it was offered to her shortly after her exploits on the ice.

Previously she worked as a children's television presenter on Nickelodeon.

She said: "For me it is a dream job, I've always been interested in property and bought my first one in Meopham."

"There are a lot of people looking to find bargains abroad but the show is more about property, you will learn about the lifestyle of the country.

"There are definitely more people looking to buy abroad and there are some great bargains to be had."

As well as filming the show which started last October she is also planning her wedding in September to her fiance.

The show will air on channel 4 on Monday at 11am where Laura will be in the Costa Blanca.

Former Nickelodeon UK and Ireland presenter Laura Hamilton presented various Nickelodeon programming stunts such as "Nick Heads", "Slime Across the UK and Ireland" ME:TV (LIVE). Laura Hamilton also co-presented the "Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards UK 2007" with the English pop rock band 'McFly' and the "Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards UK 2008" with Australian singer-songwriter Dannii Minogue, and was also the first presenter of the Nick Jr. Channel UK and Ireland programming block "Wake Up World".

UK-Irish Boyband "One Direction" And Nickelodeon Boyband "Big Time Rush" Set To Tour The USA Together

From Entertainment Weekly:

One Direction and Big Time Rush set to tour the US; Are boy bands officially back? -- EXCLUSIVE PHOTO

Two weeks from today, Nickelodeon boy band Big Time Rush will launch its Better With U tour in Las Vegas, and starting one week after that (in Chicago on February 24), they will be joined by some very special guests: One Direction.

EW has obtained an exclusive photo of the two bands together and ready to tour the country. (Wishing all nine gents could be on your desktop? Click HERE for a full-size image.)

Are you by chance unfamiliar with One Direction? That’s likely to change. The British fivesome, constructed by Simon Cowell during The X-Factor UK‘s 2010 season, has already taken the motherland by storm — their first single “What Makes You Beautiful” became the most pre-ordered single in Sony Music's history — but now they’re teaming up with Big Time Rush to launch a Stateside career.

To appease the masses of eager young females, “What Make You Beautiful” will be made available on digital retailers on Valentine’s Day (a stroke of marketing genius if I’ve ever heard one), and Columbia Records says in a statement that “due to overwhelming fan demand,” their debut album Up All Night will be released one week early on March 13.

On top of that, One Direction is set to appear in an upcoming episode of Nickelodeon's top-rated show iCarly, and their music video for “What Makes You Beautiful,” which has already racked up 47 million VEVO views, will premiere on the kids network on February 11.

Are boy bands officially back in style? Ever since the age of the Backstreet Boys and N’Sync, there have been countless attempts to launch new super-groups (Anyone remember Youngstown? Just me? Okay...), though none have really panned out.

But with Big Time Rush on a sold-out tour (and with their single “Music Sounds Better With U” out now), One Direction garnering deafening buzz, and fellow Brit-imports The Wanted racing up the pop charts with their Guetta-esque “Glad You Came,” it looks like the Beliebers and Lovatics might have some new tween fanbases to reckon with.



[...]

You can read the rest of Entertainment Weekly's news article about UK-Irish boyband One Direction and Big Time Rush touring North America here on the official Entertainment Weekly websites Music Mix website, Music-Mix.EW.com.

Also, from MySpace's "What's Hot" blog on the official MySpace website, MySpace.com:

Boy Bands Are Back – Deal With It

We all know that trends go in cycles, and the music industry is no exception. It seems that every 12-15 years we see a resurgence in boy bands. Just think back to the mid-90s and you’ll recall the popularity of N Sync and The Backstreet Boys was at an all-time high. Boy bands died off after their decline. Ready or not, like it or not, they’re baaaack...

The boy band scene started its comeback a few years ago with The Jonas Brothers. With their success on the Disney channel, the band was propelled into the limelight in America. Big Time Rush has taken a similar route to popularity with their show on Nickelodeon. In Europe, the boy bands never really died out, but rather transformed themselves for a new generation.

This has lead to the rise of a new generation of boy bands in Europe, such as US5, The Wanted, Lexingon Bridge, JLS, and One Direction. It seems that the popularity of such bands overseas is finally making its way across the pond to infect the youth of America once again.

One band in particular, One Direction (seen above), is trying to break new ground by releasing one of their songs, “What Makes You Beautiful”, as a digital single available for streaming tomorrow. The song was the band’s debut single, released on September 11, 2011. It debuted at number one on the U.K. charts and became the fastest selling single of 2011.

The band hails from the U.K. with members from both Britain and Ireland; Niall Horan, Zayn Malik, Liam Payne, Harry Styles and Louis Tomlinson. They signed a record contract with Syco Music, a subsidiary of Sony Music, following their third place finish on the seventh season of “The X Factor.”

You can read the rest of MySpace's news article about Boy Bands coming back into fashion here on the official MySpace "What's Hot" blog.

Nick Jr. Channel USA Welcomes CGI Animated Series "Mike the Knight"

From Animation Insider:

Nickelodeon Welcomes CG Series 'Mike the Knight'

'Mike the Knight' Animation in the U.S.

UK-based HIT Entertainment's producers were perhaps preoccupied this past week due to the organization's long-pending acquisition by U.S. toy outfit Mattel, Inc.; however, the kid's media group had assuredly looked forward to this today's premiere of Mike the Knight on Nick Jr. A co-production of HIT Entertainment and Nelvana Studios, Mike the Knight is a CG preschool program about a medieval knight-in-training (Mike) and his journeys throughout the land. Mike is a novice, but he has plenty of determination to carry him through the most difficult of challenges.

Mike the Knight launched last autumn, airing across the UK [CBeebies], Canada [Treehouse], and France [TF1]. Now the series comes to the United States, to Nickelodeon, where its first full week of new episodes is scheduled to begin Monday, February 6, 2012 (12:00n). Mike is the son of the King and Queen of Glendragon. The boy aspires to be a great knight, traveling the world and helping people in need (much like his father). However, a knight requires many things: a good horse, close friends, and plenty of training. Mike is working hard at each of these with the belief that a hearty adventure could be right around the corner.

"Mike the Knight will take preschoolers on a journey of discovery through a medieval world filled with dynamic characters and imaginative stories," Teri Weiss, Senior Vice President, Nickelodeon Preschool, stated. "The series will inspire and empower preschoolers to always try their best, continuously grow, and work hard to accomplish their goals."

The CG series' previously published curriculum goals included self-discovery, personal responsibility, being a good citizen, and everything else that falls under little Mike's personal credo: "Be a knight, do it right."

The animation currently has thirty licenses under its belt, including recently inked contracts with Egmont Publishing and Publications International for annuals and sound books, respectively, retailing to the UK and central Europe by autumn 2012. Specific to the UK, Grosvenor (toiletries, dental items) has slated its products for December 2012, while Finsbury Foods has agreed to supply locals with branded cakes by early next year.

In Mike the Knight, the boy will do his best to tackle all the challenges normally associated with a kid knight in training: teaching his trusted steed, Galahad, how to take strides with pride; make friends with dragons and trolls of all sorts; learning how to be patient and careful when following a map; and of course, knowing how to rescue a princess.

Episode summaries for the premiere week of Mike the Knight on Nick Jr. as are as follows:

Nickelodeon UK Picks Shine Communications To Launch The Second Season Of The Teen Mystery Drama "House of Anubis" In The UK And Ireland

From PRWeek UK:

Nickelodeon selects Shine Communications for teen mystery drama launch

Nickelodeon has picked Shine Communications to launch the second season of House of Anubis.

Nickelodeon: House of Anubis show
The agency was given the consumer-facing three-month project brief for the teen mystery drama following a pre-Christmas pitch win.

Activity will focus on an 'orange carpet' interactive premiere in central London in March where media, celebrities and fans will get the chance to step into the world of the show at the Freemasons’ Hall with actors from House of Anubis.

The series follows a group of nine teenagers who live together in a UK boarding school and is Nickelodeon’s first daily soap opera aimed at children and teens.

In the build up to the event, a team from Shine has been targeting media aimed at both young people and families, as well as using Nickelodeon’s established social network presence to promote the launch.

Matthew White, associate director at Shine Communications, said: ‘We are thrilled to welcome the family broadcasting powerhouse Nickelodeon to our stable of entertainment clients at Shine.

‘The UK premiere will bring the excitement and mystery of the show to life for media as we invite them to step into the world of Anubis and discover one of the hottest global teen entertainment properties.’

The agency team will be reporting to Alison Bakunowich, vice-president and director of marketing for Nickelodeon UK and Ireland.

Tags: Consumer PR, England, House of Anubis, Consumer Entertainment, New Business, Contract win, Television, United Kingdom, Public Relations, Europe, Media / Entertainment, Shine Communications, Nickelodeon

The official Nickelodeon UK and Ireland website, Nick.co.uk, is offering lucky "House Of Anubis" fans and Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK viewers the chance to win exclusive tickets to attend the "Orange Carpet" UK premiere of the second season of "House Of Anubis" in Central London, UK on Sunday, 11th March 2012 where Nickelodeon UK will be giving an exclusive screening of the very first episode of season two of HOA, where special SIBUNA guests and secrets could await you, which you can enter by clicking here.

Nickelodeon Acquires The Global Broadcast Rights To Canadian Teen Comedy Series 'Life With Boys'

According to this Nickelodeon News article on Deadline Hollywood's 'Deadline TV', Nickelodeon has picked up the global broadcast rights to the Canadian sitcom "Life With Boys". Under the deal with Classic Media and the series producer, Corus Entertainment's Nelvana, Nickelodeon will get exclusive TV rights in the U.S. (Nickelodeon USA (Nickelodeon North America/Nickelodeon America)) and pay TV rights for its regional channels across Europe including Germany (Nickelodeon Germany (Nickelodeon Deutschland)), Nickelodeon Benelux (comprising of Nickelodeon Belgium, Nickelodeon Netherlands (Nickelodeon Nederland), and Luxembourg), the Nordics (Nickelodeon Denmark, Nickelodeon Finland, Nickelodeon Norway, Nickelodeon Sweden, and Iceland), as well as Latin America (Nickelodeon Latin America) and Asia (Nickelodeon Asia). Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK premiered the Canadian teen sitcom "Life With Boys" at 8pm on Friday 21st October 2011:

Nickelodeon Acquires Canadian Comedy Series ‘Life With Boys’

EXCLUSIVE: Nickelodeon has acquired global broadcast rights to Canadian sitcom Life With Boys, created by Michael Poryes (Hannah Montana). Under the deal with Classic Media and the series producer, Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, Nickelodeon will get exclusive TV rights in the U.S. and pay TV rights for its regional channels across Europe including Germany, Benelux, the Nordics as well as Latin America and Asia. The move follows the launch of Life With Boys on Nickelodeon's UK channel in November under a previous deal with Helion Pictures. “Life With Boys is a perfect addition to our programming lineup,” said Nickelodeon’s SVP programming and acquisition Jules Borken. The 22-episode Life With Boys, which premiered on Canada’s YTV in September, stars Torri Webster as 14-year-old Tess Foster, who navigates her way through the turmoil of teen life while living at home with her single, overprotective dad and three brothers. While its core lineup consists of original series, Nickelodeon supplements it with acquisitions like the Italian animated series Winx Club. Here’s the teaser for Life With Boys run on Nickelodeon UK:

Also, below is a Nickelodeon Press Release from PR Newswire:

Nickelodeon Acquires New Tween Comedy Series, Life With Boys, From Classic Media and Nelvana for Multi-Territory Roll Out

NEW YORK, Feb. 6, 2012 /Nickelodeon Press Release Via PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids, announced today a global broadcast acquisition with Classic Media and Corus Entertainment's Nelvana for the new half-hour series, Life With Boys. The 22-episode series created by Michael Poryes (Hannah Montana and That's So Raven), starring Torri Webster as "Tess" and Madison Pettis as "Allie," is produced by Nelvana and Helion Pictures.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120206/NY48128 )

"We are excited to partner with Classic Media, Nelvana and Helion Pictures on this exciting new property," said Jules Borkent, Senior Vice President, Programming and Acquisitions, Nickelodeon. "Life With Boys is a perfect addition to our programming line-up, and we feel the tween series will enhance our global audience's TV viewing experience."

"Nickelodeon is the perfect platform for this new series from Michael Poryes which we all believe will be a breakout hit," said Chloe van den berg, Executive Vice President, International, Classic Media.

"Life With Boys has enjoyed success in Canada and the UK and we are delighted that audiences in the US and around the world will finally meet these wonderfully real and memorable characters," said Jerry Diaz, Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Distribution, Nelvana Enterprises.

The partnership covers exclusive TV rights in the US and Pay TV rights for regional Nickelodeon channels, across Europe, including Germany, Benelux, the Nordics, as well as Latin America and Asia. Broadcast rights for the UK have been previously secured by Nickelodeon in an earlier announced deal with Helion Pictures.

Each half-hour episode follows 14-year-old Tess Foster as she navigates her way through the turmoil of teen life while living at home with her single, overprotective dad and three brothers. Although Tess adores the four important men in her life, they do have four totally different perspectives. Despite the shortcomings of being the only girl in a male household, the boys can sometimes offer solid advice. Whether it's building up the courage to talk to a boy, dealing with an obnoxious one, or coping with the repercussions of being the only girl on the boys' wrestling team, Life With Boys sheds a comedic light on many of life's difficult moments.

About Classic Media

Classic Media, one of the world's largest independent entertainment companies, is a leader in reinventing the classics of yesterday and creating the entertainment classics of tomorrow. The Company owns and manages a globally-recognized portfolio of well-known family and pop-culture entertainment brands, including Casper the Friendly Ghost®, Where's Waldo?®, Lassie®, The Lone Ranger®, and new brand Life With Boys™. Big Idea Entertainment, a member of the Classic Media family, is the leading faith-based studio and producer of children's programming, including the best-selling animated series, VeggieTales®. Classic Media programming is distributed in more than 170 territories worldwide and showcased in multiple formats, including TV, film, home video, consumer products, publishing, digital, and music. Visit us at www.classicmedia.tv

About Nelvana

Nelvana is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc., a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's animation. The Company's multimedia entertainment brands include YTV, Treehouse, Nickelodeon (Canada), W Network, OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network (Canada), CosmoTV, Sundance Channel (Canada), Movie Central, HBO Canada, Nelvana, Kids Can Press and radio stations including CKNW AM 980, 99.3 The FOX, Country 105, 630 CHED, Q107 and 102.1 the Edge. Corus creates engaging branded entertainment experiences for its audiences across multiple platforms. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto Stock Exchange (CJR.B). Experience Corus on the Web at www.corusent.com.

About Helion Pictures

Helion Pictures was created by Managing Director Steven Bawol to create long-running fiction series' for the international market and has been responsible comedies like "One for the Road" for Channel 4 in the U.K., interactive fiction like "Boy Meets Girl" for Swedish broadcaster SVT and Nickelodeon U.K.'s successful live-action comedy series, "Renford Rejects" and "Genie in the House". Bawol co-created "Section de Recherche", France's most successful one-hour police series for TF1, France's largest broadcaster. Currently, he is Executive producer of "The Borgias", a drama series created by Tom Fontana for Canal +, and has shows in development with Starz, Channel 4, TF1, Broadview TV and Cybergoup Studios.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 32nd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 17 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB).

SOURCE Nickelodeon

RELATED LINKS
http://www.nick.com

Also, from RTT News via NASDAQ:

Nickelodeon Acquires New Tween Comedy Series - Quick Facts

(RTTNews.com) - Kids channel Nickelodeon, a part of Viacom Inc. (VIA), Monday announced a global broadcast acquisition with Classic Media and Corus Entertainment's Nelvana for the new half-hour series, Life With Boys. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

According to the company, the partnership covers exclusive TV rights in the US and Pay TV rights for regional Nickelodeon channels, across Europe, as well as Latin America and Asia.

Broadcast rights for the UK have been previously secured by Nickelodeon in an earlier announced deal with Helion Pictures.

"We are excited to partner with Classic Media, Nelvana and Helion Pictures on this exciting new property," said Jules Borkent, Senior Vice President, Programming and Acquisitions, Nickelodeon.

"Life With Boys is a perfect addition to our programming line-up, and we feel the tween series will enhance our global audience's TV viewing experience."

The 22-episode series created by Michael Poryes (Hannah Montana and That's So Raven), starring Torri Webster as "Tess" and Madison Pettis as "Allie," is produced by Nelvana and Helion Pictures.

"Life With Boys has enjoyed success in Canada and the UK and we are delighted that audiences in the US and around the world will finally meet these wonderfully real and memorable characters," said Jerry Diaz, Vice President, Worldwide Sales and Distribution, Nelvana Enterprises.

Also, from Licensing.biz:

Nickelodeon adds Life with Boys to roster

Firm acquires new tween comedy from Classic Media and Nelvana.

Nickelodeon has broadened its portfolio, adding new tween comedy series from Classic Media and Nelvana - Life with Boys - to its roster.

The partnership for the 22-episode series covers exclusive TV rights in the US and pay TV rights for regional Nickelodeon channels across Europe - including Germany, Benelux and the Nordics - as well as Latin America and Asia.

Broadcast rights for the UK were previously secured by Nickelodeon in an earlier deal with Helion Pictures.

"Life with Boys is a perfect addition to our programming line-up, and we feel the tween series will enhance our global audience's TV viewing experience," said Jules Borkent, SVP, programming and acquisitions at Nickelodeon.

The show follows 14 year-old Tess Foster as she navigates her way through the turmoil of teen life, while living at home with her dad and three brothers.

Also, from C21Media:

Nickelodeon gets a Life

Nickelodeon has picked up the Canadian-made tween series Life With Boys following a deal with brand manager Classic Media and Nelvana.

The deal for the 22x30′ show hands the US kidcaster the exclusive TV rights in the US and the pay-TV rights for its regional channels in Europe – including Germany, Benelux and the Nordics – Latin America and Asia.

Produced by Nelvana and Helion Pictures, Life With Boys already airs in the UK under a previous deal between Helion and Nickelodeon, and in Canada on Nelvana corporate sibling YTV.

The series was created by longtime Hannah Montana writer Michael Poryes and centres on a teen girl who lives with her single dad and three brothers.

Philippe Dauman, president and CEO of Nickelodeon parent Viacom last week played down suggestions that the fall in ratings Nickelodeon has experienced since September was due to the impact of a family-friendly version of Netflix.

Sean Davidson
07-02-2012
©C21Media

Also, from Toronto Star, Canada:

Nickelodeon buys YTV's Life with Boys

Nickelodeon has acquired Canadian teen sitcom Life with Boys in a deal that will broadcast the show in the U.S. and across Europe.

The series, which launched in September on YTV, stars Torri Webster as 14-year-old Tess Foster, who is outnumbered at home, as she lives with her overprotective, single father and three brothers.

The series was created by Michael Poryes, who also created mega-hit Hannah Montana. He told Kidscreen magazine that he brought the show to Canadian television because it didn’t need an outrageous foundation, like a character with several identities.

“American broadcasters want a hook,” Poryes told Kidscreen about creating the project in Canada. “It gave us the freedom to try something different and to write something that relies more on dialogue and characters.”

Created by Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, the series is often based on misunderstandings of perspectives of a young girl living in a home with several males.

The Nickelodeon deal follows a separate acquisition to air the series in the U.K., setting up Life with Boys as the next youth-focused Canadian series that could possibly make waves around the world.