NickALive!: 05/15/12

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Former UK-Based Nickelodeon Website Designer Opens Brand New Internet Toy Shop

Yeti Magic making wacky waves

TINY TODDLERS and big kids in Leighton could soon be in for a treat, after a local businesswoman set her sights on a chic new toy store in the town.

Mum-of-two Becky Knapp recently launched quirky but quality toy website Yeti Magic, offering ‘cool kids merchandise from around the globe’ and has so far enjoyed stellar success.

Covering everything from colourful cards to upbeat umbrellas, the business has grown at a steady pace and recently teamed up with classy kids online emporium babyccino.

Now with business booming and lots of new products to come, Becky has revealed her dream of a retail presence in Leighton High Street.

She told the LBO: “Things are going really well at the moment and we’ve had lots of positive feedback from everyone we’ve spoken to.

“I did a lot of research before going through with the business and we seem to have found a gap in the market for colourful, upbeat kids’ products.

“I’m looking to expand now by covering markets and festivals, with the overall goal being a fully-fledged shop.”

The business offers a whole range of products priced between £2.35 - £15.99, many of which are rarely found in the UK.

Becky’s background in design and illustration – having worked on the websites of children’s TV favourites Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network – gave her a sound understanding of the market, but the business nearly fell through before it started.

“We had the soft launch in June and planned to build up gradually, but my second child Sylvie was born four months early so it came to a sudden halt,” said Becky.

“Had she been born just a week earlier, doctors say there’s a very high chance Sylvie wouldn’t be with us.

“Despite being kept in hospital till mid-December, she’s a very healthy baby and we’re both now focusing on making Yeti Magic a hit.”

To view the whole Yeti Magic range and be kept up to date with the latest developments, visit http://yetimagic.co.uk/

Nickelodeon Acquires Multi-Territory Pay-TV Rights For French Studio Millimages' Preschool Animated Series "Louie"

From C21Media:

Louie lands on Nick Jr

Louie
Viacom-owned Nickelodeon has taken on multi-territory pay-TV rights to French studio Millimages’ preschool cartoon Louie.

Nick Jr will broadcast the three-season series across Europe (excluding the UK and France), Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America later this year.

The show already airs on channels such as CBeebies in the UK, Super RTL in Germany and ABC in Australia. Two special episodes totaling 22 minutes are currently in production.

Jesse Whittock
15-05-2012
©C21Media

GENRES: Animation, Children's

SHOWS: Louie

COMPANIES: Millimages, Nickelodeon

SECTIONS: C21 Kids

COUNTRIES: Africa, Asia, Europe, France, Latin America, Middle East, UK

Also, from Kidscreen:

Louie gets multi-territory Nickelodeon deal

Paris-based prodco Millimages has inked a multi-territory deal with Nickelodeon for its drawing-themed preschool series Louie.

Nickelodeon has snapped up pay-TV rights for Nick Jr. in Europe (excluding the UK and France), Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Latin America, and will air the series this year.

The latest deal adds to a growing list of broadcasters (CBeebies UK, France 5, SuperRTL Germany, ABC Australia) that have acquired the series, which is now in its third season and has accumulated 117 episodes.

The IP also has a licensing program in France, agents in Europe and Asia, and a new digital presence with an iPad app that debuted in June 2011. Two 22-minute TV specials are also in production.

Tags: Europe, Louie, Millimages, Nick Jr., Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon's "Dora The Explorer" And Her Friends To Take Over Blackpool Pleasure Beach, UK's 'The Globe Theatre' During Summer 2012

From the Blackpool Gazette:

Adorable Dora

Dora The Explorer 1
Nickelodeon's Dora the Explorer and her friends will be taking over The Globe Theatre at Blackpool Pleasure Beach this summer.

The musical adventure, Nickelodeon’s Dora the Explorer Live! Search For The City Of Lost Toys, will be at the amusement park from August 10 to 20 before it transfers to the West End.

In the live stage show Dora has lost her teddy bear and the search is on to retrieve him. With the help of the audience, map, backpack, Boots, Diego and their courageous friends, Dora uses her map-reading, counting, musical and language skills to successfully pass through the number pyramid and the mixed-up jungle to reach the City of Lost Toys.

The two act, song and dance spectacular invites all Dora The Explorer fans to think, sing and play along.

Dora the Explorer can be seen daily at Nickelodeon Land in the heart of Pleasure Beach.

Opened in May 2011 by former Baywatch star David Hasselhoff, Nickelodeon Land represented a £10.3m investment and is the only one of its kind in the UK.

Pleasure Beach managing director Amanda Thompson OBE said: “We are delighted to welcome Dora the Explorer and all her friends to The Globe Theatre during the summer. The character is a massive hit with all the children who visit Nickelodeon Land and I am sure she will be a hit on the stage as well.”

The show will be performed at The Globe Theatre from August 10 to 20 at 10.30am and 1pm. Prices are £12, £14, and £17, with £2 off for children, a family ticket is £50. Group rates are available.

n Priority sale tickets from Ticketmaster tomorrow [Wednesday 16th May 2012] (www.ticketmaster.co.uk). General sale starts on May 21 through the Pleasure Beach box office on 0871 222 9090 or www.pleasurebeachresort.com