Nickelodeon UK Announces Plans To Premiere Brand New Episodes From The All-New Third Season Of "Big Time Rush" In December 2012!

British and Irish Rushers get ready! Nickelodeon UK has announced the Nickelodeon UK News that the all-singing, all-dancing, all American boys are back as Nickelodeon UK will start to premiere and show brand new episodes from the all-new third season of the hit Nickelodeon live action show "Big Time Rush", including the brand new BTR episodes "Backstage Rush", "Big Time Returns", and "Bel Air Rush", on Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK in December 2012, as part of Nickelodeon UK's Autumn/Winter 2012 highlights, as the band deal with the aftermath of their recent world tour as well as giving "Big Time Rush" fans and Nickelodeon UK and Ireland viewers a behind-the-scenes sneak peel glimpse at one of their stage shows!

Currently in its third season, Nickelodeon's popular live-action original comedy show, "Big Time Rush", ranks as one of the top ten live-action series with kids 2-11, kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14 across all of North American TV. The North American series premiere of "Big Time Rush" on Nickelodeon USA was the highest-rated and most-watched live-action debut among all Nickelodeon series with kids, tweens and total viewers (6.8 million). Also an international breakout hit, "Big Time Rush" ranks within the top 10 programs on Nickelodeon in key markets with key demos, including Germany, Mexico, Italy, Brazil, UK, Spain, Netherlands, Poland, South Africa and Australia, and is seen in over 100 territories and in 20 languages via Nickelodeon channels and syndication.

Nickelodeon's hit Kids' Choice Awards winning original musical series "Big Time Rush" (or "BTR") is an North American television series created by Scott Fellows (Nickelodeon's "Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide", Cartoon Network first original show "The Moxy Show", and The WB's "Johnny Test") about the Hollywood misadventures of four hockey players from Minnesota — Kendall, James, Carlos, and Logan, after they are selected to form a boy band. The series premiered with an hour-long pilot episode, "Big Time Audition", on Nickelodeon USA, on November 28, 2009. Its official debut episode premiered on January 18, 2010, earning 6.8 million viewers, making it Nickelodeon's highest-rated live-action series debut ever. Nickelodeon's "Big Time Rush" stars Kendall Schmidt as Kendall Knight, the leader of the band, James Maslow as James Diamond, the handsome one in the band, Carlos Pena, Jr. as Carlos Garcia, the one who always wears his helmet, and Logan Henderson as Logan Mitchell, the smartest one in the band, and co-star's Ciara Bravo as Katie Knight, Kendall's little sister, Stephen Kramer Glickman as Gustavo Rocque, the band's manager, Tanya Chisholm as Kelly Wainwright, Gustavo's assistant, Erin Sanders as Camille Roberts, Logan's girlfriend, and Challen Cates as Jennifer Knight, Kendall and Katie's mother.

In the first brand new (opening) episode of season three of "Big Time Rush" called "Backstage Rush", it's Big Time Rush's final stop on their "All Over the World Tour" world tour and Nickelodeon viewers and Big Time Rush fans get an access all areas pass to all of the craziness backstage, including seeing the BTR boys wanting to learn how to change costumes faster, so they can break a record, Carlos getting accused of smuggling when he brings a cricket from France, Logan wanting to try and finish reading a book by the end of the day, and Kelly trying to warn everyone that the trampoline used in the show is faulty. Mixing in real concert footage, the guys prepare for the show and deal with tour-time drama. Guest Stars: Jonathan Schmock as the French Inspector; Songs Featured: Love Me Love Me, Cover Girl, Famous, Blow Your Speakers, Time of Our Life, City is Ours, Elevate, Boyfriend.

The brand new season three episode of "Big Time Rush" titled "Big Time Returns" sees the boys return from their world tour to discover that they are now stars at the Palm Woods Hotel - everywhere they turn there are fans, autograph-seekers, even a new Big Time Rush-themed tour of the community that is being sold by Reginald Bitters - the manager of the Palm Woods. In the midst of all this, boys' habits remain the same, and what the guys really want to focus on is girls. Carlos is more determined to land a girlfriend than ever, Logan wants to reconnect with Camille, and James and Kendall seem to be both interested in Lucy. Kendall makes a deal with James that if he talks to Lucy he has to run in public in his underpants (or as Kendall calls it, "95% naked"). Meanwhile, Arthur Griffin (Matt Riedy), Gustavo's annoying, selfish and snobbish boss at Rocque Records, the the CEO of RCMCBT Global Net Sanyoid Corporation and the 4th most powerful CEO in America, wants Carlos to pick "Love Me Love Me" for the song for a radio interview, but Gustavo wants him to pick "Elevate". Songs featured: “Windows Down”, “Elevate”, “Love Me Love Me"; Guest Stars: Erin Sanders as Camille, Malese Jow as Lucy, Kelli Goss, Savannah Jayde and Denyse Tontz as The Jennifers, Matt Riedy as Griffin, Daran Norris as Buddha Bob, Challen Cates as Jennifer Knight, David Anthony Higgins as Mr. Bitters, JoJo Wright as himself.

In the brand new third season episode of "Big Time Rush" called "Bel Air Rush", Gustavo realises that the bands star is rising to fast for them to still be living at the Palm Woods so he sets them up in a sweet new house in Bel Air. However, upscale living doesn't exactly agree with the four guys who basically just like to create havoc and do whatever they like. They soon decide they want to return to their old crib, but it turns out leaving Bel Air isn't so easy, as the image-conscious neighborhood block captain explains to them: "No one LEAVES Bel Air!" Songs featured: "Movin' Up to Bel Air", "Love Me Love Me”, “Windows Down”, “Elevate"; Guest Stars: Erin Sanders as Camille, Challen Cates as Jennifer Knight, Daran Norris as Buddha Bob, Kelli Goss, Savannah Jayde and Denyse Tontz as The Jennifers and Fabio as himself; Special Guest Stars: Rachel Crow as obsessed BTR fan girl, Winnie and Alfonso Ribeiro as Carlton Banks.

Nick Jr. Channel UK To Premiere The Brand New "Dora The Explorer" Special "Dora's Royal Rescue" In November 2012

Nickelodeon UK has announced the Nickelodeon UK News that Nickelodeon UK and Ireland's preschool channel, Nick Jr. Channel UK and Ireland, is planning to premiere and show the brand new special episode of Nick Junior's hugely popular animated preschool series "Dora the Explorer" called "Dora's Royal Rescue" in November 2012 (air date and transmission (TX) time to be confirmed by Nick Jr. UK) as part of Nick Jr. UK's Autumn/Winter 2012 highlights!

Dora the Explorer is one of Nick Jr.'s most beloved shows; a play-along animated adventure series starring Dora Marquez, a seven-year old proudly bi-lingual Latina heroine. Dora's adventures take place in an imaginative, tropical world filled with jungles, beaches and rain forests where she uses her knowledge of English and Spanish to communicate with her friends, overcome obstacles and reach her goals.

In the brand new "Dora the Explorer" special titled "Dora's Royal Rescue", Dora's stars as Lady Knight Dora and and Boots the Monkey co-stars as her squire, Squire Boots, as they embark on a noble quest to help Rocinante the Horse save Don Quixote, who has been locked in an abandoned library inside Story Castle by the mean Malambruno and Rocinante is determined to rescue him! Join Dora and Boots as they ride Horse and Donkey into a secret cave and discover an enchanted forest, and help Dora and Boots dance past a giant spider, overcome giant windmills, free some caged lions, and rescue a fellow knight in Nick Junior's brand new "Dora the Explorer: Dora's Royal Rescue" special this November, only on Nick Jr. UK and Ireland!

Children's Channels Patrol Stars' Web Pages In Bid To Protect Their Shows Shows, Says Talent Managers And Casting Agents

From Reuters:

To protect shows, Disney, Cartoon, Nick patrol kids' Web pages

(Reuters) - Young actors in Hollywood have a new hurdle to overcome in their budding careers: Roving studio executives who patrol Twitter, Facebook Inc and other social media sites with the threat of legal action if the young thespians disclose too much.

Talent managers and casting agents say Disney Channel, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network often monitor posts by cast members on these sites for messages that might harm their shows' prospects with fickle youthful viewers.

The networks order them to take down posts that might reveal too much about characters, plot twists, casting or comments that might offend advertisers.

Social media dogs young actors seeking stage careers as well.

Carol Lynn Sher, an agent for kids seeking parts in Hollywood and on Broadway, said one of her clients lost a job after he posted that he was in the cast of a Broadway show before it was officially announced.

"They pulled the offer. It was devastating," she said. "I sent out a precautionary note to all my clients because of studios' and ad agencies' concerns about social media."

Efforts to rein in the online habits of kids are part of a larger Hollywood campaign to restrict adults, too. And it could become an issue in February contract talks for the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA), covering over 150,000 actors, said a lawyer for ad agencies that work with the channels.

"We try to watch their tweets. If we see things that concern us, we raise it with them," acknowledged Sharon Lieblein, vice-president, talent and casting for Time Warner Inc's Cartoon Network. She says she frequently asks kids to delete posts from Facebook or Twitter.

The network asked one of its young stars to take down a tweet disparaging drink retailer Jamba Juice as "disgusting," she added. "I thought it could be a major sponsor."

Disney Channel denies it is heavy-handed and instead insists it works proactively by offering social media training.

"Kids are our business. We know that their first instinct is to go on social media," said Judy Taylor, the Disney Channel's senior vice-president, casting and talent relations.

This summer, Disney instructed the channel's "Good Luck Charlie" cast members not to spill the beans online about the show's plan to introduce a new baby boy to the program's family, the Duncans.

Taylor said Disney often reminds kids to "think before you tweet," which she says helps prevent misfires.

"These things happened in the past and that's why it has happened now less and less," she said.

Viacom Inc's Nickelodeon said its policies have evolved as the use of social media increased.

"We expect our talent to exercise discretion in all aspects of their lives," said Nickelodeon spokesman George Cabico.

The mothers of wannabe stars and their agents were loathe to discuss online restrictions for fear of hurting budding careers.

One mom said the secrecy around Paramount's upcoming "Paranormal Activity 4" was so intense she didn't know the part for which her daughter was auditioning. The mother said she had to sign a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) before her 11-year old could try out.

Paramount, a unit of Viacom, declined comment.

"Sometimes we have 2,000 actors sign NDAs before even seeing a script," said casting director Francene Selkirk, who added that the threat of retaliation for a wayward tweet is always there.

"Do it and it could be the end of a casting director seeing you again, or an agent representing you in the future," agrees David O'Connor of O'Connor Casting in Chicago, which specializes in casting for TV, film and commercials.

An NDA obtained by Reuters spells out the consequences, "including without limitation, the right to seek civil and criminal penalties" if a person receiving a screenplay discloses elements of the screenplay "to any member of the press, on blogs, Twitter, Facebook, Youtube, MySpace or any other social network."

A company can legally pursue a child for rescinding the terms of an NDA or the child's parents if they agreed to be responsible should the child rescind, said Doug Wood of Reed Smith. But he noted it rarely happens and damages are hard to quantify.

Content companies and SAG-AFTRA are talking informally about the issue, said Wood, who negotiates for advertisers on the collective bargaining agreements. The guild believes NDAs cannot be required for casting calls and auditions.

"We're particularly concerned with supporting and defending our members' First Amendment rights, including in the social media world," said Pamela Greenwalt of SAG-AFTRA. "We generally believe minors are entitled to even greater protections."

But O'Connor is skeptical.

"Think Big Brother isn't watching?" he said. "Think again."

Viacom President And Chief Executive Officer Philippe Dauman To Appear At The Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference

Below is a Viacom Inc. Press Release via PRNewswire:

Viacom President and Chief Executive Officer Philippe Dauman to Appear at the Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference

NEW YORK, Sept. 13, 2012 /Viacom Press Release via PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA) today announced that Philippe Dauman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Viacom, will participate in a question-and-answer session at the 21st Annual Goldman Sachs Communacopia Conference on Wednesday, September 19, 2012, at approximately 2:05 p.m. (ET). A live webcast of Mr. Dauman's question-and-answer session will be available to the general public through a link on the Investor Relations homepage of Viacom's website, www.viacom.com. A replay of the audio webcast will be available in the "Events / Webcasts" section of the site.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110811/NY51392LOGO )

About Viacom

Viacom is home to the world's premier entertainment brands that connect with audiences through compelling content across television, motion picture, online and mobile platforms in over 160 countries and territories. With more than 160 media networks reaching approximately 700 million global subscribers, Viacom's leading brands include MTV, VH1, CMT, Logo, BET, CENTRIC, Nickelodeon, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nicktoons, Nick at Nite, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV Land, SPIKE and Tr3s. Paramount Pictures, celebrating its 100th year in 2012 and creator of many of the most beloved motion pictures, continues today as a major global producer and distributor of filmed entertainment. Viacom operates a large portfolio of branded digital media experiences, including many of the world's most popular properties for entertainment, community and casual online gaming.

For more information about Viacom and its businesses, visit www.viacom.com. Keep up with Viacom news by following Viacom's blog at blog.viacom.com and Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/Viacom.

SOURCE Viacom Inc.

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Nickelodeon UK To Launch Irish Feed Of Nicktoons UK From Tuesday 16th October 2012

According to this Nickelodeon UK and Ireland News article Irish Independent, Nickelodeon UK will be launching a localised Nicktoons UK channel in the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday 16th October 2012, which will carry the same programming and schedules as Nicktoons UK, but with advertisements (commercials) aimed towards Nicktoons' Irish viewers:

Nicktoons joins Sky's portfolio

SKY Ireland claims it is to offer advertisers "increased choice" in the kids' TV market with the addition of Nicktoons to its portfolio from October 16. Nicktoons, bringing the very best animation to Ireland, joins kids channels Nickelodeon and Nick Jr.

The channels will "further enhance the strength of Sky Media Ireland's portfolio", Sky says, which currently comprises 20 high-quality pay TV brands across entertainment, sports, documentaries, news and kids, including Sky1, Sky Atlantic, MTV, Dave, Sky Sports 1 & 2, Sky News, Discovery and Nickelodeon.

Sky Media Ireland sales director Richard Kelly said the deal meant his firm would "continue to offer Irish advertisers increased choice and value in the market".

Tina McCann of Nickelodeon UK & Ireland said she was "delighted" to have completed the agreement with Sky.