Video Of Nickelodeon's "Christmas on Nickelodeon 2012" On-Air Broadcast Design Package

To celebrate and promote the upcoming Christmas holiday season, "December on Nickelodeon 2012" and "Christmas on Nickelodeon 2012", the Buenos Aires, Argentina-based broadcast design and animation studio "A1 Design" has unveiled a high-quality (HQ) high-definition (HD) online streaming Nickelodeon video clip which features a range of design elements from Nickelodeon International's Christmas 2012 on-air broadcast design package, including Christmas-themed Nickelodeon channel bumpers and idents (station IDs; including "We'll Be Right Back" and "Now Back To The Show" Christmas-themed Nickelodeon bumpers) and trailer/promo examples for Nickelodeon's brand new holiday special called "It's A SpongeBob Christmas!" (including 'Coming This Holiday Season', 'Tonight', 'In 2 Days' and 'It's A SpongeBob Christmas!, Next Wednesday At 10:00pm), which features wrapped up Christmas presents, Christmas candy canes and Christmas Tree Baubles in the style of Nickelodeon's 2011 brand refresh which was created and devised by New York-based creative studio "Trollbäck + Company"!:

Nick Holiday Pack from A1 Design on Vimeo.

Video Of Nickelodeon UK's Brand New "Halloween Weekend" Promo By Creative Design Studio "Urban Birds"

The London, UK-based creative studio 'Urban Birds' has unveiled a brand new high definition (HD) high quality (HQ) online streaming Nickelodeon video clip featuring Nickelodeon UK's brand new "Halloween Weekend" trailer/promo that Nickelodeon UK commissioned them to design and make to celebrate and promote Nickelodeon UK hosting a second special "Halloween Weekend" programming stunt and block on Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK over Saturday 27th October 2012 and Sunday 28th October 2012 which will feature some of the most terrifying episodes of Nickelodeon's most popular original series ("Nicktoons"), including "SpongeBob SquarePants", "Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness", "Bucket & Skinner's Epic Adventures", "iCarly", "Victorious", and "Big Time Rush", plus Nickelodeon's supernatural television movies "The Boy Who Cried Werewolf" and "Fred 2: Night of the Living Fred" as part of Nickelodeon UK's Halloween 2012 programming line-up:

Nickelodeon Halloween Weekend (2012) from Urban Birds on Vimeo.

Why Nickelodeon Is Releasing Its First PG-13 Movie

From The Hollywood Reporter:

Why Nickelodeon Is Releasing Its First PG-13 Film

The Oct. 26 opening of Josh Schwartz-directed "Fun Size" is the culmination of a seven-year makeover for the Paramount label.

Underage drinking and a giant robotic chicken [...]? Move over, Rugrats, Nickelodeon Movies is all grown up.

The Paramount label once associated with G-rated kiddie fare like Charlotte's Web is releasing its first PG-13 film Oct. 26 with the Josh Schwartz-helmed teen comedy Fun Size.

VIDEO: Jane Levy and Victoria Justice in 'Fun Size' Trailer

The move marks the culmination of the label's seven-year makeover. “We have been looking to define Nickelodeon movies as something not just for children but for everyone, including children,” says Paramount vice chair Rob Moore. “In the past, there wasn’t much breadth in the target audience.”

Moore cites recent Nick movies releases The Last Airbender, Rango and The Adventures of Tintin — all PG films that earned a combined $939 million worldwide.

STORY: Josh Schwartz to Direct 'Fun Size'

Still, there’s a limit to how adult the label will skew.

“I think the way I originally wrote it, it would have been R mainly because of language and innuendo,” says Max Werner of his Black List screenplay, which marks Schwartz (Gossip Girl) and Fake Empire partner Stephanie Savage's first movie after they inked a first-look deal with Paramount. “But the studio always wanted it to come in at PG-13.”

Quips Schwartz, “If it’s too watered down, it’s for nobody."

Nickelodeon Movies and Paramount Pictures will be releasing the brand new Nickelodeon Movie "Fun Size", in which Victoria Justice has a lead role in, in the UK on Monday 29th October 2012, for the October 2012 school half-term holidays in the UK, and just in time for Halloween.

Also, from Screen International's ScreenDaily:

Fun Size

Dir: Josh Schwartz. US. 2012. 87mins

With Nickelodeon star Victoria Justice heading the ensemble cast, Halloween-themed family comedy Fun Size mixes a perky tone with some mildly risqué humour aimed at the older end of the tween-teen spectrum. While the tone might put off more cynical teens, in the US at least the popularity of Justice and her hit cable sitcom Victorious could lead to a decent (or better) theatrical performance and a strong video showing for this Nickelodeon Movies production.

The comedy ranges from basic slapstick to pretty innocuous verbal and visual gags.

Launching the film this week in North America, worldwide distributor Paramount will be able to leverage the theme during Halloween festivities, though the PG-13 rating (Nickelodeon offerings usually get a straight PG) might be a limiting factor. An October 29 opening in the UK should have a similar effect while performances in other international markets will probably vary according to the local popularity of Victorious and its star.

Justice's Wren is a smart and pretty Cleveland high schooler whose Halloween plans centre on going to the coolest party in town with status-obsessed friend April (Jane Levy, from the US version of Shameless). When the odd-acting kid brother she’s supposed to be babysitting sneaks off, Wren has to spend most of the night tracking him down. In the process she gets to measure the romantic attentions of the party host against those of a nerdy nice guy (Project X's Thomas Mann).

First time feature director Josh Schwartz (whose TV writer-producer credits include Gossip Girl and The OC) gives the film a sitcom feel and an episodic structure - other characters who get turns at the centre of the action include Wren’s widowed and slightly flaky mother (played by TV host Chelsea Handler) and a crazed wrestler (an uncredited Johnny Knoxville).

The comedy ranges from basic slapstick to pretty innocuous verbal and visual gags about [...] (plus a couple of awkward jokes about out-of-place adults).

The proceedings end with a more serious sequence in which Wren, her brother and their mother meet after the parties are over and get back on terms as a fatherless but affectionate family.

Production companies: Nickelodeon Movies, Anonymous Content, Fake Empire

Worldwide distribution: Paramount Pictures

Producers: Stephanie Savage, Josh Schwartz, Bard Dorros, David Kanter

Executive producers: Michael Beugg, Steve Golin, Paul Green

Screenplay: Max Werner

Cinematography: Yaron Orbach

Editor: Michael L Sale

Production designer: Mark White

Music: Deborah Lurie

Website: www.paramount.com/funsize

Main cast: Victoria Justice, Thomas Mann, Jane Levy, Thomas McDonell, Thomas Middleditch, Chelsea Handler

Also, from The Huffington Post:

Fun Size was an interesting experiment, a Nickelodeon funded kids comedy set on Halloween to serve as an antidote to the likes of Paranormal Activity 4 (down 70% in weekend two for an $8.6 million second weekend and a ten day total of $42 million but a worldwide total of $91 million) and Sinister ($39 million in 17 days). Alas the film ended up with a PG-13. Hence it was considered too adult for kids but too kid-friendly for older audiences. Without any big stars on the poster (sorry Victoria Justice), the film fizzled with just $4 million (the 64th worst wide-release opening of all time). The Curtis Hanson/Michael Apted surfing melodrama Chasing Mavericks earned just $2.2 million (the ninth-worst wide release opening of all-time), proving that Gerald Butler is only a star with a strong opener when paired with the likes of Jennifer Aniston or Jamie Foxx.

Also, from HitFix.com:

Also opening on Friday was Nickelodeon Films and Paramount Pictures' "Fun Size." The PG-13 comedy starring tween star Victoria Justice grossed just $1.3 million for what could be a $4 million weekend. "Fun" didn't cost much, but it's still a loss for the Viacom divisions. It's also a sign of just how weak the Nickelodeon network is as a promotional launch platform these days.

Also, from Variety:

"Fun Size" garnered a B appraisal and earned the majority of its opening from families and teenage girls. The pic, from TV's "Gossip Girl" co-creators Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage, toplines Nickelodeon star Victoria Justice.

Sky Deutschland 'Sky Go' IPTV Service Expands Kids' VoD Service; Add's Nickelodeon Germany Content

From C21Media:

Sky D expands kids' VoD

Sky Deutschland has secured deals with major children's content providers for its cross-platform on-demand service.

Sky Deutschland will offer programmes such as Maya the Bee, Tom & Jerry and Ben 10 to Sky Go through partnerships with four children’s channels: Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Nickelodeon and German-language net Junior.

Sky Go allows subscribers to access content from tablets, computers, smartphones and other web-connected devices. The service launched in Germany and Austria last year and over 100 hours of children’s programming will be made available from November 28, 2012.

Peter Schulz, VP of on-demand programming at Sky Deutschland, said the service would provide a “secure environment at any time” for children to access TV content via connected devices.

The expansion mirrors BSkyB's move in the UK in August, when it launched eight live children’s channels on the Sky Go app. The pay-TV broadcaster has a deal with Disney, however, which isn’t part of its German counterpart’s current line-up.

Nico Franks
24-10-2012
©C21Media

TAGS: vod
GENRES: Children's, Entertainment
SHOWS: Ben 10, Maya the Bee, Tom & Jerry
PEOPLE: Peter Schulz
COMPANIES: BSkyB, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon
SECTIONS: C21Kids
COUNTRIES: Germany, UK

Also, from Broadband TV News:

Sky D launches kids portal on Sky Go

Sky Deutschland is launching a special kids portal on its Sky Go service on November 20, offering over 100 on-demand programmes.

The operator is bringing together kids favourites from Boomerang, Cartoon Network, Nick Junior and Nicktoons including favourities such as Tom & Jerry, Bugs Bunny, Looney Tunes, The Flintstones, Maja the Bee, Paddington Bear, Power Rangers Samurai, Planet Max, Monsuno and Ben 10. For Sky Movies subscribers, also a number of kids movies will become available including The Muppets, Rio and Happy Feet 2. In December, a number of Christmas movies will be added.

Sky D’s Sky Go service is available free of charge to subscribers and can be accessed on Apple iPad, iPhone, iPod touch, on the web and on Microsoft Xbox 360.

Also from C21Media:

SkyD on-demand use spikes

Sky Deutschland (SkyD) has reported a 367% increase in on-demand sessions for the third quarter of 2012, as it prepares to launch a kids’ programming block on its VoD platform this month.

Sky Go saw usage jumpe to 8.2 million sessions – possibly with a number of shows screened in each session – in the three months to September 30, compared with 1.7 million for the same period last year.

The service is also expanding the content it offers and platforms it is available through. Since September, for instance, subscribers have been able to view Germany’s Bundesliga football matches live on iPhone.

Furthermore, from this month Sky Go will roll out a dedicated kids’ zone with more than 100 programmes, ranging from classic cartoons such as Tom & Jerry and Sylvester & Tweety to movies like The Muppets, Rio and Happy Feet 2.

SkyD will pick up content to run online through partnerships with channels including Cartoon Network, Boomerang, Nickelodeon and German net Junior.

The News Corp-owned pay-TV platform recorded net growth of 80,000 customers for the period, up 12% compared with the same period last year, to 3.2 million total subscribers. The 12-month cancellation rate was 11.8%.

The company’s third-quarter revenue was €976m (US$1.24bn), up 18% year-on-year, while it made a €16.5m overall loss in the period, an improvement on the €46.9m loss in Q3 2011.

Michael Pickard
14-11-2012
©C21Media

TAGS: Financial results
GENRES: Animation, Kids, Movies
COMPANIES: Sky Deutschland
SECTIONS: C21Kids, FutureMedia
COUNTRIES: Germany

NickToons UK's "Matt Hatter Chronicles" Can Become A Household Name, Says Platinum Films

From Licensing.biz:

'Matt Hatter can become a household name', says Platinum Films

After a storming BLE showing, we find out more about the hotly tipped new boys action adventure brand.

Created by Platinum Films' CEO Nigel Stone, Matt Hatter Chronicles is an action adventure comedy series aimed at five to ten year old boys.

Stone’s vision was apparently to produce a truly 360-degree brand using state of the art animation techniques and engaging storytelling inspired by movie classics. He wanted to create a brave young hero whose valiant spirit, taste for adventure and hi-spec gadgetry would identify with a modern generation of kids.

And, judging by the positive reaction at Brand Licensing Europe, it’s just possible he’s succeeded.

Tags: itv global entertainment, matt hatter chronicles, platinum films

Also from Licensing.biz:

Matt Hatter Chronicles Brand Profile by Licensing.biz

It was one of the most hotly tipped brands from BLE, and now Platinum Films is looking to forge ahead with its plans for Matt Hatter Chronicles. We find out more.
Created by Platinum Films’ CEO Nigel Stone, Matt Hatter Chronicles is an action adventure comedy series aimed at five to ten year old boys.

Stone’s vision was apparently to produce a truly 360-degree brand using state of the art animation techniques and engaging storytelling inspired by movie classics. He wanted to create a brave young hero whose valiant spirit, taste for adventure and hi-spec gadgetry would identify with a modern generation of kids.

And, judging by the positive reaction at Brand Licensing Europe, it’s just possible he’s succeeded.

Principle photography on the $12 million HD animated series began in 2011. Season one and two represent 26 22-minute episodes, while a third season is already in development. In terms of broadcast, Matt Hatter Chronicles airs on ITV/CITV and Nickelodeon in the UK, Nickelodeon in Australia and New Zealand, RTE in Eire and Teletoon in Canada.

Always an encouraging sign, the global broadcast footprint is rapidly expanding with SABC, South Africa and JCC (Al Jazerra Children’s Channel) in Arabic territories recently acquiring the series. A successful MIP Junior and Mipcom in Cannes earlier this month means more announcements are also due shortly.

In terms of licensing, ITV Studios Global Entertainment (ITVS GE) is representing the rights for merchandising, publishing, promotional and home entertainment in the UK, Eire, Australia and New Zealand.

To date, Penguin is on board for publishing, Topps has signed up for trading cards and sticker collections, Titan will be producing a range of comic magazines in print and digital formats, while a DVD launch is also planned for 2013. There is also tremendous interest in the brand from a toy point of view.

“Matt Hatter Chronicles is fast becoming one of the hottest boy properties,” Stone tells Licensing.biz. “The combination of schoolboy hero Matt versus his nemesis the evil Lord Tenoroc, smart digital content and naturally toyetic realms, vehicles and props – such as Matt’s Multivision Specs and Cell Blaster – are ideal for creating a unique and exciting range of products.”

Platinum has also invested in a fully interactive website, phase one of which launched last month and received 50,000 hits in its debut weekend. The site, which features over 200 pages of content, has been launched as a virtual destination for fans to ‘explore, find and discover’. It includes games, activities, downloads, collectables, gossip and secret info on the characters. Fans can also unlock hidden content from around the site. Phase two of the website will tie into the roll out of the 2013 M&L programme.

So, what makes Matt Hatter different? In such a crowded market, what will make it stand out?

Stone explains: “In a saturated market, Platinum has ensured it has created a property that has immediate stand out appeal and longevity. Platinum are passionate about creating ground-breaking global children’s brand that are truly 360-degree in their approach, innovative and above all, made for and loved by kids. The retail response has been tremendous and there is definitely a buzz about the brand.”
The rest of 2012 will be focused on securing first class licensing and retail partners and consolidating the relationships in the build up to the UK M&L launch in 2013. And longer term? “The long-term strategy is to build the Matt Hatter Chronicles brand as a global franchise and for Matt Hatter to become a household name for budding schoolboy heroes all around the world,” Stone concludes.

Brand Owner - Platinum Films
Genre - Boys action adventure
Key Licensees - Penguin, Topps, Titan
Website - http://www.matthatter.com.

More Photographs Of Nickelodeon's "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" Touring London, UK In October 2012!

From Licensing.biz:

IN PICTURES: The Turtles out and about in London

Nickelodeon's fab four are photographed at famous London locations.

The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles have taken to the streets of London to celebrate their return to British TV screens.

The new CG-animated series is airing on Nickelodeon on Mondays at 5.00pm.

Here's some snaps of Raphael, Donetello, Leonardo and Michaelangelo at some of the capital's most iconic locations...

Abbey Road [Zebra Crosing]:

Westminster:

London Eye:

“Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is THE television event of the autumn for all the family,” said Tina McCann, SVP, managing director, Nickelodeon UK. “We know that the legions of Turtles fans as well as those that have never seen the half-shell heroes in action before are going to be blown away by the new series with its extraordinary animation and mix of comedy and action.”

Tags: donetello, leonardo, michaelangelo, nickelodeon, raphael, turtles

Whilst touring the capital city of England and the United Kingdom, the Heroes in a Half Shell visited the London Transport Museum in London's Covent Garden, attended a fan signing with "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" co-creator Kevin Eastman at a Forbidden Planet shop, drove a world-famous London Bus, and took of Nickelodeon UK's offices at MTV Networks Europe's office building in Camden!