Rob Dyrdek's Wild Grinders Animated Skateboarding Series gets Big Worldwide Air and a Second Season Pick-up for Nicktoons
LOS ANGELES, April 8, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Home Plate Entertainment (HPE) announced a number of important developments for its hit animated series and core brand, Rob Dyrdek 's Wild Grinders, which launched last year on Nicktoons in the U.S. The series has been greenlit for a 26-episode half-hour season two for Nicktoons and will soon launch season one of the series in Europe and Latin America. The series, now being distributed by HPE's newly formed distribution company has been launched successfully on Liberty Global's Chellomedia & Zon Multimedia owned Panda Biggs in Portugal and in Brazil on Globosat's Award winning kid's channel, Gloob. With other deals soon to be announced, HPEDA has appointed Elastic Rights and Mondo TV to handle the property in southern Europe and the Middle East respectively.
"After a successful first season, getting the greenlight for season two of the animated series has allowed us to grow the show in so many creative ways – including really pushing the comedy. It has also been very rewarding to hear the support of the show's fans, who are now finding out about Wild Grinders and these crazy characters all over the world – as they grow in familiarity with the rest of my entertainment brands," said Rob Dyrdek , the show's creator and skateboarder turned media and Brand-trepreneur. Dyrdek, who is well known from his successful MTV shows, Rob & Big, Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory and the latest hit, Ridiculousness, which is in its third season, all air around the world, now with Rob Dyrdek 's Wild Grinders following suit. Among numerous other significant accomplishments, Dyrdek has also successfully launched "Street League", a professional street skating league competition. The internationally held and televised events are sponsored by major corporations and feature the world's top pro street skaters competing for the biggest purse in the sport - more than $2 million.
"The creative integrity and authenticity of the Wild Grinders animated series in addition to its universal stories and comedy makes it a brand for the future. The explosive growth of Dyrdek's increasing portfolio of brands is having a strong positive effect on our ability to bring the show to fans hungry for this type of cartoon comedy - almost underground to mainstream," said Home Plate CEO and the show's executive producer Bill Schultz .
In addition to the growing number of worldwide broadcast partners, DC Shoes just released an exciting new line of Wild Grinders' branded shoes for kids earlier this month with plans for apparel to follow, and deals with a leading party goods company, toys, a video game, and more, are all in the pipeline and will be announced shortly. The team at Dyrdek Enterprises, together with HPE, is also exploring other key categories timed to the launch of the new season of Rob Dyrdek's Wild Grinders.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Laura Forst : +1 818-876-3071; Laura.Forst@HomePlateEntertainment.com
Website: www.homeplateentertainment.com
SOURCE Home Plate Entertainment
RELATED LINKS
http://www.homeplateentertainment.com.
Tuesday, April 09, 2013
NickToons USA Orders Second Season Of Rob Dyrdek's Animated Comedy Series "Wild Grinders" From Home Plate Entertainment
The Los Angeles, California-based animation Studio Home Plate Entertainment (HPE) has announced in the following Press Release, from PRNewswire, that skateboard pro Rob Dyrdek's animated comedy series "Wild Grinders" has been greenlit for a 26-episode half-hour season two for Nickelodeon USA's animation and action channel, Nicktoons USA. In addition, Home Plate Entertainment has also announced in the same news release that season one of "Rob Dyrdek's Wild Grinders" is due to be launched across Europe and Latin America. The series, now being distributed by HPE's newly formed distribution company has been launched successfully on Liberty Global's Chellomedia & Zon Multimedia owned Panda Biggs in Portugal and in Brazil on Globosat's Award winning kid's channel, Gloob. With other deals soon to be announced, HPEDA has appointed Elastic Rights and Mondo TV to handle the property in southern Europe and the Middle East respectively:
Nickelodeon Germany Acquires Rights To Season 1 Of The New Sci-Fi Action Animated Series "Max Steel"; FremantleMedia Kids & Family And Mattel Showcases Season 2 At MIPTV 2013
The licensing business news website Licensing.biz is reporting the Nick Germany news that, along with Nickelodeon UK, Nickelodeon Germany (also known as Nickelodeon Deutschland) has also picked up the television broadcast rights to the first season of Mattel and FremantleMedia Kids & Family's brand new CGI-animated science fiction–action series "Max Steel", which Nick UK's animation and action channel, Nicktoons UK and Ireland, will start to premiere and show from Saturday 13th April 2013, as part of "April on Nicktoons UK 2013"!
Max Steel is an intelligent superhero with a wicked sense of humor. Maxwell McGrath is just an ordinary teen until he starts to generate Turbo Energy, an extraordinary super power that he has trouble controlling. Fortunately, he meets an alien life form named Steel. With Steel's help Max learns to harness his Turbo Energy and use his powers for good. In fact, Max actually works with his mom to save the planet from the forces of evil! Max Steel is one part high school sophomore and one part alien warrior. Once combined, Max and Steel become a wisecracking duo playing off one another's distinctive personality traits and quirks. Their comedic banter is always in good fun with a positive spin:
Max Steel is an intelligent superhero with a wicked sense of humor. Maxwell McGrath is just an ordinary teen until he starts to generate Turbo Energy, an extraordinary super power that he has trouble controlling. Fortunately, he meets an alien life form named Steel. With Steel's help Max learns to harness his Turbo Energy and use his powers for good. In fact, Max actually works with his mom to save the planet from the forces of evil! Max Steel is one part high school sophomore and one part alien warrior. Once combined, Max and Steel become a wisecracking duo playing off one another's distinctive personality traits and quirks. Their comedic banter is always in good fun with a positive spin:
Max Steel readies for second seriesAlso, from Screen International:
FremantleMedia Kids & Family and Mattel launch new episodes at MIPTV.
As new markets continue to come on board for series one, FremantleMedia Kids & Family and Mattel have been showcasing a second series of Max Steel to global buyers.
The second season of the action comedy series will include 26 30-minute episodes, bringing the total number available to 52.
The first season of Max Steel - which is based on the Mattel franchise - is currently launching around the world. Additional sales have been made to markets including the UK and Germany (both Nickelodeon), Australia (Channel 9), New Zealand (TV4), Canada (Teletoon), Benelux (Disney XD), Singapore (Mediacorps OKTV), Belgium (VMMA), Greece (Star), Israel (Noga) and the Philippines (ABS-CBN).
The total number of broadcasters now stands at 18, reaching audiences in more than 150 territories.
"We're thrilled that buyers around the world are queuing up to take Max Steel to their audiences," said Sander Schwartz, president of FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment.
Tags: fremantle kids, mattel, max steel
FremantleMedia Kids & Family Entertainment and Mattel have greenlit a second season of animation Max Steel. The 26 x 30-minute series brings the total number of episodes available to 52.
New sales for the first series of the sci-fi action show include deals struck with the UK (Nickelodeon), Germany (Nickelodeon), Australia (Channel 9), New Zealand (TV4), Canada (Teletoon), Benelux (Disney XD), Singapore (Mediacorps OKTV), Belgium (VMMA), Greece (Star), Israel (Noga) and the Philippines (ABS-CBN).
Overall, 18 broadcasters have licensed Max Steel, which is shown in 150 territories worldwide.
Swedish Nickelodeon Fans Can Now Watch Nick Via The New Cloud-Based TV Operator Magine
The Broadband television business news website Broadband TV News is reporting that Nickelodeon is now available for Swedish fans and viewers to watch on the new cloud-based TV operator Magine, which recently launched in Sweden. Broadband TV News is also reporting in the same article that Magine is also preparing to launch in Germany and Spain later in 2013, with the company wanting to eventually offer the service across Europe, however, a UK launch is not expected before the first quarter of 2014:
Disruptive cloud TV service Magine plans euro launchAlso, from Broadcast Engineering:
After its launch in Sweden, cloud-based TV operator Magine is preparing to launch in Germany and Spain later this year.
The company eventually wants to offer the service across Europe. A UK launch is not expected before the first quarter of 2014.
Magine launched in Sweden last week with a bouquet consisting of national Swedish public broadcaster SVT and private broadcaster TV4, as well international channels including CNN International, BBC, Eurosport, National Geographic, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, with more agreements on the way.
The launch of Magine First Edition comes after months of testing the service. During last year’s MIPCOM, Magine started its pilot.
A subscription to the service, which brings live TV and cloud PVR across a number of device, costs 99 Swedish kroner (around €11.50) a month.
Magine claims to be “a pure TV service that has removed the complicated installation of set-top boxes, dishes and cables by engineering a secure cloud-based architecture.”
Magine also addresses the fragmentation in mobile TV, where currently there are different catch-up services on tablets and smart phones, by providing both live and catch-up in the same place across all devices.
Magine is the result of two years work by a group of pay-TV experts, internet professionals and technology specialists who asked themselves the fundamental question: “If TV was invented today what would it look like?”
Commenting on Magine’s Swedish launch chairman Michael Werner said : “Magine re-defines TV by combining cloud-based live TV, catch-up and on-demand programming in the same place. The company has pioneered technology that has never existed before and we are proud to have been accepted as a service that both viewers and content providers consider excellent.”
Turner Broadcasting System’s director of distribution in the Nordic countries, Ramon Zwartkruis, added: “We have been testing the service for almost six months and we are delighted with the result – the service at launch looks really high-class and this seems to be the viewers perception of Magine as well.”
For broadcasters and content providers: Magine creates value for broadcasters by providing greater reach, a route to content discovery that really works and social interaction among viewers. This will lead to increasing returns on the vast library of content which broadcasters already have rights to. Magine enhances distribution by providing a viewer-designed experience which is supported by the TV value chain.
For viewers: Magine is a subscription service that offers the ultimate freedom of watching live and recorded programming from all your favourite channels on all devices: TV screens, smartphones,
tablets or computers. It has a slick design, enviable speed and delivers a high-quality picture which adapts to the available internet connection. A phone or tablet can be used as a stand-alone viewing device and also as a remote control for the TV set or PC, guiding the viewer in content discovery and ‘second screen’ interactions.
Magine is currently available on Apple devices and in Samsung smart TV’s. More TV platforms and Android tablets are on the way.
Magine cloud TV aims for set-top box kill
Europe’s established pay-TV providers may be confident they can see off the Netflix threat but are more concerned over potential disruption from much lesser-known Swedish cloud TV start-up service Magine, which plans to extend across the rest of Europe over the next two years.
Magine offers live-TV services with a decent content catalogue and full catch up services from cloud based PVR, streamed to Samsung smart TVs or iOS devices without need for a set-top box. Support for other target device platforms, notably Android and leading smart TV brands other than Samsung, will be added later this year.
There are other cloud TV services in Europe offering good linear content, but these require a set top box, which increases deployment and ongoing costs. Spanish Telco Jazztel is one such service, having switched in 2012 from IPTV to cloud based OTT delivery using an IP set top via adaptive bitrate streaming secured by Nagra’s Conditional Access system.
Magine is actually a cable operator so its subscribers will access the cloud based service via its broadband HFC (Hybrid Fiber coaxial) infrastructure, with delivery secured by the Widevine DRM technology acquired by Google in December 2010. Widevine is widely supported by smart TV makers such as Samsung and so is a natural choice for any streaming TV provider seeking to bypass set top boxes.
Magine has been running a trial service for six months in Sweden, accumulating 12,000 beta users in the process, and claims to have 40,000 more names on its waiting list. Having now launched commercially in Sweden with its “First Edition” for 99 Swedish kroner, around $14, a month, Magine says it is preparing to launch in Germany and Spain later this year and plans to hit most of the other major European markets in 2014, starting with the UK early on.
While the attention has focused on avoiding the set top, Magine believes its principle differentiator lies in its content catalogue, with a bouquet comprising national Swedish public broadcaster SVT and private broadcaster TV4, as well international channels CNN International, BBC, Eurosport, National Geographic, Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network, with more agreements said to be on the way.
The big test though will come in the major European markets, especially the UK and Germany, where expensive premium sports and movie content are the drivers of subscribers to the main TV services. In the UK for example rights for English Premier League football were sold for £3 billion ($4.5 billion) for the three seasons 2013/2014 to 2015/2016 to Sky and BT, with a startup such as Magine only likely to be able to scoop up crumbs like recorded highlights.
Nickelodeon UK's "iGoodbye" "iCarly" Finale Rates As Number One Kids’ Show For Premiere
Nickelodeon UK and Ireland has announced in the following Press Release the very exciting Nick UK & Eire news that the UK and Irish premiere of "iGoodbye," the final episode of Nickelodeon's smash hit live-action series "iCarly", which Nick UK aired on Friday 5th April 2013, helped to rank Nickelodeon UK as the #1 kids channel for the day. An average of 338,100 individuals, including 212,000 kids 4-15 watched the "iCarly" series finale on day of broadcast. In total 954,500 individuals, including 600,800 kids have tuned into the special so far!
The success of the "iGoodbye" special was also seen online through social media activity, with "iCarly" trending in the UK for two hours post the premiere - using our hashtag #iGoodbye – and trending worldwide during the show!
Nickelodeon's beloved hit comedy "iCarly" has entertained millions throughout its five seasons since its UK premiere on 24th March 2008. Its cult status has been cemented by guest appearances from fans such as Michelle Obama ("iMeet the First Lady"), Emma Stone ("iFind Spencer Friends") and One Direction ("iGo One Direction"). Currently Nickelodeon’s longest running show, its ground-breaking format, that allowed viewers to upload content, not only secured its huge ratings but helped spark a whole new genre of TV.
Nickelodeon UK Press Release:
Nickelodeon UK’s iGoodbye iCarly Finale Rates as Number One Kids’ Show for Premiere
London, 8th April, 2013— ‘iGoodbye,’ the final episode of Nickelodeon’s smash hit live-action series iCarly, premiered on Friday 5th April and helped to rank Nickelodeon as the #1 kids channel for the day. An average of 338,100 individuals, including 212,000 kids 4-15 watched the iCarly finale on day of broadcast. In total 954,500 individuals, including 600,800 kids have tuned into the special so far.*
The success of the ‘iGoodbye’ special was also seen online through social media activity, with “iCarly” trending in the UK for two hours post the premiere - using our hashtag #iGoodbye – and trending worldwide during the show.
Nickelodeon’s beloved hit comedy iCarly has entertained millions throughout its five seasons since its UK premiere on 24th March 2008. Its cult status has been cemented by guest appearances from fans such as Michelle Obama, Emma Stone and One Direction. Currently Nickelodeon’s longest running show, its ground-breaking format, that allowed viewers to upload content, not only secured its huge ratings but helped spark a whole new genre of TV.
In the hour-long special, ‘iGoodbye,’ Carly Shay’s (played by Miranda Cosgrove) Air Force father Colonel Shay brings an emotional culmination to the much loved series. However, fans need not despair as iCarly will continue to air on the channel through 2013. Jennette McCurdy (iCarly’s Sam Puckett) has begun filming Nickelodeon's brand new liveaction original comedy series Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande (Victorious’ Cat Valentine). The show will see the pair reprising their roles and finding themselves unlikely roommates who become teen entrepreneurs by starting their own after-school babysitting business.
Nickelodeon is the number one commercial kids TV network in the UK. Launched in 1993, it comprises seven dedicated entertainment channels for kids aged 4-15: Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon HD, Nick +1, Nicktoons, Nick Jr., Nick Jr. +1 and Nick Jr. 2. The Nickelodeon network now reaches more than 10 million viewers a month and is available in 14 million cable and satellite homes. The company has built a diverse multi-platform business by putting kids first in everything it does and includes critically-acclaimed and hugely-popular television programming from the UK and around the world, plus consumer products, online, events, recreation and feature films.
*Source: BARB/part consolidated data/ All Homes for Nickelodeon and C&S homes for competitors/ Nickelodeon Stagger/ K4-15/K4- 14/Ind 4+ / - reach data is for premiere and encores
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon UK News!
The success of the "iGoodbye" special was also seen online through social media activity, with "iCarly" trending in the UK for two hours post the premiere - using our hashtag #iGoodbye – and trending worldwide during the show!
Nickelodeon's beloved hit comedy "iCarly" has entertained millions throughout its five seasons since its UK premiere on 24th March 2008. Its cult status has been cemented by guest appearances from fans such as Michelle Obama ("iMeet the First Lady"), Emma Stone ("iFind Spencer Friends") and One Direction ("iGo One Direction"). Currently Nickelodeon’s longest running show, its ground-breaking format, that allowed viewers to upload content, not only secured its huge ratings but helped spark a whole new genre of TV.
Nickelodeon UK Press Release:
Nickelodeon UK’s iGoodbye iCarly Finale Rates as Number One Kids’ Show for Premiere
The success of the ‘iGoodbye’ special was also seen online through social media activity, with “iCarly” trending in the UK for two hours post the premiere - using our hashtag #iGoodbye – and trending worldwide during the show.
Nickelodeon’s beloved hit comedy iCarly has entertained millions throughout its five seasons since its UK premiere on 24th March 2008. Its cult status has been cemented by guest appearances from fans such as Michelle Obama, Emma Stone and One Direction. Currently Nickelodeon’s longest running show, its ground-breaking format, that allowed viewers to upload content, not only secured its huge ratings but helped spark a whole new genre of TV.
In the hour-long special, ‘iGoodbye,’ Carly Shay’s (played by Miranda Cosgrove) Air Force father Colonel Shay brings an emotional culmination to the much loved series. However, fans need not despair as iCarly will continue to air on the channel through 2013. Jennette McCurdy (iCarly’s Sam Puckett) has begun filming Nickelodeon's brand new liveaction original comedy series Sam & Cat alongside Ariana Grande (Victorious’ Cat Valentine). The show will see the pair reprising their roles and finding themselves unlikely roommates who become teen entrepreneurs by starting their own after-school babysitting business.
Nickelodeon is the number one commercial kids TV network in the UK. Launched in 1993, it comprises seven dedicated entertainment channels for kids aged 4-15: Nickelodeon, Nickelodeon HD, Nick +1, Nicktoons, Nick Jr., Nick Jr. +1 and Nick Jr. 2. The Nickelodeon network now reaches more than 10 million viewers a month and is available in 14 million cable and satellite homes. The company has built a diverse multi-platform business by putting kids first in everything it does and includes critically-acclaimed and hugely-popular television programming from the UK and around the world, plus consumer products, online, events, recreation and feature films.
*Source: BARB/part consolidated data/ All Homes for Nickelodeon and C&S homes for competitors/ Nickelodeon Stagger/ K4-15/K4- 14/Ind 4+ / - reach data is for premiere and encores
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon UK News!