Nickelodeon Reconfirms Commitment To Final Chapters Of "The Legend of Korra"; Renews "Sam & Cat"

Adweek, a leading source of news for marketing, media and advertising professionals, is reporting the very exciting Nickelodeon News in the following article that Russell Hicks, Nickelodeon's President of Content Development and Production, has announced and confirmed that Nickelodeon is still planning to make and broadcast the remaining two books (seasons) of Nickelodeon's hit original animated series (Nicktoon) "The Legend of Korra", including "Book 3: Change", which is speculated to premiere on Nick USA during Fall/Winter 2014, and that the network has greenlit more brand-new episodes of their live-action original buddy comedy series "Sam & Cat"! It is currently unknown whether the all-new episodes of "Sam & Cat" will be part of a second season (season two), or will be part of a extension to the number of episodes which make up season one.

The article, from AdWeek.com, also talks about Nickelodeon's 2014-2015 programming slate and how Nickelodeon is seeking ad partners with a greater emphasis on categories not necessarily associated with children:

Nickelodeon's Jim Perry Is Courting More Adult Advertisers Upfront slate features studio partnerships By Sam Thielman

Nickelodeon's Bad Seeds

Nickelodeon revealed its slate to advertisers yesterday, and while it's all squeaky-clean kids' fare (well, relatively speaking: "As you can see from the reel, bathroom humor still works," observed Nickelodeon president Cyma Zarghami during the presentation), the network is seeking ad partners with a greater emphasis on categories you wouldn't necessarily associate with children.

"Kindle is sponsoring the Kids' Choice Awards," said Jim Perry, head of sales for the Nickelodeon group (which includes Nick proper, Nick Jr. and Nick at Nite), "and we now have over 15 retailers on our air—everything from Target and old Navy to Stride Rite and the Burlington Coat Factory."

Obviously, that's not because kids are stealing the car and driving to Target. For many years, the rule that advertisers direct their ads at parents and not children was regarded as pro forma by clients. But in recent years, heightening standards (and parental activism) around unhealthy foods, coupled with the decline of the traditional toy market, have meant that advertisers really do have to use Nick—which controls the vast majority of saleable GRPs in the kids' market—to talk to parents themselves.

Perry is way ahead of them. "You can really build a great financial literacy campaign around saving and learning the value of a dollar whether or not you're showing a credit card ad," he said. Placements and integrations like Toyota's SpongeBob ... uh, mobile showcase grown-up brands in a way that doesn't bore kids.

And for next year, Nick has a very interesting slate of shows—new cartoons Bad Seeds and Pig Goat Banana Cricket, as well as Henry Danger from Sam & Cat creator Dan Schneider and sundry others. (And yes, worried fans who were asking on Twitter, Legend of Korra is coming back for the last two books and Sam & Cat has been renewed, per programming president Russell Hicks).

For the most part, the presentation (featuring a performance by Sara Barielles) radiated relief at the company's recovery from its ratings lag of a few years ago. "I can barely remember 2011 and 2012!" said Zarghami. "Or I choose not to."