Wednesday, April 30, 2014

Viacom International Media Networks Spain and Parque Reunidos Launch Nickelodeon Land at Parque de Atracciones Madrid

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Spain, a division of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), a leading provider of youth and general entertainment content, and Parques Reunidos, one of the leading and fastest growing leisure park operators in the world, have today, Wednesday 30th April 2014, announced in the following press release the opening of Nickelodeon Land, the first Nickelodeon-branded attraction in Spain!


Nickelodeon, one of the world's leading global entertainment brands for kids and family, has brought its characters, interactive shows, and attractions to Parque de Atracciones in Madrid, one of the region's most popular tourist destinations, receiving millions of visitors every year.


Nickelodeon Land will feature 15,000 square meters of customized Nickelodeon-branded attractions including 10 new rides such as "Dora's Adventure" and "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – License to Drive", two live theatrical shows, including SpongeBob's "Krabby Patty Celebration", street entertainment features the "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles", and meet and greets with some of Nickelodeon's most beloved characters including SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, Dora the Explorer, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, amongst many others. Nickelodeon Land will also include a restaurant, shopping and leisure areas and the world's first SpongeBob Pineapple House, where families and kids can take a picture in his home!

To celebrate the opening "Nickelodeon Land at Parque de Atracciones", the opening ceremony included a very special performance by the Spanish girlband Sweet California.




Photo via Nickelodeon Spain's (Espana's) official Facebook profile page

"Nickelodeon Land at Parque de Atracciones" will join several other Nickelodeon-branded attractions and parks around the world. In addition to Nickelodeon Universe in Minneapolis' Mall of America, SeaWorld on the Gold Coast (Australia), Wet n Wild Sydney (Australia), Nickelodeon Land at Pleasure Beach Blackpool (UK) and Nickland at Movie Park Germany, there are Nickelodeon attractions at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida and Hollywood, California.

Original Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Spain Press Release:

Viacom International Media Networks Spain and Parque Reunidos launch the First Nickelodeon-Branded Attraction in Spain, Nickelodeon Land at Parque de Atracciones Madrid

London/Madrid 30 April 2014 – Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) Spain, a division of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), a leading provider of youth and general entertainment content and Parques Reunidos, one of the leading and fastest growing leisure park operators in the world, today announced the opening of Nickelodeon Land, the first Nickelodeon-branded attraction in Spain.

Nickelodeon, one of the world’s leading global entertainment brands for kids and family, has brought its characters, interactive shows, and attractions to Parque de Atracciones in Madrid, one of the region’s most popular tourist destinations, receiving millions of visitors every year.

Nickelodeon Land will feature 15,000 square meters of customized Nickelodeon-branded attractions including 10 new rides such as “Dora’s Adventure” and “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – License to Drive”, two live theatrical shows SpongeBob’s “Krabby Patty Celebration”, street entertainment features the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles”, and meet and greets with some of Nickelodeon’s most beloved characters including SpongeBob SquarePants, Patrick Star, Dora the Explorer, the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, amongst many others. Nickelodeon Land will also include a restaurant, shopping and leisure areas and the world’s first SpongeBob Pineapple House, where families and kids can take a picture in his home.

"We are thrilled to bring this new Nickelodeon attraction to our fans in Spain with our great partners at Parque de Atracciones de Madrid," says Gerald Raines, Vice President, Recreation Business Development, Nickelodeon. "Nickelodeon Land will give kids and families in Spain, and those who visit the park from surrounding regions, the opportunity to experience our Nickelodeon characters in a new and exciting way."

Diego Gracia, General Manager of Parque de Atracciones de Madrid, added, "Nickelodeon Land is a big part of the renewal strategy we began 10 years ago to upgrade our grounds and offerings. We've already seen positive results, and the addition of Nickelodeon Land will take us to a whole new level. The park now offers a Nickelodeon-themed area where families can enjoy a "family day" full of new Nickelodeon-branded rides, attractions, and characters.

Nickelodeon Land at Parque de Atracciones will join several other Nickelodeon-branded attractions and parks around the world. In addition to Nickelodeon Universe in Minneapolis' Mall of America, SeaWorld on the Gold Coast (Australia), Wet n Wild Sydney (Australia), Nickelodeon Land at Pleasure Beach Blackpool (UK) and Nickland at Movie Park Germany, there are Nickelodeon attractions at Universal Studios in Orlando, Fla. and Hollywood, Calif.

About Nickelodeon

NICKELODEON is one of the most globally recognized and widely distributed multimedia entertainment brands for kids and family. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company's portfolio includes television programming and production around the world, plus special events, consumer products, digital offerings, recreation, books, feature films and pro-social initiatives. Nickelodeon's brands are seen globally in more than 450 million households in over 100 territories via more than 70 locally programmed channels and syndication. Outside of the United States, Nickelodeon is part of Viacom International Media Networks, a division of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. Nickelodeon in Spain is available on Canal +, ONO, Movistar TV, Euskaltel, Telecable, R, Orange TV and other cable operators

About Viacom International Media Networks

Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIAB), is comprised of many of the world's most popular multimedia entertainment brands, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount Channel, VH1, VIVA, COLORS, Game One and Tr3s: MTV, Música y Más. Viacom brands are seen globally in more than 600 million households in 170 territories and 37 languages via more than 200 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 550 digital media and mobile TV properties. 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.

About Parques Reunidos

Parques Reunidos is one of the leading and fastest growing leisure park operators in the world. The Group portfolio is made up of 69 operations (theme or amusement parks, nature and animal parks, water parks, family entertainment centers and cable cars). The Group has continued its expansion in recent years, reaffirming itself as a leader in the Spanish leisure sector and a reference operator in this market, at both the European and international level, receiving about 26.2 million visitors every year in 12 countries in the Americas and Europe. For more information about Parques Reunidos please visit www.parquesreunidos.com

###
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for all the latest Nick Spain and Nickelodeon Land at Parque de Atracciones News!

Richard Desmond Poised To Announce Sale Of UK's Channel 5 To Viacom

The British national daily newspaper The Guardian is reporting the very exciting Viacom news in the following article that the English publisher and businessman Richard Desmond is poised to announce the sale of the Free-To-Air (FTA) UK commercial Public Service Broadcaster Channel 5 to Viacom, the parent company of the Nickelodeon and MTV brands, for as much as £450m!


The US broadcaster is expected to announce the deal to the New York stock market on Thursday 1st or Friday 2nd May 2014 at the latest.

The deal is short of the typically aggressive £700m-plus target originally set by Desmond, the owner of the Daily Express and Daily Star.

It is not clear what Viacom will do with Channel 5's £350m-a-year TV ad sales business. But it is thought likely that it will involve Rupert Murdoch's Sky.

BSkyB handles the TV ad sales in the UK for Viacom – the US broadcaster is Sky Media's biggest customer – and it is most likely to incorporate Channel 5's sales into its existing deal.

It is currently unknown whether Viacom will operate Channel 5's from Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) UK & Ireland's Hawley Crescent headquarters in Camden Lock, the same building and television studios (then called "Breakfast Television Centre") that former UK breakfast television station "TV-am" used to broadcast from.

Desmond based his valuation on 10 times anticipated profits of £70m this year, but a number of analysts had set a top end valuation of £400m to £500m.

The deal would allow the US pay-TV company to make a major move into free-to-air television in the UK.

In the UK Viacom International Media Networks has moved into commissioning more original, homegrown shows for its key channels Nickelodeon, MTV, and Comedy Central.

Viacom has invested heavily in entertainment, reality and children's television, which would make it a good fit for Channel 5.

It makes shows such as MTV's structured reality series "Geordie Shore" – which made a star of Charlotte Crosby, who went on to win Channel 5's hit reality series "Celebrity Big Brother".

In addition, along with Channel 5, Viacom invested in "Peppa Pig" via Nickelodeon UK's preschool channel, Nick Jr., which airs in Channel 5's children's programming strand Milkshake and on Nick Jr. UK and Ireland.

Channel 5 shows include the US drama imports "CSI" and "The Mentalist", "Eddie Stobart: Trucks & Trailers", "The Hotel Inspector" and "Extreme Fishing with Robson Green".

Channel 5's children's segment Milkshake features shows including "Peppa Pig", "Fireman Sam" and "Thomas & Friends".

Channel 5 has seven channels – the flagship Channel 5, 5* and 5 USA, a +1, one-hour time-shifted variant for each, and Channel 5+24 – some of which could be converted to pay services.

Rivals including BSkyB and Discovery, which was considered the frontrunner to buy Channel 5, have expanded their operations into the free-to-air market.

Viacom declined to comment. Northern & Shell, Channel 5's parent company, said no deal had yet been concluded:
Richard Desmond to announce sale of Channel 5 to US broadcaster Viacom

Owner of MTV, Nickelodeon and Comedy Central channels is expected to pay as much as £450m for Channel 5

Richard Desmond is poised to announce the sale of Channel 5 to the US broadcaster that owns MTV for as much as £450m.

The US broadcaster, which owns channels including Nickelodeon and Comedy Central, is expected to announce the deal to the New York stock market on Thursday or Friday at the latest.

The deal is short of the typically aggressive £700m-plus target originally set by Desmond, the owner of the Daily Express and Daily Star.

But it nonetheless makes for a significant profit on the £103.5m he paid to buy the then loss-making Channel 5 from the German broadcaster RTL in 2010.

It is not clear what Viacom will do with Channel 5's £350m-a-year TV ad sales business. But it is thought likely that it will involve Rupert Murdoch's Sky.

BSkyB handles the TV ad sales in the UK for Viacom – the US broadcaster is Sky Media's biggest customer – and it is most likely to incorporate Channel 5's sales into its existing deal.

Desmond based his valuation on 10 times anticipated profits of £70m this year, but a number of analysts had set a top end valuation of £400m to £500m.

The deal would allow the US pay-TV company to make a major move into free-to-air television in the UK.

In the UK it has moved into commissioning more original, homegrown shows for its key channels MTV, Comedy Central and Nickelodeon.

Viacom has invested heavily in entertainment, reality and children's television, which would make it a good fit for Channel 5.

It makes shows such as MTV's structured reality series Geordie Shore – which made a star of Charlotte Crosby, who went on to win Channel 5's Celebrity Big Brother.

In addition, along with Channel 5, Viacom invested in Peppa Pig via Nick Jr, which airs on Channel 5's children's segment Milkshake and on Nick Jr.

Channel 5 shows include the US drama imports CSI and The Mentalist, Edie Stobart: Trucks & Trailers, The Hotel Inspector and Extreme Fishing with Robson Green.

The broadcaster's children's strand Milkshake features shows including Peppa Pig, Fireman Sam and Thomas & Friends.

Channel 5 has six channels – the flagship Channel 5, 5* and 5 USA, and a +1, one-hour time-shifted variant for each – some of which could be converted to pay services.

Rivals including BSkyB and Discovery, which was considered the frontrunner to buy Channel 5, have expanded their operations into the free-to-air market.

Viacom declined to comment. Northern & Shell, Channel 5's parent company, said no deal had yet been concluded.

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Viacom News!

Nickelodeon Commissions New Show "ReactToThat" From The Fine Bros.

The official website of the entertainment industry newspaper Variety, Variety.com, is reporting the exciting Nickelodeon News in the following article that, after ordering the pilot, Nickelodeon has placed a 13-episode order for a brand-new show called "ReactToThat" from YouTube comedy team The Fine Bros., which will be based on their popular web franchise showing kids responding to viral videos! Nick USA will air the show during late 2014.


The brothers, Benny and Rafi Fine, are working with actor-comedian-rapper Nick Cannon on the TV adaptation through his Ncredible Entertainment production company. Cannon and the Fine Bros. are also working on a pilot for the Sundance Channel that's a pop-culture riff on the "React" format.

The Fine Bros., who are affiliated with YouTube multichannel network Fullscreen, run one the biggest channels on the website, with 8.1 million subscribers and 1.58 billion video views to date.

"ReactToThat" executive producers are Nick Cannon, Michael Goldman, Benny and Rafi Fine, and Max Benator, who is the Fine Bros.'s manager. The Fine Bros. are repped by WME:
Nickelodeon Greenlights TV Series 'ReactToThat' from YouTube's Fine Bros.

Nickelodeon has placed a 13-episode order for “ReactToThat” from YouTube comedy team The Fine Bros., based on their popular web franchise showing kids responding to viral videos.

Nick will air the show later in 2014. The brothers, Benny and Rafi Fine, are working with actor-comedian-rapper Nick Cannon on the TV adaptation through his Ncredible Entertainment production company. Cannon and the Fine Bros. also are working on a pilot for the Sundance Channel that’s a pop-culture riff on the “React” format.

The Fine Bros., who are affiliated with YouTube multichannel network Fullscreen, run one the biggest channels on the website, with 8.1 million subscribers and 1.58 billion video views to date.

Nickelodeon previously has procured programming based on YouTube material, including a half-hour sketch-comedy show last year from DreamWorks Animation's AwesomenessTV and projects with Lucas Cruikshank (creator of the Fred Figglehorn character).

In late 2013, the Fine Bros. struck a deal with Fullscreen, which is funding production of new content from the duo, including an untitled feature film.

“ReactToThat” exec producers are Nick Cannon, Michael Goldman, Benny and Rafi Fine, and Max Benator, who is the Fine Bros.’s manager. The Fine Bros. are repped by WME.

FILED UNDER: Fine Bros., Nickelodeon, Youtube

Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for all the latest Nickelodeon and ReactToThat News!