Monday, February 16, 2015

Nickelodeon USA Fires Up February 2015 With New Episodes of "Blaze And The Monster Machines"

Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids and families, has announced and confirmed the exciting news in the following press release, from TVByTheNumbers.com, that Nick USA will be premiering and showing two brand-new episodes of the networks hit CG-animated preschool series "Blaze and the Monster Machines" in February 2015!


Pictured: L-R: Gabby, Blaze, AJ, Pickle, Crusher in BLAZE AND THE MONSTER MACHINES on NICKELODEON. Photo: Nickelodeon. &##169;2014 Viacom, International, Inc. All Rights Reserved

First, Blaze must track down the culprit who took his metallic trophy in "The Mystery Bandit", premiering Tuesday 17th February 2015 at 10:30am (ET/PT). Then, Blaze and AJ make a new mud-loving monster truck friend in "Gasquatch", premiering Thursday 19th February 2015 at 10:30 a.m. (ET/PT). Throughout the adventures, preschoolers will be introduced to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) concepts including magnetism and inertia.

Nickelodeon and Fisher-Price, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc., recently announced an all-new toy line based on "Blaze and the Monster Machines". The highly-anticipated toy lineup includes a die cast collection, vehicles, playsets and plush that are as fun and dynamic as the characters and adventures featured in the series. Products will be available at select retailers starting in May 2015 with full nationwide rollout across the USA in August 2015.

Additionally, Nickelodeon UK's preschool channel, Nick Jr. UK and Ireland, will start to premiere and show "Blaze and the Monster Machines" from Friday 6th March 2015 at 4:00pm (repeated at 5:00pm on Nick Jr. +1)!

Original Nickelodeon Press Release:

NICKELODEON FIRES UP FEBRUARY WITH BRAND-NEW EPISODES OF THE HIT STEM PRESCHOOL SERIES, BLAZE AND THE MONSTER MACHINES

Get ready to rev up for all-new action-packed episodes of Nickelodeon's hit animated preschool series, Blaze and the Monster Machines. First, Blaze must track down the culprit who took his metallic trophy in “The Mystery Bandit,” premiering Tuesday, Feb. 17, at 10:30 a.m. (ET/PT). Then, Blaze and AJ make a new mud-loving monster truck friend in “Gasquatch,” premiering Thursday, Feb. 19, at 10:30 a.m. (ET/PT). Throughout the adventures, preschoolers will be introduced to STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Math) concepts including magnetism and inertia.

Launched in October of 2014, Blaze and the Monster Machines is consistently the number-one preschool show in its time period on all TV and is the top preschool series with boys 2-5. The newly released Blaze and the Monster Machines app is currently number-one on the Kids and Education charts.

Nickelodeon and Fisher-Price, a subsidiary of Mattel Inc., recently announced an all-new toy line based on Blaze and the Monster Machines. The highly-anticipated toy lineup includes a die cast collection, vehicles, playsets and plush that are as fun and dynamic as the characters and adventures featured in the series. Products will be available at select retailers starting in May with full nationwide rollout in August.

About Blaze and the Monster Machines

In Blaze and the Monster Machines, the amazing monster truck Blaze and his eight-year-old driver AJ have adventures that explore the physics of how things move; tackle problems through scientific inquiry and mathematics; and discover the parts needed to make everyday technologies work. Each action-packed episode is filled with monster trucks, physical humor and upbeat original songs with lyrics that highlight a STEM concept such as adhesion, friction, force, trajectory and magnetism. The series, created by Jeff Borkin (Team Umizoomi head writer) and Ellen Martin (Bubble Guppies supervising producer), airs weekdays at 10:30 a.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.

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Spin Master Continues to Push the Boundaries of Fun, Reveals 2015 Toy and Entertainment Portfolio at New York's International Toy Fair

Original Spin Master Ltd. Press Release via PRNewswire:

Spin Master Continues to Push the Boundaries of Fun, Reveals 2015 Toy and Entertainment Portfolio at New York's International Toy Fair

Innovative technology, family-friendly gameplay and world-class licensed properties highlight Spin Master's 2015 line-up

NEW YORK, Feb. 15, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Spin Master Ltd., a global leader and one of the top five U.S. toy manufacturers*, has unveiled its full roster of 2015 toy and entertainment offerings at the 114th American International Toy Fair in New York City.

In its 20th year of innovating fun, Spin Master's 2015 portfolio pushes the boundaries of play even further through new launches, exciting additions to many of its most beloved brands, breakthrough technological advances with new robotics and Toys to Life offerings and the announcement of some dynamic new licensing partnerships.

"As pioneers of play, we are known for our passion, creativity and innovation and we can't wait to share our newest additions with consumers and industry colleagues," says Krista DiBerardino, Spin Master's Chief Marketing Officer.

This formula is already resulting in an award-winning line-up. The best-selling Zoomer Dino was awarded two 2015 Toy of the Year (TOTY) awards from the Toy Industry Association, including the coveted Toy of the Year award and the Best Boy Toy. In total, Spin Master received seven nominations this year.

Zoomer Dino was also awarded a Toy Award at this year's opening ceremony of Spielwarenmesse, the specialty toy trade show in Nuremberg, Germany.

In addition, Spin Master's Meccanoid G15 KS personal robot from its Meccano brand won the audience award at the Living in Digital Times' Last Gadget Standing Showdown at the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas.

Summary of Spin Master's Key Innovations for 2015:

* Spin Master is leading the world in robotics for kids, from its lovable, award-winning Zoomer series of robotic creatures to the game-changing relaunch of the Meccano brand. This year, Spin Master Robotics continues to inspire young and old fusing the latest technology and robotics with the iconic Meccano brand (known as Erector in the U.S.). Meccanoid G15 KS is an advanced yet easy-to-use open source robotic building platform, accessible to builders covering a broad range of ages and skill sets. Meccanoid embodies the core values of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) and empowers children with a tool to learn about coding, robotics and construction.

* Toys are coming to life, great new play patterns are emerging and Spin Master continues to push the boundaries of design, technology and fun with the launch of Sick Bricks. Sick Bricks infuses incredible 3D mobile optical beaming technology, top-tier quality gameplay with the conflict kids love, and collectible toys with great character design, to create a play and entertainment experience unlike any other.

* Pop Stream continues Spin Master's tradition of innovation by combining traditional board game play with technology and entertainment from Universal, 20th Century Fox and Paramount. The result is a totally new way to play pop trivia and relive those much-loved movie experiences together.

Highlights of Spin Master's 2015 portfolio include:

Meccano: For more than 100 years, Meccano has been the construction set of choice for young engineers, inventors and builders. Back in a big way in 2015 with a series of new build kits that will introduce real-world engineering to a new generation of makers. This year is even more exciting with the wildly popular new Meccanoid G15 KS and G15 personal robot maker systems. Both kits are advanced yet easy-to-use, open source Robotic Building platforms, making them accessible to builders with a range of ages and skill sets.

Zoomer: Zoomer Dino was one of the most-talked about toys of 2014 and was awarded two 2015 Toy of the Year (TOTY) awards by the Toy Industry Association, including the coveted Toy of the Year award. In 2015, the Zoomer family is growing with several additions and actions sure to roll, creep and crawl into hearts. Using True Balance Technology™, all Zoomers will stay perfectly balanced as they walk, roam and move, making them a great toy option and a cornerstone of Spin Master's ever-evolving robotics division. Additions for 2015 will include all-new Zoomer Zuppies (your personal puppy), an all new and unique Zoomer Kitty and pint-sized Zoomer Chomplingz Dinos.

Sick Bricks: Sick Bricks is the only video game that lets you mix and match characters to create your own, then instantly beam them into a world of conflict play using collectible figures and exclusive mobile optical beaming technology. The game features more than 70 fun and exciting characters that mix and match to create hundreds of custom characters with exciting new powers. What results is an immersive Toys to Life gameplay experience that allows players to build a combo, unlock sick powers, defeat the goons, and save Sick City.

The Powerpuff Girls: Slated for a 2016 launch, one of the Cartoon Network's most beloved franchises, the Emmy®-winning, The Powerpuff Girls will be featured in an all-new television series with a full licensing program that will roll out across all regions. As the global licensee, Spin Master will be releasing a new series of toys based on the program helping to bring the adventures of Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup to a new generation of "girl power" fans young and old around the globe.


PAW Patrol: PAW Patrol, a Spin Master entertainment original, is currently the top rated pre-school series on television.** In a global partnership with Nickelodeon, Spin Master will continue to build on PAW Patrol's phenomenal success in 2015 with a wide range of new toys, vehicles, plush and a wide array of consumer goods.


Little Charmers: A new property developed in partnership with Nelvana. Airing on Nickelodeon and Nick Jr., Little Charmers is a fantastical new preschool brand that embodies the magic of friendship in the whimsical land of Charmville and stars Hazel, a fearless and spirited go-getter who is on her way to becoming a full-fledged Charmer. She can often be seen with her two BFFs, Lavender and Posie, flying past Mount Sparklemore and Ogre Valley on their training brooms. These "Charmers-In-Training" embark on spellbinding adventures that always stir up funny debacles and, along the way, learn the value of friendship - no magic required. Look for lovable doll versions of Hazel, Lavender and Posie, coming this fall, all dressed in their signature charming outfits and iconic headbands right from the show.

Pop Stream: It's the ultimate Movie Trivia game experience. Watch hundreds of actual movie clips from 20th Century Fox, Paramount Films and Universal Studios stream on a tablet as two teams go head-to-head in a game of cinema smarts. Pop Stream infuses smart technology to create a social game play experience unlike any other.

SpindoTV: Spin Master's new family-friendly YouTube channel, in partnership with Mondo Media the leading distributor of animation on YouTube, launches February 18th. SpindoTV will feature an exciting mix of more than 100 episodes of original animation and live action shows produced exclusively for YouTube.

*Source: The NPD Group / US Retail Tracking Service / Annual 2013 / Dollar Volume

**Source: Nielsen ratings

About Spin Master Ltd.

A multi-category children's entertainment company, Spin Master has been designing, developing, manufacturing, and marketing consumer products for children around the world since 1994 and is recognized as a global leader within the toy industry. Spin Master is best known for award winning, innovative brands including action phenomena Bakugan Battle Brawlers™, Zoomer™, Air Hogs®, and Spin Master Games™ including 2014 Game of the Year, Boom Boom Balloon ™. In 2013 Spin Master acquired the international Meccano™ brand and has re-launched the brand with the iconic Meccanoid G15 KS™, introducing robotics and embracing the global Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) movement. In 2015 the company expanded its reach within children's media and entertainment, launching SpindoTV, a YouTube channel dedicated to broadcasting Spin Master Entertainment's original television and media properties, including the hit animated preschool series, PAW Patrol™. Spin Master employs over 900 people with offices in Toronto, Los Angeles, London, Paris, Hong Kong, Mexico City, Munich, and Milan.

SOURCE Spin Master Ltd.

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Mattel & Nickelodeon to expand licensing partnership with Mega Bloks Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles in 2016

Original Nickelodeon and MEGA Brands Inc. Press Release via PRNewswire:

Mattel® & Nickelodeon™ to expand licensing partnership with Mega Bloks® Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles® in 2016

MEGA BLOKS TO BUILD A FRESH NEW APPROACH ON THE #1 BOYS ACTION PROPERTY


MONTREAL and NEW YORK, Feb. 12, 2015 /PRNewswire/ - MEGA® Brands, a member of the Mattel family (NASDAQ: MAT), today announced an all-new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles construction toy line at New York Toy Fair. Fans of Nickelodeon's leading boys action franchise can expect exciting new product to hit shelves in 2016.

Drawing inspiration from the vast Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise, the Mega Bloks product line will offer creative building experiences for fans of all ages. Readers of the original comic book series and millennials who followed the 1990's TV shows will love the authentic collectibles. Kids will be able to build & collect the exciting TMNT world, with awesome action-packed building sets, vehicles and a range of buildable micro action figures drawn from Nickelodeon's top rated boys TV show and movies. Even parents will be able to introduce Turtles to their littlest ninjas through junior building sets, as the popularity for the franchise continues to grow across age groups.

"We are truly thrilled to expand our partnership with Nickelodeon," says Susie Lecker, Senior Vice President of Global Design & Marketing at MEGA Brands. "Mega Bloks TMNT will be an anchor brand in our construction portfolio and we plan to infuse the line with exciting product innovation to ensure the most engaging consumer experiences for fans worldwide."

"The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles are bigger and greener than they've ever been, and we're incredibly excited to partner with MEGA Brands on the new Turtles' construction toy lines," said Manuel Torres, Senior Vice President, Global Toys and Publishing, Nickelodeon Consumer Products. "Bringing together Nickelodeon's Turtles and Mega Bloks will give kids of all ages endless hours of creativity and fun building, playing and displaying the sets, buildable figures and vehicles based on their favorite characters."

Mega Bloks' expertise in construction toys, product innovation, value and speed-to-market, combined with Mattel's leadership in consumer insights, global distribution and marketing strength is the ultimate launch pad to bring this powerhouse property to the next level in this category.

About MEGA Brands

A member of the Mattel family of companies, MEGA Brands Inc. is a trusted collection of leading global brands in construction toys, games & puzzles and arts & crafts. They offer engaging creative experiences for children and families through innovative, well-designed, affordable and high-quality products. MEGA® Brands includes MEGA BLOKS®, RoseArt®, MEGA Puzzles®, MEGA Games® and Board Dudes®.

Visit http://www.megabrands.com for more information.

The MEGA logo, Mega Bloks, Rose Art, MEGA Puzzles, MEGA Games and Board Dudes are trademarks of MEGA Brands Inc. or its affiliates.

For more information, please visit www.megabrands.com and www.megabloks.com

About Mattel

The Mattel family of companies (Nasdaq: MAT) is the worldwide leader in the design, manufacture and marketing of toys and family products. Mattel's portfolio of best-selling brands includes Barbie®, the most popular fashion doll ever produced, Hot Wheels®, Monster High®, American Girl®, Thomas & Friends® and Fisher-Price® brands, including Little People® and Power Wheels®, MEGA® Brands, including MEGA BLOKS® and RoseArt®, as well as a wide array of entertainment-inspired toy lines. In 2013, Mattel was named one of the "World's Most Ethical Companies" by Ethisphere Magazine and in 2014 ranked No. 5 on Corporate Responsibility Magazine's "100 Best Corporate Citizens" list. With worldwide headquarters in El Segundo, Calif., Mattel's companies employ nearly 30,000 people in 40 countries and territories and sell products in more than 150 nations. At Mattel, we are Creating the Future of Play. Visit us at www.mattel.com, http://www.facebook.com/mattel or www.twitter.com/mattel.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 35th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 20 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIA, VIA.B).

About Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles

Since its launch in 2012, Nickelodeon's all-new CG-animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles has re-energized these iconic characters of this wildly popular franchise. Currently in its third season, the series is seen in over 170 countries and territories, and translated in over 50 languages. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles follows four mutant turtles—Leonardo, Raphael, Donatello and Michelangelo—trained in the art of ninjutsu by their mutant rat sensei, Master Splinter, who teaches the turtles to battle evil from the New York City sewers. Executive produced by Ciro Nieli and Brandon Auman, the series is created at Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, Calif.

The Paramount Pictures feature film premiered Aug. 8, 2014, landing at #1 opening weekend with $65MM. To date, the film has grossed $477MM worldwide and a sequel is set to be released in 2016.

SOURCE MEGA Brands Inc.

RELATED LINKS
www.megabloks.com

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Nickelodeon UK Announces "Road to the KCAs"; Hosted By Jordan Banjo And Perri Kiely Direct From The USA

Nickelodeon UK has announced the very exciting Nick UK news in their brand new promo/trailer that, to celebrate the Nickelodeon 2015 Kids' Choice Awards, Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK will be holding a very special Kids' Choice Awards-themed programming stunt in the weeks leading up to the 2015 KCAs presented by Diversity stars Jordan Banjo and Perri Kiely called "Road to the KCAs", in which Jordan and Perri, the UK hosts of Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards 2015, will be touring the United States and sending back the very latest Orange Carpet gossip, showcasing the very best of Nickelodeon and covering all the excitement in the build-up to this years slime-tastic extravaganza!


Catch Jordan and Perri stateside as they countdown to the biggest show of the year, the Nickelodeon 2015 Kids' Choice Awards, "Nickelodeon's 28th Annual Kids' Choice Awards", in "Road to the Kids' Choice Awards", from Friday 27th February 2015, and watch the Nickelodeon 2015 Kids' Choice Awards, hosted by the multi-talented singer/songwriter and actor Nick Jonas, on Sunday 29th March 2015 at 5:00pm (repeated at 6:00pm on Nickelodeon +1), less than 24 hours after the live US show, only on Nickelodeon UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK!


The presenting international sponsors of the 2015 "Nickelodeon's Kids' Choice Awards" are Heelys, Why Walk? and Dreamworks' comedy movie, "HOME". The UK sponsors are Nickelodeon Land at Blackpool Pleasure Beach and Nickelodeon UK's award-winning The Nick App.
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Nickelodeon Spain To Hold First SLIME FEST Event In May 2015

Nickelodeon Spain (Espana) has announced the very exciting Nickelodeon International news in the 'Noticias' section on their recently relaunched official website, nick.es, that, following the tremendous success of Nickelodeon Australia's annual SLIMEFEST event, Nickelodeon Spain will be holding their first ever SLIMEFEST event, the BIGGEST kid-powered, star filled family slimefest of the year, this Spring!


Nickelodeon Spain will be holding their first ever SLIME FEST concert, titled "¡Nickelodeon SLIME FEST: El Festival De Musica Para Toda La Familia!", at the Barclaycard Center of Madrid (Palacio de Deportes) on Saturday 2nd May 2015!

Nickelodeon Spain has also announced that the first artists confirmed for SLIME FEST 2015 are Gemeliers, Xuso Jones, Critika & Saik and Calum!:
¡NICKELODEON SLIME FEST: EL FESTIVAL DE MÚSICA PARA TODA LA FAMILIA!

¿Siempre has querido asistir a un festival de música como los mayores? ¿Has soñado con tener a tus artistas favoritos juntos en un mismo escenario? ¿Quieres descubrir qué es eso de ser "Slimeado"? ¡Pues no esperes más! El próximo 2 de mayo podrás vivir una experiencia alucinante en el Barclaycard Center de Madrid porque llega: ¡EL NICKELODEON SLIME FEST: EL FESTIVAL DE MÚSICA PARA TODA LA FAMILIA! Tras su exitazo en Australia, donde se ha celebrado tres años seguidos en ciudades como Sidney y Melbourne, el NICKELODEON SLIME FEST se celebra por primera vez en España para convertirse en el que sin duda va a ser ¡el evento MÁS PEGAJOSO del año! ¡Y el MÁS DIVERTIDO! Toneladas de SLIME, ese moco verde seña de identidad de la casa, cubrirá los asistentes mas atrevidos además de a ¡TUS ARTISTAS FAVORITOS! Los primeros confirmados: ¡GEMELIERS, XUSO JONES, CRÍTIKA Y SAIK y CALUM! Y muchos más aún por llegar… Todos ellos estarán el día 2 mayo en el NICKELODEON SLIME FEST para presentar sus nuevos trabajos y darlo todo en un evento inolvidable. ¿¡A qué esperas!? Hazte con tu entrada en www.ticketmaster.com y prepárate para bailar, cantar, saltar, gritar, divertirte y, por supuesto, PRINGARTE en el ¡NICKELODEON SLIME FEST!

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