Step Into Adventure This Season At Nickelodeon Land UK!

Team Nick, Nickelodeon's ambassadors at Nickelodeon Land at Pleasure Beach, Blackpool, have announced in a Tweet on their official Twitter profile page, @TeamNickBPB, some of the amazing events the Nick team has planned for guests to make the 2015 the biggest and best season ever at the UK's only Nickelodeon Land!

Throughout the year a Nickelodeon Land character will take centre stage at the attraction which will encourage younger guests to take part in fun activities with their favourite characters. There will be chance to rub shoulders with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, explore with Dora the Explorer and Diego and experience a Summer of Slime with all the Nickelodeon characters at the UK's only Nickelodeon Land!

Do the Sponge with SpongeBob - Saturday 28th March to Sunday 19th April 2015:

Get your dancing shoes on for a dance-off with a difference at Nickelodeon Land, Blackpool Pleasure Beach!

Saying goodbye to Bikini Bottom, Nickelodeon megastar SpongeBob SquarePants will be jetting off and joining his pals for a character themed month down at the six-acre attraction. Along with Patrick Star and his friends he will Step Into Adventure for the activities which will run throughout the season on Nickelodeon Land.

From March 28th you can join SpongeBob SquarePants and all his pals to Do The Sponge, a wacky dance competition where the winner will be crowned the Goofiest Goober and win some exclusive prizes. Prizes include Easter eggs, buildable SpongeBob Mega Bloks, SpongeBob Movie goodie bags and cinema tickets to go and see the new film, "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water", as well as movie goodie bags.

For an egg-stra treat, during the Easter holidays there will be a number of competitions with SpongeBob and his pals. There's also a chance to take part in SpongeBob's Pantastic Challenge where you can throw sponges at Team Nick in an attempt to fill their pantastic pants.

Do the SpongeBob takes place from Saturday 28th March to Sunday 19th April 2015 every day at Nickelodeon Land, Blackpool Pleasure Beach and is free to enter for all ages.

Copy Poppy - Monday 20th April and Friday 22nd May 2015:

Nick Jr. UK star Poppy Cat will be returning to Nickelodeon Land this Spring! During the event, Poppy will be participating in special Meet and Greet sessions with her fans, and there will also be a chance to get healthy and dance along to an energetic "Copy Poppy" routine, where families are encouraged to mimic the costume characters' dance movements in time with the Poppy Cat theme tune several times a day on the Nickelodeon Land stage!

Copy Poppy takes place between Monday 20th April and Friday 22nd May 2015.

Explore with Dora - Saturday 23rd May and Tuesday 30th June 2015:

Nickelodeon's preschool superstars Dora the Explorer and her cousin Diego will be visiting Nickelodeon Land for a month long fiesta, which will take place between Saturday 23rd May and Tuesday 30th June 2015!

Summer of Slime - Wednesday 1st July and Monday 31st August 2015:

Experience a Summer of Slime with all your favourite Nickelodeon characters at Nickelodeon Land this summer! Taking place between Wednesday 1st July and Monday 31st August 2015, Nickelodeon Land's Summer of Slime will be the very first time that Blackpool Pleasure Beach has had Nickelodeon's famous slime at the park!

Turtle Time - Tuesday 1st September and Saturday 31st October 2015:

Cowabunga, dude! Nickelodeon's fearless Heroes in a Half Shell - Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo and Donatello - will be taking a break from fighting crime on the mean streets of New York to meet and greet some of their biggest UK fans!

Leo, Mikey, Raph and Donnie will be showing off their ninja moves, hosting Ninja dance competitions with guests, and taking part in face-painting activities every day throughout the month from Wednesday 1st October 2014 to Friday 31st October 2014! Turtle Time will take place between Tuesday 1st September and Saturday 31st October 2015!

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Cyma Zarghami, The President Of Nickelodeon, Joins The Peabody Awards Newly Established Advisory Board

Original Peabody Awards​ Press Release via the official Peabody Awards blog:

Peabody Awards Creates Advisory Board

The University of Georgia's George Foster Peabody Awards has created its first ever Board of Advisors, comprised of prominent entertainment and media industry leaders who will provide guidance and support to the Peabody program's future initiatives, it was announced today by Dr. Jeffrey P. Jones, Peabody Director. The Board of Advisors will be distinct and separate from the Peabodys' traditional Board of Jurors that each year evaluates entries and bestows the prestigious Awards for excellence in electronic media.

The 24 Board of Advisor members will provide counsel to Dr. Jones and his staff. In conjunction with the formation of the Board, five committees have been established: Branding and Mission; the Peabody Archives and Endowments; Original Content and Programming; Internationalization; and Events (including the Awards Show and 75th Anniversary Celebration). Members of the Board will sit on the various committees, and biographies of the individual members are available upon request.

"When I was selected as Director of the Peabody Awards, I recognized a need to align our organization more closely with the extraordinarily experienced and talented leadership of the entertainment and media worlds," Dr. Jones said. "They have resources and knowledge that will help us realize the exciting plans we have for Peabody. I am deeply appreciative of their desire to serve our organization and contribute their valuable time and insight."

The members of the Board of Advisors in alphabetical order are:

Dick Askin, President and CEO, Askin & Company, Inc. (Former two-term Chairman of the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences)

Neal Baer, principal, Baer Bones, Inc. (Prominent television producer)

Kevin Beggs, Chairman, Lionsgate Television.

Emerson Coleman, Chairman, programming, Hearst Television.

Stephen Davis, Executive Vice president and Chief Content Officer, Hasbro Studios and Global Entertainment.

Nancy Dubuc, President and CEO, A&E Networks.

Michele Ganeless, President, Comedy Central.

Cliff Gilbert-Lurie, Senior Partner, Ziffren Brittenham LLP.

Bob Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment.

Paula Kerger, President and CEO, Public Broadcasting Service.

Roma Khanna, President, Television Group, MGM.

Isaac Lee, President, News, Univision.

Paul Lee, President, ABC Entertainment Group.

Michael Lombardo, President, Programming, HBO.

Steve Mosko, President, Sony Pictures Television.

David Nevins, President, Showtime Networks, Inc.

Bruce M. Ramer, Partner, Gang, Tyre, Ramer & Brown.

Rick Rosen, Board Member, Head of Television, William Morris Endeavor Entertainment.

Ted Sarandos, Chief Content Officer, Netflix.

Bradley Siegel, President, TVOne.

David Stapf, President, CBS Television Studios.

Dana Walden, Co-Chairman/CEO, Fox Television Group.

Joe Uva, Chairman, NBC Universal, Hispanic Enterprises and Content.

Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon and MTV Networks Kids & Family Group.

The Peabody Awards, the oldest in electronic media, are considered among the most prestigious and selective prizes. The Peabodys recognize excellence and meritorious work by radio and television stations, networks, webcasters, producing organizations and individuals. The 18-member Peabody Board of Jurors is a distinguished panel of television critics, industry practitioners, scholars and experts in culture and the arts. Selection is made by the Board following review by special screening committees of media experts at UGA and other universities around the country.

Established in 1915, the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication offers undergraduate majors in advertising, digital and broadcast journalism, magazines, newspapers, public relations, publication management and mass media arts. The college offers two graduate degrees, and is home to the Knight Chair in Health and Medical Journalism and the Peabody Awards, internationally recognized as one of the most prestigious prizes for excellence in electronic media.

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Nickelodeon USA To Premiere New "Nick News with Linda Ellerbee" Special "So Close and Yet So Far Away: The Kids of Cuba" On 4/13

Original Nickelodeon USA Press Release via NickPress.com:

NICK NEWS WITH LINDA ELLERBEE GIVES A GLIMPSE INTO THE LIVES OF CUBAN KIDS IN "SO CLOSE AND YET SO FAR AWAY: THE KIDS OF CUBA" PREMIERING MONDAY, APRIL 13, ON NICKELODEON

NEW YORK – April 7, 2015 – More than 50 years after severing ties, America and Cuba recently agreed to work to improve their relationship. Nick News with Linda Ellerbee journeys to Cuba to explore what this means for the children of tomorrow and shed some light on what it's like to be a kid in Cuba today in the brand-new special, "So Close and Yet So Far Away: The Kids of Cuba," premiering Monday, April 13, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.

"Cuba is an underdeveloped country. But it's a free country," says Darian, 15.

"For me, the most beautiful part of Cuba is the people," adds Alejandra, 15.

In 1959 Cuban rebels led by Fidel Castro overthrew Cuba's American-supported dictator. Following this, Cuba aligned itself with the communist Soviet Union. As a result, the capitalist United States cut off diplomatic relations with the island and passed a law making it illegal to do business with Cuba and in most cases, to go there. "So Close and Yet So Far Away: The Kids of Cuba" explores what happens if this situation changes.

"I would like American kids to come to Cuba, so that way I can meet them and learn about their lives," says Dunia, 14.

Alejandra, 15, adds, "They can see our country, the way we live, and they can see that a lot of the things that they are told about our country aren't true."

"I like that I can have medicine…and medical attention, without having to pay for any costs," says Ruben, 15. "But I would like to change, above all, the lack of communication due to not having Internet.

I would like for us to be able to travel to many more places."

Lessandra, 12, says, "But I would like to have peace between the two countries."

Ellerbee adds, "The main thing to remember is what happens between our countries will not happen overnight."

Nick News, produced by Lucky Duck Productions, is now in its 24th year and is the longest-running kids' news show in television history. It has built its reputation on the respectful and direct way it speaks to kids about the important issues of the day. Over the years, Nick News has received more than 21 Emmy nominations and won its tenth Emmy Award for Forgotten But Not Gone: Kids, HIV & AIDS in the category of Outstanding Children's Nonfiction Program. Additional Emmy wins for outstanding children's programming include: Under the Influence: Kids of Alcoholics (2011); (The Face of Courage: Kids Living with Cancer (2010); Coming Home: When Parents Return from War (2009); The Untouchable Kids of India (2008); Private Worlds: Kids and Autism (2007); Never Again: From the Holocaust to the Sudan (2005); Faces of Hope: The Kids of Afghanistan (2002) and What Are You Staring At? (1998). In 1995, the entire series won the Emmy. In 2009, Nick News was honored with the Edward R. Murrow Award for best Network News Documentary for Coming Home: When Parents Return from War — the first-ever kids' television program to receive this prestigious award. Nick News has also received three Peabody Awards, including a personal award given to Ellerbee for explaining the impeachment of President Clinton to kids, as well as a Columbia duPont Award and more than a dozen Parents' Choice Awards.

Nickelodeon, now in its 36th 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, VIAB).

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Diamond Select Toys Reteams with Nickelodeon on "SpongeBob SquarePants" Minimates

Original Diamond Select Toys and Collectibles, LLC press release via Diamond Select's official blog:

Diamond Select Toys Reteams with Nickelodeon on SpongeBob SquarePants Minimates!

Following the successful launch of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles collection, Diamond Select Toys announced today the expansion of its Nickelodeon partnership with the release of a brand-new SpongeBob SquarePants Minimates line. The collection will include SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, Mr. Krabs, Sandy, Grandpa Redbeard, Perch Perkins and Plankton designed as 2-inch-tall mini-figures with multiple points of articulation and interchangeable parts and accessories.

The long-running animated series, SpongeBob SquarePants, has been a hit for kids and adults since its debut, and is still going strong with new episodes in the works and a hit movie, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water, in theaters now.

"Most cartoons come and go, but SpongeBob has truly become an institution," said Chuck Terceira, President of Diamond Select Toys. "The kids who were raised on him are joining the adults who've always loved him, and we're creating some great toys that are fun for the collectors, as well as for the kids who are just meeting him for the first time. We've definitely had fun adapting the Minimates block figure style to crabs and squid and starfish!"

The first assortment of SpongeBob SquarePants Minimates will be available at comic book shops, specialty stores and Toys"R"Us starting this week.

ABOUT DIAMOND SELECT TOYS AND COLLECTIBLES, LLC

Diamond Select Toys and Collectibles, LLC was founded in 1999 by sister company Diamond Comic Distributors, Inc. Envisioned to create unique and exciting collectibles for children and adults alike, the company has licensed a variety of pop culture properties to be turned into merchandise. In 2007, Diamond Select Toys acquired select assets of the New York-based Art Asylum, creators of the global Minimates brand. Minimates have been recognized as the #1 selling block figure in the world and were the first toys ever to be inducted into the ToyFare Hall of Fame in 2007. With partners such as Nickelodeon, Marvel Enterprises, Universal Studios, Twentieth Century Fox, Warner Bros. and Sony Pictures, Diamond Select Toys and Collectibles produces a large range of products based on a wide variety of properties, and is headquartered in Hunt Valley, MD. For more information, visit www.diamondselecttoys.com and www.artasylum.com

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, VIAB).

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Nickelodeon Starts Filming "Every Witch Way" Season Four

Nickelodeon Stars Paola Andino and Denisea Wilson, who portray Emma Alonso and Katie Rice in Nickelodeon's hit spell-binding fantasy television series "Every Witch Way", have announced the magical news on their official Twitter profile pages that Nickelodeon today, Monday 6th April 2015, started to film the fourth season of "Every Witch Way"!: