To celebrate Nickelodeon USA premiering and showing brand-new episodes of the networks newest hit original animated series (NickToon) "Harvey Beaks" on Saturday 2nd May 2015 from 9:00am ET/PT as part of the networks "Throwdown of Niceness" special, Nick USA has unveiled a fantastic sneak peek preview of "Princess is Better Than You" on their official YouTube channel, which you can watch in the online streaming video clip below!:
Who will reign supreme as BEST KID?! Bet it won't be Princess...OR WILL IT?? Find out during the Throwdown of Niceness, featuring brand-new episodes of "Harvey Beaks" and sensational episodes "SpongeBob SquarePants", this Saturday morning at 9am (and again Sunday night at 6pm!) only on Nickelodeon USA!
Plus, don't forget that Nicktoons UK and Ireland and Nickelodeon HD UK will start to premiere and show "Harvey Beaks" from Monday 11th May 2015! Visit nicktoons.co.uk for show information, character bios, quizzes, and exclusive videos and photos!
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for all the latest Nickelodeon and Harvey Beaks News and Highlights!
Friday, May 01, 2015
Laura Linney Cast In "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2"; First Look At Stephen Amell As Casey Jones
The Hollywood Reporter is reporting the Turtley Awesome news that Laura Linney, the three-time Oscar-nominated actress known for her dramatic work, has been cast in Nickelodeon Movies, Paramount Pictures and Platinum Dunes' "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2"!
Details about Linney's role are currently being kept hidden deep in the sewers.
Production for "TMNT 2", the sequel to Nick and Paramount's 2014 fun-filled and action-packed blockbuster "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movie, is currently underway in New York.
Linney has stayed away from big-studio franchise movies until "TMNT 2", but the actress, now a new Mom with a 1-year-old under her belt, is becoming open to projects that are geared toward younger audiences.
Her more recent movies have been a mix of period pieces and dramas, ranging from "Hyde Park on Hudson" to "The Fifth Estate". She is currently on-screen opposite Sir Ian McKellen in "Mr. Holmes" and will also be starring in the upcoming 1920s literary drama "Genius" with Colin Firth, Guy Pearce, Jude Law and Nicole Kidman. Linney is repped by ICM Partners, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Morris Yorn.
Additionally, Michael Bay has offered fans a first glimpse at Stephen Amell in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2"!
The "Arrow" actor is seen as Casey Jones in the picture, with his face obscured by a hockey mask and carrying a hockey stick as his weapon:
The character, created by Kevin Eastman, first appeared in 1985's "Raphael No. 1", later going on to star in his own comic book series in addition to making appearances on the various "TMNT" animated television shows as well as the original "TMNT" movie series, where he was played by Elias Koteas.
Director David Green ("Earth to Echo") will take the helm of the next installment in the film franchise, with Michael Bay set to produce alongside his Platinum Dunes partners Andrew Form and Brad Fuller, with Galen Walker and Scott Mednick also producing. Screenwriters Josh Appelbaum & André Nemec ("Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol") are again coming aboard to write the sequel and will also Executive Produce. Plot details and information on other returning cast members are still unknown, however, the movie will feature fan-favorites Bebop and Rocksteady.
Additional sources: Digital Spy, Comic Vine, THR.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Movies and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles News and Highlights!
Details about Linney's role are currently being kept hidden deep in the sewers.
Production for "TMNT 2", the sequel to Nick and Paramount's 2014 fun-filled and action-packed blockbuster "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" movie, is currently underway in New York.
Linney has stayed away from big-studio franchise movies until "TMNT 2", but the actress, now a new Mom with a 1-year-old under her belt, is becoming open to projects that are geared toward younger audiences.
Her more recent movies have been a mix of period pieces and dramas, ranging from "Hyde Park on Hudson" to "The Fifth Estate". She is currently on-screen opposite Sir Ian McKellen in "Mr. Holmes" and will also be starring in the upcoming 1920s literary drama "Genius" with Colin Firth, Guy Pearce, Jude Law and Nicole Kidman. Linney is repped by ICM Partners, Brillstein Entertainment Partners and Morris Yorn.
Additionally, Michael Bay has offered fans a first glimpse at Stephen Amell in "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2"!
The "Arrow" actor is seen as Casey Jones in the picture, with his face obscured by a hockey mask and carrying a hockey stick as his weapon:
The character, created by Kevin Eastman, first appeared in 1985's "Raphael No. 1", later going on to star in his own comic book series in addition to making appearances on the various "TMNT" animated television shows as well as the original "TMNT" movie series, where he was played by Elias Koteas.
Director David Green ("Earth to Echo") will take the helm of the next installment in the film franchise, with Michael Bay set to produce alongside his Platinum Dunes partners Andrew Form and Brad Fuller, with Galen Walker and Scott Mednick also producing. Screenwriters Josh Appelbaum & André Nemec ("Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol") are again coming aboard to write the sequel and will also Executive Produce. Plot details and information on other returning cast members are still unknown, however, the movie will feature fan-favorites Bebop and Rocksteady.
Additional sources: Digital Spy, Comic Vine, THR.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon Movies and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles News and Highlights!
"Make It Pop" Star Megan Lee Talks K-Pop & Diversity On U.S. TV, Status Of Career
Ahead of Make It Pop's first season finale, premiering tonight, Friday 1st May 2015 at 7:00pm ET/PT on Nickelodeon USA, Billboard recently chatted exclusively with Make It Pop star Megan Lee, who plays Sun Hi in Nick's all-new hit series, about the shows main inspiration, diversity on television, her wild ride in the entertainment world and more!:
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Make It Pop News and Highlights!
'Make It Pop' Star Megan Lee Talks K-Pop & Diversity on U.S. TV, Status of Career
Executive producer, Nick Cannon visits the set of of MAKE IT POP. © 2015 Viacom International, Inc All Rights Reserved.
Stephen Scott/Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon hit the casting jackpot for the lead of their K-pop-inspired show Make It Pop. The series snagged Korean-American Megan Lee whose resume boasted singing credits on Kidz Bop albums, cameos on Disney show, along with a full-fledged pop career in South Korea. Playing one of three female boarding school students who come together to create a pop group, Lee's helped deliver strong, consistent ratings in Nick's young demographic for the Nick Cannon/Thomas W. Lynch-produced show.
Ahead of the first season finale on May 1, Billboard chatted with the 19-year-old (whom Cannon tells Billboard was a "blessing" for the show) about its main inspiration, diversity on television, her wild ride in the entertainment world and more.
Can you talk about the difference between Make It Pop being a show about K-pop and it being inspired by K-pop?
The producers of the show made it very colorful, fun and very bright K-pop imagery -- like some concepts by Girls' Generation and f(x) -- and they added that on the show fashion, hair and makeup and things like that.
You won't see it in every part of the show, that it's inspired by K-pop, but [when] you can see it, it's obvious. Some production numbers we have outfits inspired by actual K-pop stars. There's this one outfit like f(x)'s "Rum Pum Pum Pum" video outfit. There's this whole plaid, red and white concept and we actually got inspired by that. You can see that as an obvious inspiration to K-pop idols.
What's been the best part about being on the show?
Well, it has been my dream since I was very little to be able to sing, dance and act all in one project so in Make It Pop I was able to do that all that.
What's the difference in working on Korean television versus working on American TV?
Well, of course, there's the language. I have more experience working in the Korean industry, but compared to English, Korean is not as comfortable.
Of course, there are different cultures which took some adjusting to at first. Like, there's the whole you have to bow in front of your elders, you have to show lots of respect and it's all about being very, very humble to appeal to Korean audiences. So, I definitely had to stay very grounded and, of course, no matter where you go you have stay humble and stay grounded, but in Korea they really look at that as so important when it comes to an artist or an actor so that was the biggest thing to adapt to versus the American industry.
You've had a sort of wild journey. From starting on Korean TV and debuting as an idol to having a lawsuit against your label and joining an American TV show. How are you feeling after everything?
It's been a really crazy roller coaster for me. Um, going to Korea felt so surreal. I've always wanted to go to my mother country, be closer to my heritage and learn the language and everything like that. So, I mean, being back here in the States, it feels the same way. I feels awesome coming back to where I was born and raised and working on an amazing TV show. I came back as a new person, I think. I would think so. When I went to Korea I was 15. I'm 19 now, I grew a lot as a person, as a musician, as an artist. I learned so many things and I met so many great people so I felt like, coming back here to L.A., I feel like a new person. I feel ready for the upcoming projects that I'm working on. I feel more mature, more prepared for other things.
There was initial concern about how K-pop was going to be portrayed on the show and you made some early remarks. Why was it necessary for you to talk about it?
As a K-pop fan myself, I completely understand from where they were coming from and what they mean. Of course, because it's not Korea and this is America, people can portray K-pop in different ways. I see how they are worried that is K-pop going to be, you know, shown to other people in a different way, in a negative way. I completely understand what they mean. That's why I made a few YouTube videos saying this is not a K-pop show and we're not trying to represent K-pop in any way. The show is inspired by K-pop and I'm trying to say like whatever outfits we wear, whatever kind of music that we do, the way we act, we're not trying to say "This is what K-pop is all about, this is how K-pop fans act." I just wanted to clear that up.
Some were also critical about the lack of a male lead on the show too in a time where shows like Fresh Off the Boat have Asian leads and have performed well.
I'm so glad to see more diversity on television, not only for Asians, but for all ethnicity in general. I hope everybody takes the steps to see more diversity in the future.
As for the Asian male lead, I heard some things about that and some people kind of misunderstood and got slightly offended. We do have Asian male characters in the show, I want to make that clear, we might not have an Asian male lead, but that was not specifically cleared out that way. We're not trying to exclude Asian males in any way. The casting kind of went that way. It was an open-ethnicity casting call. It was not even meant to be three Asian female leads either. It was all open ethnicities and, from what I've heard, whoever portrayed the role right got the part. It's not specifically "This is a Caucasian role, this is an Asian role, this is a whatever role."
What's the status of your career in Korea? Do you think you'll return any time soon?
I would never say I never really left Korea or left the Korean industry. I just simply here to work on this show and, you know, I feel like I belong in both places because I am Korean-American. So, if there's a chance for me to do that, I would love to if there's work for me. I'm always open to going to different places and working worldwide. That's always been my dream since I was young. So, yeah! I would love to go back to Korea and work on music or acting.
I have to ask too, what are your best memories from working with Beast's Junhyung and g.o.d?
Oh gosh, it was a huge honor. I was a newbie and to have Junhyung to be featured on my single, it was a huge honor. I feel like his rap really pumped up the song a lot.
And, of course, g.o.d I've been a fan of ever since I was very young and to be able to feature on one of their title tracks, it was a huge, honorable experience for me. I will never forget it.
Who would you be your dream K-pop guest star?
Oh my gosh, that is the hardest question ever! There are so many K-pop groups that I love. Of course, my all-time favorite group is 2NE1 so if they could somehow guest star in our show that would be amazing.
Make It Pop airs weeknights on Nickelodeon at 7:00pm EST.
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Make It Pop News and Highlights!
Moody Gardens' New "Spongebob Subpants Adventure" Features Never-Before-Seen Technology
Original Moody Gardens Press Release via PR Newswire:
Moody Gardens' New Spongebob Subpants Adventure Features Never-before-seen Technology
GALVESTON, Texas, May 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Always among the leaders in use of state-of-the-art technology, Moody Gardens is showcasing another first in entertainment with the opening of its new attraction, the SpongeBob SubPants Adventure.
Moody Gardens has partnered with Nickelodeon, Super 78 and SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment to create this innovative attraction opening in the Discovery Pyramid on May 23. Harnessing the power of modern computer technology and classic artistic techniques, a group of designers, engineers, fabricators and animators who are responsible for many of the world's leading theme park attractions have come together to create the SpongeBob SubPants Adventure.
Children and parents wearing 3D glasses enjoy a wild and silly submarine voyage as they're immersed in special effects during the SpongeBob SubPants Adventure opening Memorial Day Weekend at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas.
Guests will experience a whole new kind of submarine adventure as they take the "Le Plunger" into the hyper-real, life-sized world of Bikini Bottom which is viewed through a 30-foot wide observation window. Patrick Star and the rest of his animated underwater pals are seen on screen through 3D technology, as guests are able to have real-time conversations with him and help choose their path through the underwater adventure. To further immerse guests, four large viewing portholes bring the experience of the entire submarine to life.
To make this all possible, Super 78, an attraction design and production company, has provided their newest custom software and hardware for the SpongeBob SubPants Adventure named the Gepettoo™. This Animation Control System allows a performer behind the scenes to control all aspects of the full-sensory experience on screen in front of audiences. The performer's voice becomes an on-screen character, and he has an unlimited palette of animation options which brings the character to life. The performer also runs the lights, sounds, bubbles, and scents with the push of a button.
A mother and daughter view colorful coral in the Neptunes Kingdom aquariums in the Pre Show I area before entering the SpongeBob SubPants Adventure theater. The new attraction opens Memorial Day weekend at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas.
SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment created custom seats, designed and installed all theater systems and programmed special effects in new ways to enhance the adventure. They worked closely with Super 78 to integrate the virtual actor system into the overall attraction.
"This collaboration creates an emotionally engaging experience with innovative technology and definitely takes 4D storytelling to the next level," said Mike Frueh, Senior Vice President, Licensing & Distribution at SimEx-Iwerks.
Children and parents view a brass dive helmet and crab trap near the Bikini Bottom mural before entering the new Nickelodeon SpongeBob SubPants Adventure. It opens Memorial Day Weekend at the Discovery Pyramid at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas.
Also used in the design of this breakthrough attraction is Mushroom VR™, a proprietary attraction design tool that utilizes the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset to pre-visualize the experience. It provides an accurate guest-experience assessment of all the attraction content, including 3D environments, media, scenic and show elements, making it seem as if you are submerged within Bikini Bottom.
"For the first time ever, the SpongeBob SubPants Adventure will allow guests to interact 'live and in person' with a 3D digital character, a major breakthrough in digital puppetry," said Michael "Oz" Smith, Super 78's Technical Director. "And because guests also help navigate the sub, choosing which direction the adventure takes, every voyage will be truly one-of-a-kind."
This world-class technology immerses guests in a non-stop whirlwind of surprises with fun for the whole family to enjoy. Admission to the attraction is $18.95 for adults and $16.95 for seniors and children. It is also included in a Moody Gardens Value Pass.
For more information, call (800) 582-4673 or visit www.moodygardens.org.
Moody Gardens® is a public, non-profit, educational destination utilizing nature in the advancement of rehabilitation, conservation, recreation, and research.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150501/213196
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150501/213197
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150501/213198
SOURCE Moody Gardens
RELATED LINKS
http://www.moodygardens.org
###
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and SpongeBob SquarePants News and Highlights!
Moody Gardens' New Spongebob Subpants Adventure Features Never-before-seen Technology
GALVESTON, Texas, May 1, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Always among the leaders in use of state-of-the-art technology, Moody Gardens is showcasing another first in entertainment with the opening of its new attraction, the SpongeBob SubPants Adventure.
Moody Gardens has partnered with Nickelodeon, Super 78 and SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment to create this innovative attraction opening in the Discovery Pyramid on May 23. Harnessing the power of modern computer technology and classic artistic techniques, a group of designers, engineers, fabricators and animators who are responsible for many of the world's leading theme park attractions have come together to create the SpongeBob SubPants Adventure.
Children and parents wearing 3D glasses enjoy a wild and silly submarine voyage as they're immersed in special effects during the SpongeBob SubPants Adventure opening Memorial Day Weekend at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas.
Guests will experience a whole new kind of submarine adventure as they take the "Le Plunger" into the hyper-real, life-sized world of Bikini Bottom which is viewed through a 30-foot wide observation window. Patrick Star and the rest of his animated underwater pals are seen on screen through 3D technology, as guests are able to have real-time conversations with him and help choose their path through the underwater adventure. To further immerse guests, four large viewing portholes bring the experience of the entire submarine to life.
To make this all possible, Super 78, an attraction design and production company, has provided their newest custom software and hardware for the SpongeBob SubPants Adventure named the Gepettoo™. This Animation Control System allows a performer behind the scenes to control all aspects of the full-sensory experience on screen in front of audiences. The performer's voice becomes an on-screen character, and he has an unlimited palette of animation options which brings the character to life. The performer also runs the lights, sounds, bubbles, and scents with the push of a button.
A mother and daughter view colorful coral in the Neptunes Kingdom aquariums in the Pre Show I area before entering the SpongeBob SubPants Adventure theater. The new attraction opens Memorial Day weekend at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas.
SimEx-Iwerks Entertainment created custom seats, designed and installed all theater systems and programmed special effects in new ways to enhance the adventure. They worked closely with Super 78 to integrate the virtual actor system into the overall attraction.
"This collaboration creates an emotionally engaging experience with innovative technology and definitely takes 4D storytelling to the next level," said Mike Frueh, Senior Vice President, Licensing & Distribution at SimEx-Iwerks.
Children and parents view a brass dive helmet and crab trap near the Bikini Bottom mural before entering the new Nickelodeon SpongeBob SubPants Adventure. It opens Memorial Day Weekend at the Discovery Pyramid at Moody Gardens in Galveston, Texas.
Also used in the design of this breakthrough attraction is Mushroom VR™, a proprietary attraction design tool that utilizes the Oculus Rift virtual reality headset to pre-visualize the experience. It provides an accurate guest-experience assessment of all the attraction content, including 3D environments, media, scenic and show elements, making it seem as if you are submerged within Bikini Bottom.
"For the first time ever, the SpongeBob SubPants Adventure will allow guests to interact 'live and in person' with a 3D digital character, a major breakthrough in digital puppetry," said Michael "Oz" Smith, Super 78's Technical Director. "And because guests also help navigate the sub, choosing which direction the adventure takes, every voyage will be truly one-of-a-kind."
This world-class technology immerses guests in a non-stop whirlwind of surprises with fun for the whole family to enjoy. Admission to the attraction is $18.95 for adults and $16.95 for seniors and children. It is also included in a Moody Gardens Value Pass.
For more information, call (800) 582-4673 or visit www.moodygardens.org.
Moody Gardens® is a public, non-profit, educational destination utilizing nature in the advancement of rehabilitation, conservation, recreation, and research.
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150501/213196
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150501/213197
Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20150501/213198
SOURCE Moody Gardens
RELATED LINKS
http://www.moodygardens.org
###
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and SpongeBob SquarePants News and Highlights!
Sky And Viacom Extend Partnership In The UK And Ireland
Original Sky and Viacom International Media Networks Press Release via the Sky Media Centre:
Sky and Viacom agree to extend their partnership in the UK and Ireland
Sky and Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) have agreed to extend their commercial partnership in the UK and Ireland for a further five years.
The arrangement ensures Viacom's popular pay TV channels – including Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and VH1 – will continue to be available in all Sky homes. The two companies will also extend their advertising sales relationship to include Channel 5 and its associated channels.
Channel 5's suite of channels — Channel 5, 5 USA and 5* — will be added to the portfolio of 17 Viacom channels already sold by Sky Media, Sky's advertising sales division, from June. Channel 5's sponsorship, digital and on-demand sales will also be sold by Sky Media as part of the arrangement.
Viacom is wholesaling its commercial impacts to Sky Media, who will now be the sole re-seller of all Viacom's advertising inventory in the UK and Ireland.
David Lynn, President, VIMN UK, Australia and Eastern Europe, commented: "Sky is a highly-valued partner for Viacom and we're delighted to extend our relationship for the benefit of our viewers and advertisers. We're convinced Viacom's interests are best served by a single point of advertising sales in the UK and Ireland and that Sky Media, with its strong track record of selling our pay TV channels and its innovative approach to improving the targeting and effectiveness of TV advertising, is best placed to provide it."
Andrew Griffith, Chief Financial Officer and MD, Commercial Businesses, Sky, added: "The extension of our partnership with Viacom is great news for Sky customers as well as advertisers. The addition of Channel 5 will further strengthen Sky Media's extensive channel portfolio. Advertisers will now have access to an even broader range of opportunities to reach customers using Sky Media's creativity and innovation."
Sky Media represents all of Sky's channels and websites across sports, news entertainment and movies, as well as a further 26 broadcasters including Viacom, Discovery Communications, National Geographic, FOX and NBC Universal. Sky Media's portfolio of channels reaches almost 50 million people in the UK every week on average.
For more information:
Sky
[...]
Follow us on twitter @SkyCorporate
Visit: www.sky.com/corporate
Viacom
[...]
Follow us on twitter @VIMN_PR
About Sky
Sky is Europe's leading entertainment company. The group serves 21 million customers across five countries: Italy, Germany, Austria, the UK and Ireland. We offer the best and broadest range of content, deliver market-leading customer service and use innovative new technology to give customers a better TV experience, whenever and wherever they choose.
Sky has annual revenues of over £11 billion and is Europe's leading investor in television content with a combined programming budget of over £4.6 billion. The company employs 31,000 people and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SKY).
For more information visit www.sky.com/corporate.
About Viacom International Media Networks
Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), is comprised of many of the world's most popular multimedia entertainment brands, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount Channel, Channel 5 in the UK, VH1, VIVA, COLORS, Spike, Game One and Tr3s: MTV, Música y Más. Viacom brands are seen globally in more than 3.2 billion households in approximately 170 territories and 40 languages via more than 200 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 550 digital media and mobile TV properties. Following its takeover of Channel 5 in September 2014, VIMN now owns or part-owns and operates 30 TV channels in the UK, making it the biggest international supplier of TV channels to the UK market. Keep up with VIMN news by visiting the VIMN PR Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/VIMN_PR.
###
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Viacom International Media Networks News and Highlights!
Sky and Viacom agree to extend their partnership in the UK and Ireland
Sky and Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) have agreed to extend their commercial partnership in the UK and Ireland for a further five years.
The arrangement ensures Viacom's popular pay TV channels – including Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and VH1 – will continue to be available in all Sky homes. The two companies will also extend their advertising sales relationship to include Channel 5 and its associated channels.
Channel 5's suite of channels — Channel 5, 5 USA and 5* — will be added to the portfolio of 17 Viacom channels already sold by Sky Media, Sky's advertising sales division, from June. Channel 5's sponsorship, digital and on-demand sales will also be sold by Sky Media as part of the arrangement.
Viacom is wholesaling its commercial impacts to Sky Media, who will now be the sole re-seller of all Viacom's advertising inventory in the UK and Ireland.
David Lynn, President, VIMN UK, Australia and Eastern Europe, commented: "Sky is a highly-valued partner for Viacom and we're delighted to extend our relationship for the benefit of our viewers and advertisers. We're convinced Viacom's interests are best served by a single point of advertising sales in the UK and Ireland and that Sky Media, with its strong track record of selling our pay TV channels and its innovative approach to improving the targeting and effectiveness of TV advertising, is best placed to provide it."
Andrew Griffith, Chief Financial Officer and MD, Commercial Businesses, Sky, added: "The extension of our partnership with Viacom is great news for Sky customers as well as advertisers. The addition of Channel 5 will further strengthen Sky Media's extensive channel portfolio. Advertisers will now have access to an even broader range of opportunities to reach customers using Sky Media's creativity and innovation."
Sky Media represents all of Sky's channels and websites across sports, news entertainment and movies, as well as a further 26 broadcasters including Viacom, Discovery Communications, National Geographic, FOX and NBC Universal. Sky Media's portfolio of channels reaches almost 50 million people in the UK every week on average.
For more information:
Sky
[...]
Follow us on twitter @SkyCorporate
Visit: www.sky.com/corporate
Viacom
[...]
Follow us on twitter @VIMN_PR
About Sky
Sky is Europe's leading entertainment company. The group serves 21 million customers across five countries: Italy, Germany, Austria, the UK and Ireland. We offer the best and broadest range of content, deliver market-leading customer service and use innovative new technology to give customers a better TV experience, whenever and wherever they choose.
Sky has annual revenues of over £11 billion and is Europe's leading investor in television content with a combined programming budget of over £4.6 billion. The company employs 31,000 people and is listed on the London Stock Exchange (SKY).
For more information visit www.sky.com/corporate.
About Viacom International Media Networks
Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a unit of Viacom Inc. (NASDAQ: VIAB, VIA), is comprised of many of the world's most popular multimedia entertainment brands, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, Paramount Channel, Channel 5 in the UK, VH1, VIVA, COLORS, Spike, Game One and Tr3s: MTV, Música y Más. Viacom brands are seen globally in more than 3.2 billion households in approximately 170 territories and 40 languages via more than 200 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 550 digital media and mobile TV properties. Following its takeover of Channel 5 in September 2014, VIMN now owns or part-owns and operates 30 TV channels in the UK, making it the biggest international supplier of TV channels to the UK market. Keep up with VIMN news by visiting the VIMN PR Twitter feed at www.twitter.com/VIMN_PR.
###
Follow NickALive! on Twitter, Tumblr, Google+, via RSS, on Instagram, and/or Facebook for the latest Nickelodeon and Viacom International Media Networks News and Highlights!