Tuesday, June 14, 2022
Blue's Clues & You! | German Theme Song & Intro | Nick Jr. Germany
Listen to the Blue's Clues & You! (Blues Clues und Du) theme song and opening titles in German (Deutsch)!
Mehr Nick: Pluto TV Deutschland startet den Kanal „Nick Ukraine“, um ukrainischen Flüchtlingskindern, die sich in Deutschland aufhalten, kostenlose Nickelodeon-Inhalte zur Verfügung zu stellen!
‘The Smurfs’ Musical Animated Feature To Be Helmed By ‘Puss In Boots’ Director Chris Miller
Chris Miller, the Oscar-nominated helmer of 2011’s Puss in Boots, is set to direct Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation’s untitled Smurfs musical movie. The official announcement will be made during the Paramount and Nickelodeon Animation presentation at Annecy International Animation Film Festival on Thursday, June 16.
Earlier this year, Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation announced a partnership with Smurf worldwide licensors holders LAFIG Belgium and IMPS to produce multiple movies based on the Smurfs property created by Belgian artist Pierre Culliford, known as Peyo. This untitled musical, from a screenplay by Pam Brady (South Park, Team America: World Police), is the first of those projects. Brady will also step into other creative roles that are yet to be announced. The film is slated for release on Dec. 20, 2024.
A second season of the hit The Smurfs CG-animated TV series was announced along with the movie.
Miller is also director of Shrek The Third, and his voice acting credits includes the penguin Kowalski in the Madagascar franchise.
Latifa Ouaou, Executive Vice President (EVP) of movies and global franchises for Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation (who earlier produced Miller’s Puss in Boots), is overseeing development on the Smurfs movie, along with Emily Nordwind, Senior Vice President (SVP) of development and production for Paramount Animation.
“We’re thrilled to have such a talented group of people bringing audiences this latest rendition of the beloved Smurfs universe, including the incredible Chris Miller, director of Shrek the Third and Puss in Boots; and writer Pam Brady of Team America: World Police and South Park,” said Ramsey Naito, President, Animation & Development, Paramount Animation and Nickelodeon Animation. “We can’t wait for fans everywhere to see this Smurftastic film.”
Other upcoming titles under the Paramount Animation umbrella include: Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank (July 15), Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Animated (Aug. 4, 2023), Paw Patrol: The Mighty Movie (Oct. 13, 2023), The Tiger’s Apprentice (Dec. 20, 2023), and Untitled Transformers (July 19, 2024). The studio will highlight Paws of Fury this week at Annecy before it opens
The Smurfs began life as a Belgian comic in 1958 and spawned various animated series and films. The property gained prominence in the U.S. thanks to the 1980s Hanna-Barbera Productions cartoon.
Stream a mountain of entertainment with Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Originally published: June 14, 2022.
Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, Deadline, Animation Magazine; H/T: Special thanks to @RoyalSmurf2022 for the news!
Nickelodeon Launches Intergalactic Shorts Program 2.0 for All New Global Search for Animation Talent
NICKELODEON LAUNCHES INTERGALACTIC SHORTS PROGRAM 2.0 FOR ALL NEW GLOBAL SEARCH FOR ANIMATION TALENT
Rock, Paper, Scissors, the First Series to Be Greenlit from Original 2019 Program, Makes Worldwide Short Debut at Annecy International Animation Film Festival
2.0 Program to be Overseen by Nickelodeon Executives Daniel Wineman and Chris Rose
BURBANK, Calif., June 13, 2022 -- Nickelodeon's Intergalactic Shorts Program 2.0 is opening its search for new and diverse creators from across the globe, focusing on new voices and nurturing their vision for original comedy-driven content with an eye toward representation. Today's announcement was made by Ramsey Naito, President, Nickelodeon Animation and Paramount Animation.
Originally launched in 2019, Rock, Paper, Scissors marks the first finalized short to be greenlit for series from the inaugural program. In the short, the iconic trio of Rock, Paper, and Scissors lovingly compete with one another in this buddy comedy about the joy and messiness of friendship. Six additional projects from 2019 are currently in production at Nickelodeon. Additional information will be available soon.
Nickelodeon will debut Rock, Paper, Scissors during a special Nickelodeon Animation presentation at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival on Thursday, June 16.
"We knew we were onto something special with creators Kyle Stegina and Josh Lehrman and their hilarious characters in Rock, Paper, Scissors, which we are so proud to bring to series," said Naito. "Finding and growing talent through the process of pitch to hit is what powers our Intergalactic Shorts Program, and we can't wait to get started finding the next great creator in animation through our program's just-launched second phase."
The original Rock, Paper, Scissors short and series are created, written, and executive produced by Kyle Stegina (Robot Chicken) and Josh Lehrman (Robot Chicken), with Conrad Vernon (Sausage Party) and Bob Boyle (The Fairly OddParents) serving as executive producers on the series.
Through the 2022 Program, Nickelodeon will accept ideas from a global pool of storytellers and creative visionaries including artists, writers, and directors. Shorts will run on Nickelodeon's platforms and are in the process of being developed into long-form animated series.
Shorts should feature one-of-a-kind, character-driven comedy and surprising storytelling, combining humor with action-adventure, mystery, sci-fi, and more. In line with Nickelodeon's mission to make the best, original humor-driven content for kids, these creator-driven shorts offer content that is appealing to all members of the family, featuring a co-viewing lens of preschool (K 2-5) and big kids (K 6-11).
Nickelodeon's Intergalactic Shorts Program launched in June 2019 and was overseen by Kari Kim, Vice President, Animation Development, Nickelodeon Animation, with Conrad Vernon serving as the program's executive producer and Paul Watling (Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse) as co-executive producer. Daniel Wineman, Vice President, Animation Development, Nickelodeon Animation and Chris Rose, Vice President, Production & Development, Kids & Family, Global will oversee the 2022 Intergalactic Shorts Program 2.0.
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 43rd 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 brand includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, digital, location-based experiences, publishing and feature films. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon is a part of Paramount's (Nasdaq: PARA, PARAA) global portfolio of multimedia entertainment brands.
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Stream all your favorite Nickelodeon shows old and new on Paramount+. Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Creators for the inaugural program have been sourced from the U.S. Those for the 2.0 Program will be sourced around the world, Naito told Variety.
That reflects Nickelodeon’s outreach to global talent under Naito, which was accelerated by the pandemic.
In its drive to hire talent, Nickelodeon launched a virtual recruiting drive during COVID-19 when 9,000 people from across the globe joined a recruiting session. “Going virtual and working off the cloud opened up opportunities for us and for everyone. And it brought us so much closer together in so many ways.”
Pitches for shorts can be made by artists, writers, and directors, Nickelodeon confirmed Monday. Shorts will run on Nickelodeon’s platforms and are in the process of being developed into long-form animated series.
Shorts should feature “one-of-a-kind, character-driven comedy and surprising storytelling, combining humor with action-adventure, mystery, sci-fi, and more,” Nickelodeon added. “In line with Nickelodeon’s mission to make the best, original humor-driven content for kids, these creator-driven shorts offer content that is appealing to all members of the family, featuring a co-viewing lens of preschool (K 2-5) and big kids (K 6-11),” it announced.
The Program’s eye towards representation is crucial, Naito noted. “Nickelodeon’s core audience are kids between the ages of six and 11. More than 50% are non-white.”
“To serve and connect with that audience, we have to be inclusive. We have to hire inclusively and lead with a high level of inclusivity. Top down our leadership is very diverse and our creators are diverse. It’s because the world is diverse.”
At the Annecy Presentation, Naito will share a new clip of Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank as she beats a drum for an upcoming animated feature release state.
People are excited to get out and go to the movies and they’re looking for family events and we have so many movies coming out,” Naito said citing Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank, set to bow in July, and three 2023 titles; the Seth Rogan-produced Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie, Paw Patrol 2: The Mighty Movie and The Tiger’s Apprentice.
From Variety:
During the pandemic, Paramount and Nickelodeon Animation greenlit over 10 new projects across series and movies, combined Paramount and Nickelodeon Animation and broadened its strategy into theatricals, and hired nearly 1,000 artists to work to support all of their shows, said Naito.
Paramount and Nickelodeon Animation president, she will be world premiering at an Annecy presentation “Rock, Paper, Scissors,” the first short to be greenlit from Nickelodeon’s inaugural 2019 Intergalactic Shorts Program.
Now, distributors want to rev up excitement on their major shows, including big theatrical plays. “People are excited to get out and go to the movies and they’re looking for family events and we have so many movies coming out,” said Naito who at her Annecy Presentation will share a new clip of “Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank.”
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Classic Rugrats Comic Strip for June 14, 2022 | Nickelodeon
Classic Rugrats Comic Strip for June 14, 2022 | Nickelodeon
Stream the classic and the all new CG-animated Rugrats series on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Follow these comics and their take on real episodes of the show and their own spin on hilarious adventures.
Read more Rugrats comic strips!: https://www.creators.com/features/rugrats
More Nick: Paramount Plus Renews the All-New 'Rugrats' for Season 2!
Nickelodeon News Bytes | June 13, 2022
NickALive!'s pick of Nickelodeon news, highlights and more from around the internet!:
Stream all your favorite Nickelodeon shows on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Netflix Adds 'Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles' (2012) and 'Rise of the TMNT'
COWABUNGA! Netflix in the U.S. will be adding the first seasons of two different Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series on May 31, 2022 - the CG-animated Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2012) and the 2D-animated Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (2018)!
Turtle power lives on in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Nickelodeon’s inspired spin on the iconic mutant-reptile brothers. Emerging from the sewers, Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael and Leonardo confront the wondrous and hostile world of New York City; facing enemies more dangerous and pizza more delicious than anything they could have imagined.
Rise up! The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles get an all-new look, new weapons, and awesome new powers in Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles! Join the legendary heroes, Raph, Leo, Donnie and Mikey as these brothers discover a Hidden City beneath New York, learn amazing mystic ninja skills, battle absurd mutants… and always find time for a slice of their favorite pizza! Cowabunga!
The news comes as Netflix is slated to debut Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Movie, a film set in the world of Rise of the TMNT, on August 5!
Update (6/3) - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is currently in sixth place on Netflix's Top 10 TV Shows list!
Update (6/7) - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is currently in eighth place on Netflix's Top 10 TV Shows list!
Update (6/8) - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is currently in seventh place on Netflix's Top 10 TV Shows list!
Update (6/14) - Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is currently in 10th place on Netflix's Top 10 TV Shows list.
Watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Originally published: April 24, 2022.
Original source: @thecartooncrave; H/T: @TwogoodMax.
'Nickelodeon Slime Cup' to Use Golf Balls Made By GBM in Ohio
On Saturday, June 25 at 8 p.m., Nickelodeon will deliver the Nickelodeon Slime Cup, a brand-new golf competition where golfers will compete in Pasadena’s Rose Bowl with a unique twist — they can be “slimed” at any moment.
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| These colorful golf balls, designed and manufactured at the GBM Golf facility in Loudonville, will be used on the new Nickelodeon TV show "Slime Cup" on Saturday, June 25 at 8 p.m. on Nickelodeon TV networks. PHOTO BY JIM BREWER |
Golf balls for the production are being manufactured at the GBM Golf factory in Loudonville, Dusk Jessop, plant manager and graphics designer, reported.
“One of our putt putt golf suppliers put us in contact with a vendor, Good All Day, which was seeking someone to produce special golf balls for the Slime Cup show,” Jessop told The Daily Record. “Casey Hendershott, also a designer, and I talked with the prospect, and I created the art and the plates for the printing.”
The order of special “slime balls" includes 351 dozen balls, which Jessop said is a relatively small order for the specialty golf ball portion of GBM Ohio, which also refinishes used golf balls for resale. The golf balls feature designs inspired by network icons such as SpongeBob SquarePants and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, as well as the Slime Cup logo with a slime effect.
“This is also the first order we will complete utilizing our new six-color printing machine,” she said. “In the past, our specialty orders were filled using a two-color printer. We have as much larger order for our new six-color unit in the works for Crayola, the crayon manufacturer.”
'Slime Cup' based on 'The Match'
The Slime Cup is a new production based on the made-for-TV golf franchise, The Match.
The hour-long special will feature four teams as they complete in a Nick-ified golf course to reach an unpredictable final round inside the Rose Bowl. The event will be simulcast across Nickelodeon, TeenNick and Nicktoons on Saturday, June 25, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).
Slime Cup will include one-of-a-kind tree boxes, far-out fairways and greens, physical challenges, and lots of slime, promoters promise. Action will culminate with “The Unfairway,” the final hole where players battle it out to win the ultimate Nickelodeon Slime Cup, a Nick orange blazer and the epic honor of getting slimed.
Four teams will compete in the two-round tournament, including a professional golfer, a celebrity, and a Nickelodeon star:
- Green Team: Professional Golfer Collin Morikawa; Actor, Host and Author Terry Crews; and Nick star Jaidyn Triplett (iCarly).
- Pink Team: Professional Golfer and recent PGA Championship winner Justin Thomas; WWE Superstar Nikki Bella; and Nick star Isaiah Crews (Side Hustle).
- Red Team: Professional Golfer Jon Rahm; NFL Superstar Justin Herbert; and Nick star Kate Godfrey (Warped!).
- Orange Team: Professional Golfer Lexi Thompson; NFL Superstar Saquon Barkley; and Nick star Tyler Wladis (Fairly OddParents: Fairly Odder).
Stream all your favorite Nickelodeon shows old and new on Paramount+. Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
DungeonForward Teams Up With Nickelodeon & SpongeBob SquarePants To Drop Iconic Collaborative Headwear Collection
DungeonForward Teams Up With Nickelodeon & SpongeBob SquarePants Drop Iconic Collaborative Headwear Collection
The Black-Owned Headwear company launched the first of multi-generational and nostalgic releases entitled "The Bikini Bottom Capsule"
MIAMI - Global Headwear Brand DungeonForward and media powerhouse Nickelodeon have joined forces to create a collection inspired by the hit animated series, SpongeBob SquarePants. This release is a part of a 3-year agreement with Nickelodeon and Paramount Consumer Products to produce a series of headwear collections featuring limited-edition pieces inspired by some of Nickelodeon's iconic animated series.
"The Bikini Bottom Capsule" collection takes cues from the bright color palettes of SpongeBob, Squidward, Gary, and Patrick from SpongeBob SquarePants while seamlessly infusing their essence into a collection like none other. "When you think of SpongeBob, you can't help but to smile, and it is that joy that we want to tap into with the release of this collection," said DungeonForward CEO David Castro.
Dungeon Forward showcases creativity and artistry by deconstructing the familiar patterning and infusing elements of the textures of Bikini Bottom to create a classic and authentic capsule. This collection also incorporates a proprietary silhouette developed by Dungeon Forward, The Sunika Kuraun Low Top. Sunika Kuraun means sneaker crown in Japanese and is a staple product for Dungeon Forward.
"The Bikini Bottom Capsule" collection is available worldwide online. The partnership with Nickelodeon and Paramount Consumer Products will bring forth more collections that will elicit a nostalgic journey back to childhood.
For additional information, visit dungeonforward.com/collections/spongebob.
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Stream all your favorite Nickelodeon shows old and new on Paramount+. Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
How to Stream Every Episode of 'Ghosts' for FREE on Paramount Plus
Samantha can see and hear spirits, and they have a lot to say! Stream all episodes of Ghosts now on Paramount+. Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com
Samantha and Jay (Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar), a cheerful freelance journalist and up-and-coming chef from the city, respectively, throw caution and money to the wind when they decide to convert a huge rundown country estate they inherited into a bed & breakfast—only to find it’s inhabited by the many spirits of deceased residents who now call it home. If these ghosts were anxious about the commotion a renovation and B&B will create in their home, it’s nothing compared to when they realize Samantha is the first living person who can see and hear them.
All episodes of Ghosts are now streaming on Paramount+. Try it FREE!
We Ain’t Came to Lose: The Newest Chapter in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles’ Rap Legacy Has Arrived
In the '90s, Vanilla Ice famously inextricably tied the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles with rap music by performing the “Ninja Rap” in the second TMNT movie, Secret of the Ooze, and the many, many TMNT-themed raps that have followed have also been pretty great. And now, we can add the Wu-Tang Clan's Ghostface Killah and Raekwon the Chef’s “We Ain’t Came to Lose” in that very specific half-shell.
The song is part of the soundtrack for the upcoming, fabulous-looking, 2D beat-em’-up video game titled Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge. As it turns out, Shredder has not returned to lose this fight against his eternal foes… but then, neither have the Turtles:
The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Shredder’s Revenge soundtrack can be pre-ordered at https:/kidkatana.com. The soundtrack will be available on stand edition vinyl, limited edition vinyl, and CD.
Shredder’s Revenge will be available digitally on Nintendo Switch, PS4, Xbox One, and PC in just a few days, on June 16. Physical editions will also be released later this year.
Watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Original source: Gizmodo.
'SpongeBob' Theme Song Now Available in Yiddish
Who lives in a pineapple under the sea? ShvomBob Kvadrat-hoyzn, of course!
And now the Jewish world knows how to say SpongeBob SquarePants in Yiddish, thanks to a translation of the animated kid show’s theme song by Eddy Portnoy, the academic advisor and director of exhibitions at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Research in Manhattan.
Last week, Portnoy’s college-aged daughter put SpongeBob on TV, and Portnoy was inspired. He typed up the lyrics on his Notes app and posted the translation to Twitter, and let the algorithm do the rest.
“I can choose anything to translate,” Portnoy told the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, “but this is sort of extra funny, because it’s not something that you expect to hear in Yiddish.”
The lyrics alone were well-received, and then they were vocalized by Yiddish TikToker Cameron Bernstein, a communications fellow at the Yiddish Book Center, who recorded herself singing the translation.
@c.o.bernstein I got to meet the translator, Eddy Portnoy, when I visited YIVO in May (in NYC)! He just curated a great exhibit there called Am Yisrael High (on Jews and the 😈🥬) #spongebob #translation ♬ original sound - Cameron Bernstein
The beloved animated Nickelodeon comedy series features a melange of undersea characters including the titular SpongeBob (an eternally optimistic sponge); his best friend Patrick, a dim but loyal starfish; and SpongeBob’s dyspeptic coworker and nemesis, Squidward (a squid).
After 21 years and 276 episodes, the show is the fifth-longest running animated series of all time, and its tongue-in-cheek theme song, loosely based on the sea chanty “Blow the Man Down” and sung by a pirate, is familiar to at least two generations of viewers.
For reasons unknown, I translated the SpongeBob theme song into Yiddish. pic.twitter.com/7rDACsYQB9
— portnoy (@eddyportnoy) June 7, 2022
In the original, the pirate sings, “If nautical nonsense, be something you wish,/Then drop on the deck and flop like a fish!” In Yiddish that becomes, “Oyb yam-narishkaytn iz epes ir vintsht,/Falt arop af der erd vi a meshugenem fish!”
Eddy Portnoy, a researcher and curator at the YIVO Institute for Jewish Studies, translated the theme song from SpongeBob SquarePants into Yiddish. (Photo courtesy of Eddy Portnoy/Design courtesy of Jackie Hajdenberg)
“People can take this stuff and run with it,” Portnoy said. “For me, it’s just sort of a fun exercise; to see if I can do it, to get it to rhyme, to see if it works.”
The study of Yiddish outside of haredi Orthodox communities, where it is often spoken as a first language, has undergone a revival in recent years. YIVO’s online summer learning program saw the largest enrollment in its 54-year history in 2020 and 2021, and just last week, the institute hosted a webinar asking that very question: Are we in the midst of a Yiddish renaissance? The Workers Circle also saw record enrollment for its Yiddish classes.
Portnoy isn’t the first to couple Yiddish with American pop culture. On his 1998 album, “Mamaloshen,” Mandy Patinkin sings a Yiddish version of “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.” Last year, Rokhl Kafrissen, another Yiddishist, translated the lyrics of Jimmy Buffet’s “Why Don’t We Get Drunk,” which was subsequently performed by a trio of klezmer musicians commissioned by the Congress for Jewish Culture. Kafrissen’s version is not a word-for-word translation of the original because her goal was to create a “cultural translation,” she wrote on her blog.
Yiddish is “sort of associated with older generations and Eastern Europe and whatnot,” said Portnoy. “But obviously, there is this very American Yiddish and obviously ultra-Orthodox communities still use it. But they’re definitely not watching ‘SpongeBob.’ Or if they are, they’re doing it in secret. I don’t know if there’s a huge SpongeBob underground in Williamsburg or Borough Park.”
Will Portnoy be doing this again anytime soon, though?
“If it becomes a regular thing, it’s a lot less interesting to people,” he said. “You can’t make lightning strike twice.”
Watch SpongeBob SquarePants, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob's Under Years and The Patrick Star Show on Nickelodeon, and 200 episodes of SpongeBob, The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge On The Run and The SpongeBob Musical on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com.
Listen to The SpongeBob Musical here!
CALLING ALL GOOFY GOOBERS! (ROCK!) Are ya ready for a deep dive into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants? The SpongeBob YouTube channel is THE PLACE for all fan-favorite SpongeBob moments! We’re serving up everything from legendary scenes to remixes of classic songs to deep dives into Bikini Bottom lore. Be sure to check back every week for Music Mondays, Wumbo Wednesdays, and Flashback Fridays! Subscribe now at https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial!
Shop SpongeBob!: https://www.spongebobshop.com - SpongeBob face masks now available, with ALL proceeds going to charity!
CALLING ALL GOOFY GOOBERS! (ROCK!) Are ya ready for a deep dive into the world of SpongeBob SquarePants? The SpongeBob YouTube channel is THE PLACE for all fan-favorite SpongeBob moments! We’re serving up everything from legendary scenes to remixes of classic songs to deep dives into Bikini Bottom lore. Be sure to check back every week for Music Mondays, Wumbo Wednesdays, and Flashback Fridays! Subscribe now at https://www.youtube.com/SpongeBobOfficial!
Shop SpongeBob!: https://www.spongebobshop.com - SpongeBob face masks now available, with ALL proceeds going to charity!
Original source: License Global.
TMNT x MMPR Funko Pop Figures On The Way
Nick News Brief: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles x Mighty Morphin Power Rangers Funko POP figures are coming soon, kicking off with a Leonardo figure released as a SDCC Exclusive!
Watch Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles on Paramount+! Try it FREE at ParamountPlus.com!
Originally published: June 14, 2022.
Additional source: Collider.
The Rugrats Are Back! | Paramount Plus UK
New look, same big adventures. The Rugrats are back! Paramount+ UK & Ireland launches 22nd June! Visit ParamountPlus.com for more information.
SkyShowtime Announces Key Leadership Hires
SkyShowtime announces key leadership hires.
The soon-to-launch streaming service welcomes new Head of Programming, Regional General Manager for Iberia and Chief Human Resources Officer.
Monday 13 June 2022
SkyShowtime CEO Monty Sarhan today announced three key senior appointments to the company’s growing executive leadership team. The announcement comes as the new streaming service prepares for launch, which is planned to begin later this year and then roll out across more than 20 European markets.
SkyShowtime CEO Monty Sarhan said: “A company’s greatest resource is its people and one of my top priorities has been to recruit individuals with a record of proven leadership to join SkyShowtime. These three talented individuals are all accomplished leaders who put people first—from our subscribers to our teammates—and I am proud that they will be joining us as we build the next great streaming service for Europe.”
The following individuals will be joining SkyShowtime’s leadership team:
Jon Farrar has been named Head of Programming. He joins SkyShowtime from BBC Studios, where he led their direct-to-consumer programming strategy in his dual role as Global VOD Director and Editor-in-Chief of BBC Select, the BBC’s first-ever branded SVOD service in North America. He was also part of the team that developed BritBox, the streaming joint venture between BBC Studios and ITV. Reporting to Sarhan, Farrar will be responsible for programming strategy, overseeing the service’s top-quality pipeline of partner studio content, and building a world-class programming team across SkyShowtime’s markets to develop original and local content. Farrar will also lead the acquisitions, scheduling and editorial, and content operations functions.
Farrar said: “I am so thrilled to be taking up this role which, for a fan of great programmes, is the most exciting job in European streaming. I cannot wait to start working with Monty and the team on how we take a unique approach to bring SkyShowtime, with its brilliant content pipeline, to audiences across the continent.”
Raquel Berzosa has been appointed as Regional General Manager for Iberia. Berzosa will be responsible for expanding SkyShowtime in Spain and Portugal, building, and leading the regional distribution and partnerships group, and overseeing marketing and content across Iberia. She joins from NBCUniversal International Networks & DTC, where she was Vice President, Affiliate Sales & Country Lead, Iberia. Berzosa has a long track record working in the entertainment industry and has extensive experience negotiating with partners in Spain and Portugal, including launching the Universal+ on demand service, which is currently available on three of the four main platforms in Spain. Based in Madrid, Berzosa will also report to Sarhan. With Berzosa’s appointment, SkyShowtime’s regional leadership team is now complete. She joins Gabor Harsanyi and Henriette Petersen, Regional General Managers for Central Eastern Europe and North Europe, respectively.
Berzosa stated: “This role is a dream come true for someone who is as passionate about entertainment as I am. I am thrilled to be joining Monty’s leadership team. The interest from distributors has been overwhelming and I look forward to bringing SkyShowtime’s amazing content to our audiences in Spain and Portugal.”
Richard Thurston joins SkyShowtime as Chief Human Resources Officer. Thurston will lead the HR team and support the leadership team in building an inclusive, thriving culture. Thurston joins the team after 10 years at Sky where he held several leadership roles, including his most recent Group role as HR Director and was instrumental in shaping Sky’s Group operating model. Before joining Sky, Thurston worked for the BBC as HR Director of the BBC News Group supporting teams across the globe and prior to this he spent 7 years at ITV. Thurston will report to Sarhan.
Thurston said: “I was fortunate enough to have been involved in laying the foundations of SkyShowtime since inception, so the opportunity to continue to be part of the journey of this unique business as it grows and connects to customers is hugely exciting. I am passionate about creating inclusive, supportive environments, where people can be themselves, innovate and grow. I look forward to working with the rest of the leadership team and welcoming great talent to SkyShowtime.”
Sarhan added: “With their passion for our content and commitment to our mission, Jon, Raquel and Richard will be instrumental as we prepare our roll out across Europe. I look forward to working with them.”
SkyShowtime will feature the best curated entertainment from some of the world’s greatest and most prolific studios and storytellers including television premieres of first-run theatrical films from Paramount and Universal; new scripted series from Showtime, Paramount+, Sky Studios and Peacock; local original programming; kids and family programming from Nickelodeon, DreamWorks and Illumination; and a rich library offering across all genres.
SkyShowtime will ultimately be available in the following markets: Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain and Sweden.
Further details on SkyShowtime will be announced soon.
If you require any more information, please email skyshowtimeenquiries@mcsaatchi.com
To visit the SkyShowtime Linkedin page, please visit here.
About SkyShowtime:
SkyShowtime is a new streaming service that will launch later this year.
A joint venture of Comcast Corporation (NASDAQ: CMCSA) and Paramount Global (NASDAQ: PARA, PARAA), SkyShowtime brings together the combined resources of both companies, direct-to-consumer experience, and the very best entertainment, movies, and original series from the iconic brands of Universal Pictures, DreamWorks, Sky Studios, Peacock, Paramount +, Showtime, Paramount Pictures and Nickelodeon.
SkyShowtime will be available in more than 20 European markets encompassing 90 million homes. It will be offered in Albania, Andorra, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Hungary, Kosovo, Montenegro, Netherlands, North Macedonia, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, and Sweden.
About Sky
Sky is Europe’s leading media and entertainment company and is proud to be part of Comcast Corporation, a global media and technology company that connects people to moments that matter. Across six countries, Sky connects 23 million customers to the best entertainment, sports, news, arts and to our own award-winning original content.
Following the launch of Sky Glass, we now offer customers our strongest ever line-up of products and services. As well as the new streaming TV with Sky inside and everything integrated, customers can enjoy the award-winning Sky Q with all your favourite channels and apps in one place, and with Sky Go you can now access an even better experience on your devices. Sky TV has new channels, new shows and new deals with Peacock, Paramount+ and more. Sky Mobile was voted Best Pay Monthly and Best Value Pay Monthly network by Uswitch, and with Sky Broadband we’re offering our fastest speeds yet.
Building on the success of Sky Originals like Chernobyl, Gangs of London and Brassic, we are doubling our investment in original content by 2024 through Sky Studios. Our new TV and movie studio, Sky Studios Elstree, is expected to create over 2,000 new jobs and generate an additional £3 billion of production investment in the UK over the first five years alone. Sky News provides impartial and trustworthy journalism for free; Sky Arts is the UKs only dedicated free-to-air arts channel making the arts accessible for everyone and Sky Sports, our leading sports broadcasting service, brings customers some of the biggest and best global sporting events from the Premier League to Formula 1 and everything in-between. Sky Cinema is the home of Sky Original films with brand new films launching every month alongside an unrivalled range of the latest cinema releases and on demand library.
We believe that we can be a force for good in the communities in which we operate. We’re committed to being Europe’s first net zero carbon entertainment company by 2030 and we’re proud to be a Principal Partner and Media Partner of COP26 – the UN Climate Change Conference. We take pride in our approach to diversity and inclusion: we’ve been recognised by The Times and Stonewall for our commitment to diversity, and we’ve set ambitious 2025 targets to continue to increase diversity and representation. We’re also committed to investing £30million across our markets over the next three years to improve our approach to diversity and inclusion, and to tackle racial injustice.