Nickelodeon Readies More Than 650 Episodes of New and Returning Series This Season
Number-One Kids’ Network Announces New Shows, Specials and Events,
Plus Slate of Series Putting Real Kids Back on TV
Highlights From Network’s Annual Upfront Presentation Include
Appearances by Carolina Panthers Quarterback Cam Newton, NBA Star
Carmelo Anthony, TV Producer Rob Dyrdek and Top-Selling Recording Artist
Flo Rida
NEW YORK–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Nickelodeon,
at its annual upfront presentation held today at Alice Tully Hall in New
York City’s Lincoln Center, detailed the plans powering its expanding
reach and growing footprint as it heads into the season with more than
650 episodes of new and returning series. Through fostering close
relationships with its audience, partners and the creative community,
Nick has kept its content pipeline full in every genre, on every screen
and in every territory–all contributing to owning the top shows year to
date for Kids 2-11 and preschoolers; a significant increase in share;
and the number-one position year to date with Kids 2-11 and
preschoolers, a standing it had for all of 2015, as well.
“We have worked hard to deepen our relationships with our audience, our
partners and the creative community to keep our momentum growing, and we
remain unwavering in our mission to put kids first and devote every
resource to making the world a more playful place,” said Cyma Zarghami,
President, Viacom Kids and Family Group.
During today’s presentation, Nickelodeon detailed an expanded product
offering for its award-winning partner marketing division, Nickelodeon
Velocity (formerly Nickelodeon Inside Out Solutions). Nickelodeon
Velocity utilizes Nick’s creative leadership and iconic intellectual
properties to connect partners to kids and families across the brand’s
ecosystem of multi-platform media destinations, an expansive social
footprint, consumer products and on-the-ground experiences. Nickelodeon
Velocity can now also offer marketers unprecedented access to the Viacom
Velocity Product Group, which is powered by an industry-leading suite of
data analysis and social amplification tools. Nickelodeon Velocity’s
campaigns are designed to put privacy first, are age-appropriate and
meet applicable legal requirements.
Also, Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton took the stage to detail
his new series, All In with Cam Newton, where he works with real
kids to help make their dreams come true. Rob Dyrdek made a special
appearance to talk about two new series he is producing for Nick: Crashletes,
a viral sports clip series hosted by New England Patriots’ Rob Gronkowski;
and Jagger Eaton’s Mega Life (working title), a
docu-series that follows the 15-year-old skateboarding phenom as he
skates around the world and hangs out with his idols.
Nickelodeon’s upfront presentation was also punctuated with a special
appearance from New York Knicks power forward, Carmelo Anthony–who was
on hand to tout his new TMNT x Melo collaboration, a Teenage Mutant
Ninja Turtles-branded capsule collection of boys’ apparel and
accessories launching in all Macy’s stores in May. In a surprise finale,
top-selling artist Flo Rida closed with a performance of his latest hit
single, “My House.”
Following are details of Nickelodeon’s 2016 content pipeline:
PRESCHOOL
Nickelodeon is the number-one network for preschoolers year to date, a
position it also held for all of 2015. The net currently owns the top
five preschool series on all TV, led by PAW Patrol and Blaze
and the Monster Machines. Joining Nick’s preschool lineup are the
following new series announced today:
-
Rusty Rivets, picked up for 26 episodes, follows the
animated adventures of Rusty as he invents his way out of jams by
repurposing parts and objects into the wildest, coolest contraptions
ever. The series embodies the principles of the maker movement, while
exposing preschoolers to concepts found in science, technology and
engineering. Rusty Rivets is created and co-produced by Spin
Master Entertainment (PAW Patrol), and slated to premiere later
this year. -
Sunny Day, picked up for 40 episodes, follows Sunny, the
best hairstylist in her town and a natural leader who believes that
every problem can be solved with determination and a little
creativity. Created and produced by Silvergate Media (Peter Rabbit),
Sunny Day features themes that teach preschoolers about
community involvement and self-confidence.
Nick will also air new episodes of returning hit preschool series Shimmer
and Shine, Blaze
and the Monster Machines, Mutt
& Stuff, PAW
Patrol, Wallykazam!
and Dora
and Friends: Into the City!
ANIMATION
Nickelodeon, the number-one network for Kids 2-11 year to date,
currently owns the top animated series on all TV. Today, the net
announced the renewals of animated hit series: SpongeBob
SquarePants, for seasons 10 and 11; and the second season
pickups of Harvey
Beaks and Pig
Goat Banana Cricket.
As previously announced, Nickelodeon’s slate of new animated series on
deck are:
-
The Loud House, picked up for 26 episodes, is the
first series to be greenlit out of Nickelodeon’s Animated Shorts
Program and is inspired by first-time creator Chris Savino’s (Rocko’s
Modern Life, The Powerpuff Girls) chaotic life growing up
in a huge household. -
Bunsen is a Beast!, picked up for 20 episodes, is an
original animated comedy created and executive produced by animation
veteran Butch Hartman (The Fairly OddParents). The series
follows the adventures of Bunsen, the first beast to attend a human
grade school, and his best friend and classmate Mikey, who guides
Bunsen through the ups and downs of life as a human. -
Mysticons, picked up for 40 episodes, is a half-hour,
action series about four girls who transform into legendary warriors
and band together to save their realm from an evil queen, Necrafa. Mysticons
is licensed by Nelvana. -
Welcome to the Wayne, picked up for 20
episodes, marks Nick’s first digital short-form series to be greenlit
for television. The series follows the comedic adventures of two
10-year-old boys exploring the crazy, unpredictable world of their New
York City apartment building The Wayne. Welcome to the Wayne is
created and written by Emmy Award-winning writer and composer Billy
Lopez (The Wonder Pets!, Phineas and Ferb). -
Pinky Malinky, picked up for 20 episodes, is a
mockumentary series following the everyday life of Pinky Malinky, an
infectiously positive hot dog living in a human world. Pinky’s
experiences will be shared across social media and Nick’s digital
platforms. The series is co-created and co-executive produced by Chris
Garbutt and Rikke Asbjoern (The Amazing World of Gumball), and
executive produced by Scott Kreamer (Kung Fu Panda: Legends of
Awesomeness).
Nick will also air new episodes of returning animated series Teenage
Mutant Ninja Turtles, The
Fairly OddParents and ALVINNN!!!
and The Chipmunks.
LIVE-ACTION
Nickelodeon currently owns the top live-action series with Kids 2-11 on
all TV, led by Game Shakers. The net announced today the renewal
of the two series from hitmaker Dan Schneider: Henry
Danger, for season three; and Game
Shakers, for season two. Additionally, Nick has picked up
another live-action hit The
Thundermans for season four.
Joining Nick’s live-action lineup are the following new series announced
today:
-
Jagger Eaton’s Mega Life (working title), picked
up for 20 episodes, is an action-packed docu-series that follows 15-year-old
skateboarder Jagger Eaton as he skates the world and hangs out with
his inspiring idols. Jagger Eaton’s Mega Life, executive
produced by Rob Dyrdek and Shane Nickerson of Superjacket Productions (Fantasy
Factory, Ridiculousness), will begin production this spring. -
New England Patriots Super Bowl XLIX Champion and Pro Bowl tight end
Rob Gronkowski will host the previously announced Crashletes,
a 20-episode viral sports clip series featuring guest personalities
from the worlds of sports and entertainment, along with the funniest,
craziest clips and user-generated content. The series is executive
produced by Rob Dyrdek and Shane Nickerson of Superjacket Productions. -
Ride, picked up for 20 episodes, follows the adventures
of Katherine “Kit” Bridges who relocates to England with her dad who
is joining the faculty at Covington Academy, an elite equestrian
boarding school. Shot in Canada and Ireland, Ride will be
produced by Canada’s Breakthrough Entertainment and Buccaneer Media in
the United Kingdom. -
The Other Kingdom, picked up for 20 episodes, follows
fairy Princess Astral who takes human form and enters the mortal world
for 90 days. The series is created and executive produced by Thomas W.
Lynch and produced by DHX Media. Steven DeNure and Anne Loi of DHX
Media also serve as executive producers.
As previously announced, Nickelodeon’s slate of new live-action series
on deck are:
-
School
of Rock, picked up for 12 episodes and produced with
Paramount Television, follows a group of rule-abiding students who
learn to take risks and reach new heights thanks to their substitute
teacher, a down-on-his-luck musician who uses the language of rock ‘n’
roll to inspire his class to form a secret band. School of Rock is
developed by Jim and Steve Armogida (Crash & Bernstein,
Grounded for Life), who also serve as executive producers with Jay
Kogen (The Simpsons, Henry Danger). The 2003 movie of the same
name was written by Mike White. Its director Richard Linklater and
producer Scott Rudin serve as series executive producers, along with
Eli Bush (The Newsroom, Ex Machina). -
All In with Cam Newton (formerly announced as working
title I Wanna Be), picked up for 20 episodes and hosted
by Carolina Panthers quarterback and 2016 NFL MVP Cam Newton, takes
real kids on the ride of their lives to help make their dreams come
true. All In with Cam Newton is produced by Magical Elves with
Dan Cutforth, Jane Lipsitz and Newton serving as executive producers. -
The Dudas (working title, formerly announced as Homeroom),
picked up for six episodes, follows brothers Sam and Tyler Duda–polar
opposites whose worlds are turned upside down after Sam skips a grade
and joins his brother in 7th grade homeroom. The show is created and
executive produced by Kevin Jakubowski. Sharla Sumpter Bridgett also
serves as an executive producer. -
The Ludwigs follows the adventures of five foster
children who are on a quest to find out what happened to their foster
parents after they mysteriously disappear. Filled with comedy, mystery
and adventure, the kids must keep up appearances that everything’s
fine at home and fend off the Ludwigs’ greedy and duplicitous heirs.
This new project will yield two new series: an
English-language, globally commissioned production titled The
Ludwigs (20 episodes); and De Ludwigs (20 episodes), a
Dutch-language production commissioned by Nickelodeon Netherlands.
Both series are produced by Blooming Media and are filmed in Amsterdam. -
I Am Frankie (working title), picked up for 20 episodes,
follows the comedic and dramatic adventures of teenager Frankie who
has a very big secret–she’s actually an experimental android who must
hide her true identity or risk being powered down forever. I Am
Frankie is produced in partnership with Nickelodeon Latin America
and will be shot in the new Viacom International Studios in Miami, Fla.
Nickelodeon will also air new episodes of returning live-action series Bella
and the Bulldogs and Nicky,
Ricky, Dicky & Dawn.
TV MOVIES, LIVE EVENTS AND SPECIALS
Nickelodeon’s marquee live TV events, movies and specials like Kids’
Choice Awards, Kids’
Choice Sports and HALO
Awards rank consistently among the top telecasts among Kids
2-11. All three TV events will return again this season, along with
holiday specials including Ho Ho Holiday Special, which delivered
almost 3 million total viewers last year. Also, joining Nickelodeon’s
lineup are the following new TV movies:
-
Lost in the West is a three-part original TV movie that
follows two teenage stepbrothers, Chip and Dave, who get transported
back in time to 1885 after one of them accidentally invents a time
machine. They soon become entangled in a crazy Wild West adventure as
they fight off evil outlaws, avoid changing the future and try to make
it back to the present. Lost in the West is produced by Galdo
Media and directed by Carlos Gonzalez (Big Time Rush). -
Albert, Nickelodeon’s first original animated TV movie,
is the sweet story of a tiny Douglas fir tree named Albert who loves
Christmas more than anyone, but whose miniature size has kept him
inside the plant nursery year after year. Joined by his two best
friends, a fun-loving palm tree and a rambunctious weed, Albert treks
across the country to live his dream of becoming the world’s most
famous Christmas tree. Max Lang (The Gruffalo) is set to
direct, with Chris Viscardi and Will McRobb (The Adventures of Pete
& Pete) executive producing. -
Hey Arnold!, a two-part animated TV movie written and
executive produced by the series’ original creator Craig Bartlett,
will pick up where the original series ended and resolve unanswered
questions and plotlines, including Arnold finally getting answers
about the whereabouts of his missing parents. -
Legends of the Hidden Temple is a new
action-adventure movie drawing from the iconic game show’s premise of
kids competing to retrieve artifacts from a mysterious Mayan temple.
The new TV movie version will follow three siblings who find
themselves immersed in a real-life mission that they must complete in
order to escape alive. Legends of the Hidden Temple is
executive produced by Scott McAboy and Jessica Rhoades, and produced
by Amy Sydorick. The TV movie is directed by Joe Menendez (From
Dusk Till Dawn: The Series) and written by Jonny Umansky & Zach
Hyatt, and Alex Reid.
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
90 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).
Contacts
Nickelodeon
Thamar Romero, 212-846-7491
Thamar.Romero@nick.com
or
Ariana
Urbont, 310-752-8079
Ariana.Urbont@nick.com
or
Maggie
Wang, 212-846-6381
Maggie.Wang@nick.com