Nickandmore!

via Nickelodeon press release:

SABAN BRINGS “POWER RANGERS” FRANCHISE TO NICKELODEON

Eighteenth Season of Power Rangers to Air on Nickelodeon and Nicktoons in 2011;

700-Episode Library Bows on Nicktoons in 2010

NEW YORK, May 13, 2010 – Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids, and SCG Power Rangers LLC, an affiliate of Saban Brands, have partnered to make Nick the U.S. television platform for Power Rangers, the long-running kids’ TV phenomenon now heading into its 18th television season. The partnership marks the return of the global franchise to its original developer, Haim Saban, who developed and produced the original “Mighty Morphin Power Rangers” series in 1993. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

“We are truly excited to be partners with Haim Saban and his team,” said Cyma Zarghami, President, Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. “As one of the original leaders in kids’ television he helped to create powerful brand equity for Power Rangers and with partnerships like this Nickelodeon will be able to build a broader audience, superserve multiple demos, especially boys, and expand our programming offerings.”

“We are delighted to be partnering with Nickelodeon to bring the ever-popular Power Rangers to a whole new generation of viewers,” said Haim Saban, the original developer of Power Rangers. “With Nickelodeon’s reach we are at the beginning of a new era for one of the world’s leading children’s entertainment properties.”

“The Saban Brands team is looking forward to collaborating with the experts at Nick to re-launch and propel the new Power Rangers like never before,” said Elie Dekel, President of Saban Brands.

The deal brings the forthcoming 18th season (20 new episodes) of Power Rangers to Nickelodeon and Nicktoons in 2011, with the catalog of 700 episodes launching on Nicktoons later this year.

Produced by SCG Power Rangers LLC, Power Rangers will commence production in summer 2010 with original Executive Producer Jonathan Tzachor back at the helm and a new cast, look and theme for the show. Following its introduction in 1993, Power Rangers quickly became the most watched children’s television program in the United States. Emphasizing the importance of teamwork, responsibility and helping others by following the adventures of a group of ordinary young people who “morphed” into superheroes, the series was seen in more than 60 countries and translated into numerous languages. It rose to rank as the #1 boys brand in the world from 1993-97, based on toy sales and television ratings.

Concurrent with the acquisition of the Power Rangers franchise, Saban Brands has announced a new, long-term master toy and video game license agreement with Bandai America Incorporated, a subsidiary of Namco Bandai Holdings (USA) Inc., which has been the toy partner for Power Rangers since its inception. Saban Brands will manage the Power Rangers brand worldwide including licensing, merchandising, consumer promotions and brand extensions.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 31st 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 16 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA – News, VIA.B – News).

About Saban Capital Group, Inc.

Saban Capital Group is a leading private investment firm based in Los Angeles specializing in the media, entertainment and communications industries. Through its private equity activities, the firm makes both controlling and minority investments in public and private companies. The firm looks to drive growth, profitability and significant shareholder value of its investments through its solid track record and a unique blend of hands-on operating success with private equity investment expertise. SCG takes an active role in its portfolio companies in partnership with strong management. SCG’s current private equity investments include Univision (the premier Spanish-language media company in the US) and Tiger Gate Entertainment (a joint venture with Lionsgate to operate branded pay television channels across Asia). The firm formed Saban Ventures in 2008 to make early-stage investments in digital media, mobile and consumer internet endeavors. In addition, SCG actively manages a globally diversified portfolio of investments across public equities, credit, alternative investments, and real property assets. The firm partners with best-of-class investment managers to develop long term strategic relationships. SCG was established in 2001 by Haim Saban, founder of Fox Family Worldwide owned in partnership with The News Corporation until its sale to The Walt Disney Company in October 2001. Visit www.Saban.com

About Saban Brands

Formed in 2010 as a subsidiary of Saban Capital, Saban Brands (SB) was established to acquire and develop a world-class portfolio of properties and capitalize on the company’s experience, track record and capabilities in growing and monetizing consumer brands. SB applies a strategic transmedia management approach to enhancing and extending its brands in markets worldwide and to consumers of all ages. The company provides full service management, marketing, promotion and strategic business development for its intellectual properties including comprehensive strategies unique to each brand, trademark and copyright management and enforcement, creative design, retail development, direct-to-consumer initiatives and specialized property extensions. SB is led by a superior management team with decades of experience in licensing, marketing and finance. Visit www.sabanbrands.com

Cautionary Statement Concerning Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains both historical and forward-looking statements. All statements that are not statements of historical fact are, or may be deemed to be, forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements reflect the Company’s current expectations concerning future results, objectives, plans and goals, and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that are difficult to
predict and which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to differ. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, among others: the worsening of current economic conditions generally, and in advertising and retail markets in particular; the public acceptance of the Company’s programs, motion pictures and games on the various platforms on which they are distributed; competition for audiences and distribution; technological developments and their effect in the Company’s markets and on consumer behavior; fluctuations in the Company’s results due to the timing, mix and availability of the Company’s motion pictures and games; changes in the Federal communications laws and regulations; the impact of piracy; other domestic and global economic, business, competitive and/or regulatory factors affecting the Company’s businesses generally; and other factors described in the Company’s news releases and filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its 2008 Annual Report on Form 10-K and reports on Form 10-Q and Form 8-K. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made only as of the date of this document, and the Company does not have any obligation to publicly update any forward-looking statements to reflect subsequent events or circumstances.