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Nickelodeon Upfront 2019

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NICKELODEON EMBARKS ON NEW DIRECTION WITH ITS BIGGEST,
MOST WIDE-RANGING CONTENT SLATE EVER

NEW SHOWS ARE “ALL THAT” AND MUCH MORE

Nick’s Iconic All That Sketch-Comedy Series to Return with New Cast of Kids
Alongside Original Cast Members; Kenan Thompson Set to Executive Produce

School’s Back in Session with Reimagined Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader
from MGM Television, Hosted and Executive Produced by John Cena

Brand-New Unboxing Adventure Series, Ryan’s Mystery Playdate,
Stars YouTube Sensation Ryan of Ryan ToysReview

America’s Most Musical Family (Working Title) Seeks to Crown
Best Family Act Through Nationwide Search and Competition

Multigenerational Animated Comedy Series The Casagrandes Bows This Fall

Simon Fuller and OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder to Produce Music-Based Series
Featuring New, Original Songs in Every Episode

Nick Developing Spin-Off Projects for SpongeBob SquarePants’ Characters for First Time Ever

New Shows Also Include Two New Titles Produced by The Intellectual Property Corporation, and the Acquisition of Paddington (Working Title) and LEGO® CITY

BURBANK, Calif.–Feb. 14, 2019–Nickelodeon is unveiling a new content slate created for today’s kids who are multicultural, family-focused, and in control of their entertainment choices across platforms. With a foundation of supercharging its globally powerful original franchises like SpongeBob SquarePants, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and PAW Patrol, and welcoming new, acquired properties into its ecosystem, Nickelodeon’s new slate represents a renewing of its commitment to serve all kids, through a multicultural lens; bringing in talent kids love from other platforms and formats; and opening up its demo to capture kid and parent co-viewing, to satisfy this generation’s demand for shared family time.

The slate, announced today by Nickelodeon President Brian Robbins, was put into development in October at the beginning of Robbins’ tenure and will begin to debut on Nick’s platforms this summer.

“We have a laser focus on who kids are today, and what they want, so we are making a wider variety of shows and series for them, and we’re working with brand-new kinds of talent and producers,” said Robbins. “We have a new creative team in place and a renewed energy that we’re harnessing to bring the buzz back to Nick.”

Nick’s new direction was developed against the network’s defining research insights into today’s kids, who: are the most diverse generation ever, with the fastest growing segment being Hispanics; who cite shared experiences with their parents and family as their top priority; and who are in near-total control of their entertainment choices, enabled by any one of the 12 connected devices found in today’s average household.

Added Robbins: “Kids today are their own programmers, so we have been working very fast to transfer our expertise as television content makers to all the new places and platforms kids are going to,” said Robbins. “Our vision for a new Nickelodeon is to fill up every screen, of every size, to make an impact on as many consumers as we can and to be at the forefront of conversation for today’s kids and families.”

Highlights of the new slate include: the return of Nick’s iconic All That sketch-comedy series, showcasing a whole new set of kids alongside members of the original cast, with Kenan Thompson serving as an executive producer; a reimagined version of Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader, hosted by John Cena; an all-new unboxing adventure series starring Ryan of Ryan ToysReview, titled Ryan’s Mystery Playdate; America’s Most Musical Family (working title), a nationwide search and competition to crown the next big family musical act; The Casagrandes, the animated spinoff from The Loud House, featuring a multigenerational Mexican-American family; an untitled scripted music-based series set in a boarding school for the performing arts, produced by Simon Fuller and OneRepublic’s Ryan Tedder, and featuring original songs and performances in every episode; and ideas in development to spin off the characters from SpongeBob SquarePants into their own stand-alone series, specials and feature-length movies.

Robbins continued: “Everything we’re making will have different formats, for all platforms, so we can travel the audience back and forth from one to the other, while being home base for all the shows, the biggest franchises, the characters and talent they love.”

Details of Nickelodeon’s New Content Slate:

Today’s kids represent the most diverse generation ever. Joining Nick’s diverse programming slate is content to super-serve Hispanic viewers, including:

  • The Casagrandes – Premiering in October, this companion to the animated hit The Loud House follows 11-year-old Ronnie Anne after she moves to the city with her older brother Bobby and her mom, where they now live with their big, loving and chaotic multigenerational Mexican-American family, the Casagrandes.
  • Santiago of the Seas (formerly The Swashbuckling Adventures of Capitán Calavera) – This interactive animated series follows the adventures of 8-year-old Santiago Montes, a brave and kind-hearted pirate, and features a Spanish-language and Latino-Caribbean culture curriculum.
  • The Dora the Explorer Theatrical Release – Paramount Pictures, Paramount Players and Nickelodeon Movies present in association with Walden Media the Dora the Explorer live-action movie, opening in theatres this August. Having spent most of her life exploring the jungle with her parents, nothing could prepare Dora (Isabela Moner) for her most dangerous adventure ever–high school. Always the explorer, Dora quickly finds herself leading Boots (her best friend, a monkey), Diego (Jeffrey Wahlberg), a mysterious jungle inhabitant (Eugenio Derbez), and a ragtag group of teens on a live-action adventure to save her parents (Eva Longoria, Michael Peña) and solve the impossible mystery behind a lost Inca civilization.

Nickelodeon is working with talent kids love from other platforms, while also creating content featuring their favorite formats and genres.

  • Ryan’s Mystery Playdate – Created and produced by pocket.watch, this brand-new live-action preschool series follows YouTube superstar Ryan, of Ryan ToysReview, his parents and animated friends Gus the Gummy Gator and Combo Panda as they work together to tackle a series of imaginative, physical challenges and unbox puzzles to reveal the identity of his mystery playdate.
  • Simon Fuller/Ryan Tedder-Produced Untitled Project – A scripted music series set in a boarding performing arts high school, with original music in every episode. A nationwide search will be conducted to cast the show. Simon Fuller is a legendary, multi-hyphenate creator, producer and manager behind iconic franchises such as the global Idol phenomenon and Spice Girls. Grammy Award-winning Ryan Tedder is the frontman of OneRepublic and writer behind countless hit songs from artists ranging from Beyoncé and Adele, to Camila Cabello, Ed Sheeran and Kelly Clarkson, among others.

Nick’s insights reveal that family time is the most important passion point for kids and parents today, with their top priority being to spend time together and look for opportunities through shared experiences. Today’s families state that watching TV together is their favorite activity, corresponding to the current 10-year high in co-viewing, where 44% of kids’ viewing is with an adult. To capture co-viewing opportunities, Nick is producing shows with built-in appeal to every family member, including:

  • Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader – The iconic family game show will return with all-new episodes hosted by John Cena, who will also serve as an executive producer. Mark Burnett, Chairman of Worldwide Television, MGM (Survivor, The Voice) and Barry Poznick, President, Unscripted Television, MGM (Beat Shazam, The World’s Best) will return as executive producers of the reboot, which places kids squarely in the center of the action. The series is slated to premiere this year.
  • The Substitute – In this new hidden camera prank show, celebrities are transformed by a team of special effects artists to go undercover as substitute teachers to surprise a class of unsuspecting students.  A $25,000 donation will be made to each school. The Substitute is produced by The Intellectual Property Corporation, and Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman (Undercover Boss), with Mike Harney serving as showrunner.
  • America’s Most Musical Family (working title) – This brand-new competition series, produced by The Intellectual Property Corporation, and Eli Holzman and Aaron Saidman (So You Think You Can Dance), follows the nationwide search for the most talented family in America.
  • Are You Afraid of the Dark? –The beloved anthology series will return this October as a brand-new miniseries and follow new members of the Midnight Society as they gather around a campfire in the woods to share scary stories.  The miniseries will coincide with the upcoming Are You Afraid of the Dark? theatrical movie from Paramount Pictures, Paramount Players’ and Nickelodeon Movies, in theaters October 2019.
  • All That – Pop-culture phenomenon All That is returning for a new generation of kids.  The new weekly sketch-comedy series will showcase an all-new cast of kids, with cast members through the years making special appearances during the season. Kenan Thompson (Saturday Night Live) and Kevin Kay (All That, SpongeBob SquarePants, Lip Sync Battle, Lip Sync Battle Shorties, Yellowstone) will executive produce, with comedian Jermaine Fowler (Super Donuts, Sorry to Bother You) serving as consulting producer on the series slated to premiere this summer.

Nickelodeon is home to some of the biggest franchises kids love, and the network is taking steps to increase these properties’ reach and grow their footprint, as well as welcome in new franchises, to ensure Nick is the top destination for everything kids want:

  • SpongeBob SquarePants – Nick is commemorating the 20th anniversary with the “Best Year Ever,” a tribute that includes an original one-hour special, “SpongeBob’s Big Birthday Blowout,” premiering Friday, July 12. Additionally, plans are in place to expand the SpongeBob SquarePants universe with spinoffs focused on the core characters into formats such as new series, specials and feature-length movies. The anniversary will culminate with the May 22, 2020 release of the new SpongeBob theatrical, It’s A Wonderful Sponge, from Paramount Pictures, Paramount Players’ and Nickelodeon Movies.
  • Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles – Season two of the 2D-animated series will premiere this fall, and follow the Turtles as they continue to hone their ninja skills, uncover new, powerful weapons and encounter a world beneath the streets of New York City.  The franchise is also being expanded with an original, feature-length animated movie being produced by Nickelodeon Studios for Netflix.
  • Blue’s Clues & You! – This remake of the groundbreaking, curriculum-driven interactive series Blue’s Clues brings back beloved puppy Blue for an all-new generation of preschoolers.  Premiering in November, the series features all-new CG animation, updates to favorite characters and stars Broadway actor Joshua Dela Cruz as the new live-action host.
  • Paddington (working title) – Actor Ben Whishaw (Paddington 1 & 2) will reprise his role as the beloved voice of the title character in the new CG-animated series, which follows a younger Paddington and his adventures in London with the Brown family and their friends.  Paddington is a Heyday Films and STUDIOCANAL production in association with Copyrights, helmed by Adam Shaw of Blue Zoo (Go Jetters, Digby Dragon, Miffy, Q Pootle 5), and developed for television and written by Jon Foster and James Lamont (The Amazing World of Gumball, Cuckoo, Paddington 1 & 2). The series will be produced by multi-award-winning David Heyman (producer of all eight Harry Potter films, Gravity, Paddington 1 & 2), Karen Davidsen (formerly with Disney and HIT Entertainment) and Simon Quinn (Isle of Dogs, Fantastic Mr. Fox). Paddington is executive produced by Rosie Alison (Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Paddington 1 & 2) and co-produced by Rob Silva.
  • LEGO® CITY – The all-new high-stakes CG-animated comedy, created and produced by LEGO Group, depicts the funny, smart, and dynamic slices of life within the sprawling and diverse LEGO CITY community. Set to debut this year, the series follows the intertwining paths of the city’s everyday heroes as they work together to stop a mysterious master criminal who begins to wreak havoc on their town.

Nickelodeon, now in its 39th 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, digital, 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 kids’ basic cable network for 22 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).

NICKELODEON BRINGS BACK ARE YOU SMARTER THAN A 5TH GRADER

JOHN CENA TO HOST ALL-NEW VERSION OF THE HIT FAMILY GAME SHOW

BURBANK, Calif.–Feb. 14, 2019–Nickelodeon is bringing back the iconic family game show Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader with all-new episodes hosted by John Cena, who will also serve as an executive producer. The announcement was made today by Brian Robbins, President, Nickelodeon. Mark Burnett, Chairman of Worldwide Television, MGM (Survivor, The Voice) and Barry Poznick, President, Unscripted Television, MGM (Beat Shazam, The World’s Best) will return as executive producers of the reboot, which places kids squarely in the center of the action.  Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader begins production in Los Angeles this spring and is slated to premiere later this year on Nickelodeon.

Nickelodeon’s new Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader follows the original premise of adult contestants putting their knowledge to the test by answering questions taken directly from elementary school curriculum.  New game elements will be added to the show, including an additional “cheat” option, new ways contestants can enlist the help of their grade-school classmates, as well as a “final exam,” where contestants must answer a question from each grade in a race against the clock.

Said Robbins: “Today’s kids and parents are laser-focused on their family time together, so we want to give them shows and series that appeal to every member of the household. We’re very happy to go back to school with an amazing talent like John Cena and the MGM team for a brand-new version of this mega-hit game show.”

Added Cena: “I’m excited to partner again with Nickelodeon to host this new series, and I can’t wait to see kids defeat grownups who find themselves back in the classroom.”

Poznick said: “It’s been over a decade since we first launched this format, and it quickly became a global phenomenon.  Bringing it back for a new generation with Nickelodeon and John Cena is a truly epic opportunity.”

MGM Television is an award-winning, leading producer and global distributor of premium content for television and digital platforms, with distribution rights to original productions and a robust catalogue of television episodes and feature film titles including such premiere entertainment franchises as James Bond, Rocky, Stargate and The Hobbit trilogy.  Current scripted and unscripted projects include Fargo (FX); Vikings (HISTORY); The Handmaid’s Tale (Hulu); Get Shorty (EPIX); Condor (AT&T AUDIENCE Network); The Voice (NBC); Survivor (CBS); Shark Tank (ABC); TKO: Total Knock Out (CBS); The Contender (EPIX); Beat Shazam (FOX); and LUCA Underground (The El Rey Network); and through its distribution entity, Orion TV Productions, the syndicated daytime courtroom series Lauren Lake’s Paternity Court and Couples Court with The Cutlers. In addition, MGM owns Evolution Media, producers of The Real Housewives of Orange County, The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Vander pump Rules, and Botched (E!); and Big Fish Entertainment, producers of A&E’s Live PD, the Black Ink Crew franchise for VH1, Live PD Presents: Women on Patrol for Lifetime and Hustle & Soul for WE TV.  MGM’s television programming regularly airs in more than 100 countries worldwide.  For more information, visit www.mgm.com.

Production of Are You Smarter Than A 5th Grader for Nickelodeon is overseen by Rob Bagshaw, Executive Vice President, Unscripted Content.

Nickelodeon, now in its 39th 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, digital, 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 kids’ basic cable network for 22 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).

NICKELODEON UNVEILS RYAN’S MYSTERY PLAYDATE, BRAND-NEW PRESCHOOL SERIES STARRING YOUTUBE SUPERSTAR RYAN OF RYAN TOYSREVIEW

Live-Action Series Created and Produced by pocket.watch

BURBANK, Calif.–Feb. 14, 2019–Preschoolers will be playing and problem-solving along with their best friend Ryan in Nickelodeon’s brand-new live-action series, Ryan’s Mystery Playdate, starring the seven-year-old YouTube superstar of Ryan ToysReview.  The news was announced today by Brian Robbins, President, Nickelodeon.

Ryan’s Mystery Playdate is created and produced by pocket.watch, the new studio creating global franchises from the YouTube stars and characters loved by Generation Alpha.  The new series follows Ryan, his parents and animated friends Gus the Gummy Gator and Combo Panda as they work together to tackle a series of imaginative, physical challenges and unbox puzzles to reveal the identity of his mystery playdate.  The 20-episode series will premiere in the U.S. later this year on Nickelodeon.

Said Robbins: “Ryan is a kid who happens to be one of YouTube’s towering giants, with millions of followers who are going to love seeing him and his family on Nickelodeon in a totally new and fun way. Unboxing is just the start of the new adventures fans can expect from Ryan’s Mystery Playdate on Nick, and we’re excited to be working with pocket.watch to bring this series to our audience.”

“We’re thrilled that our friends at Nickelodeon recognize the power and popularity of Ryan and the characters that inhabit his world with him,” said Albie Hecht, pocket.watch’s Chief Content Officer. “Over the last year pocket.watch launched Ryan’s World books, games and consumer products to great success so a TV show with Nickelodeon is the natural next step in propelling Ryan to true global franchise status.”

Since its inception in 2015, Ryan ToysReview has grown to become one of the world’s largest YouTube channels with videos that feature Ryan and his family playing with toys for kids.  The channel, along with other channels featuring Ryan and his friends, averages over one billion views monthly and currently has over 18 million subscribers.  In addition to videos of Ryan playing with toys, Ryan ToysReview also features fun and easy science experiments, educational content, and videos that document daily life for the family of five, which includes Ryan’s younger twin sisters.  Ryan’s World, a companion consumer products line developed by pocket.watch, featuring Ryan and the universe of characters created by Ryan and his parents, launched nationwide last year.

Ryan’s Mystery Playdate will take its place among Nick’s powerful preschool portfolio that will now also include: Blue’s Clues & You!, premiering in November, and Santiago of the Seas (formerly The Swashbuckling Adventures of Capitán Calavera), premiering 2020.  Nickelodeon is currently the number-one network with Kids 2-5, and owns 8 of the top 10 preschool shows on all TV, led by top-ranked PAW Patrol.

Pocket.watch is the new studio that specializes in entertaining and inspiring kids and families through digital-first content and sparking their imaginations with lifestyle products ranging from toys to toothbrushes. The company inspires kids to seamlessly move between screen time and playtime and boasts a growing portfolio of franchises that includes some of the largest kids and family YouTube brands in the world alongside original characters and talent that the company has extended into premium series, consumer products, books, games, live events and more. Pocket.watch was founded in March 2017 by Chris M. Williams and is located in Culver City, CA where it maintains an office and studio. The management team is made up of studio veterans and visionaries from traditional and digital entertainment including Albie Hecht, Stone Newman, Jon Moonves and David B. Williams. Investors include Viacom, Greycroft, Third Wave Digital and United Talent Agency (UTA), as well as notable strategic angels including Robert Downey Jr. (Team Downey) and Jon Landau.

Production of Ryan’s Mystery Playdate for Nickelodeon is overseen by Cathy Galeota, Senior Vice President, Preschool Content.

Nickelodeon, now in its 39th 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, digital, 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 kids’ basic cable network for 22 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).

STUDIOCANAL AND NICKELODEON ANNOUNCE GLOBAL DEAL FOR ALL-NEW “PADDINGTON” TELEVISION SERIES

BEN WHISHAW RETURNS AS BELOVED VOICE OF PADDINGTON

FIRST LOOK IMAGE REVEALED

PARIS/LONDON – FEB. 14 2019 – STUDIOCANAL, Nickelodeon and award-winning producer David Heyman today announced a global deal for a brand-new “Paddington” (working title) television series for preschoolers. Actor Ben Whishaw (Paddington 1 & 2) will reprise his role as the beloved voice of the title character in the new CG-animated series, which follows the adventures of a younger Paddington. “Paddington” will air on Nickelodeon’s networks worldwide in 2020, while local broadcast partners will be secured in France, Canada, China and Japan.

Fully animated in 3D, the new “Paddington” series sees a younger Paddington writing to Aunt Lucy from Windsor Gardens.  Each episode will open and close with Paddington’s letters as he tells Aunt Lucy what he has learned about life through the day’s new exciting adventure.  The series will invite a new generation of fans into Paddington’s world full of heart, kindness, slapstick humour, fun and generosity.

Currently in production, “Paddington” is a Heyday Films and STUDIOCANAL production in association with Copyrights. “Paddington” is helmed by Adam Shaw of Blue Zoo (Go Jetters, Digby Dragon, Miffy, Q Pootle 5), and developed for television and written by Jon Foster and James Lamont (The Amazing World of Gumball, Cuckoo, Paddington 1 & 2).

The much-anticipated “Paddington” television series will be produced by multi- award-winning David Heyman (producer of all eight of the Harry Potter films, Gravity, Paddington 1 & 2), Karen Davidsen (formerly with Disney and HIT Entertainment) and Simon Quinn (Isle of Dogs, Fantastic Mr. Fox). The series is executive produced by Rosie Alison (Boy in the Striped Pyjamas, Paddington 1 & 2) and co-produced by Rob Silva.

Executive Producer David Heyman comments: “It is a joy to bring this uniquely life-enhancing bear to a whole new audience of younger children. We are thrilled that the inimitably brilliant Ben Whishaw will continue to voice Paddington. And we are excited to be collaborating with the vibrant and dynamic animation team at Blue Zoo, working from scripts by the wonderfully talented screenwriting team Foster and Lamont. With producers Karen Davidsen and Simon Quinn, we’re all set for a glorious new chapter for Paddington.”

STUDIOCANAL CEO Didier Lupfer adds: “Paddington is such a beloved character for all of us at STUDIOCANAL.  We are incredibly happy to be back in his world introducing new generations to his kindness, generosity and spirit. We are inspired by the talented animation team at Blue Zoo partnering once again with our friends at Heyday. Foster and Lamont’s writing is so beautifully crafted we can’t wait for Nickelodeon and our local broadcast partners to premiere the series.” 

 “We can’t wait to welcome Paddington, one of the world’s most beloved characters, to our global Nickelodeon family with a series that will take him on fun and exciting new adventures, while staying true to his original heartfelt charm and spirit,” said Layla Lewis, SVP Global Acquisitions and Content Partnerships, Nickelodeon.

 “I am absolutely delighted to see Paddington back on TV. The series will engage a whole new generation of Paddington-lovers across the world thanks to the bear’s inherent kindness and generosity,” stated Simon Gillham OBE, Chairman of Copyrights.

Director Adam Shaw (Blue Zoo) confirms: “We’re honoured and excited to be working on such an iconic and well-loved character, and Paddington couldn’t be in better hands. It’s what Blue Zoo does best – understanding the character and nuances in the storytelling and successfully translating it into outstanding animation that kids and parents will love.”

A first look of Paddington is also released today.

The story of “Paddington 3” is currently in development with STUDIOCANAL and Heyday.