files/pictures/picture-35.jpgPress Release from Viacom International Media Networks
London/Moscow, 7 March 2011: Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a division of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), today announced a terrestrial content deal for the Nickelodeon brand in Russia in addition to a raft of new consumer products deals.
Russian terrestrial TV network, TNT, is boosting its kids, tweens and teens programming repertoire with the acquisition of 250 hours of animated and live-action programming from Nickelodeon’s world renowned library. Titles include the animated smash-hit series SpongeBob SquarePants, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, As Told By Ginger, Hey Arnold and My Life As A Teenage Robot. As part of the deal, TNT will also air Nickelodeon’s hit live action series iCarly, Big Time Rush and The Troop for the first time. All content will be localised for Russian audiences and will be included as a part of an existing Nickelodeon branded block on TNT, which reaches more than 100 million households or 80% of all Russian TV households.
VIMN has also secured a raft of consumer products deals for billion dollar licensing phenomenon, SpongeBob SquarePants, which will see new product launch in Russia to complement existing categories available in the market. The deals span multiple categories including plush (C-Trade), personal care products (OOO Cotton Club) and apparel (TD Eldorado) along with outdoor and sporting items (C-Trade) and stationery (Academy), which will hit shelves this Summer. All products will be available nationwide in major retailers including Metro, Auchan, Korablik and Real.
Nicholas Walters, Senior Director and Country Manager, Russia, Emerging Markets, VIMN commented: “Russian kids and families have taken Nickelodeon and properties such as SpongeBob SquarePants to their hearts and we are therefore delighted to bring our high quality animation and live-action content to viewers on both terrestrial and pay-TV platforms and to broaden our consumer products offering. Our aim is to ensure we provide Nickelodeon fans in Russia with access to their favourite brand and properties whenever, wherever and however they want and we are actively exploring other new opportunities to do this across all media platforms."
VIMN’s 24 hour Russian language Nickelodeon service, which won the award for Best Kids TV Channel (Foreign TV category) at last month’s CSTB conference in Russia, is currently available through a number of major cable, satellite and IPTV operators including NTV Plus, Raduga TV, Er Telecom, Akado, Rostelecom, Beeline and others. Nickelodeon fans in Russia can also interact with their favourite brand off-air through a dedicated localised Nickelodeon website (
www.nickelodeon.ru ).
About Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN)
Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), is comprised of many of the world’s most popular multimedia entertainment brands, including MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central, BET, non-premium Paramount branded channels, VH1, VIVA, MTVNHD, Tr3s: MTV, Musicá y Mas, TMF (The Music Factory), COLORS and Game One. Viacom brands are seen globally in more than 600 million households in 160 territories and 34 languages via 166 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 550 digital media properties. VIMN’s diverse holdings also include interests in television syndication, publishing, home video and licensing & merchandising.
About VIMN’s Emerging Markets Group
VIMN’s Emerging Markets Group is one of the fastest growing regions in the company’s portfolio of multi-platform businesses. The Emerging Markets Group manages 32 television channels, 30 websites, one video portal and four mobile TV channels encompassing the MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, VIVA and Comedy Central and COLORS brands in Central & Eastern Europe, Russia, Africa, the Middle East and India. Additionally, the Emerging Markets portfolio includes MTVNHD, VIMN’s first international high definition channel dedicated to music and kids which is operated by the Emerging Markets Group of behalf of VIMN. VIMN is a unit of Viacom Inc (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).
