Looking to build its lead in the kids market, Nickelodeon announced plans to add new live-action programming to its lineup of animated series.
At its upfront presentation for advertisers Thursday in New York, Nick said it was planning “Gym Teacher: The Movie,” starring Christopher Meloni, for prime time; a live-action “Entourage”-like comedy called “One 4 All”; and an environmental campaign called the Big Green Help.
Nickelodeon also said it picked up new episodes of series including “SpongeBob SquarePants,” “The Fairly OddParents,” “Back at the Barnyard” and “The Backyardigans.”
Cyma Zarghami, president of Nickelodeon & MTVN Kids and Family Group, said the network has “terrific momentum as a business and a brand,” and is adding both TV ratings and traffic online.
She also previewed Nickelodeon’s upcoming teen dance show, “Dance on Sunset,” and Amy Poehler’s “The Might B!,” which debuts in April.
Jim Perry, executive VP of 360 Brand Sales for Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group, said the kids upfront marketplace was strong last year and that pricing has been strong in scatter.
Nickelodeon sells a chunk of its ad time in multiyear deals, and has already been in negotiations about integrations and multiplatform deals, so it has a good idea of what to expect in the marketplace.
“We’ve very excited about our position,” Mr. Perry said. While there will be growth from the traditional kids categories, he also expects close to 50% growth from nontraditional advertisers using Nick to reach kids and their parents for products in the auto, travel, financial services and wireless categories.
Nickelodeon Adds Live-Action Series
Mar 13, 2008 • Post A Comment
I think people might get misled into thinking Nick’s addition of more live-action is something new and out of place.
Perhaps you’re thinking of Cartoon Network. They’re pretty backwards at Techwood these days.
I’d like to see them bring Jimmy Neutron and Danny Phantom back.
MightyB! Is going to be awesome, the first episode alone was just great~ (so everyone watch)
I agree with Slifer to bring Danny Phantom back. It was one of their best shows, and it should be re-newed like Fairly Oddparents was.
I hope this year brings some more quality to the network, it’s been slow lately.
Hopefully the next new shows on Nick will be decent, because recently the new shows haven’t been very good animation or plot-wise.
I’d really like to see Danny Phantom brought back because it is a superb show with excellent animation and plot/character development. It really is one of the best shows Nick has ever had.
Dude, someone needs to take charge and save that network. My favorite shows on Nick are Spongebob, Danny Phantom, Avatar, Drake and Josh, Fairly Oddparents, and Jimmy Neutron. And guess what, except for The Fairly odd parents and Spongebob, all of them are gone. Now we have Icarly, which is OK but is merely a shadow of the humor shown in Drake and Josh, Dance on Sunset, which completely SUCKS!!!!!!!, and The Naked Brothers Band which in some respects get kind off boring!!!
I hope that nickelodeon can come up with new shows that are good. Because I love Nick, and I hate seeing these kinds of things happen.
ROCK ON NICK!!!!!