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MTVN's Nickelodeon Introduces Unprecedented Kid-Driven User-Generated Entertainment Platform - Nickelodeon's ME:TV - February 19

Posted on: Monday, 19 February 2007, 09:00 CST

NEW YORK, Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Continuing its lead in providing the most innovative entertainment content for today's multiplatform generation of kids, Nickelodeon today launches the first-ever TV programming block featuring user-generated content provided by kids. Nickelodeon's ME:TV integrates Nick.com and TurboNick, Nickelodeon's broadband player, with Nickelodeon television to let kids help program the TV block themselves with their own original content uploaded online. The block airs live Monday through Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. ET/PT. Nickelodeon is a division of Viacom's MTV Networks.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070219/AQM019 )

Nickelodeon's ME:TV is fully interactive, providing a home for all network convergent online and television events. Hosted by Alexandra Gizela and Jordan Carlos, each day the block will feature four kids live via web cam, online voting, gaming, giveaways and celebrity guests.

"We have always been about empowering kids, and with ME:TV we are essentially letting them program Nickelodeon for two hours every day," said Tom Ascheim, Executive Vice President and General Manager, Nickelodeon Television. "Nickelodeon's ME:TV is you TV. It gives us the opportunity to showcase the talents of our audience and give life to the content that they are creating. It is the next step in convergent entertainment for this multiplatform generation of kids."

Nickelodeon's ME:TV will broadcast live from New York City, and follows in the vein of U-Pick Live and Slimetime Live, featuring a live studio audience. Kids can participate in-studio or from home by the phone, or via on-screen message boards and voting on Nick.com. A new "kid created content" destination -- http://www.nick.com/metv -- allows kids to submit their own original content, and then watch, rate or share it on TurboNick. Nickelodeon will feature the best of kids' work on-air. All kid submitted video content will be completely monitored and moderated, and parental permission is required for any content to appear online or on-air.

Kids can also send a DVD or VHS tape of their original content to Nick by mailing it to:

Nickelodeon's ME:TV PO Box 2700 New York, NY 10108

The first week of Nickelodeon's ME:TV features appearances from New York Jets players D'Brickashaw Ferguson and Kerry Rhodes, a performance by musician Paula DeAnda, Katharine McPhee (American Idol). Also stopping by is PickBoy 2.0, the roving web reporter, who will feature "The Awesome Hour" web cam reports, also available via podcast on Nick.com and iTunes. Of course there will also be tons of interactive games and kid created content, along with Bill Faggerbakke the voice of Patrick Starfish on SpongeBob SquarePants, who will also call into the show to help push his campaign for President. Patrick for President is part of a SpongeBob programming event that kicks off on Monday, February 19 at 5 p.m. ET/PT with a two-hour SpongeBob marathon followed by three all-new back-to-back Patrick themed episodes (7-8:30 p.m.).

Nickelodeon's ME:TV co-host Jordan Carlos is a favorite fixture of the New York alternative comedy scene, and has appeared in a recurring role on Comedy Central's "The Colbert Report," as well as on Spike TV, VH-1 and FOX, as well as numerous commercials. He was nominated as the "Best Male Comic" by the Emerging Comics of New York Awards, and was a finalist in NBC's "Stand Up for Diversity" showcase.

Co-host Alexandra Gizela is no stranger to television, with past roles on Comedy Central's Chappelles Show and Stella, Saturday Night Live, a guest starring role on MTV's Human Giant. She was also a participant in ABC's Diversity Showcase in 2006 and has been featured in more than 30 national commercials. Alexandra also maintains a 12 year show business career as a dancer at the New York Theatre Ballet, with dancing experience on world famous stages such as the Metropolitan Opera House.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 27th 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, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 92 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for almost 12 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. .

About MTV Networks and Viacom

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom , is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with 135 channels worldwide, owns and operates the following television programming services -- MTV: MUSIC TELEVISION, MTV2, VH1, mtvU, NICKELODEON, NICK at NITE, COMEDY CENTRAL, TV LAND, SPIKE TV, CMT, NOGGIN/THE N, VH1 CLASSIC, LOGO, MTVN INTERNATIONAL and THE DIGITAL SUITE FROM MTV NETWORKS, a package of 13 digital services, all of these networks trademarks of MTV Networks. MTV Networks connects with its audiences through its robust consumer products businesses and its more than 200 interactive properties worldwide, including online, broadband, wireless and interactive television services and also has licensing agreements, joint ventures, and syndication deals whereby all of its programming services can be seen worldwide.

Viacom is a leading global entertainment content company, with prominent and respected brands in focused demographics. Engaging its audiences through television, motion pictures and digital platforms, Viacom reaches its audiences wherever they consume content. Viacom's leading brands include the multiplatform properties of MTV Networks, including MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, COMEDY CENTRAL, CMT: Country Music Television, Spike TV, TV Land, Logo and more than 135 networks around the world, as well as digital assets such as Neopets, Xfire and Atom Entertainment; BET Networks; Paramount Pictures; Paramount Home Entertainment; DreamWorks; and Famous Music. More information about Viacom and its businesses is available at http://www.viacom.com/.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20070219/AQM019AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN3PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

Nickelodeon

CONTACT: Joanna Roses of Nickelodeon, +1-212-846-7326,joanna.roses@nick.com; or Mirian Arias, +1-212-846-7653,mirian.arias@noggin.com

Web site: http://www.nick.com/http://www.viacom.com/

Source: PRNewswire

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