Kappa Mikey Goes Global on Nicktoons U.S. & Nickelodeon International

Kappa Mikey Goes Global on Nicktoons U.S. & Nickelodeon International

MTV Networks Announces First-Ever Global Acquisition in Deal With Animation Collective

LAS VEGAS and LONDON, Jan. 25 /PRNewswire/ -- MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B), announced today its first-ever global program acquisition, securing the worldwide broadcast rights to Animation Collective's property Kappa Mikey, for Nicktoons in the U.S. and Nickelodeon's international channels. The deal comprises 26 half-hour episodes of the animated action comedy that will premiere on the channels in 2006. Also part of the agreement, MTV Networks International secures international distribution rights for third-party broadcast sales.

The announcement was made at the National Association of Television Program Executives conference in Las Vegas by Keith Dawkins, Vice President and General Manager, Nicktoons and Larry Schwarz, Kappa Mikey's creator and C.E.O. of Animation Collective.

"MTV Networks' global acquisition of Kappa Mikey for Nicktoons and Nickelodeon internationally is a significant move forward in our strategic plans to leverage the strength and resources of our global networks to deliver our audiences everywhere the very best, cutting-edge entertainment available," commented Dawkins. "Kids around the world love anime and Kappa Mikey expands the genre with a great combination of originality and quirkiness."

"Anime is the most widely watched animation style in the world and kids all over are quickly becoming experts in its quirks and nuances. Kappa Mikey is a fun parody of the genre, while at the same time delivering fast paced action and character driven comedy," said Schwarz.

Kappa Mikey is TV's first raw fish out of water action comedy. American actor Mikey Simon joins the cast of LilyMu, once the top rated anime show in Japan. Though Mikey is a fish out of water (a raw one in this case!), his crazy antics and style lift LilyMu out of the ratings gutter and transform Mikey into the biggest star Japan has ever seen since that big green lizard accidentally got radiated! Kappa Mikey is the story of Mikey's epic struggle to win over his co-stars, get a clue about Japanese culture and look cool in close-up.

"MTV Networks' acquisition of Kappa Mikey is part of our strategic direction to seek out international distribution and investment opportunities to add to our kid and youth libraries," noted Debbie Back, Senior Vice President, Program Sales, MTV Networks International. "As broadcasters' demands increase for high quality content, we are expanding the breadth of our offerings and seeking investments in original productions and acquisitions that are relevant for the international marketplace."

New York City-based Animation Collective (http://www.animationcollective.com/) is a leader in creating Flash-based animation for television, the Internet, home video and feature films. The company produces programming on a work-for-hire basis and develops and produces original proprietary properties. The Incredible Crash Dummies, a series produced by Animation Collective and 4Kids Entertainment is currently running on the Fox Box on Saturday mornings. Leader Dog and Tortellini Western, two original series produced by the company, are currently airing on Nicktoons.

Nicktoons' 24-hour schedule features programming such as Corneil and Bernie and Kaput and Zosky, as well as a roster of hits that have defined kids' and animation lovers' TV, including The Angry Beavers, Yakkity Yak, Invader Zim, Ahhh! Real Monsters, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Fairly OddParents and Jimmy Neutron. Nicktoons is part of the MTV Networks expanded suite of channels available for digital distribution. The new channels include MTV Hits, MTV Jams, Nicktoons and VH1 Mega Hits, expanding and strengthening MTV Networks' digital offerings to thirteen services.

Nickelodeon, the world's only multimedia entertainment brand dedicated exclusively to kids, reaches a total of 283.0 million households in 163 territories worldwide via 28 channels, 21 branded program blocks, and 2 broadband services across Africa, Asia and the Pacific Rim, CIS/Baltic Republics, Europe, Latin America, and the United States. Programming is also aired on third party broadcasters in major territories around the world, increasing Nickelodeon's exposure to 669 million households. Nickelodeon's international TV services also include digital channels in the UK, Australia, and Mexico.


Source: Nickelodeon

CONTACT: Nancy Muldoon of Nickelodeon, +1-212-846-7491,
nancy.muldoon@nick.com; AnneMarie Kane of MTV Networks International,
+1-212-846-7581, annemarie.kane@mtvn.com

Web site: http://www.animationcollective.com/


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