Beowulf and Dreamgirls Merchandising Opportunities Announced by Viacom Consumer Products at Licensing Show

Beowulf and Dreamgirls Merchandising Opportunities Announced by Viacom Consumer Products at Licensing Show

Show News Also Includes Special Licensing Tie-Ins for the 10th Season of Comedy Central's Emmy and Peabody-Award Winning South Park

NEW YORK, June 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Viacom Consumer Products in partnership with the Paramount Licensing Group announced exciting adult-targeted merchandising programs tied to the upcoming high-profile motion picture releases of Beowulf and Dreamgirls. In addition, Viacom Consumer Products and Comedy Central announced at the Licensing Show plans to celebrate the 10th season of Comedy Central's hit series, South Park.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060620/NYTU064 )

Beowulf tells the story of a fierce warrior defending his kingdom from a vicious monster. Scheduled for a Thanksgiving 2007 theatrical release, the film is directed by Robert Zemekis and written by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary. Shot as digitally enhanced live-action, "Beowulf" will be supported by a specially targeted line of consumer products that includes collectible action figures, videogames, and books.

25 years after it first brought Broadway audiences to their feet, the Tony Award-winning musical sensation Dreamgirls comes to the big screen, starring Academy Award(R) winner Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, and Eddie Murphy. Set in the turbulent early 1960s to mid-70s, Dreamgirls follows the rise of a trio of women who, under the direction of an ambitious talent manager, form a promising girl group called the Dreams. Though the Dreams become a crossover phenomenon, they soon realize that the cost of fame and fortune may be higher than they ever imagined. Dreamgirls is directed by Bill Condon from a screenplay he adapted from the stage musical's original book by Tom Eyen. The release of the film will bring exclusive merchandising opportunities in apparel, mobile phone applications, high-end collectible dolls, and social expressions.

"Dreamgirls and Beowulf are two of the most highly anticipated motion pictures coming to theaters in the next year and a half and South Park is as popular today as ever," said Leigh Anne Brodsky, president, Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products. "With appealing movies and television programs like these, the Viacom family has an unparalleled access to the widest variety of properties, appealing to the broadest range of consumers. We're thrilled to be presenting new merchandising opportunities for these three titles, which promise to be fantastic performers, and we're looking forward to announcing more exciting programs soon."

At this year's Licensing Show, Viacom Consumer Products also offers exciting opportunities to be part of the 10th anniversary season of the Emmy and Peabody Award-winning animated series South Park -- with merchandise timed to a special on-air event in September 2006.

South Park debuted in 1996 and changed the world of television forever. The irreverent television favorite, set in the small town of South Park, is making plans to celebrate its 10th season in a big way. Featuring the trials and tribulations of grade-schoolers Kyle, Stan, Kenny and Cartman, South Park remains the #1 show on television for men 18-24 and is also the years highest rated basic cable original series among all key male demographics. South Park's first seven seasons have been released on DVD and have all been top sellers. New DVD products will help celebrate the 10th season alongside new collectible figures, plush, apparel and home products.

"South Park fans have made this acclaimed series a hit for a decade and the show today is as topical as ever," added Brodsky. "We're looking forward to working with our licensing partners to continue to develop products that delight fans and help celebrate this milestone event -- and the next decade of South Park as well!"

About Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products

Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products (NVCP) manages the third largest licensing business in the world. It represents for licensing and merchandising the leading properties of Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, Comedy Central, MTVN International, and Spike TV. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B).

About Paramount Licensing Group

The Paramount Licensing Group is a division of NVCP and licenses the properties of Paramount Pictures, Dreamworks live action titles, and other third party properties.

About Comedy Central

Comedy Central, the only all-comedy network, currently is seen in more than 88 million homes nationwide. Comedy Central is owned by Comedy Partners, a wholly-owned division of MTV Networks. Comedy Central is a registered trademark of Comedy Partners. Comedy Central's Internet address is http://www.comedycentral.com/.

Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products

Licensing Show booth #1317/ Javits Center.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060620/NYTU064
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN8
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products

CONTACT: Jonathan Finn, +1-212-846-4082, jonathan.finn@nick.com, or
Danny Diaz, +1-212-846-5961, danny.diaz@nick.com, both for Nickelodeon and
Viacom Consumer Products

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

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