SpongeBob's 'SquarePants' Become Pink This October To Help Raise Funds During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

SpongeBob's 'SquarePants' Become Pink This October To Help Raise Funds During National Breast Cancer Awareness Month

New Limited-Edition 'SpongeBob PinkPants' Collectible Ty Beanie Baby(R) Now Available at Retailers Nationwide;

Nickelodeon & Ty To Donate Profits From Premier Offering To Breast Cancer Charities

NEW YORK and OAK BROOK, Ill., Sept. 26 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products, in partnership with Ty, announce an all-new, limited-edition "SpongeBob PinkPants" Ty Beanie Baby(R). The world's most iconic sponge - SpongeBob SquarePants - will make a temporary wardrobe change in October, trading in the well-known "SpongeBob yellow" for pink in an effort to raise funds in support of October's Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Currently available at retailers nationwide and on nick.com, while supplies last, the Beanie(R) marks the first time the world famous sea sponge will be produced in plush in a color other than yellow. Both Nickelodeon and Ty will donate profits from the premier offering of the SpongeBob PinkPants Beanie Baby to various breast cancer charities in honor of National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. The special Beanie will retail for approximately $6.00.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060926/NYTU059 )

"So many woman and families are personally and directly affected by breast cancer," said Leigh Anne Brodsky, president of Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products, "Turning SpongeBob pink is a very bold gesture and we hope these limited-edition 'SpongeBob PinkPants' products will both raise funds and also send a positive message of support during Breast Cancer Awareness month this October."

The "SpongeBob PinkPants" Beanie Baby also marks the first time Ty has produced a licensed character Beanie to be used as a fundraiser. "We are proud to help fund organizations dedicated to finding a cure for this terrible disease," said Ty Warner, CEO/Chairman of Ty Inc. and Beanie Baby creator. "So many of us know someone who has been affected by breast cancer, and it is up to all of us to work together to find a cure."

In addition to the "SpongeBob PinkPants" Beanie Baby, Nickelodeon will also create a limited-edition "SpongeBob PinkPants" graphic tee-shirt that will be available exclusively at nick.com for $14.99. The company will also donate all profits from the tee-shirt to breast cancer charities.

About Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products

Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products manages the third largest licensing business in the world and represents such properties as SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer. The department handles the merchandising for Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, Comedy Central, MTVN International, and Spike TV.

Nickelodeon, 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 more than 90 million households and has been the number- one-rated basic cable network for eleven consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B)

About Ty

Founded in 1986 by Ty Warner, creator of the wildly popular Beanie Babies(R), and celebrating its 20th year, Ty is the leader in plush toys. In addition to Beanie Babies(R), the company's product line includes: Bow Wow Beanies(TM), Pinkys(TM), Punkies(R), Pluffies(R), Ty Classic(R), Beanie Buddies(R), Baby Ty(R), and Angeline(TM). The red Ty Heart Logo(R), recognized around the world, can be found on all Ty products available at finer specialty gift retailers. Visit Ty on the Internet at http://www.ty.com.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20060926/NYTU059
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
AP PhotoExpress Network: PRN5
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com
Source: Nickelodeon

CONTACT: Jonathan Finn of Nickelodeon, +1-212-846-4082,
Jonathan.finn@nick.com; or Lauren McCabe of Bender/Helper Impact,
+1-212-689-6360, lauren_mccabe@bhimpact.com; or Scott Wehrs of Ty,
+1-630-920-1515, scott@ty.com

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

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