Hop to It Preschoolers - Max and Ruby is Back!

Hop to It Preschoolers - Max and Ruby is Back!

Nickelodeon Preschool Television Orders 14 New Episodes of Animated Series Based on Classic Children's Book Series by Acclaimed Author Rosemary Wells

NEW YORK, Oct. 9 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon Preschool Television has announced that the network has picked up an all-new 14-episode season of the 2-D animated preschool series Max & Ruby. A new Max & Ruby Easter special will premiere on Nick Jr. and NOGGIN in Spring 2007 to kick off the new season.

Based on the classic children's book series by internationally acclaimed children's author and illustrator Rosemary Wells, Max & Ruby follows the adventures of two bunny siblings. The show, a co-production from Nelvana/Corus Entertainment, currently airs weekdays on NOGGIN at 10:30 a.m. (ET).

"We're thrilled to bring more Max and Ruby episodes to Nick Jr. and Noggin," said Brown Johnson, Executive Creative Director, Nickelodeon Preschool Television. "Preschoolers clearly delight in Max's antics and Ruby's creative persistence. They are a dynamic brother-sister duo."

"We believe passionately in Max and Ruby. The books and the TV series speak directly to young children across cultures and the series is a firm favorite with broadcasters, parents and youngsters alike. We are delighted that Nelvana has produced 14 more half-hour episodes and that Nick Jr. has picked these up. We know that Max and Ruby's large family of devoted fans can't wait to get to see these new shows," said Nicholas James, Chief Executive of Chorion.

Each half-hour episode of Max & Ruby consists of three seven-and-a-half- minute stories that celebrate the universal nature of sibling relationships. The series follows Max, an enthusiastic and determined preschool bunny, and his big sister Ruby, a very smart and goal-oriented seven-year-old, through their everyday lives in the village of East Bunnyhop. Even though Max and Ruby have conflicting agendas, they enjoy working and playing together.

The original 26 episodes of the series and the new season of 14 episodes were produced by Nelvana in association with Chorion Silver Lining.

Chorion owns and manages classic and contemporary literary-based brands that have worldwide appeal. Its owned properties include Noddy, Mr. Men and the works of Agatha Christie and Raymond Chandler. Its managed properties include the non publishing rights to Max and Ruby, Olivia, and Eric Carle. Chorion has offices in London, New York, Tokyo and Sydney. In the US, all its children's properties are managed by Chorion Silver Lining, a wholly owned subsidiary. Chorion specializes in developing and producing new television content for its properties, directly or with third parties, and then building those properties into worldwide brands. For more information, visit http://www.chorion.co.uk/.

Nelvana is one of the world's leading international producers and distributors of children's animated content. With a focus on creating branded entertainment and licensing & merchandising activity on multiple platforms, Nelvana's stable of award-winning and globally renowned brands include literary classics Babar and Franklin. Nelvana is owned by Corus Entertainment Inc., a Canadian-based media and entertainment company. Corus is a market leader in specialty television and radio with additional assets in pay television, advertising and digital audio services, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's animation. The company's multimedia entertainment brands include YTV, Treehouse, W Network, Movie Central, Nelvana, Kids Can Press and radio stations including CKNW, CKOI and Q107. Corus creates engaging branded entertainment experiences for its audiences across multiple platforms. A publicly traded company, Corus is listed on the Toronto (CJR.B) and New York (CJR) exchanges.

Nick Jr. is a specially designed programming block airing on Nickelodeon weekdays from 9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. (ET/PT). Completely dedicated to preschoolers ages 2-5, Nick Jr.'s Emmy, Peabody and Parents' Choice Award- winning programs are curriculum based, fun and commercial free. At Nick Jr., kids play to learn with innovative, original shows created just for them.

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 more than eleven consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B).

NOGGIN, the commercial-free, educational preschool network from Nickelodeon, currently reaches 52 million households via cable, digital cable and satellite TV. NOGGIN, which airs from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. (ET), is like preschool on TV, with educational programming both on-air and online at http://www.noggin.com/. NOGGIN and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

Source: Nickelodeon

CONTACT: Jodi Davis, +1-212-846-5981, jodi.davis@noggin.com, or Sharyn
Traub, +1-212-846-6381, sharyn.traub@noggin.com, both of Nickelodeon

Web site: http://www.nick.com/
http://www.noggin.com/
http://www.chorion.co.uk/

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