Sony Music Label Group and MTV Networks' Nickelodeon to Make TV and Music Together

Sony Music Label Group and MTV Networks' Nickelodeon to Make TV and Music Together

Companies Sign New Global Agreement to Co-Develop, Co-Produce and Co-Finance TV Series, Original Movies and Records

Partnership Debuts This Fall With Release of Original Music Soundtrack from Nick's Top 'Tween Series, The Naked Brothers Band

NEW YORK, June 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids and a division of Viacom's MTV Networks (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B), Sony Music Label Group and SONY BMG Commercial Music Group, today announced an expansive partnership where the two will co-develop, co-produce and co-finance television and music projects over the next four years. The deal was announced by Judy McGrath, Chairman and CEO of MTV Networks, and Rob Stringer, Chairman of Sony Music Label Group.

(Photo:

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The deal calls for the development and production of projects ranging from television series and original movies to air on Nickelodeon, to multiple records released over the next four years. The deal also has the potential to unlock additional opportunities across multiple lines of business, in areas like apparel and electronics.

The first project to come out of the partnership will be the Fall release of the original music soundtrack from the hit 'tween series, The Naked Brothers Band, Nick's rock 'n roll "mockumentary" comedy. The Naked Brothers Band music is already a hit. The song "Crazy Car" from The Naked Brothers Band debuted on Billboard's Hot 100 Songs and has already had almost 90,000 music downloads, to date.

Nickelodeon and Sony first partnered in 2004 to further expand Nick Records and the network's presence in the music business, and create a major music brand for kids and 'tweens. The companies have worked together on previous albums including "Dora the Explorer," which achieved Gold Album status, "Dora Dance Fiesta," "Backyardigans," SpongeBob SquarePants "The Yellow Album" which achieved Gold Single status, among others.

"Music is in our company's genetic code, and it's so great to have it more deeply infused into Nickelodeon through this terrific brand extension and partnership with Sony," said McGrath. "There'll be some great new talent and content coming out of this deal, and we're all excited about the TV and music we'll create for the fans of Nick around the globe."

"We are incredibly excited that we will work on a wide range of joint audio visual opportunities in our new deal," said Stringer. "We are looking forward to sharing our music with the innovative creative team at Nickelodeon, and together we will launch new talent that will be featured on their programming."

"This new deal connects Sony's peerless expertise in music to what we at Nickelodeon know about kids," added Cyma Zarghami, President of Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. "From the Dora the Explorer soundtrack going gold, to The Naked Brothers Band success, and Kids' Choice Awards serving as a great platform for talent, music is an important part of our brand because it's vital to kids. Through this deal with Sony we will have a steady pipeline of creative ideas for great projects relevant to our audience."

"We are very excited to continue our relationship with Nickelodeon. Over the past three years we have had enormous success together and have been able to enhance Nickelodeon's rich franchises like Dora the Explorer and The Backyardigans through the power of music," said John Ingrassia, President of Sony BMG's Commercial Music Group. "The new deal greatly expands the scope of our partnership, offering us significant opportunity to develop exciting and new music-based content."

About Sony Music Label Group

Sony Music Label Group, a division of SONY BMG Music Entertainment, is a global recorded music joint venture with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars, as well as a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. SONY BMG Music Entertainment is 50% owned by Bertelsmann A.G. and 50% owned by Sony Corporation of America.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, in its 28th 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 12 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B).

About MTV Networks and Viacom

MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom (NYSE:VIA)(NYSE:VIA.B), is one of the world's leading creators of programming and content across all media platforms. MTV Networks, with 137 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. Engaging its audiences through television, motion pictures and digital platforms, Viacom seeks to reach its audiences however they consume content. Viacom's leading brands include the multiplatform properties of MTV Networks, including MTV: Music Television, VH1, CMT: Country Music Television, Logo, Nickelodeon, Nick at Nite, COMEDY CENTRAL, Spike TV, TV Land, and more than 130 networks around the world, as well as digital assets such as MTV.com, comedycentral.com, VSPOT, TurboNick, Neopets, Xfire and iFilm; BET Networks; Paramount Pictures; 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/20070614/NYTH122
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Source: Nickelodeon

CONTACT: Joanna Roses of Nickelodeon, +1-212-846-7326,
joanna.roses@nick.com; or David Bittler of MTV Networks, +1-212-846-5263,
david.bittler@mtvstaff.com; or Fran DeFeo of SONY BMG Music Entertainment,
+1-212-833-5784, fran.defeo@sonybmg.com

Web site:

http://www.viacom.com/

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