Nickelodeon to Super-Serve Families as Award-Winning NOGGIN Becomes Its Own 24-Hour Commercial-Free Preschool Network, Beginning Monday, Dec. 31, at 6:00 P.M. (ET)

Nickelodeon to Super-Serve Families as Award-Winning NOGGIN Becomes Its Own 24-Hour Commercial-Free Preschool Network, Beginning Monday, Dec. 31, at 6:00 P.M. (ET)

NOGGIN 'Goes 24' and Rings in New Year with Its First Five-Hour Primetime Movie Marathon Hosted by Moose and Zee, Featuring Premiere of New 90-Minute Movie "Franklin And The Turtle Lake Treasure"

NOGGIN Announces New Series Toot and Puddle and Greenlights Season Two of Pinky Dinky Doo - Two Animated Shows Based on Best-Selling Book Series

*(DVD's and artwork available upon request)

NEW YORK, Dec. 17 /PRNewswire/ -- NOGGIN rings in the New Year with a special resolution to preschoolers -- the network will now be available 24 hours a day! On Monday, Dec. 31, at 6:00 p.m. (ET), the commercial-free, educational preschool network from Nickelodeon, will super-serve families by expanding from 12 to 24 hours, offering even more of the network's top- quality, educational preschool programming. To kick off the celebration, NOGGIN's Moose and Zee will host the network's first primetime movie marathon, on Dec. 31 from 6:00 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. (ET), featuring the premiere of a new 90-minute Franklin movie, "Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure." The preschool movie party will also feature the hour-long Dora the Explorer TV movie, "Dora Saves the Mermaids," and the half-hour specials "Save the Wonder Pets!" and the Go, Diego, Go! "Great Jaguar Rescue."

NOGGIN is also announcing that it will premiere Toot & Puddle, a new 26- episode animated preschool series, based on the best-selling book series by acclaimed children's author and illustrator Holly Hobbie, in fall 2008. The network has also greenlit a new 26-episode second season of Pinky Dinky Doo, NOGGIN's first animated original series dedicated to enhancing early literacy, based on the popular book series by Jim Jinkins (Doug and PB&J Otter).

"NOGGIN's expansion into a 24-hour network reinforces Nickelodeon's commitment to preschoolers and their caregivers, to be there whenever they need us," said Brown Johnson, Executive Vice President, Executive Creative Director, Nickelodeon Preschool and General Manager, NOGGIN. "We have heard time and time again that offering our entertaining and educational programming during primetime hours is key for families and their schedules, and we think it's an excellent way to kick off the New Year!"

The rundown for NOGGIN's primetime movie marathon on Monday, Dec. 31, is:
-- 6:00 - 7:30 p.m. (ET) "Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure" (*TV
Premiere)
-- 7:30 - 8:30 p.m. (ET) "Dora Saves the Mermaids"
-- 8:30 - 9:00 p.m. (ET) "Save the Wonder Pets!"
-- 9:00 - 10:30 p.m. (ET) "Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure"
-- 10:30 - 11:00 P.M. (ET) "Great Jaguar Rescue"

In "Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure," Franklin is on a holiday break from school when he receives a surprise visit from his Aunt Lucy, an explorer whose specialty is finding archaeological treasures. This family reunion gives Franklin's Granny the chance to relive her own childhood. When she mentions a box filled with treasures that she buried at Turtle Lake as a child, Franklin is intrigued. When Granny falls ill and Aunt Lucy remembers a talisman that was hidden in the famous box, a treasure hunt becomes extremely important. Franklin decides immediately to hunt for this remedy which could save his grandmother. His friends Beaver and Bear accompany him, with Aunt Lucy and her goddaughter Samantha, a headstrong little turtle with whom Franklin has a hard time contending with. It's a difficult journey, but Franklin is ready to do anything to help Granny and it also gives him the chance to make new friends.

NOGGIN, which originally launched February 2, 1999, is "like preschool on TV" and offers a place on-air and online where kids can gain key curricular knowledge in thematic blocks. Through interactivity and narrative, NOGGIN and its award-winning website, noggin.com, help kids learn early literacy, social studies, basic math, science, movement and art skills. The network's approach is built on the concept of "connected learning" -- helping young children find learning in everything they do. The approach connects key educational content with experiences children know and love. Through a detailed, network-wide curricular framework, guided by national standards in preschool education, connected learning on NOGGIN makes the most of the time children spend watching TV and playing online.

NOGGIN currently features original programming including Jack's Big Music Show, Oobi and The Upside Down Show, in addition to showcasing music from popular children's recording artists like The Laurie Berkner Band. The network also offers hit shows including Bill Cosby's Little Bill, Franklin, Max & Ruby, Little Bear, Pinky Dinky Doo, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and Oswald, in addition to Nick Jr. favorites like Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, The Wonder Pets!, Blue's Clues and The Backyardigans.

NOGGIN, the 24-hour, commercial-free educational preschool network from Nickelodeon, currently reaches 64 million households via cable, digital cable and satellite TV. NOGGIN 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: NOGGIN

CONTACT: Sharyn Traub, +1-212-846-6381, Sharyn.traub@nick.com, or Jodi
Davis, +1-212-846-5981, Jodi.davis@nick.com, both of Nickelodeon for NOGGIN

Web site:

http://www.noggin.com/

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