Nicktoons Network Introduces 'Ricky Sprocket - Showbiz Boy' A New Animated Comedy about an Ordinary Kid with an Extraordinary Life Premiering Monday, January 21

Nicktoons Network Introduces 'Ricky Sprocket - Showbiz Boy' A New Animated Comedy about an Ordinary Kid with an Extraordinary Life Premiering Monday, January 21

Series from Academy Award Winning Creators Alison Snowden and David Fine

NEW YORK, Jan. 2 /PRNewswire/ -- Nicktoons Network is set to premiere the U.S. debut of Ricky Sprocket - Showbiz Boy, a new animated series about the world's biggest child star, on Monday, January 21 at 7:00 p.m. (ET). Despite his extraordinary fame and fortune, Ricky still has to deal with ordinary problems just like every kid. The 26-episode series from Oscar Award-winning creators Alison Snowden and David Fine will air Saturdays at 2:00 p.m. (ET) on Nicktoons Network.

Ricky Sprocket - Showbiz Boy chronicles the adventures of superstar child actor Ricky Sprocket as he tries to balance family, friends and school with the pressures of his crazy showbiz life. He may live in a Hollywood mansion and have all the latest toys, but at heart he's just a regular kid: his parents embarrass him, his sister annoys him, and he has a flatulent dog and too much homework. His studio however, is more concerned with his career, and Ricky finds himself starring in larger-than-life action and comedy both on and off the set.

"Ricky Sprocket's launch on Nicktoons Network is part of a larger international roll-out across 14 Nickelodeon channels, including Nick UK and Nick Australia," said Keith Dawkins, Nicktoons Network General Manager, Senior Vice President, Nickelodeon Programming Partnerships. "Kids from around the globe can relate to Ricky, who despite his movie star status, is an average kid above all."

In the first half of the premiere episode, "The Screen Kiss," Ricky is shocked when he learns that he has to deal with his first screen kiss. As if that isn't bad enough, it's with his arch nemesis, Kitten. Ricky enlists the services of his friends to help train him, but despite their bravado, they have little to offer. Ricky's mom thinks it's time his father had "the talk" with Ricky, but that doesn't go well either. In the end, Ricky has another idea ...

In the second half, "Oh Hap-pee Day," Ricky's younger sister Ethel spills her drink on him at an awards show, and the press goes crazy thinking Ricky has wet his pants on stage. Determined not to let it happen again, he gets his friends to make sure the next awards show goes off without a hitch, but Kitten has other plans.

In January, Ricky Sprocket - Showbiz Boy will stream on Video-on-Demand. Plus select video content from the series will be available on the network's video player at www.nicktoonsnetwork.com and on http://www.rickysprocket.com/#/home/.

Ricky Sprocket - Showbiz Boy is from Studio B Productions, a DHX Media Ltd. Company, and Snowden Fine Animation Inc. in association with Bejuba! Entertainment.

Alison Snowden and David Fine created the award winning animated series Bob and Margaret, which was based on their Oscar winning short, Bob's Birthday. They have been working together since they met at film school in 1980 and have made several award winning films, including two other Oscar nominated shorts, George and Rosemary and Second Class Mail.

They have worked at the National Film Board of Canada and run their own studio in London where they produced short films and commercials as well as creating Bob and Margaret. In 2004 they moved to Vancouver where they produced Ricky Sprocket with Studio B Productions. They live in Vancouver with their ten year old daughter. For more details, go to www.snowdenfine.com.

Bejuba! Entertainment Inc.

Established in 2003 by Tatiana Kober, Bejuba! Entertainment is a leading executive production and distribution company representing producers from around the world to bring top quality children's entertainment properties to the global market place. Bejuba! specializes in rights management, co- productions, financing (closing-gap financing) third-party acquisitions, licensing and merchandising and program sales in Canada, the U.S. and internationally. The company maintains a growing catalogue of award-winning children and family animated and live-action programs (Ricky Sprocket, Adrenalini Brothers, Jibber Jabber and International Interactive Emmy Award winner The Zimmer Twins). Bejuba!'s partners include Studio B (Canada), Snowden Fine Productions, Pesky Productions (UK), Jibber Jabber Toons LTD, and multi-award winning animation studio zinc Roe Design (Canada.). Bejuba! Entertainment has offices in Los Angeles and Montreal. www.bejuba.com.

Studio B Productions Inc.

Headquartered in Vancouver, B.C., Canada, Studio B Productions Inc., a production subsidiary of DHX Media Ltd., is a leader in the field of kids' entertainment. Studio B is the producer of popular and award-winning properties such as Ricky Sprocket - Showbiz Boy (seen on TELETOON and Nickelodeon worldwide), Being Ian(TM), The Amazing Adrenalini Brothers!, Class of the Titans(TM) and George of the Jungle, a co-production with Classic Media set to air on Cartoon Network U.S. In addition, Studio B will launch two new properties in 2008, Kid vs. Kat, an original series with YTV and Martha Speaks, a co-production with WGBH Boston. For more information, please visit www.studiobproductions.com.

About Nicktoons Network

Nicktoons Network is the fastest growing kids' network(*) and offers a 24- hour schedule featuring programming such as the Nicktoons Network Animation Festival, Skyland, Kappa Mikey, The Secret Show and Martin Mystery, as well as a roster of hits that have defined kids' and animation lovers' TV, including Avatar: The Last Airbender, Invader Zim, Danny Phantom, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Fairly OddParents and The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius. Nicktoons Network is a part of the MTV Networks expanded suite of channels available for digital distribution. The new channels include MTV Hits, MTV Jams, Nicktoons Network and VH1 Mega Hits, expanding and strengthening MTV Networks' digital offerings to thirteen services.

Nicktoons Network currently reaches 50 million homes via cable, digital cable and satellite, and can be seen on Cablevision, Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, Cox Communications, DirecTV, DISH Network and Time Warner Cable. Nicktoons, and all related titles and logos are property of Viacom, Inc.

(*)Nicktoons Network is the Fastest Growing Kid's Network among K2-11, K6- 11, K6-14 and K12-17. Source: Nielsen Media Research, 8/28/06-7/29/07 vs. 8/29/05-7/30/06. (Live) US AA%

Source: Nicktoons Network

CONTACT: Nicole Parker, +1-818-736-3613, Nicole.Parker@nick.com, or
Maria Poulos, +1-212-846-6283, Maria.Poulos@mtvnmix.com, or Photo contact:
Keirsten Wanamaker, +1-212-258-7672, Keirsten.Wanamaker@nick.com, all for
Nicktoons Network

Web site:

http://www.nick.com/
http://www.nicktoonsnetwork.com/
http://www.rickysprocket.com/#/home
http://www.snowdenfine.com/
http://www.bejuba.com/
http://www.studiobproductions.com/

NOTE TO EDITORS: Screener and art available upon request

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