TORONTO, Jan. 8 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Canadian media company Corus Entertainment Inc. and MTV Networks International (MTVNI) today announced plans to extend their multi-year broadcast partnership for Nickelodeon content to encompass all digital rights for Nickelodeon and related brands, covering broadcast, broadband, mobile, video-on-demand, pay-per-view, electronic sell-through and gaming. Under one new multi-platform agreement, Corus will have Canadian rights across all media for Nickelodeon's award-winning TV properties including -- SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer -- enabling multiplatform management across TV, Internet and mobile.
As part of the agreement, Corus will also represent Nickelodeon's popular kids and family websites, including nick.com, for advertising sales in Canada.
"Corus has enjoyed a successful relationship with Nickelodeon for many years, but this venture takes our partnership to a whole new level," said Paul Robertson, President, Television, Corus Entertainment. "By enriching the interactive experience with Nickelodeon content, we're dialing up audience's involvement, which, in turn, builds viewer loyalty. Viacom has made an extraordinary commitment to digital content which Corus can leverage successfully with our strong television brands and advertiser relationships."
"MTVNI is the global leader in creating and packaging innovative multi- branded content and this newly deepened, customized partnership with Corus will now deliver the Nickelodeon programming Canadian kids have come to love across every platform they use," noted Bob Bakish, President, MTV Networks International.
YTV holds rights in Canada to all current Nick animated programming including Nickelodeon's animated properties SpongeBob SquarePants, El Tigre and The Fairly OddParents as well as live action series The Naked Brothers Band, iCarly and Just Jordan. All Nick Jr.-produced shows, including Dora the Explorer and Go! Diego! Go! air on Treehouse.
Corus Entertainment, Canada's largest kids' broadcaster, remains at the forefront of media innovation, with a digital strategy that focuses on creating brand experiences that offer audiences all-encompassing access to its content-rich environments across platforms. Nickelodeon is an industry leader and first-mover in kid-safe gaming, interactive content, personalization and communication tools.
About Corus Entertainment Inc.
Corus Entertainment Inc. is 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. Experience Corus on the web at http://www.corusent.com/.
About MTV
MTV Networks International includes the premier multimedia entertainment brands MTV: Music Television, VH1, Nickelodeon, TMF (The Music Factory), VIVA, Flux, Paramount Comedy, Comedy Central, Game One and IFilm. MTV Networks' brands are seen globally in 514 million households in 162 countries and 33 languages via 150 locally programmed and operated TV channels and more than 300 digital media properties. The company's diverse holdings also include interests in television syndication, digital media, publishing, home video, radio, recorded music, licensing & merchandising and two feature film divisions, TV films and nickelodeon movies. MTV networks is a unit of Viacom Inc. .
About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, in its 28th year, 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 is distributed to more than 300 million homes across Europe, Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. .
