Avatar, Nickelodeon's Newest Animated Hit, Available for Licensing for First Time

Avatar, Nickelodeon's Newest Animated Hit, Available for Licensing for First Time

Nickelodeon Comes to Licensing Show with New Property Roster That Also Includes Danny Phantom and Live Action Tween Favorite Zoey 101 Starring Jamie Lynn Spears

NEW YORK, June 21 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids, comes to Licensing Show June 21-23 at the Jacob K. Javits Center in New York City with a brand-new licensing program for Avatar, Nickelodeon's newest animated series that is already the number-three animated program on television, third only to powerhouses SpongeBob SquarePants and The Fairly OddParents. The network also brings new plans for animated hit show Danny Phantom, live-action tween favorite Zoey 101 and hotter-than-ever SpongeBob SquarePants.

"Avatar is a breakaway hit that has tremendous licensing potential for boys and adults," said Leigh Anne Brodsky, president, Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products. "The show has been embraced by viewers of all ages and compliments our hit property roster that now also includes Danny Phantom and Zoey 101."

Since its premiere this year, Avatar is the highest rated show in its timeslot on all of television with Kids 2-11 and Kids 6-11. The Asian-inspired series tells the story of when the hostile Fire Nation threatens to enslave the Water, Earth, and Air Nations, a reluctant and irresponsible boy must face his destiny as the Avatar, the Chosen One who can restore the world order. Avatar centers on twelve-year-old Aang who must forgo his selfish wandering to learn to master his latent powers over the four elements. Only then can he conquer the Firebenders, the evil magi who threaten the world. Avatar's Consumer Products program will launch with trading cards from Upper Deck in Spring 2006.

Danny Phantom, which premiered on Nickelodeon last Spring, is from Butch Hartman, the creator of The Fairly OddParents. The show unveils the funny, fantastic action-packed adventures of Danny Fenton, who straddles two worlds as a shy freshman at Casper High and a heroic phantom-fighter with ghostly superpowers. With his best friends, techno-geek Tucker and free-thinking Goth girl Sam, he thwarts the misdeeds of menacing ghosts -- and stumbles through daily social hurdles.

Zoey 101 premiered in January and is the number-one show on television with tween girls. The show spotlights Jamie Lynn Spears as Zoey Brooks, a 13-year-old winsome leader whose independent nature is put to the test at the newly co-ed Pacific Coast Academy. The series, shot entirely on location in Malibu, California, deals with a lot of "firsts" that viewers relate to including; first friendships, first crushes, first kisses and living away from home for the first time. Girls are drawn to Zoey, as she is independent and a natural leader, and the series showcases her ability to use her confidence to succeed at a new school. Zoey has a flair for creating unique outfits that are bold and colorful -- but look cool when they're all put together. The show carries on Nickelodeon's tradition of empowering young girls with series that feature strong, independent females as leads. The Zoey 101 apparel and accessories line will debut at most major department stores this Fall.

Nickelodeon can be found at Licensing Show booth #1317.

Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products manages the third largest licensing business in the world with $4.7 billion in retail sales in 2004, from such properties as SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer. The department handles the merchandising for Nick Jr., Nickelodeon, Paramount Pictures, Comedy Central, MTVN International, and Spike TV.

Nickelodeon, now in its 26th 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 89 million households and has been the number- one-rated basic cable network for nine consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

Source: Nickelodeon

CONTACT: Sara Levin, +1-212-846-8670, (on-site), +1-917-701-6718, or Nancy Hostler, +1-212-846-7491, (on-site), +1-917-941-0995, both of Nickelodeon

Web site: http://www.nick.com/

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