Nickelodeon Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Inspiring Latin-Themed Programming and Participation in Nationwide Hispanic-Themed Events

Nickelodeon Celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month with Inspiring Latin-Themed Programming and Participation in Nationwide Hispanic-Themed Events

Programming Highlights Include Provocative Nick News with Linda Ellerbee Specials Including 'Harvest of Hope,' Original Shorts Produced by Latino and Hispanic Filmmakers, The Basic Cable Premiere of the TV Movie Princess & The Barrio Boy, and Nick Jr. Marathons of Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go!

Nickelodeon Extends Celebration by Participating in New York City's Hispanic Day Parade, Hispanic-Themed Activities at the Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn and More

NEW YORK, Sept. 12 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon celebrates Hispanic Heritage Month (Sept. 15-Oct. 15) on and off-channel by offering special programming that explores the past, present and future impact of the Hispanic culture on the nation and by participating in culturally themed events throughout the U.S.

"Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month is something we value at Nickelodeon, because we know that diversity is an important aspect of kids' lives," said Cyma Zarghami, President Nickelodeon Television. "In everything that we do, we try to reflect the many faces of our audience. With all of the culturally relevant programming and off-channel events throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, we hope to empower kids to proudly celebrate their heritage."

Hispanic Heritage Month Programming:

Nickelodeon will salute the month with provocative Nick News editions, a TV movie premiere and more:

* Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: "Harvest of Hope" -- Sunday, Sept. 25, 8:30 p.m. (all times ET/PT) -- This new installment of Nick News focuses on four kids from migrant Mexican families and their experiences while living in the United States. * Princess & The Barrio Boy -- basic cable movie premiere, Saturday, Sept. 24, 8 p.m. -- A 15-year-old Latina high school student is conflicted between living up to her wealthy family's expectations and continuing a relationship with a poor boy from East Los Angeles. * Nickelodeon's Cable in the Classroom September theme is Hispanic Heritage Month, and will include: -- Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: "Mi America: A Celebration of Hispanic Culture" -- Wednesday, Sept. 14, 6 a.m. -- Award-winning journalist Linda Ellerbee and actor John Leguizamo talk to kids about being Hispanic in America, exploring their rich heritage, diverse culture and distinct challenges. -- Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: "Quinceanera" -- Friday, Sept. 16, 6 a.m. -- Ellerbee and Nick News explore the Hispanic tradition of girls holding big celebrations for their 15th birthdays, similar to American 'Sweet Sixteen's.' -- Nick News with Linda Ellerbee: "Harvest of Hope" will also air on Cable in the Classroom.

Nick Jr. will celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month will special programming marathons and episodes of preschoolers' favorite Latina heroine, Dora the Explorer, and her adventurous animal rescuer cousin, Diego:

* New episodes of Go, Diego Go! will air on Sept. 15 and Sept. 16, as well as Oct. 10 at 1:30 p.m. * Dora the Explorer "Daisy's Quinceanera" airs Sept. 15, 10:30 a.m. and will repeat throughout the month. In this episode, Dora celebrates her cousin Daisy's 15th birthday party, her quinceanera! But before the party can begin Dora and Boots much teach everyone the mambo. * Go, Diego, Go! marathons will air on Sept. 16 (11 a.m. to 2 p.m.); Oct. 10, Columbus Day (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.); and Oct. 14 (9 a.m. to 2 p.m.). The Columbus Day marathon will wrap up with the new Go, Diego, Go! episode "Linda the Llama Saves Carnival" on Oct. 10 at 1:30 p.m. * A week of Dora the Explorer new episodes will air at 10:30 a.m. beginning Oct. 3 through Oct. 6, leading up to a Dora the Explorer marathon on Oct. 7 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. * Nick Jr., working with Latino and Hispanic filmmakers, created and produced four spots that celebrate aspects of everyday kid life, featuring details unique to different Latino and Hispanic communities. These spots will also run on Nick Jr. throughout Hispanic Heritage Month, as well as on Nick Jr.com and Nick Jr. Parents' TV. As a bonus on Nick Jr. Parents' TV, a member of the older Latino generation will speak about the meaning and cultural relevance of the depicted scenes. The spots will focus on: -- The making of a Quincenera event through the eyes of a younger sister, developed by Nick Santana of Washington Square Films International. -- The weekly ritual of a young boy and his older sister accompanying their grandfather to the neighborhood Mercado (also developed by Santana). -- A young girl helping her abuelita in the family owned bakery, developed by the filmmaking team of Marta Masferrer and Luis Violante. -- A young boy joins his father at the neighborhood barbershop for a pretend shave and a round of dominoes, or "bones", with his father's friends. This is also developed by Masferrer and Violante.

Off-Channel Activities and Events:

* MTV Networks Vice Chairman and Nickelodeon Networks President Herb Scannell will speak at the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute's Public Policy Conference in Washington, D.C., on Tuesday, Sept. 12, about issues of importance to the Latino community. * Nick Jr.'s Diego costumed character will make an appearance at the Bronx Zoo on Saturday, Sept. 17, as part of the Zoo's Hispanic Heritage Month weekend celebration of its exhibit honoring important Latinas in History. Thousands of Go, Diego, Go! educational, bi-lingual posters will be distributed in conjunction with Diego's appearance throughout the day. * The Dora costume character will make an appearance at the California State Museum in Sacramento, Calif., on Sept. 28, at the opening of its exhibit honoring Latinas. The exhibit will include Dora posters, storyboards, an animatic and a description of the animation process. * On Oct. 2, Nick Jr. will host 'Diego Day' at the Children's Museum of Manhattan, which will include a Diego costume character appearance, a traditional mask-making demonstration, a live petting zoo (Diego's parents run an Animal Rescue Center) and a special screening of Go, Diego, Go! The event will be held in the Dora the Explorer exhibit at the museum, which runs through December 2006. * Nickelodeon will be part of the Hispanic Day Parade, Oct. 9, in New York City, with a float featuring Nick Jr.'s Dora and Diego costume characters and the voice of Dora the Explorer, Kathleen Herles. * The Dora the Explorer Live! show will stop in San Antonio on Oct. 12 through Oct. 16. In the all new Dora's Pirate Adventure show, Dora's journey consists problems or puzzles that she and the audience must solve in order to move on to the next challenge. Dora teaches Spanish words or phrases to the audience and asks them to use these to solve the problem to help her forge ahead on her journey. * The Dora the Explorer Dance Fiesta! CD, the second Dora the Explorer release from Nick Records and Sony BMG Strategic Marketing Group, hits selves on Oct. 11, featuring original music such as "La Bamba" and "Oye Como Va" from Dora and her friends, along with duets with Grammy Award Winners Carlos Santana and Los Lonely Boys. * NickJr.com will feature Hispanic-themed videos, recipes for authentic Latin dishes, Dora the Explorer sing-a-longs, activities and suggestions on how to celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month in your own home. * Nick Jr. Family Magazine will feature a back-to-school read together story starring a Hispanic family in its September issue, as well as listings of family activities around the country geared towards Hispanic Heritage Month. * For preschoolers and their families, Nickelodeon Family Suites by Holiday Inn in Orlando will hold Hispanic-themed events as part of its Nick Jr. Month in September, such as a piñata fiesta, Salsa dance lessons, Dora dance parties, a Go, Diego, Go! premiere launch party and more.

Additional Hispanic-themed programming, activities and events will be announced throughout Hispanic Heritage Month.

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 ten consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

Source: Nickelodeon

CONTACT: Joanna Roses, +1-212-846-7326, Joanna.roses@nick.com, or Nancy Hostler, +1-212-846-7491, nancy.hostler@nick.com, both for Nickelodeon

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

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