SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis Nets Series' Biggest Audience Ever, with Almost 9 Million Total Viewers Tuning In

SpongeBob's Atlantis SquarePantis Nets Series' Biggest Audience Ever, with Almost 9 Million Total Viewers Tuning In

First-Ever SpongeBob TV Movie Stars David Bowie and Rocks Monday Ratings as the Number-One Cable Entertainment Program with Persons 2+

Atlantis Leads Nickelodeon to its Overall Highest-Rated Day of the Year with Kids

NEW YORK, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon's latest SpongeBob adventure, SpongeBob Atlantis SquarePantis (Monday, Nov. 12, 8 p.m., all times ET/PT) nabbed the series' biggest audience ever, with 8.8 million total viewers (P2+) tuning in to the show's first-ever TV movie. SpongeBob Atlantis SquarePantis led Nick to its highest rated total day of the year with kids 2-11 and kids 6-11, and ranked overall with total viewers as the number-one cable entertainment program of the evening. With Kids 2-11, the music-filled TV movie, starring rock legend David Bowie, earned a 13.9/4.8 million, up triple digits (+231%) over last year's like time period. It also earned a 15.6/3.3 million among kids 6-11 (+239% over last year) and a 12.3/2.6 million with tweens 9-14 (+200%).

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071114/NYW153 )

Leading up to the prime-time underwater adventure, Nickelodeon held a 12-hour marathon (Monday, Nov. 12, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.) counting down kids' favorite SpongeBob episodes represented by every letter of the alphabet from "Z" to "A". The SpongeBob marathon earned a 6.9/2.4 million kids 2-11 (+82% over last year), 6.9/1.5 Kids 6-11 (+138%), and 4.2 million total viewers (+84%). More than 1 million votes were cast for kids' favorite episodes from Oct. 15 to Nov. 4 on TurboNick, Nick's broadband video player on Nick.com.

SpongeBob SquarePants: Atlantis SquarePantis is now available on TurboNick and on DVD (from Nickelodeon Home Entertainment and Paramount Home Entertainment.

In spirit of "Atlantis SquarePantis," Nick.com went "underwater" and bubbles took over the site, unlocking exclusive Nickpoints, Nicktropolis content, and more. More than 2.7 million virtual Bubble Buddies were created by kids and the Bubble Buddy screen page received more than 2.4 million visitors (Oct. 17 to Nov. 12). In addition, the Atlantis SquarePantis show page on Nick.com received 4.2 million visits since its launch (also Oct. 17 to Nov. 12). The SpongeBob "Atlantis SquarePantis: Bus Rush" online game on Nick.com went live on Nov. 1 and is the number-one game on the site more than 2.7 million game plays since its launch. SpongeBob's "Atlantis SquarePantis/Atlantis Treasures" game, Atlantis-themed video clips, and themed-wallpapers are currently offered on select Nickelodeon wireless content carrier partners and will release on all network wireless partners later this month.

In "Atlantis SquarePantis," SpongeBob finds the missing half of an ancient medallion believed to be a relic from the lost city of Atlantis and brings it to the Bikini Bottom Museum where the other half is on display. The two sides are reunited, and suddenly a magical van appears that beckons to take SpongeBob, Patrick, Sandy, Squidward and Mr. Krabs to the legendary city of Atlantis. Upon arrival they are greeted by Atlantis' king himself, Lord Royal Highness (voiced by David Bowie), who spares no time in taking the visitors on a tour. Atlantis proves to be even more wonderful than anyone could have imagined, particularly for SpongeBob and Patrick who encounter the Oldest Living Bubble. But when a flash from Patrick's camera causes a mishap, SpongeBob, Patrick, Mr. Krabs, Sandy and Squidward must run from the Atlantean Guards or find a way to make amends.

Launched in July 1999, SpongeBob SquarePants has since emerged as a pop culture phenomenon and one of the most popular series in kids' television history. The series is the number one animated program with Kids 2-11 for 6 consecutive years and the Saturday morning play of the series currently ranks as the top rated program among Kids 2-11. Approximately 64.5 million viewers tune into the show each month, including 23.1 million Kids 2-11, 14.4 million Tweens 9-14 and 30.7 million Adults 18+. (Source: Nielsen Cume Data -July 2007). Adult viewers also continue to tune in and have increased by 87% since the premiere of the show in July, 1999.

The most widely distributed property in MTV Networks history, SpongeBob SquarePants is syndicated in 171 markets in 25 languages. SpongeBob SquarePants is among the top rated kids' shows, across broadcast and cable, in every major television market around the world.

Nickelodeon, in its 28th 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 96 million households and has been the number- one-rated basic cable network for 13 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE:VIA and) (NYSE:VIA.B) .

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Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20071114/NYW153
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
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Source: Nickelodeon

CONTACT: Joanna Roses, +1-212-846-7326, or Nicole Parker,
+1-818-736-3613, both for Nickelodeon

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

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Profile: International Entertainment