Corus Entertainment Brings Nickelodeon North

    
    Corus Entertainment Inc. and MTV Networks International Announce Plans to
    Launch Nickelodeon Channel in Canada
    

TORONTO , Sept. 28 /CNW/ - Corus Entertainment Inc., Canada's largest kids' broadcaster, today announced plans to add Nickelodeon, one of the world's leading entertainment brands for kids, to its premiere portfolio of kid-focused services. Corus Entertainment and MTV Networks International together will launch a 24-hour Nickelodeon channel at 6 a.m. ET on Monday, November 2, 2009 . Nickelodeon in Canada will be dedicated exclusively to Canadian kids and feature a line-up of Nick's award-winning properties, from current live-action comedies and animated favourites to classic hits.

"We are thrilled to build on our long-standing relationship with Nickelodeon with the launch of this new service, which gives Canadian audiences full access to one of the best entertainment experiences for kids in the world," said Paul Robertson , President, Television, Corus Entertainment. "Nickelodeon joins Corus Entertainment's unmatched portfolio of kid-focused brands that offer Canadian children and their families a full range of entertaining options, with something for everyone, on a variety of platforms."

"For more than a decade we have worked in total synergy with Corus Entertainment, leveraging Corus' market leadership and Nickelodeon's hit content pipeline to deliver Canadian audiences an unrivalled entertainment experience," noted Bob Bakish, President, MTV Networks International. "The launch of a fully localized, 24-hour Nickelodeon service is a direct reflection of how successful this holistic approach has been with viewers and partners."

The Nickelodeon schedule will offer viewers a line up of exclusive top-rated Nick programming, including the Canadian premieres of the new animated series Fanboy and Chum Chum, and the live-action series The Troop, while also giving front row access to special events such as the star-studded Kids' Choice Awards. The schedule will give viewers more access to their favourites, including SpongeBob SquarePants, iCarly, Dora The Explorer and The Backyardigans, and bring back series such as The Mighty B!, Danny Phantom and Avatar: The Last Airbender. The service will also bring viewers classic library titles from Nickelodeon such as Ren & Stimpy, Angry Beavers, Rocko's Modern Life, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron: Boy Genius and The Rugrats. Rounding out the schedule, Nickelodeon will feature original Canadian series including Grossology, Max & Ruby, Storm Hawks and My Friend Rabbit.

Corus Entertainment Inc. and MTVNI's multi-platform agreement includes exclusive television rights in Canada to all current Nick animated programming as well as live action series and all digital rights for Nickelodeon and related brands.

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, in its 30th 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. (NYSE: VIA and VIA.B).

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 services, television broadcasting, children's book publishing and children's animation. The company's multimedia entertainment brands include YTV, Treehouse, W Network, CosmoTV, VIVA, Movie Central, HBO Canada , 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 www.corusent.com.

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For further information: Lindsay Sutcliffe, Manager, Communications, Corus Entertainment, [phone], [email protected]; Molly Ray, Publicist, Corus Entertainment, [phone], [email protected]