Russia’s TNT Buys 250 Hours of Nick Content

LONDON/MOSCOW: Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN) has inked a deal with Russian TV network TNT for 250 hours of Nickelodeon’s animated and live-action programming, along with securing a number of new consumer product deals.

Beefing up its kids, teens and tweens programming, TNT acquired Nickelodeon animated titles including SpongeBob SquarePants, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, As Told By Ginger, Hey Arnold and My Life as a Teenage Robot. TNT will also broadcast the live-action series iCarly, Big Time Rush and The Troop for the first time. All of the programming will be localized for Russian audiences and will be included as part of an existing Nickelodeon-branded block on TNT.

VIMN also scored a raft of consumer product deals for SpongeBob SquarePants, including agreements for plush, personal-care products and apparel, as well as outdoor and sporting items, and stationery. All products will hit shelves in Russia this summer.

Nicholas Walters, the senior director and country manager for Russia and emerging markets at VIMN, commented: “Russian kids and families have taken Nickelodeon and properties such as SpongeBob SquarePants to their hearts and we are therefore delighted to bring our high-quality animation and live-action content to viewers on both terrestrial and pay-TV platforms and to broaden our consumer products offering. Our aim is to ensure we provide Nickelodeon fans in Russia with access to their favorite brand and properties whenever, wherever and however they want and we are actively exploring other new opportunities to do this across all media platforms."