Nickelodeon Introduces SMS Nominations To Asian Telecast Of Kids’ Choice Awards 2003

NEW ZEALAND/SINGAPORE, May 6, 2003- Nickelodeon, the TV Channel for kids, is bringing a new dimension of interactivity to its audience in New Zealand with the introduction of SMS (Short Messaging Service) nominations to the region’s telecast of the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards on May 30th.

For the first time, the New Zealand telecast of the awards show will include a separate on-air component broadcast exclusively on the channel’s 24-hour services, that will let kids from around the region nominate their favourites in six categories:-

Favourite Celebrity Favourite Movie Favourite Music Artiste Favourite Sports Star Favourite TV Show Outstanding NickToon Character

To nominate, viewers can participate via SMS, through the words “KCA” to Vodafone or Telecom NZ at 3535 to get voting instructions. Each SMS costs NZD$0.50 or email mailto: mailto:mychoice@nickpost.com and include your name, address, phone number, email address, cable operator and date of birth. Nominations close on May 9th 2003.

Kids’ nominations will be tallied, and the winning celebrities and shows from the region will be announced separately in special segments to air exclusively on Nickelodeon Asia Pacific during the broadcast of the Kids’ Choice Awards on May 30th.

Nickelodeon will also pick 200 participants sending in entries to win a special Nickelodeon goodie bag.

Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards has emerged as one of the biggest events in Hollywood, boasting a massive popular vote and sweeping audience participation. It is the only award show that gives kids the power to vote for their favorites in movies, television, music, sports and more – and honors their opinions with a live show filled with the celebrities they love. Joining returning host, Rosie O’Donnell---the star-studded line-up at this year’s awards show includes Brad Pitt, Jim Carrey, Britney Spears, Will Smith, Cameron Diaz, Justin Timberlake, Mike Myers and more. The 16th annual Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards was held recently in Los Angeles.

Richard Cunningham, Managing Director of Nickelodeon Asia Pacific said, “This year’s Kids’ Choice Awards is especially significant for our viewers in the region. The introduction of SMS technology will bring kids even closer to the event and allow them to participate more spontaneously in the voting process and express their preferences for their favourite talents, shows and characters. The only rule at the Nickelodeon Kids’ Choice Awards is that Kids Rule. And never has there been a better time for kids to be heard than on the All-Asia Pacific Kids Choice Awards voting contest.”

The telecast of the awards show in Asia is sponsored by Subaru and Fanta in New Zealand

Nickelodeon’s Kids’ Choice Awards is scheduled for telecast in New Zealand on 30 May 2003 at 6:00PM on SKY Digital Channel 42.

ABOUT NICKELODEON:

Nickelodeon Asia Pacific is the leading entertainment brand dedicated exclusively to kids is seen in over 100 million households throughout the region with 24-hour channels and programming blocks in India, Japan, Philippines, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Nepal, Korea, Hong Kong and China. Internationally, Nickelodeon’s portfolio of branded businesses also includes Web sites, music, publishing, interactive games, mobile downloads, consumer products and Nickelodeon Movies, as well as global sales and licensing of Nickelodeon programme franchises, which extend the brand’s cumulative reach to 471 million households and 161 territories globally. Nickelodeon is a registered trademark of MTV Networks, a unit of Viacom Inc