Nick Launches Mandarin Site With CCTV

Beijing/Singapore – MTV Networks China, a division of Viacom Inc (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B), and CCTV.COM have launched nick.cctv.com, an online destination for Chinese audiences to access an unprecedented range of Nickelodeon-branded content. The launch of nick.cctv.com marks the first co-branded website to offer video streaming of Nickelodeon content to Chinese audiences, marking a significant milestone for MTV Networks as the first international broadcaster to provide officially sanctioned online video content in China.

“CCTV and Nickelodeon have worked together to make ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ a smash hit on television and now we’re looking forward to building upon that success for Nickelodeon properties in the online environment,” said Mei Yan, Managing Director of MTV Networks China.  “The co-branded site will allow on-demand access to a range of Nickelodeon content including video streaming of our biggest hits, marking a historic first for an international broadcaster in China.  As one of the world's leading kid’s entertainment brands, we will work closely with CCTV.COM to make this platform a fun and interactive way for Chinese audiences to engage with Nickelodeon.”

"It’s a great pleasure for us to join forces with Nickelodeon to create an online cartoon paradise for children.  The platform nick.cctv.com will take full advantage of CCTV.COM’s state-of-the-art technology, providing streaming, on-demand, and interactive broadcasting of video along with many other services.  By virtue of Nickelodeon’s popular content and CCTV.COM’s strong communication capacity and technological platform, we believe nick.cctv.com will become the online destination for Chinese children,” said Wang Wenbin, General Manager of CCTV.com.

The advertiser-supported site will launch with a variety of original Nickelodeon content including online games, wallpapers and episodes of “SpongeBob SquarePants” available for streaming.  Later this year, episodes of Nickelodeon’s award-winning pre-school property “Dora the Explorer” and content based upon other popular Nickelodeon properties including “CatDog” will be featured on the site.  nick.cctv.com will be promoted to a television audience of over 300 million households on CCTV1 and 250 million households on children’s channel CCTV14.

Nickelodeon and CCTV’s business relationship has led to a string of successes in China. “SpongeBob SquarePants” has consistently been one of the highest rated animated programs in China and is currently broadcast daily to over 300 million homes on CCTV1 and CCTV’s children’s channel, CCTV14.  From November 2009 to January 2010, “SpongeBob SquarePants” was the third highest rated programme on CCTV1, attracting an audience of more than 12.2 million viewers and an 9.24 share of viewers 4-14 (source:  CSM Media Research). Additionally, the “Nickelodeon Kids Choice Honors” has been produced in partnership with CCTV and broadcast to more than 300 million homes throughout the country.

The cartoon channel of CCTV.COM is a mass communication platform featuring rich resources, advanced technology and with massive user base. By the end of 2009, the channel broadcast over 40,000 videos and realized broadband high-definition broadcasting.  In addition, there are six other vertical channels including "Animation Theater", "Interactive Camp" and "Games & Toys" providing netizens with multiple services such as live streaming, on-demand video and netizens interaction.  In line with network TV's development in China, the cartoon TV station of China Network Television (CNTV) will be launched in 2010 with backing base on the CCTV.COM cartoon channel, providing brand new experiences for cartoon loving netizens and TV audience.

Mr. Wang Wenbin, General Manager of CCTV.COM, Mr. Liu Ping, Vice President of CCTV.COM and Ms Mei Yan, Managing Director of MTV Networks China, all attended Thursday’s official signing ceremony in Beijing.  Both parties stated that the joint effort between MTV Networks China and CCTV.COM to launch the official Chinese website for Nickelodeon will lead to unprecedented cooperation and sharing of resources, and the companies will work closely together in the development of further content for the site, offering online audiences even more Nickelodeon-branded Chinese content.

Indra Suharjono, Executive Vice President and Managing Director, MTV Networks North and Southeast Asia, added, “Our relationship with CCTV goes from strength to strength, and I couldn’t be more pleased to make this historic move with such esteemed partners as CCTV.COM.”  She added, “We hope to continue to make such historic strides within China, bringing our content to more platforms across the mainland.”