via Discovery press release:

The Hub Children’s Network Announces Additions to Senior Staff

– New Hires Round Out Business, Marketing, Production and Programming Functions for Discovery-Hasbro Joint Venture Network –

March 15, 2010

(Los Angeles, Ca.) Margaret Loesch, president and CEO for The Hub, today announced the appointment of six senior executives to the staff of the children’s television network, scheduled to launch in late 2010. Joining the network are Joshua Meyer as senior vice president of business & legal affairs, Jordan Beck as vice president of creative services & on-air promotions, Lou Fazio as vice president of scheduling, acquisitions & planning, Greg Heanue as vice president of marketing & promotions, Fred Poston as vice president of operations, and Michael Ross as vice president of production & post-production.

“Adding these best-in-class executives further strengthens our already solid management team at The Hub. Each of these leaders brings significant industry expertise and talent to help us build a world-class, family-friendly destination for children.” said Loesch.

Bio Capsules:

• Joshua Meyer, senior vice president of business & legal affairs, will work directly with Loesch overseeing business affairs and legal matters including production and talent deals, acquisitions, licensing, marketing, promotions, sales, operations, new media, digital distribution, copyrights, clearances, corporate, regulatory and tax issues. Meyer joins the network after serving as co-general counsel & senior vice president of business & legal affairs for Cookie Jar Entertainment since 2005. As a legal executive for an award-winning brand management and entertainment company, he negotiated and drafted worldwide intellectual property rights and distribution agreements for internationally-known children’s character, “Strawberry Shortcake,” resulting in more than $2 billion in retail revenues over the last five years.

• Jordan Beck, vice president of creative services & on-air promotions, who will report directly The Hub’s Chief Marketing Officer Amber Tarshis, will provide strategic and creative direction on the production of on-air promotion and marketing projects. He is tasked with effectively communicating The Hub’s positioning and differentiating the brand to target audiences while continuing to evolve creative strategies and tactics across media. Beck comes from ReelzChannel where he was senior vice president of creative services, responsible for devising and executing strategies for on-air promotions and off-air advertising for the start-up television network about movies and the movie industry with a 45 million-plus household distribution. In addition, he oversaw the writing and producing of promotional spots for on-air, advertising and affiliate presentations for Fox Kids.

• Lou Fazio, vice president of scheduling, acquisitions & planning, will identify, evaluate, and source creative programming. In addition, he is responsible for strategic program planning and program scheduling for the network. Fazio was formerly vice president of program strategy and acquisitions at the Game Show Network, where he managed long-range planning for GSN’s programming development and acquisitions needs. Prior to GSN, he was responsible for all scheduling and planning for Toon Disney, now Disney XD, and ABC Kids, the Saturday morning children’s programming block on ABC. Fazio will report to Donna Ebbs, The Hub’s programming chief.

• Greg Heanue, vice president of marketing & promotions and reporting to the company’s CMO, comes to The Hub from The Weather Channel as vice president of consumer and ad sales marketing. There, he led the consumer, affiliate and ad sales marketing teams in development and execution of campaigns for The Weather Channel, increasing ad revenue for both The Weather Channel and weather.com. Previously, Heanue was the senior director of marketing at The Cartoon Network, where he was responsible for off-channel consumer & trade marketing of Cartoon Network’s kid, tween, teen & adult-targeted programming. In his new role at The Hub, he will develop and execute marketing and promotion strategies, driving brand awareness and enhancing brand image.

• Fred Poston, vice president of operations will be responsible for the coordination, deployment and support of all operational processes and workflows used for the launch and ongoing operations for The Hub. As a veteran operations executive at Reelzchannel, TV Guide, ABC Family and the WB Television Network, he is extensively experienced in overseeing broadcast, production, engineering, studio, traffic, head-end installation, and facility operations. Poston reports to The Hub’s Chief Financial Officer Dan Pimentel, a Discovery Communications veteran.

• Michael Ross, vice president of production & post-production, reporting directly to The Hub’s Sr. VP of Programming, Donna Ebbs, will oversee the development and execution of production and post-production for The Hub’s programming. He will identify, evaluate, and recruit suitable production companies and producers, and employ research skills pertaining to the development and refinement of editorial content and scripting. Ross was the head of production and executive producer for Baby Einstein and Disney Baby where he was responsible for content development, creation, and production strategy and implementation for franchises including Baby Einstein, Little Einsteins, Winnie the Pooh, Mickey Mouse, and Disney Princesses.

About The Hub
Announced in April 2009, the Hasbro, Inc., and Discovery Communications multiplatform joint venture named The Hub will both entertain and educate, featuring content drawn from Hasbro’s rich portfolio of entertainment and educational properties built over the past 90 years, including original programming for animation, game shows, and live-action series and specials. The Hub’s network and online presence will also include content from Discovery’s library of award-winning children’s educational programming, as well as feature extensive programming designed to entertain, enlighten, empower and educate kids and families from leading third-party producers worldwide. The Hub is expected to launch in fall 2010, reaching approximately 60 million U.S. households on what is currently Discovery Kids channel. The online home of The Hub is www.hubworld.com.

About Hasbro
Hasbro, Inc. (NYSE:HAS) is a worldwide leader in children’s and family leisure-time products and services, with a rich portfolio of brands and entertainment properties that provides some of the highest quality and most recognizable play and recreational experiences in the world. As a brand-driven, consumer-focused global company, Hasbro brings to market a range of toys, games and licensed products, from traditional to high-tech and digital, under such powerful brand names as TRANSFORMERS, PLAYSKOOL, TONKA, MILTON BRADLEY, PARKER BROTHERS, CRANIUM and WIZARDS OF THE COAST. Come see how we inspire play through our brands at www.hasbro.com. © 2009 Hasbro, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

About Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK) is the world’s number one nonfiction media company reaching nearly 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in over 180 countries. Discovery empowers people to explore their world and satisfy their curiosity through 100-plus worldwide networks, led by Discovery Channel, TLC, Animal Planet, Science Channel, Investigation Discovery, Planet Green and HD Theater, as well as leading consumer and educational products and services, and a diversified portfolio of digital media services including HowStuffWorks.com. For more information, please visit www.discoverycommunications.com.

Acceso Total recently conducted an interview with Belinda, who played Marisol in the Disney Channel Original Movie, The Cheetah Girls 2.  Along with the interview are several live performances from her new album, Carpe Diem, plus a free MP3 download.  Visit Acceso Total’s website for the interview, performances and a free download.

You can also follow Belinda on Twitter or visit her official website.  Also check out Acceso Total on Twitter and YouTube.

via Nickelodeon press release:

RISING TEEN TALENT VICTORIA JUSTICE TAKES STAR TURN IN VICTORIOUS, NICKELODEON’S NEW LIVE-ACTION COMEDY SERIES ABOUT KIDS AT A HOLLYWOOD PERFORMING ARTS SCHOOL PREMIERING SATURDAY, MARCH 27, AT 9:30 PM (ET/PT)

Co-Produced with Sony Music and Created by Hitmaker Dan Schneider

Victorious Features Ensemble Cast Showcasing Original Music and Dance, Plus an Integrated Companion Community Website, TheSlap.com

Series Theme Song “Make It Shine,” Written by Dr, Luke and performed by Victoria Justice, Available on iTunes on Tuesday, March 23

NEW YORK, March 12, 2010 – Rising teen star Victoria Justice (Zoey 101, Spectacular!) will debut in her first starring role on Nickelodeon’s new live-action comedy series, Victorious, premiering Saturday, March 27, at 9:30 p.m. (ET/PT). The new 20-episode series follows Tori Vega (Justice) as she unexpectedly finds herself navigating life at an elite performing arts high school. Featuring an ensemble cast of teens who act, sing, dance and perform to original music, Victorious is a co-production with Sony Music and is created and executive produced by prolific hit-maker Dan Schneider (iCarly, Zoey 101, Drake & Josh, The Amanda Show). The series will move into its regular timeslot on Sunday, April 11, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT).

“Victorious combines original music from some of today’s most successful songwriters and producers with Dan Schneider’s proven track record of creating unique hit comedies,” said Marjorie Cohn, Nickelodeon’s Executive Vice President, Development and Original Programming. “It’s a perfect vehicle to showcase the comedic and musical talents of our star Victoria Justice and the rest of the gifted cast.”

Victorious follows Tori Vega (Victoria Justice) a girl who has grown up in the shadow of her older sister Trina (Daniella Monet, Nancy Drew), a singer/performer who’s always been the “star” of the family. When Trina has a medical mishap on the night of her school’s annual talent showcase, Tori steps in to perform Trina’s song. Accompanied on the piano by her musically gifted friend André (Leon Thomas III, August Rush, Broadway’s The Lion King, iCarly), Tori’s singing and dancing impress the school’s principal so much that she offers her the opportunity of a lifetime – an invitation to become a student at Hollywood Arts High School. From her first day at the school, however, Tori feels out of place among the amazingly talented students, especially mean diva Jade (Elizabeth Gillies, Broadway’s 13). With the help of Trina, André and her new friends – brooding bad boy Beck (Avan Jogia, Spectacular!), eccentric Cat (Ariana Grande, Broadway’s 13) and lovable but psychologically scrambled ventriloquist Robbie (Matthew Bennett) – Tori realizes that she was born to perform and that entertaining people not only makes her happy but may change her life. The series will feature original music performed by Victoria Justice and the ensemble cast.

Launching in tandem with the show premiere is its companion website TheSlap.com – a social networking and community site that will be featured and used by the characters in the series. The site will also allow the audience to interact with and be a part of the Hollywood Arts High School community. TheSlap.com is Hollywood Arts’ go-to place for gossip, posting new content and social interaction. It lets fans follow the characters’ lives 24/7, giving them access to the characters’ profile pages, uploads from the characters themselves, e.g. photos, videos, blogs, vlogs (video blogs) and characters’ status updates. Fans of Victorious can comment, take polls and play show-themed games.

Victorious will feature songs performed by Justice and the cast under the guidance of Sony Music. The Victorious theme song, “Make it Shine,” is performed by Justice and co-written by one of today’s most successful songwriters Dr. Luke (Katy Perry, Britney Spears, Kelly Clarkson) along with Michael Corcoran (Drake Bell, Miranda Cosgrove). “Make It Shine” will be made available for download on iTunes on Tuesday, March 23.

Victoria Justice joined Nickelodeon in 2005 when she was cast as a series regular on the network’s Emmy-nominated hit Zoey 101. For three seasons, she played Lola Martinez, Zoey’s artsy and dramatic roommate at Pacific Coast Academy. A triple threat, Justice also acted, sang and danced in the Nickelodeon movie-musical Spectacular! Most recently, she guest-starred as championship fighter Shelby Marx in the iCarly one-hour movie “iFight Shelby Marx” which set a ratings record for the hit series. Her other television credits include guest-starring on Gilmore Girls and a role in the Hallmark Hall of Fame Christmas special Silver Bells opposite Anne Heche and Tate Donovan. Justice’s feature film credits include supporting roles in Fallacy with Gary Busey and When Do We Eat with Michael Lerner, Leslie Ann Warren and Jack Klugman, as well as a leading role in the 2005 Sundance Film Festival hit, Mary. She also starred in The Kings of Appletown, a modern adaptation of the Mark Twain classic Tom Sawyer. She attended the musical theater program for three years at Milikan Middle School for the Performing Arts at age 11.

Writer-producer Dan Schneider has established himself as a dominant force in the world of family entertainment by creatively drawing on his affinity for youth culture at Nickelodeon. Under his Schneider’s Bakery Productions, he has carved a unique, progressive niche in the world of kid and family entertainment, most recently as creator and executive producer of the mega-hit Nickelodeon series iCarly starring Miranda Cosgrove and Zoey 101 starring Jamie Lynn Spears—both of which have received Emmy nominations. Victorious marks Schneider’s fifth series with the network. Schneider began with Nickelodeon creatively running the sketch comedy series All That from 1993 to 2004. After which, he went on to produce other groundbreaking series for the network, including Kenan & Kel, starring Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell, The Amanda Show headlined by Amanda Bynes and Drake & Josh starring Drake Bell and Josh Peck. Schneider also created the hit WB series What I Like About You, starring Amanda Bynes and Jennie Garth. His comedic success has also translated on the big screen, writing and producing the popular films, Good Burger and Big Fat Liar.

About Sony Music
Sony Music Entertainment is a global recorded music company with a roster of current artists that includes a broad array of both local artists and international superstars. The company boasts a vast catalog that comprises some of the most important recordings in history. It is home to premier record labels representing music from every genre, including American Recordings, Arista Nashville, Arista Records, Aware, Battery Records, Beach Street Records, Black Seal, BNA Records, Cinematic, Columbia Nashville, Columbia Records, Epic Records, Essential Records, Flicker Records, Fo-Yo Soul, GospoCentric, Hitz Committee Entertainment, J Records, Jive Records, LaFace Records, Legacy Recordings, Masterworks, Polo Grounds, RCA Records, RCA Nashville, RCA Red Seal, RCA Victor, Reunion Records, Slightly Dangerous, Sony Classical, Sony Music Latin, Star Time International, Verity Records, and Volcano Entertainment. Sony Music Entertainment is a wholly owned subsidiary of Sony Corporation of America.

About Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon, now in its 30th 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 99 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 15 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

From Cynopsis Kids 3/15/2010:

Disney XD US acquires the second season of the live-action comedy/drama Lockie Leonard from distributor The Australian Children’s Television Foundation.  Produced by Goalpost Pictures, Disney XD plans to premiere Lockie Leonard in June 2010.  The series is set in Western Australia and follows Lockie Leonard as he makes his way through love, caring for his quirky family, and working to make his way to surfing success as well as being a teenager.  The TV series is based on the Lockie Leonard books by author Tim Winton.

Top-Ranked Nickelodeon Announces its 2010-11 Season Programming Slate at Annual Upfront Presentation

Six New Shows, New Seasons of 16 Returning Hit Series Coming to Nick’s Schedule

Five New Series to Launch Across Nick’s Digital Nets — TeenNick, Nicktoons and Nick Jr.

Nick’s Upfront Event in NYC Highlighted with Special Performances by Pop Singing Sensation Justin Bieber and Nick’s Own Big Time Rush; and Appearances by M. Night Shyamalan, Miranda Cosgrove, Victoria Justice and Jamie Kennedy

NEW YORK, March 11 /PRNewswire/ — At its 2010 annual upfront presentation which featured top talent across the worlds of television, music and film, Nickelodeon today announced a slate of new programming that will be added to the network’s 2010-11 schedule, including: six new series and new seasons of 16 returning hits such as top-ranked iCarly, SpongeBob SquarePants and Team Umizoomi.  Additionally, five brand-new series will bow across Nick’s digital nets, which include TeenNick, Nick Jr. and Nicktoons, during the 2010-11 season.  Nickelodeon, the top-ranked basic cable network in total day for almost 16 years, is poised to close 1Q10 as its most-watched quarter ever in its 30-year history and just celebrated January as its most-watched month ever.

Held this morning at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, Nickelodeon’s upfront presentation featured special guest appearances and contributions from: M. Night Shyamalan, director of Paramount Pictures’ and Nickelodeon Movies’ upcoming feature film The Last Airbender; Miranda Cosgrove, star of iCarly, basic cable’s top kid and tween series; Victoria Justice, from the upcoming Nickelodeon live-action series Victorious; and Jamie Kennedy, star of the animated hit Fanboy and Chum Chum.  The event was capped by musical performances from Nick’s Big Time Rush, and pop singing sensation Justin Bieber, who sang his hit songs, “One Time” and “Baby.”

Six new series will be added to Nickelodeon’s programming line-up this season, including:

• House of Anubis (working title) will debut in fall 2010. From Nickelodeon, in partnership with Belgium-based Studio 100, House of Anubis is a long-form mystery series and the first-ever Nickelodeon live-action show produced in Europe. Originally made for Nickelodeon in Holland, this new global version follows eight students trying to solve a hidden mystery at an English boarding school while dealing with the highs and lows of their teenage years. House of Anubis is produced in the UK by Lime Pictures.
• Victorious, starring Victoria Justice (Zoey 101), co-produced by Sony Music and created and executive produced by television hit-maker Dan Schneider, follows Tori Vega (Justice) as she unexpectedly finds herself navigating life at an elite performing arts high school.  Featuring an ensemble cast of teens who act, sing, dance and perform to original music, Victorious will premiere on Nickelodeon on Saturday, March 27, right after the 23rd annual Nickelodeon’s Kids Choice Awards.
• Kung Fu Panda: The Series, Nickelodeon’s second collaboration with DreamWorks Animation, chronicles the further adventures of Po, the energetic, enthusiastic, always hungry martial arts panda as he protects the Valley of Peace from threats of all kind.  Based on DreamWorks Animation’s hit feature film Kung Fu Panda, the Nick animated series is executive produced by Cheryl Holliday (King of the Hill, Still Standing, Father of the Pride) and produced at Nickelodeon’s Burbank, Calif. Animation Studios.
• Planet Sheen, executive produced by Steve Oedekerk, Keith Alcorn (The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius) and Jim Hope (George Lopez), is the intergalactic tale of Sheen Guevera Estevez–the hyperactive, attention span-challenged kid from Nickelodeon’s hit Jimmy Neutron–who crash lands on Zeenu and deals with bizarre customs and strange-looking creatures as he tries to return home.  Planet Sheen is produced by O Entertainment for Nickelodeon.
• T.U.F.F. Puppy, created and executive produced by Nickelodeon hit-maker Butch Hartman, follows the gung-ho, dim-witted dog named Dudley Puppy who is thrust into the role of “hero” when recruited by the super secret crime fighting organization, T.U.F.F. (Turbo Undercover Fighting Force) to protect his hometown against the evil animal organization, D.O.O.M. (Diabolical Order of Mayhem).  T.U.F.F. Puppy is produced at the Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, Calif.
• Bubble Guppies is a new interactive, animated variety show for preschoolers set in a vibrant 3D, CGI-animated underwater classroom.  Bubble Guppies – created by Robert Scull and Jonny Belt (The Backyardigans) — has an emergent curriculum: ideas that emerge from preschoolers’ own discoveries.  Each episode will delve into a preschool topic from a variety of angles as the cast and viewers explore the swaying kelp forests, coral reefs and undersea gardens of their aquarium-inspired surroundings.

Brand-new seasons of 16 hit blockbuster series will be featured in Nick’s 2010-11 schedule:

Live action:

• iCarly, basic cable’s top kid and tween series; True Jackson, VP; BrainSurge; and the award-winning Nick News with Linda Ellerbee.
• Big Time Rush, Nick’s newest live-action, record-setting series; and The Troop, which have been picked up for second seasons.

Animation:

• SpongeBob SquarePants and The Penguins of Madagascar, the top two programs with kids 2-11 on television; and The Fairly OddParents.  Additionally, Nick at Nite will premiere the second season of the family favorite Glenn Martin, DDS, on Father’s Day, June 20, 2010.
• Fanboy and Chum Chum, which has been picked up for a second season.

Preschool:

• Team Umizoomi, the number-one preschool show on all of television since debuting Jan. 25, 2010; Go, Diego, Go!; The Wonder Pets; and The Backyardigans.
• Dora the Explorer, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary this year with four prime-time specials; an original documentary produced by Academy Award®-nominated Brett Morgen (The Kid Stays in the Picture); new online Dora content; and the “Beyond the Backpack” pro-social campaign championing overall school readiness for preschoolers.

Nick’s digital nets—TeenNick, Nicktoons and Nick Jr.–will also add a total of five new shows:

• Gigantic, coming this season to TeenNick, is the network’s second collaboration with award-winning production company Reveille. The half-hour series takes a fictional look at the glitzy, chaotic and often outrageous life of being a Hollywood “it” kid.  Shot at various locations around Los Angeles, Gigantic features an ensemble cast that includes Grace Gummer and Gia Mantegna as two of the lead characters.
• Voltron Panthera Force will premiere on Nicktoons this season.  The series follows the exploits of a group of five young cadets brought together under trying circumstances to form a newly appointed Voltron Lion Squad dubbed the “Panthera Force.”  Voltron Panthera Force is a World Events Production in conjunction with Kick Start Production.
• Dragon Ball Z Kai, premiering on Nicktoons in May 2010, follows the last descendants of an evil race of warriors, known as the Saiyans, on their collision course with Earth. Goku–the strongest fighter on the planet–is all that stands between humanity and extinction and must face the villainous Saiyan warlord.  Dragon Ball Z Kai is developed by Funimation Entertainment.
• Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, debuting this season on Nicktoons, is based on four mutant turtles–trained in the art of Ninjitsu–who battle evil from the New York sewers.  The animated series was recently acquired by Nickelodeon and is jointly produced by 4Kids Entertainment and Mirage Studios.  Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles is considered one of the most popular kids’ television programs and was created in 1984 by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird as a successful comic book series.
• Dino Dan will premiere fall 2010 on Nick Jr.  The new original series combines live-action with CGI-animation to create an adventure-filled modern day world where dinosaurs roam freely.  Developed and produced by Sinking Ship Entertainment and directed by J.J. Johnson, Dino Dan will deal with relatable kids’ issues and teach preschoolers scientific information from new species to dinosaur vocabulary.  Dino Dan was co-developed by real life palaeontologist-in-training, 11-year-old Daniel Cook.

Nickelodeon is approaching its 16th straight year as basic cable’s top network in total day with kids 2-11, 6-11 and total viewers.  Its 1Q 2010 to date performance will mark Nick’s 60th consecutive quarter as basic cable’s top total day network for kids 2-11, 6-11 and total viewers–the longest run of its kind.  Nickelodeon also leads its direct competition with boys 2-11, 6-11 and 9-14 by double-digit percentages.  For the quarter to date, Nickelodeon boasts six of the top 10 programs for kids 2-11, five of the top 10 programs for kids 6-11 and tweens, and the top five preschool programs on broadcast and basic cable television (source: NMR, Live+7 Blended with Live+SD 12/28/09-2/21/10, Live + Same Day data 2/22/10-3/7/10).

Nickelodeon, now in its 30th 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 and feature films. Nickelodeon’s U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 15 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com.  Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. ( VIA, VIA.B).

SOURCE Nickelodeon