Nick's Kids Pick The President Election Connection Team -- Featuring Lily Collins, Lil' JJ and Pick Boy -- To Report From Conventions For On-Air and Online Coverage
Two New NickNews with Linda Ellerbee Election Specials to Premiere in August and October
NEW YORK, Aug. 20 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon is throwing its splat into the political ring with a fall season's worth of presidential and election-themed content, all gearing up for its renowned kids' vote in October. From Aug. 24 to Oct. 12, the network will air new interstitial content about the U.S. presidential campaign, along with two brand-new Nick News specials. Additionally, Lily Collins, Lil' JJ and Pick Boy -- Nickelodeon's Kids Pick the President Election Connection Team -- will follow the campaign trail by providing kids with an insider point-of-view at the Democratic and Republican National Conventions.
All this leads up to the Kids Pick the President kids' vote which begins Oct. 12. Historically, kids have correctly chosen the next U.S. president four out of five presidential elections. This election year's vote follows Nickelodeon's first-ever kids' primary, held earlier this year, where kids correctly forecasted this year's candidates: Senators John McCain and Barack Obama.
"This presidential election has ignited so many young people to become more involved," said Marva Smalls, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs for Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group. "We want to connect our audiences to the process -- the candidates and issues. Kids -- although not legal voters -- don't want to be on the sidelines."
A series of educational and humorous spots featuring the Kids Pick the President Election Connection Team will be introduced on-air and online in conjunction with the Democratic National Convention, on Aug. 25. The Election Connection Team will report from the conventions, profile the candidates, and get out the word about the Kids Pick thePresident kids' vote. Lil' JJ will also serve as blogger-extraordinaire on nick.com with up-to-the minute details of his experiences at the conventions.
Leading up to the Kids Pick the President online vote, where kids can choose their presidential candidate of choice, the Emmy Award-winning Linda Ellerbee will host two new half-hour Nick News specials. In "Tales from the Trail," premiering Aug. 24, at 9 p.m. (ET/PT), Nick News will follow kids who are rooting for, and actively campaigning for, Senator Barack Obama and Senator John McCain. The special will provide a glimpse into what will take place at the Democratic and Republican Conventions. In the final Kids Pick the President special, which premieres in October, Nick News will take kids' questions to the presidential candidates and then encourage kids to go online to www.nick.com/kpp and vote for the next U.S. President.
Teachers can also find Nickelodeon's Cable in the Classroom program's election-themed lesson plans online at http://www.teachers.nick.com.
Nickelodeon, now in its 29th 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 96 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 14 consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).
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