Nickelodeon's TV Channels and Websites Go Dark for Annual Worldwide Day of Play, Sept. 26

Six Countries to Participate in More Than 1,000 Worldwide Day of Play Events

NEW YORK, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- demonstrates its commitment to empowering kids to take action on issues that are important to them with its annual Worldwide Day of Play (WWDP) on Saturday, Sept. 26, when its TV channels and websites go off the air and offline from 12 to 3 p.m. (ET/PT). Nickelodeon, Network, , The N, Nick.com, Noggin.com, Nicktoonsnetwork.com and The-N.com will all participate with a goal of inspiring kids to get up and be active.

"Over the last six years, Nickelodeon's signature Worldwide Day of Play has encouraged millions of kids around the world to embrace an active and healthy lifestyle," said Marva Smalls, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, Nickelodeon Kids and Group. "This year, we are utilizing the power of all our collective media platforms and partnerships to encourage kids and to take action on this important issue."

More than 250,000 kids in more than six countries and in every U.S. state are expected to participate in Nickelodeon's sixth annual WWDP, and more than 1,000 local events are scheduled worldwide. Nickelodeon will again partner with Big Brothers Big Sisters of New York City on its flagship WWDP New York event -- BBBS of NYC RBC Race for the Kids -- which this year will feature special appearances by Honorary Chairman of The N, Nick Cannon; platinum recording artist, Sean Kingston; Yo Gabba Gabba!'s DJ Lance Rock; Melinda Shankar and Sam Earle from The N's : The Next Generation and Nickelodeon stars Lil' JJ; J. Boogie and NFL great Tiki Barber, who will be leading kids in football drills as part of the NFL PLAY 60 campaign, aimed at getting kids active for 60 minutes a day.

Other scheduled events around the country include:

-- 600 local Boys & Girls Clubs of America chapters in all 50 states and several international territories will hold play events on and leading up to Sept. 26. -- The NFL will encourage kids to PLAY 60 by going dark on NFLRUSH.com on Sept. 26. NFL teams including the Atlanta Falcons, Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns, Green Bay Packers, Jacksonville Jaguars and Minnesota

Vikings will host WWDOP events at local venues nationwide. -- The U.S. Forest Service, a new WWDP partner, will promote WWDP as part of their National Public Lands Day on September 26 (and has over 60 events planned nationwide).

-- The National Environmental Education Foundation (NEEF) has also partnered with Nickelodeon to celebrate Worldwide Day of Play with events planned across the country in conjunction with National Public Lands Day.

Nickelodeon will kick off WWDP programming day on Sept. 26 when it will "turn off" the channel from 12 p.m. until 3 p.m. to encourage kids across the country to take part in the celebration of healthy and active play. When the network is "turned on" again by the cast of True Jackson, VP at 3 p.m., the health and wellness messaging will continue throughout the day with packaging featuring , , Matt Shively, Robbie Amell and Victoria Justice.

WWDP is part of Nickelodeon's overall health and wellness efforts which include grants programs, public service announcements, websites, games and more. Through Nick's health and wellness efforts over the past six years, more than 1 million kids have pledged to get healthy. For more information about Nickelodeon's WWDP, visit http://www.worldwidedayofplay.com.

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 and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books 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).

SOURCE Nickelodeon Joanna Roses, +1-212-846-7326, or Thamar Romero, +1-212-846-7491