Nickelodoen to tell kids

[TSA09 0]

Nickelodeon to its viewers: Go out and play

Network urging kids to turn off television sets

By DAVID BAUDER

Associated Press

 

NEW YORK - Turn off the TV and go outside! Kids hear that from their parents all the time. Now, improbably, they'll hear it from a TV network.

 

This fall, the Nickelodeon network will go off the air for three hours one Saturday and urge its young viewers to play.

 

The morning turn-off is planned for Oct. 2, when Nickelodeon has about 1.5 million viewers ages 6 to 11. During those hours, Nick will show a graphic saying it's time to go outside.

 

"They're not doing as much after-school play as they used to," network president Cyma Zarghami said, "so we wanted to make sure they know it's important."

 

She's certainly aware of the grand irony of this coming from a network that made it possible for kids to spend hours on end staring vacantly at the tube. But she said studies have shown children aren't watching much more television than they did 15 years ago.

 

"We don't have control over how much they watch television," she said.

 

Nick probably won't lose much advertising revenue during the stunt; companies will be compensated by having commercials run at different times, she said. Nick estimates it's spending some $10 million on its "Let's just play" campaign.

 

When Nick comes back on the air that day, it will air a live music and sports special that encourages viewers to stay healthy and active.

 

During its campaign, Nick is also sponsoring play days in 10 U.S. cities, inviting families to parties at parks. Denzel Washington and Hilary Duff are among the celebrities that have recorded public service announcements.

 

If it's a success, might a couple of hours off per week become a regular part of Nickelodeon's schedule?

 

"Our cable operators and our advertisers might have a little trouble with that," Zarghami said.

 

source: houstonchronicle.com,

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/h...ainment/2752589

 

It's about time someone told these fat kids to go out and play. I doubt it'll do any good, as these kids could just turn to channel.

[Youth N Asia 0]

Beh, it's for good press more than anything else. Just means that Cartoon Network will spike their ratings that day. And they could have picked a warmer day to do this.

[Mole 0]

Or the kids will just turn to one of the other 4 Nick channels there are.

[Guest Staravenger]

Disney

Toon Disney

Nick2

Nick GAS

Boomerang

Cartoon Network

Noggin

PBS

WB

 

I'm sure kids don't know how to channel surf...fucking retarded executives.

[razazteca 0]

So the kids will not watch nick in the mourning.......this only means more time for the 'net, video games, and sleep.

[Corey_Lazarus 0]

Nothing new. Nick's been doing ads like that since I was little. Didn't work for me, since most of the ads were for kids to go out and play basketball, and I hate basketball.

[Mole 0]

Nothing new. Nick's been doing ads like that since I was little. Didn't work for me, since most of the ads were for kids to go out and play basketball, and I hate basketball.

Oh yeah, I remember that now.

 

Of course I didn't listen.

[slimm44 0]

Those ads were just commercials for summertime. This sounds interesting. Plus to add to the list of other channels to watch, there is also Nicktoon TV. But I have a feeling that all the Nick channels will air the Go Out and Play screen. Nick 2 is just a 3 hour delay of Nickelodeon.

[Placebo Effect 0]

Disney

Toon Disney

Nick2

Nick GAS

Boomerang

Cartoon Network

Noggin

PBS

WB

 

I'm sure kids don't know how to channel surf...fucking retarded executives.

PR baby, PR.

 

They won't truly give a fuck about obesity until their viewers start collapsing from heart attacks.

[kkktookmybabyaway 0]

Of course if one kid gets hit by a car while outside I can smell the lawsuit...

[Guest SP-1]

Yeah, everyone knows the only kids that don't go outside and play are the fat ones. Because that's why they are fat. And fat kids suck.

 

I think it's a good thing. Most kids probably won't pay much attention, but if some actually go out into the sunlight and discover it's, you know, fun, perhaps they'll make it a regular habit.

[Sass 0]

Nick showed ads like these 10 - 15 years ago. They were so campy looking.

[GreatWhiteNope 0]

Nick showed ads like these 10 - 15 years ago.  They were so campy looking.

You mean the "Nick Days" ones, right?

 

They used to air between commercials. Like they'd say "Today, August 24th is National Friendship Day in Japan! - Go help a friend, or make a new one! Everyday is a Nick Day!".

 

That was annoying as hell.

 

Especially since they always aired the "Stay Tuned For *insert show name here* On Nickelodeon!" spot right before or after the Nick Days ads.

[A Happy Medium 0]

Yeah, everyone knows the only kids that don't go outside and play are the fat ones. Because that's why they are fat. And fat kids suck.

 

I think it's a good thing. Most kids probably won't pay much attention, but if some actually go out into the sunlight and discover it's, you know, fun, perhaps they'll make it a regular habit.

As a guy who grew up as an athletic fat kid....I hope you're using sarcasm. Ya know, since fat people are not weak and do not suck...they may have, oh you know, genetics playing a role in their shape more than their suckiness.

 

So anyways....Nickelodeon's old commerical went like this...

 

"First their were video games!"

 

*kid plays atari in dark room*

 

"Then, there was virtual reality!"

 

*kid has the headgear and gloves...looks to be about ready to strangle somebody*

 

"But then, there was....ACTUAL REALITY!"

 

*kid plays some b-ball and is happy...birds chirp again, and the Soviet Union falls because of the kid playing a sport*

[Guest Staravenger]

Wasn't there some commercial (probably not Nick related) where some over weight guy is celebrating scoring a touchdown in some NFL game, and gets tired DOING NOTHING? That was really horrible. NO ONE is that out of shape.

[Guest syncer55]

Makes it sound good for Nick and the parents will appreciate the fact that they are doing this, but the kids will just change the channel