Nickelodeon's Big Time Rush Tops TV With 'Big Time Beach Party'

NEW YORK, Feb. 24, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon's Big Time Rush gave viewers some much–needed spring break fun, as the "Big Time Beach Party" Presidents' Day special (Monday, Feb. 21, 8-9 p.m., ET/PT) ranked as Monday's number-one show on broadcast and basic cable with kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14 and topped basic cable in the time period with total viewers (4.3 million). Guest-starring Russell Brand (Get Him to the Greek, Hop and Arthur), "Big Time Beach Party" increased Nick's prior-year time period levels by triple digits across the board and handily bested competitively scheduled programming with high double-digit gains in every target demo.

Big Time Rush's "Big Time Beach Party" averaged a 6.6/2.35MM with K2-11 (+164% over last year); an 8.3/1.78MM among K6-11 (up (186%); and a 7.2/1.54MM tweens 9-14 (up +177%). With total viewers, the special averaged 4.2 million P2+, up +185% over last year's time period.

Beyond the success of the special, Big Time Rush and their fans are gearing up for more excitement as the group prepares for a headline performance of their new single, "Boyfriend," live at Nickelodeon's 2011 Kids' Choice Awards on Saturday, April 2, at 8 p.m. (ET/tape delayed for West Coast), hosted by Jack Black from the Galen Center at USC in Los Angeles.  

In "Big Time Beach Party," Big Time Rush and the Palm Woods kids get to hang out at Griffin's beach house for the day.  Carlos and Logan hunt for buried treasure, James falls for a pretty girl who he suspects is a mermaid and Kendall and Jo's relationship hits the skids.  The special featured a performance of "Boyfriend" and a cover of The Beach Boys' "Dance, Dance, Dance."  

A co-production with Sony Music, Big Time Rush launched last year as Nickelodeon's highest-rated and most-watched live-action premiere with kids, tweens and total viewers (6.8 million).  Their debut album, BTR, featuring original songs from the hit series, entered the Billboard Top 200 chart at No. 3.  They have now sold over 1.7 million combined digital tracks to date, and their single "Boyfriend" featuring Snoop Dogg is exclusively available for purchase on iTunes.  The music video is available at: http://www.sendspace.com/pro/dl/85rb4e.  

Nickelodeon, now in its 31st 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 more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 16 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