Nickelodeon's TV Channels and Websites Go Dark for Seventh Annual Worldwide Day of Play Saturday, Sept. 25

NEW YORK, Sept. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- For the seventh straight year, Nickelodeon will empower kids to get up and get active when its TV channels and websites go off the air and offline during its Worldwide Day of Play (WWDP) on Saturday, Sept. 25 from 12 to 3 p.m. (all times ET/PT).  Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, Nick Jr., TeenNick, Nick.com, NickJr.com, Nicktoons.com and TeenNick.com will participate.  Additionally, for the first time in the history of the event, Nick stars will serve as hosts during the hours the network is on the air.  They will share health and wellness messages and cover the activities at the flagship WWDP event in New York, the Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of New York City RBC Race for the Kids.

"We hope to once again inspire millions of kids around the world to embrace an active and healthy lifestyle during our seventh annual Worldwide Day of Play," said Marva Smalls, Executive Vice President of Public Affairs, Nickelodeon Kids and Family Group.  "This year, we're enlisting all of our star power to help spread the message of health and wellness to kids and families across our collective media platforms and at our flagship event in New York."

On Sept. 25, Nickelodeon will kick off its health and wellness messaging at 9 a.m. (all times ET/PT) with interstitials featuring Victoria Justice, star of Victorious, and Keke Palmer, Ashley Argota, Matt Shively and Robbie Amell from True Jackson, VP – all live from Nick's flagship WWDP event, the BBBS of NYC RBC Race for the Kids in New York City's Riverside Park.  The race festivities will include a 4k fun run/walk, face painting, games and special guests, including Wyclef Jean. Throughout the morning programming, the Nick stars will check in from the event to share tips on staying active.  At 12 p.m., Big Time Rush, who currently serve as the spokespersons for Nickelodeon's The Big Help's health and wellness efforts, will "turn off" the channel, signaling kids and families to get up and get moving.  When the network goes dark, a message encouraging viewers to go play will appear on a loop.

At 3 p.m., the cast of True Jackson, VP will "turn" the network back on.  Health and wellness messaging will continue on-air with interviews and a behind-the-scenes look at the WWDP event in New York, culminating with appearances by NBA star Chris Paul (New Orleans Hornets) and Nick's Miranda Cosgrove (iCarly).  

Kids in 10 countries and every state across the U.S. are expected to participate in Nickelodeon's seventh annual WWDP at more than 3,000 local events scheduled worldwide.  

Additional partner events scheduled include:

• Boys & Girls Clubs of America chapters in all 50 states and several international territories will host play events on and leading up to Sept. 25.
• The National Parent Teacher Association will provide schools and PTAs across the country with resources and information to help them host their own Worldwide Day of Play events.
• 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.
• National Wildlife Federation will also celebrate WDDP in conjunction with their "Be Out There" campaign that encourages "outdoor family fun."

WWDP is part of Nickelodeon's The Big Help 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 2 million kids have pledged to get healthy.  The Big Help campaign aims to inspire a kid-led movement for positive change and focuses on four key issues: the environment, education, health and wellness and community service.  For more information about Nickelodeon's WWDP or to register an event, visit http://pro-social.nick.com/world-wide-day-of-play/.

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 almost 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