WWE® Returns to Kids Time Slot with Original Content Anchoring Vortexx on The CW

LOS ANGELES, Aug. 10, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today Saban Brands announced new original content from WWE will anchor its programming block, dubbed Vortexx, which debuts nationwide on The CW August 25^th.  WWE Saturday Morning Slam packs the riveting in-ring action, the larger-than-life WWE Superstars, and WWE's kid-friendly entertainment into the fastest, most energy-filled half-hour on television.  WWE Superstar profiles, behind-the-scenes footage and an exclusive WWE match every week will all combine to make WWE Saturday Morning Slam the perfect destination for the youngest viewers in the WWE Universe.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120810/LA55576LOGO)

"We are extremely excited to partner with the WWE to bring their world class-brand of entertainment to Vortexx," said Joel Andryc, Co-President, Vortexx.  "With a focus on action, adventure and comedy, Vortexx is the perfect home for WWE Saturday Morning Slam and will definitely excite our fans."

Also coming to the block, which airs Saturdays from 7 a.m. to noon, will be marquee titles including Justice League Unlimited, Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy and Iron Man: Armored Adventures. Vortexx will feature many iconic franchises available to viewers in one place for the first time.

7:00 a.m. - 7:30 a.m. (Educational and Informational Hour) —Cubix
In a world full of robots, an ingenious young boy named Connor and his miraculous transforming robot Cubix must combine forces, along with the help of their human and robot pals, to save the day when the evil Dr. K plots to steal the mysterious power source known as Solex.

7:30 a.m. - 8:00 a.m. (Educational and Informational Hour) —Rescue Heroes
The Rescue Heroes are a crack team of international emergency response professionals who travel the globe to help those in danger. Equipped with the latest up-to-the-minute knowledge, high-tech hardware and cutting-edge technology, they are dedicated to promoting safety and saving lives everywhere.

8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.—Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy
The massive spaceship Terra Venture represents mankind's greatest accomplishment as it traverses the galaxy.  When this tremendous achievement is threatened by dangerous aliens, led by the insect-like villain Scorpius and his daughter Trakeena, a new team of Power Rangers from different walks of life unite to become the Galaxy Rangers in a saga that will take them to undiscovered worlds and even other galaxies. 

8:30 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.—Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL
Yuma Tsukumo is a young duelist who strives to become the Duel Monsters champion.  During a duel with a school bully, a mysterious spirit called Astral appears before him, and helps him to win. Astral explains to Yuma he is searching for his lost memories, which have been transformed into 99 Xyz Monsters cards called Numbers and have been scattered across the globe. In order to recover his memories, Astral teams up with Yuma in order to recover the Numbers cards. Using the powers of Zexal, the two must compete with Numbers Hunters, who seek to claim the Numbers cards for themselves in order to destroy Astral's home world.

9:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.—Iron Man: Armored Adventures
Tony Stark, teenage heir to a billion-dollar corporation, must take on the mantle, and formidable armor, of Iron Man when his father mysteriously disappears.  Along with his teenage friends, James Rhodes and Pepper Potts, Iron Man must save the world from a multitude of villains and balance the pressures of teenage life with the duties of being a super hero.

9:30 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.—Justice League Unlimited
The "founding members" of the Justice League, Superman, Batman, Wonder Woman, Flash, Martian Manhunter, Green Lantern and Hawkgirl continue to defend the planet from every known threat.  Along the way, they are aided by a large number of other superheroes from the DC Universe, including Aquaman, Black Canary, Captain Marvel, Supergirl and more. The League not only clash with their famous nemeses, from Brainiac, Lex Luthor, Mantis and many others, but the building tensions between the Justice League and a secret government agency known as Project Cadmus brings heightened conflict to a series where every child's favorite superheroes are called to action.

10:00 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.—WWE Saturday Morning Slam
WWE Saturday Morning Slam packs the riveting in-ring action, the larger-than-life WWE Superstars, and WWE's kid-friendly entertainment into the fastest, most energy-filled half-hour on television.  WWE Superstar profiles, behind-the-scenes footage and an exclusive WWE match every week will all combine to make WWE Saturday Morning Slam the perfect destination for the youngest viewers in the WWE Universe.

10:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.—Dragonball Z Kai
The epic adventure continues as the famous martial artist Goku and his son Gohan are shocked when they learn that Goku belongs to an alien race called the Saiyans, who are bent on destroying the Earth.  Father and son travel the galaxy, battling Saiyans and other enemies in their heroic attempt to save the world from total destruction.

11:00 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.—Yu-Gi-Oh! Classic
Yu-Gi-Oh! tells the tale of Yugi Moto, a young boy who solves an ancient artifact known as the Millennium Puzzle, causing his body to play host to a mysterious spirit.  Yugi and his friends love playing the card game Duel Monsters, and with the help of his doppelganger, Yugi becomes the most famous duelist in the world.  When Yugi learn that the spirit inside his puzzle is actually an unnamed Pharaoh from Egyptian times, he and his friends attempt to help the Pharaoh regain his memories.

11:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.—Yu-Gi-Oh! ZEXAL
(Description above at 8:30 a.m.)

"Our goal is to reenergize Kids Broadcast Television by providing entertaining and high-impact programming on Vortexx all morning long," Andryc continued.  "We are proud of the lineup we have put together, which also includes classics and fan favorites like Power Rangers: Lost Galaxy and Yu-Gi-Oh!"

Saban Brands will also be hosting a live chat with a Power Ranger during the premiere of the Vortexx television block. Fans can interact LIVE with a Power Ranger on August 25 from 7 a.m. to noon on Twitter at @MyVortexx.

In addition to this new television block on The CW, MyVortexx.com will also offer fun activities, interactive games, and other exciting and unexpected content online and across mobile devices, giving kids the full Vortexx experience 24/7/365.   

Follow Vortexx on Facebook and Twitter.

About Vortexx
Launching August 25, 2012, Vortexx is an entertainment platform focused on delivering content, activities and products featuring high-energy action, adventure and comedy. On television, Vortexx will provide programming to air Saturdays from 7 a.m. – noon on the CW. The nationally-broadcast programming block will feature marquee titles such as Power Rangers and Yu-Gi-Oh!, as well as other new and returning favorites.  In addition to television, Vortexx will offer a variety of online and mobile entertainment destinations that will keep kids entertained 24/7/365. Vortexx is an affiliate of Saban Brands. Learn more at www.MyVortexx.com.

About Saban Brands
Formed in 2010 as an affiliate of Saban Capital Group, Saban Brands (SB) was established to acquire and develop a world-class portfolio of properties and capitalize on the company's experience, track record and capabilities in growing and monetizing consumer brands.  SB applies a strategic transmedia management approach to enhancing and extending its brands in markets worldwide and to consumers of all ages.  The company provides full-service management, marketing, promotion and strategic business development for its intellectual properties including comprehensive strategies unique to each brand, trademark and copyright management and enforcement, creative design, retail development, direct-to-consumer initiatives and specialized property extensions.  SB is led by a superior management team with decades of experience in media, content creation, branding, licensing, marketing and finance. For more information, visit www.sabanbrands.com.

About WWE
WWE, a publicly traded company (NYSE: WWE), is an integrated media organization and recognized leader in global entertainment. The company consists of a portfolio of businesses that create and deliver original content 52 weeks a year to a global audience. WWE is committed to family friendly entertainment on its television programming, pay-per-view, digital media and publishing platforms. WWE programming is broadcast in more than 145 countries and 30 languages and reaches more than 600 million homes worldwide. The company is headquartered in Stamford, Conn., with offices in New York, Los Angeles, Miami, London, Mumbai, Shanghai, Singapore, Istanbul and Tokyo.

Additional information on WWE (NYSE: WWE) can be found at wwe.com and corporate.wwe.com. For information on our global activities, go to http://www.wwe.com/worldwide/.

Saban Brands Contact:
Kelsey Lynch
Burson-Marsteller
310-309-6671
[email protected]

SOURCE Saban Brands