Nickelodeon Partners With Verizon FiOS to Offer SpongeBob SquarePants Games Widget

NEW YORK, July 25, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon and Verizon today announced an interactive widget that allows viewers to play SpongeBob SquarePants-themed games while watching their favorite Nickelodeon shows.   Exclusive to subscribers with both Verizon FiOS TV and Internet, the widget delivers a series of four games that can be downloaded for free from Nickelodeon, Nicktoons, and the Verizon FiOS TV Application Storefront.

"Verizon is a fantastic partner and the SpongeBob SquarePants games widget is a great opportunity for us to provide single-screen interactive entertainment for their customers," said Peter Dolchin, Vice President of Strategy and Business Operations, Content Distribution and Marketing, MTV Networks. "This innovative platform allows fans to further engage with one of their favorite characters in a way that complements their Nickelodeon viewing experience."

Subscribers can access the free widget by tuning in to Nickelodeon or Nicktoons and clicking the "FiOS TV" button on the remote control when the interactive bug appears.  Once opened, the games appear on the left-hand side of the screen and customers can choose from the list. Customers can also play the games any time by clicking on the "Widgets" button on the FiOS TV remote control, selecting "FiOS TV Widgets" and selecting the Nick Games icon under the featured category.  Subscribers can select from among the four available SpongeBob games.  All game play is controlled using the directional keys on the FiOS TV remote.

"Verizon's advanced networks deliver the connected technologies that have become essential to people's lives," said Terry Denson, vice president of content and programming for Verizon. "We are excited to partner with Nickelodeon and offer the first branded kids games, exclusive to FiOS TV customers."

SpongeBob SquarePants widget games include:

• "Build-a-Bob"- allows viewers to create their own new and unique SpongeBob characters by choosing from a selection of features and body parts of show characters.
• "SpongeBob ShufflePants" – a puzzle game that requires rearranging the sequence of shuffled image columns or "slices" until the proper sequence is obtained.
• "Under My Rock" - challenges users to find visual duplicates or matches among several image tiles of SpongeBob-themed icons.
• "X Marks the Spot" – a nautical Tic-Tac-Toe game that can be played versus the TV or in two-player mode with two degrees of difficulty.

Nickelodeon worked with Ensequence, an interactive TV company, to develop the SpongeBob widget.  

About Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon, now in its 32nd 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 nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

About Verizon

Verizon Communications Inc. (NYSE, NASDAQ:VZ), headquartered in New York, is a global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wireline communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers.  Verizon Wireless operates America's most reliable wireless network, with more than 106 million total connections nationwide.  Verizon also provides converged communications, information and entertainment services over America's most advanced fiber-optic network, and delivers integrated business solutions to customers in more than 150 countries, including all of the Fortune 500.  A Dow 30 company, Verizon employs a diverse workforce of nearly 196,000 and last year generated consolidated revenues of $106.6 billion.  For more information, visit www.verizon.com..

SOURCE Nickelodeon