Nick Taps Web for Series

New York— A kids-targeted scripted series about a Web-based show that will incorporate real user-generated content is one of several entries slated for Nickelodeon’s schedule later this year.

The show, iCarly, was unveiled Thursday morning during Nickelodeon’s upfront presentation, which emphasized the 92 million subscriber network’s commitment to multimedia digital platforms.

Miranda Cosgrove (Drake & Josh) stars in iCarly as host of her own homegrown Web show. During the course of the series, viewers will be able to post original content they create, which could be scripted into a future series episode or become part of the show’s online Webcast, according to network officials.

The show is Nick’s second to pay homage to the increasing popularity of user-generated content: The network last month launched “ME:TV,” a weekly two-hour block featuring original, kid-created fare.

On the broadband side, the network said its Nicktropolis virtual Web site has attracted 1 million registered users since its launch this past January.

“We’re giving kids more and more ways to connect the dots of their linear and digital entertainment experiences through Nickelodeon, from the social networking of Nicktropolis, to their ability to mash up our content on TurboNick, to allowing them to send and control their own user-generated content on ME:TV,” said Nickelodeon and MTVN Kids and Family Group president Cyma Zarghami.

Nick will tap its own TurboNick broadband platform to develop a new animated series dubbed Making Fiends. The offbeat series originally appeared on the Web site as a string of shorts.

Other new Nickelodeon shows scheduled to debut during the 2007-08 season include The Umizumiz, an animated interactive series for preschoolers that will air on Noggin; and Bubble Guppies, an animated variety show for toddlers set to premiere as part of Nickelodeon’s Nick Jr. weekday-morning block.

The shows will join previously announced new series Tak and the Power of JuJu, Back to the Barnyard and Ni Hao, Kai-lan on the fall schedule.

Nick also announced it has commissioned new episodes for freshman series The Naked Brothers Band and Just Jordan, as well as staple Zoey 101.

For its part, night-time service Nick at Nite acquired the off-network series George Lopez, as well as America’s Funniest Home Videos, according to Zarghami.

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.