You can officially get slimed…on the second screen. Nickelodeon‘s new iPad app, “Nick App” (available for iPad here), hit iTunes on Thursday and has already risen to the number two spot in the U.S. for free apps. The new app is a game changer in the kid’s TV world as younger demographics can’t understand why old media isn’t touchable. We spoke with Nick Digital Senior Vice President Matthew Evans about the big launch.
How Nick is creating a fun and safe social experience within the Nick App:
“We just launched our Nick App,” explained Evans. The app he described is, “tailored to the platform for this audience, and includes interactive surprises.” He described how social share for their young demographic doesn’t have anything to do with Twitter or Facebook. “One of the key things that we have discovered in our 6-11 audience range, is that social and sharing is turning,” a device back and forth – exactly how kids enjoy toys. “With that we didn’t prioritize a lot of social sharing features into this experience, our target audience is under 13,” he explained. “That said we are displaying tweets from our stars, one of the goals is to give kids the ability to connect stars with their fans, to hear directly from the stars and explain the tweets in a great way,” he added.
Additionally, Nick’s millions of Facebook and Twitter fans are being safely exposed to the new app through hilarious and interactive ads, graphics and backgrounds that make you want to download the new second screen experience immediately.
The major features:
- Full-length episodes in the Nick App can be accessed by households that subscribe to a TV service package with Nickelodeon from any one of eight distributors, including AT&T U-verse, Bright House Networks, Cablevision, DIRECTV, RCN, Suddenlink, Time Warner Cable and Verizon FiOS, which collectively reach almost 50 million homes.
- An offering of HTML5 games at launch, with a new game added every week;
- Music and remixes, including an original SpongeBob SquarePants remix, created by electronic music artist Pogo, for launch;
- Weekly videos offering tips and previews of new Nick games;
- Short-form content featuring Nickelodeon’s live-action stars performing skits, comedic music videos, parodies and more;
- “On the Road with BTR,” a docu-reality series that gives kids an inside look at the daily lives of Big Time Rush;
- Nick Studio 10, a new live, daily afternoon show where four kids challenge each other to make funny content every day, will be featured in the app and air on Nickelodeon beginning this spring.