Nickelodeon, the number-one entertainment brand for kids, and The Hertz Corporation, the world's largest general use car rental brand, today announced a travel industry first: the launch of Nick on the Go, a fully portable, pre-loaded, touch-screen media player for vacationing families. The Nick-branded units are now available exclusively from Hertz - at 21 top leisure travel airport locations across the United States. A breakthrough in travel, the take-it- anywhere units are designed for kids' hands and can be used while in the car, at the pool on vacation, or wherever travel time takes them.
Players can be reserved on Hertz.com or by calling 1-800-654-3131 beginning today. Nick on the Go will be available at Hertz airport locations, as of Saturday, Dec. 15, in Atlanta, Baltimore, Boston, Chicago (O'Hare), Dallas/Fort Worth, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Los Angeles, Miami, Newark, Oakland, Orange County, Orlando, Palm Beach, Philadelphia, Phoenix, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose, Seattle, and Tampa.
"Hertz is pleased to add more fun to the family travel experience by offering our exciting new Nick on the Go media player, a first for the travel industry," said Frank Camacho, Staff Vice President, Marketing for Hertz. "It's the newest addition to our product line designed to make travel time more enjoyable. Kids love having their favorite Nickelodeon shows available to them even on vacation, and the Nick on the Go player makes that possible wherever they go. Parents will appreciate the easy use, the hours of entertainment, and the ability to take the player into a hotel or restaurant, as well as using it in the car."
Nick on the Go is preloaded with more than 40-hours of top programming from Nickelodeon and Nick Jr., including popular episodes from 'SpongeBob SquarePants'; 'Drake & Josh'; 'Avatar: The Last Airbender'; 'El Tigre'; 'Danny Phantom'; 'The Fairly OddParents'; 'Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius'; 'All Grown Up'; 'Catscratch'; 'Rugrats'; 'My Life as a Teenage Robot'; 'The X's'; 'Unfabulous'; and 'Zoey 101.' Preschoolers can view 'Dora the Explorer'; 'Blue's Clues'; 'Blue's Room'; and 'The Wonder Pets!'. Programming and content will be regularly refreshed to meet the needs of frequent renters.
"This is another exciting first for Nickelodeon because our mission is to be wherever kids are and it's great to be part of family vacations in such an innovative way," said Leigh Anne Brodsky, President, Nickelodeon & Viacom Consumer Products. "Travel is always more fun for kids when they bring their buddies along, and characters like 'Dora the Explorer' and 'SpongeBob SquarePants' are at the top of the list for kids of all ages. We're proud to partner with Hertz and have consumers take Nick along for the ride on thousands of vacations in the months ahead."
Nick on the Go uses easy-to-use touch-screen technology. The durable unit, covered in Nickelodeon's iconic orange, can be used anywhere and kids can adjust multiple functions with a quick touch. While in the car, there is a mounting system for back-seat viewing. Outside the car, the system is easily handheld and completely portable. Perfect for extended trips, the long-life battery can be recharged with either a car or a/c charger, both of which are provided in a convenient Nick-branded traveling case.
Following its initial launch, future units will roll out to 25 additional Hertz markets by early 2008. Nickelodeon and Hertz also plan to add new features to the units next year, including a range of Nickelodeon video games and internet access to Nickelodeon's family of websites. In addition, health and wellness public service announcements that are part of Nickelodeon's Let's Just Play initiative to educate and inform kids about active, healthy and balanced lifestyles, will also be included.
The consumer roll-out of Nick on the Go will be supported by banner ads on Hertz.com, and in-location collateral. Hertz is also an advertiser on Nickelodeon television and other Nickelodeon/MTVN Kids and Family Group platforms.
