Brands Back SI For Kids Snow Search

Cartoon Network and Kids WB! have signed on as official sponsors of the 2006 Sports Illustrated For Kids Next Snow Search, a season-long quest to find the best kids (ages 9-13) on skis and snowboards.

In its third year, the Next Snow Search consists of more than 70 competitions at U.S. and Canadian resorts. The program ends with a championship competition at Vermont’s Killington Resort March 3 to 5, in which 150 athletes from more than 70 North America ski resorts compete for a spot on the 2006 Sports Illustrated For Kids Next Snow Team. Entry and schedule information is available at NextSnow.com.

For brand sponsors, the search gives networks a unique way to showcase top shows and programming.

Cartoon Network, the official youth TV sponsor of the All-Star event, will air an original 30-minute cartoon special called Mount Miguzi onto the snow as part of the Big Air Fire and Snow Show— signature event for the program. The network will also develop Next Snow Search content for its weekday afternoon action-adventure Miguzi franchise, which regularly highlights exceptional kids around the country who have followed their dreams to become top athletes.

Meanwhile, Kids WB! will leverage its sponsorship of the Snow Search to boost awareness of two new shows from Warner Bros. Animation, Loonatics Unleashed and Johnny Test. Kids WB! Saturday Unleashed Snow Show will be aired on the mountain in Killington before competitors hit the slopes for the Big Air Fire and Snow Show.

The network last month launched an on-air sweepstakes, which will award a grand prize trip for a family of four to attend the finals at Vermont’s Killington Resort in March. In addition, 150 runners-up will receive a gift subscription to Sports Illustrated for Kids. The sweepstakes ran Dec. 3 to 10. Winners will be announced soon.

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