Here is the completetext of Kids' WB! press release:

KIDS' WB! BRINGS BEST-SELLING CHILDREN'S AUTHOR R.L. STINE'S NEWEST THRILLER BOOK SERIES "THE NIGHTMARE ROOM" TO LIFE IN NETWORK'S FIRST-EVER LIVE-ACTION SERIES FOR FALL 2001

"THE MUMMY" ANIMATED SERIES BRINGS ALL-NEW SCARY-ADVENTURES TO SATURDAY MORNINGS

BREAKTHROUGH 3D-CGI ANIMATED SERIES "CUBIX" ALSO TO DEBUT ON NEW SATURDAY SCHEDULE 

Next Evolution Of Top-Rated Smash-Hit POKÉMON: JOHTO LEAGUE CHAMPIONS, Plus All-New Seasons Of Returning Hits JACKIE CHAN ADVENTURES, X-MEN: EVOLUTION And STATIC SHOCK Highlight Saturday Morning Slate

New Animated Series RESCUE HEROES: GLOBAL RESPONSE TEAM And SHERLOCK HOLMES IN THE 22ND CENTURY Join JACKIE CHAN ADVENTURES, CARDCAPTORS, POKÉMON: THE JOHTO JOURNEYS, POKÉMON And BATMAN BEYOND On Weekday Line-Up

Network Announces Commitments For First Stop-Motion Animated Series PHANTOM INVESTIGATORS And Returning High-Adventure Favorites THE ZETA PROJECT And MAX STEEL For 2001-2002 Season


BURBANK, CA (March 8, 2001) - Kids' WB!, a market leader in kids' television, which has maintained its top-rated position as the #1 broadcast network this season, will add its first-ever live-action series and four new animated series to its top-rated Saturday morning and weekday slates during the 2001-2002 television season. The network introduced a diverse and innovative schedule, including Kids' WB!'s first live-action anthology series from best-selling children's author R.L. Stine, and featuring the network's hallmark ingredients: high-adventure, humor and heart; compelling storylines; and kid relatable characters for boys and girls. The new fall schedule also will include the new adventures of Pokémon: Johto League Champions and all-new seasons of returning hits Jackie Chan Adventures - airing six days a week, X-Men: Evolution, Static Shock and Cardcaptors, along with other Kids' WB! favorites. The schedule was announced today by Donna Friedman, Executive Vice President, Kids' WB!, speaking to advertisers and media at the network's upfront sales presentations in New York.

Kids' WB!, which is the only broadcaster with a full 19-hour programming schedule, has maintained its broadcast leadership position this season through a highly successful original programming line-up, strategic scheduling andaggressive research. This past year, Kids' WB! spoke to more than a thousand kids during every phase of development and production, aswell as partnered with child development experts to work closely with each series' creative teams to ensure the network is in tune with whatis relevant and meaningful to kids. The result of this major effort has been an exciting line-up of hit shows.

"Last year we set some clear goals - to maximize the amazing power of Pokémon to launch new hits and to broaden our reach to include girls. I'm proud to say that we've accomplished both," said Ms. Friedman. "Next season, we plan to build on this success and solidify our leadership position both on weekdays and Saturdays with a powerful schedule of returning hits and breakthrough new series from the best talent in the kids' business."

As the #1 choice for kids, Kids' WB! continues to maintain its leading position as the #1 Saturday morning broadcast network for the second consecutive season. Setting precedent with its innovative and diverse 2000-2001 programming schedule, the network led the period regarded as the most important quarter in kids' programming, the highly competitive 4th Quarter of 2000. Kids' WB! captured the 4th Quarter to rank as the #1 broadcast network on Saturday mornings among the key demographics of Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11, Boys 2-11, Boys 6-11 and Girls 6-11, tying with the previous girl leader, ABC.

For the 4th Quarter, Pokémon: The Johto Journeys outperformed all Saturday morning competition, including cable, finishing as the #1 program in Boys 2-11 and Boys 6-11, and as the #1 broadcast program in Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11 and Girls 6-11. For the quarter, the network dominated with six of the top 10 Saturday morning kids broadcast programs among Kids 2-11, including the high-adventure Pokémon: The Johto Journeys ranking #1 and #8; the exciting team of X-Men: Evolution as the #2 program; the electrifying first African-American teenage superhero Static Shock ranking #5; and the action-comedy-adventure Jackie Chan Adventures shared the #6 spot with the magical fantasy Cardcaptors. Pokémon finished the quarter as the #1 weekday broadcast program in Kids 2-11 and Boys 2-11.

Season-to-date, Kids' WB! remains a market leader in the key demographics of Kids 2-11, Kids 6-11, Boys 2-11, Boys 6-11 and Girls 6-11 (tied with ABC). Pokémon: The Johto Journeys ranks as the #1 series among all Saturday morning programs, including cable, in Boys 2-11 and Boys 6-11. Among Kids 2-11, Kids' WB! programs capture 6 out of the top 10 Saturday morning broadcast spots season-to-date, with 5 out of the 6 being new series, including Pokémon: The Johto Journeys as the #1 program; X-Men: Evolution ranking #2; Static Shock in the #4 spot; and Jackie Chan Adventures, Cardcaptors and the new break-out hit The Zeta Project sharing the #6 spot. Kids' WB! also dominates the top 10 lists with 7 out of the top 10 Saturday morning broadcast programs in Kids 6-11; and 6 out of the top 10 Saturday morning broadcast spots in Boys 2-11 and Girls 6-11.

Kids' WB! brings all-new thrilling and chilling scary adventures to its Saturday morning line-up with the debut of the network's first live-action anthology series from highly-acclaimed and wildly popular children's author R.L. Stine. The Nightmare Room brings to life adaptations of Stine's newest hit book series and all-new thrilling stories written just for Kids' WB! Based on the blockbuster-hit feature film franchise, The Mummy follows 11-year-old Alex O'Connell, and his parents Rick and Evy, on a race around the world to discover a set of powerful scrolls... before the awesome Mummy captures them. In addition, the Saturday line-up will include the stunning 3D-CGI animated series Cubix, from the same team that brought Pokémon to Kids' WB!, which presents a world where there is "a robot for everyone."

The new Saturday line-up also will be highlighted by 52 all-new episodes of the next installment of the top-rated series Pokémon: Johto League Champions, and the returning hits: Jackie Chan Adventures; the all-original series X-Men: Evolution; and Static Shock, starring the first African-American teen animated superhero, which will feature a special animated guest appearance by superstar Shaquille O'Neal.


The new series joining the new 2001-2002 Saturday schedule include:

* THE NIGHTMARE ROOM - Step into The Nightmare Room as Kids WB! presents its first-ever live-action program based on the brand-new book series from famed author R.L. Stine. The live-action anthology series will take viewers to a world beyond reality... where nightmares just might be real. A world where ordinary eyeglasses reveal the masks people hide behind, lies come true with eerie results and a school locker with the #13 brings the worst luck of all. The Nightmare Room brings R.L. Stine, who is listed in the Guinness Book of World Records as the author of the best selling children's book series of all time Goosebumps - which was also the highest rated kids show on television for three years - to Kids' WB! The Nightmare Room thriller book series (published by Parachute/Avon Books) has been a huge success, building on Stine's reputation as "the Stephen King for kids" and the master of "safe scares." The Nightmare Room will bring to life adaptations of the books as well as original never-before-read storylines written just for Kids' WB! The series is produced by the award-winning team of Tollin/Robbins Productions ("All That," "Kenan & Kel," "The Amanda Show," "Cousin Skeeter") in association with Warner Bros. Television.

* THE MUMMY is based on Universal's blockbuster feature film franchise "The Mummy" and this spring's upcoming sequel "The Mummy Returns." This animated series follows the adventures of 11-year-old Alex O'Connell, along with his parents, Rick and Evy. Alex appears to have the perfect childhood: travelling the globe with his parents, excavating ancient ruins... and did we mention, fleeing for his life from a hostile mummy! When the all-powerful "Manacle of Osiris" locks onto his wrist, Alex and his parents are set on a race around the world to find the sacred Scrolls of Thebes, the Manacle's instruction manual... before they are found by Imhotep - the mummified spirit of an evil Egyptian high priest also in search of the Scrolls and the Manacle. The fate of the world is endangered - and Alex must save it. The Mummy, set in the 1930's, combines round-the-world exotic locations with a contemporary attitude, and plenty of comedy and high-adventure. The series is produced by Universal Television. 

* CUBIX follows the adventures of 13-year-old Andy, a robot whiz, who through the power of friendship, brings to life a robot named Cubix that has been discarded as useless. When the town's wacky mad scientist, the evil Dr. K. begins to steal robots in search of a mysterious power source, Cubix and the gang prove to be the only force that can oppose him... and new heroes are born. The show is set in an amazing world called Bubble Town, where robots are everywhere and serve every function - from hot dog vendors to gym teachers to best friends. From 4Kids Productions, Inc., the same team that brought Pokémon to Kids' WB!, Cubix is a futuristic story of action, adventure and an uncommon friendship.

Kids' WB! has focused on its weekday line-up as a priority for next season in an effort to secure its leadership position as the network has done on Saturday mornings. The network has made a significant financial investment to bring more fresh new programming than ever before to the weekday line-up. Kids' WB!'s new weekday schedule will be highlighted by 39 new action-comedy episodes of Jackie Chan Adventures. The schedule also will include the new animated series Rescue Heroes: Global Response Team which follows the ultimate emergency team around the globe to save anyone in real "life-threatening" situations, with many stories drawn from actual news headlines. Each episode features safety tips and positive life lessons. Sherlock Holmes In The 22nd Century brings the world's greatest detective back - and to Kids' WB! - for more mystery-solving, crime-fighting adventures in the futuristic world of the 22nd Century, with a visually striking blend of traditional 2D and 3D-CGI animation.

The Monday-Friday line-up also will include new episodes of the Japanese anime-adventure Cardcaptors, the smash-hit series' Pokémon: The Johto Journeys and Pokémon, and the new millennium's Batman Beyond.


The new series to debut on the weekday schedule include:

* RESCUE HEROES: GLOBAL RESPONSE TEAM follows the extreme emergency team around the world on their nail-biting adventures in this all-original series produced for Kids' WB! Using their brains, skills, teamwork - plus awesome, cutting-edge gadgetry, the Rescue Heroes are always prepared to save anyone, anywhere on the globe in life-threatening situations. Whether they are dispatched to a runaway Japanese bullet train or a crisis at an underwater marine world, this extraordinary team of men and women will always be on call and ready for their next challenging mission. Many stories from this FCC-friendly series are drawn from real-life news headlines and will feature safety tips and positive life lessons for all the "would-be rescue heroes" watching at home. Each adrenaline-pumping half-hour will include two distinct action-packed 11-minute episodes. Join the Rescue Heroes on every exhilarating adventure! Rescue Heroes: Global Response Team is produced by Nelvana.

* SHERLOCK HOLMES IN THE 22ND CENTURY brings the world's greatest detective back - and to Kids' WB! - for more mystery-solving, crime-fighting adventures in the futuristic world of the 22nd Century. When Inspector Beth Lestrade of New Scotland Yard, eagerly brings Sherlock Holmes back to life, as a young 25-year-old man, they join forces to protect the once-peaceful future from an unprecedented crime wave. In an effort to assist Holmes - just like the good ole' days, they have programmed his beloved loyal friend and associate, Dr. John Watson, into the brain of an android. They quickly lock wits once again with their eternal adversary, Professor James Moriarty, who is determined to dominate the crime-free world of the future. The dynamic detective duo and their partner Inspector Lestrade once again dare to solve the unsolvable in every mystery-packed adventure. Each episode of this FCC-friendly series is inspired by the literary classics of Arthur Conan Doyle, emphasizing critical thinking, problem solving and deductive reasoning skills, with a visually striking blend of traditional 2D and 3D-CGI animation. Sherlock Holmes In The 22nd Century is co-produced by DIC Entertainment and Scottish Television.

The network also announced production commitments for the 2001-2002 season for three upcoming series, including the first stop-motion animated series Phantom Investigators, featuring the coolest kid private investigators of paranormal phenomena in town; and additional episodes of this season's newest break-out hit The Zeta Project; and the high-adrenaline, adventure-packed series Max Steel returning for its third season in all-new 2-D animation.

Kids' WB! has made a production commitment for the following upcoming new animated series:

* PHANTOM INVESTIGATORS features Prunella, Casey, Jericho and Nakisha - the coolest kid private investigators of paranormal phenomena in town. Ever since "P.I." Daemona Prune (a.k.a. Prunella Damone to kids at school) found her great-grandmother's ghost-detector in the attic, this 7th grade team of phantom-finders has been solving supernatural mysteries and catching creatures from the world beyond. They have managed to do all this with their own personal extraordinary abilities paired up with high-tech poltergeist-detecting gadgets, ghost-chasing vehicles... and a little help from a gang of cohorts that are not exactly human. From possessed skateboards to zombie pizza delivery guys - and anything else inexplicable, just call 555-PHANTOM... and this tight-knit crew of friends is on the case. Produced by Wholesome Products, Inc., and distributed by Sony Pictures Family Entertainment Group, the series brings a stunning mix of animation styles including stop-motion animation and sophisticated puppetry to life with a unique and bright color palette for this groundbreaking new series for Kids' WB!


KIDS' WB! 2001-2002 SCHEDULE:


SATURDAY

8:00 a.m. STATIC SHOCK
8:30 a.m. POKÉMON: JOHTO LEAGUE CHAMPIONS (New Adventures)
9:00 a.m. THE MUMMY *
9:30 a.m. JACKIE CHAN ADVENTURES
10:00 a.m. POKÉMON: JOHTO LEAGUE CHAMPIONS (New Adventures)
10:30 a.m. CUBIX *
11:00 a.m. X-MEN: EVOLUTION
11:30 a.m. THE NIGHTMARE ROOM *


MONDAY-FRIDAY

Morning:
7:00 a.m. BATMAN BEYOND (Monday-Thursday) / RESCUE HEROES (E/I) (Fridays) *
7:30 a.m. SHERLOCK HOLMES IN THE 22ND CENTURY (E/I) (Monday-Thursday) * / RESCUE HEROES (E/I) (Fridays) *

Afternoon:
3:00 p.m. CARDCAPTORS
3:30 p.m. POKÉMON 
4:00 p.m. POKÉMON: THE JOHTO JOURNEYS
4:30 p.m. JACKIE CHAN ADVENTURES

* NEW SERIES