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ViacomCBS introduces Nickelodeon-themed smartwatch for kids

(Photo courtesy ViacomCBS International, Graphic by The Desk)

ViacomCBS is getting into the wearables game.

The media conglomerate this week introduced a new smartwatch aimed at children that sports references to its youth-focused network Nickelodeon.

The device, called the NickWatch, will give children a direct line to their parents and other family members while simultaneously allowing kids to “explore the world with confidence,” the company said.

ViacomCBS is known for its portfolio of iconic brands that have shaped current events and pop culture for decades,” Raffaele Annecchino, the chief executive of ViacomCBS Networks International, said in a statement. “Now, as we look to the future, the NickWatch marks a milestone as the first connected smart watch to harness the power of our consumer brands.”

The watch was developed in partnership with the Israeli electronics firm Watchinu (which sounds like “watching you” — creepy name for something that can essentially track your every movement, but maybe that will appeal to so-called “helicopter parents“).

The device will be available at retailers starting next year. Pricing and retail partnerships will be announced by Watchinu at a later date.

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About the Author:

Matthew Keys

Matthew Keys is an award-winning journalist with more than 10 years of experience covering the business of television and radio broadcasting, streaming services and the overall media industry. In addition to his work as publisher of The Desk, Matthew contributes regularly to StreamTV Insider and KnowTechie, and has worked for several well-known news organizations, including Thomson Reuters, McNaughton Newspapers, Grasswire, Comstock's magazine, KTXL-TV and KGO-TV. Matthew is a member of IRE, a trade organization for investigative reporters and editors, and is based in Northern California.

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