NICKELODEON GREENLIGHTS SECOND SEASON OF NICKSPORTS REALITY COMPETITION SERIES "SOCCER SUPERSTAR"

Olympic Gold Medalist Heather Mitts Returns as Host with All-Star Judges Marcelo Balboa, Angela Hucles and Dan Metcalfe

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NEW YORK - Feb. 8, 2016 - Nickelodeon announced today the greenlight of a second season of Soccer Superstar, a NickSports reality sports competition series that follows the search across the U.S. for the best teen female soccer player. Three-time Olympic gold medalist Heather Mitts returns as host, along with an acclaimed panel of judges including National Soccer Hall of Famer Marcelo Balboa, two-time Olympic gold medalist Angela Hucles and youth development expert Dan Metcalfe. Soccer Superstar will begin production on six half-hour episodes this month and premiere this summer in Nicktoons' NickSports TV block.

Soccer Superstar is holding its first showcase today at FC Dallas GOAL Week in Dallas, Texas, followed by showcases in Tampa, Fla. (Feb. 20), Denver, Colo. (Feb. 27) and San Diego, Calif. (March 5). The top three players selected from each showcase will join the top 12 roster in LA and compete for the coveted title of Soccer Superstar.

"Hosting the first season of Soccer Superstar was an amazing experience, and I was so impressed with the determination and skills of this next generation of female soccer players," said Mitts. "We're raising the bar this season with technique challenges and exciting competitions that will have viewers at the edge of their seats as these girls' abilities are put to the test."

Soccer Superstar is produced by Magic Pictures International (My Beautiful Game, Opening Night, Who Are You? Corkscrewed) Bizzy Signals Entertainment (2012 Summer Olympics, 2015 Women's World Cup) and Mint Pictures (Bushwhacked!, Code of Silence and Red Bull Cape Fear),. The series is executive produced by Kristopher Lythgoe, Michael Cohen and Adam Kay. Soccer Superstar is based on the award winning series, Football Superstar, created by Mint Pictures and Foxtel Australia.

NickSports celebrates kids' love for the action and excitement of sports with an all-access pass to their favorite athletes, teams and leagues. Airing every Friday (9-11 p.m. ET/PT) on Nicktoons, the primetime programming block for kids and families features a lineup of original and acquired sports-themed programming including series, specials, movies and documentaries from major professional sports leagues including the NFL, MLS, NASCAR, WWE, MLB and PGA, and professional athletes. The weekly block features long- and short- form content including the NFL RUSH ZONE franchise, the magazine-format show NFL RUSH, NASCAR's Hammer Down, WWE Slam City, EA SPORTS Game Changers, the animated series Wild Grinders from Rob Dyrdek, NFL Flag Championship at the Super Bowl and the critically-acclaimed basketball documentary Little Ballers, as well as fun interviews, parodies and sketches . Fans can follow NickSports on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram - @NickSportsTV #NickSports.