Nickelodeon

Nickelodeon (often shortened to Nick) is an American pay television network owned by Paramount Global through its Paramount Media Networks division. The channel's programming is mainly aimed at children and adolescents aged 8 to over, and primarily consists of original first-run television series, along with occasional broadcasts of theatrical and original made-for-television films, as well as other selected third-party programming.
Nickelodeon was first tested on December 1, 1977 as the C-3 channel of QUBE, an early local cable television system in Columbus, Ohio. Initially, the C-3 channel exclusively aired Pinwheel, an educational show developed by Dr. Vivian Horner; the series' success allowed Horner to expand the program into a full channel on national television. The channel, now named Nickelodeon, was launched nationwide as the first cable network aimed at children on April 1, 1979, with Pinwheel as its first program. The network was initially commercial-free and remained without advertising until 1984.
Today, Nickelodeon's programming runs from 6:30 a.m. - 9 p.m. ET/PT Mondays - Fridays, 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. ET/PT on Saturdays, and 6 a.m. - 8 p.m. ET/PT on Sundays (if including the Nick Jr. block). Since 1985, it has shared its channel space with Nick at Nite, a nighttime block that airs during interim hours and is treated by Nielsen as a separate channel for ratings purposes. As of 2018, Nickelodeon is available to over 87.1 million households in the United States.
== Contents ==
* 1History
* 2Programming
** 2.1Nicktoons
** 2.2Major blocks
*** 2.2.1Nick at Nite
*** 2.2.2Nick Jr.
*** 2.2.3SNICK
*** 2.2.4TEENick
*** 2.2.5Nick on CBS
*** 2.2.6Nick Jr. on CBS
*** 2.2.7Nick on Telemundo
* 3Sister channels
** 3.1Nickelodeon Games and Sports
** 3.2NickToons
** 3.3TeenNick
** 3.4Nick Jr. Channel
** 3.5Noggin
** 3.6NickMusic
* 4Other Nickelodeon projects
** 4.1Nick.com
** 4.2Nickelodeon Magazine
** 4.3Nickelodeon Movies
* 5Destinations
** 5.1Nickelodeon Animation Studios
** 5.2Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America
** 5.3Theme park areas
*** 5.3.1Nickelodeon Studios
*** 5.3.2Nickelodeon Central
*** 5.3.3Nickland
*** 5.3.4Nickelodeon Universe
*** 5.3.5Nickelodeon Blast Zone
*** 5.3.6Nickelodeon Splat City
** 5.4Hotels
* 6International
* 7References
* 8See also
** 8.1Official sites
== History ==
: → Main article: History of Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon's first series Pinwheel was tested on December 1, 1977 as part of QUBE, a local cable system in Columbus, Ohio. The puppet-driven show, created by Dr. Vivian Horner, performed well with QUBE subscribers, and convinced the staff to launch a full children's channel, with Pinwheel as its flagship program.
On April 1, 1979, the channel launched to a national audience under the name Nickelodeon. During its broadcast day, it would air shows such as Pinwheel, Video Comics, America Goes-Bananaz, Nickel Flicks, and By the Way.
In 1980, Geraldine Laybourne joined the network as program manager, and would become vice president of Nickelodeon in 1984 before being named its president in 1989.
During the 1980s and 1990s, the channel became known for its green slime, originally featured in the network's first major hit, the Canadian sketch comedy show You Can't Do That On Television. The slime was then adopted by the channel as a primary feature of many of its game shows and special events.
In 1985, the "Silver Ball" logo (which debuted in 1981) was replaced with the orange shape-shifting logo (introduced in 1984) which would continue to be used for nearly 25 years.
On August 11, 1991, Nickelodeon introduced the Nicktoons, original animated shows created by the network. The first three Nicktoons were Doug, The Ren & Stimpy Show, and Rugrats. The shows became highly popular, and Nickelodeon Animation Studio continues to produce new Nicktoons to this day.
The most successful Nicktoon, SpongeBob SquarePants, premiered as a "sneak peek" on May 1, 1999. By 2004, it had become the most profitable program in Nickelodeon history. In 2002, a cable channel called Nicktoons TV was launched. Several original shows have premiered new episodes on the Nicktoons network.
In the early 2010s, Nickelodeon debuted the first two Nicktoons based on preexisting TV franchises, as opposed to new characters: Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Winx Club. These two revamped shows were developed at Nickelodeon Animation Studio following Viacom's purchases of both properties. In 2019, Nick Animation debuted its first streaming-exclusive Nicktoon, Pinky Malinky, which was released on Netflix rather than television. Several months later, the studio announced a multi-year deal to produce animated content for Netflix, including new properties and spin-offs of previous Nicktoons.
== Programming ==
: → Main article: List of programs broadcast by Nickelodeon
=== Nicktoons ===
: → Main article: Nicktoons
Nicktoons are original animated television series created for Nickelodeon. Prior to 1991, the network mainly aired foreign-produced cartoons, as well as American cartoons produced by other companies. Over the years, more Nicktoons were created and aired, as well as animated shows were created for the Nick Jr. block (although the preschool shows are generally excluded from the "Nicktoons" branding).
=== Major blocks ===
==== Nick at Nite ====
: → Main article: Nick at Nite
Nick at Nite is the evening programming block broadcast over Nickelodeon every night from 9:00 PM to 7:00 AM. In 1996, Nick at Nite spun off the channel TV Land, which currently airs a variety of older shows, primarily sitcoms from spanning from the 1950s to the 1990s.
==== Nick Jr. ====
: → Main article: Nick Jr. (block)
Nick Jr. is a weekday programming block targeting preschoolers, broadcast from 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. It premiered on January 4, 1988, and is the longest-running block on the channel. Nick Jr. also branched off into its own 24-hour channel in 2009, taking the space of the Sesame Workshop joint venture Noggin.
==== SNICK ====
: → Main article: SNICK
SNICK was a programming block that aired on Nickelodeon on Saturday nights beginning in 1992. It was briefly known as Snick House from 1999 to 2001, before it was replaced by Nick Flicks for a short time until 2002, when the original SNICK name was revived. In 2005, it was replaced by the Saturday edition of TEENick, which itself was later discontinued in 2009.
==== TEENick ====
: → Main article: TEENick
TEENick was a programming block that first aired on Sundays beginning in 2001, before it also began airing on Saturdays in 2005, replacing the popular SNICK block. It was originally hosted by Nick Cannon and then J Boogie. In early 2009, the block was discontinued in preparation for a move to its own channel later that year.
==== Nick on CBS ====
: → Main article: Nick on CBS
Nick on CBS was a programming block on CBS that aired from September 2002 to September 2004. It consisted of programs originating on Nickelodeon. The block replaced and was later replaced by Nick Jr. on CBS.
==== Nick Jr. on CBS ====
: → Main article: Nick Jr. on CBS
Nick Jr. on CBS was a preschool programming block on CBS that began in September 2000, replacing CBS Kids. The Saturday morning block presented programming from Nick Jr. and was restored in 2004, when Nick on CBS was canceled. This block was replaced by KOL Secret Slumber Party in 2006, which later closed in 2013.
==== Nick on Telemundo ====
Likewise on the Spanish network Telemundo, dubbed Spanish versions of Nickelodeon shows such as Rugrats and Dora the Explorer were aired on weekends. The programming block was dropped in favor of Qubo in the fall of 2006.
== Sister channels ==
Nickelodeon has spun off several other cable networks.
=== Nickelodeon Games and Sports ===
: → Main article: Nickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids
Nickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids was launched on March 1, 1999 as part of MTV Networks' suite of digital cable channels. Olympic swimmer and Figure It Out host Summer Sanders was named the Commissioner of the channel. Dave Aizer and Vivianne Collins were the network's original on-air hosts, with Mati Moralejo joining soon after.
Nick GAS left the DirecTV and digital cable line-ups on December 31, 2007, with a short-lived 24-hour version of Noggin's teen block The N taking its place.
=== NickToons ===
: → Main article: Nicktoons (channel)
NickToons, previously Nicktoons TV and Nicktoons Network, is a digital cable and satellite satellite network that began airing in 2002. The channel primarily airs Nicktoons, though live-action programming has also factored into the channel since 2008.
=== TeenNick ===
: → Main article: TeenNick
TeenNick, named after the former block TEENick, is a television channel aimed at teenagers and tweens. It debuted in 2009, taking over from the 24-hour version of Noggin's "The N" block. From 2011 to 2022, it regularly aired an overnight block devoted entirely to older Nickelodeon programs, which went through a few rebrands itself (known as NickRewind until its cancellation in 2022).
=== Nick Jr. Channel ===
: → Main article: Nick Jr. (channel)
The Nick Jr. Channel, based on the long-running block of the same name, is a channel aimed at preschool and early elementary school-aged children. Nick Jr. has played on Nickelodeon's main channel since 1988, and the separate Nick Jr. Channel launched in 2009 as a replacement for the Noggin channel (see below).
=== Noggin ===
: → Main article: Noggin
Noggin, a joint venture between Nickelodeon and Sesame Workshop, was launched in 1999 as both an educational cable channel and a tie-in website. At first, Noggin was mainly aimed at preteens, with a morning block for preschoolers. In 2002, the channel extended its preschool block to last for half of the day, and all of the channel's shows for tweens and teens were moved to its new nighttime block The N, which became its own channel in 2007. In 2015, the Noggin brand was relaunched as a mobile app.
=== NickMusic ===
: → Main article: NickMusic
NickMusic is a digital cable television network that mainly carries music video and music-related programming from younger artists that appeal to Nickelodeon's target audience.
== Other Nickelodeon projects ==
: See also: Nickelodeon Toys and Nick Rewind
=== Nick.com ===
: → Main article: Nick.com
Nick.com is the official website of Nickelodeon. It was originally centered on Natalie's Backseat Traveling Web Show, which launched in 1996 and continued until 1998.
Nick.com gives visitors of the site the option to register onto the site. Such registration would give the member a "Nickname", which is referring towards his or her membership. Users can e-mail messages to others with NickMail.
Nick.com has over 500 online games, many related to shows that currently or formerly aired on the network. Since 2006, the site has held the "New Game of the Week" program, which features a new game every week, allowing users to get extra benefits for playing.
=== Nickelodeon Magazine ===
: → Main article: Nickelodeon Magazine
Nickelodeon Magazine was launched by Nickelodeon in 1993, following a short-lived effort in partnership with Pizza Hut in 1990. The magazine contained informative non-fiction pieces, humor, interviews, pranks, recipes (such as green slime cake), and a section featuring original comics by leading underground cartoonists, as well as comic strips about popular Nicktoons. The magazine ended publication in 2009, but later saw a brief revival by Papercutz from 2015 to 2016.
=== Nickelodeon Movies ===
: → Main article: Nickelodeon Movies
Nickelodeon Movies is Nickelodeon's motion picture production arm, which has produced films based on Nickelodeon programs, as well as other adaptations and original projects. Its films are released by fellow Viacom division Paramount Pictures.
== Destinations ==
=== Nickelodeon Animation Studios ===
: → Main article: Nickelodeon Animation Studios
Nickelodeon Animation Studio is the name used for Nickelodeon's two animation facilities in Burbank, California, and in New York City. The first studio in California was founded in 1990 under the name Games Animations, and the second in New York was opened in 1999.
=== Nickelodeon Universe at Mall of America ===
: → Main article: Nickelodeon Universe
Nickelodeon Universe, a rebranding of the park in the Mall of America, opened in the spring of 2008. Attractions include an Avatar: The Last Airbender-themed half-pipe ride, a SpongeBob SquarePants-themed roller coaster, and a drop tower ride.
=== Theme park areas ===
==== Nickelodeon Studios ====
: → Main article: Nickelodeon Studios
Nickelodeon Studios was an attraction at Universal Orlando Resort that opened on June 7, 1990, and housed production for many live-action Nickelodeon programs. It closed on April 30, 2005, after all of Nickelodeon's production had relocated to Burbank, California. The slime geyser was removed from the front of the facility in May 2005; the Nickelodeon sign was removed in January 2006; and the Nickelodeon Time Capsule was removed prematurely in August 2006. The building was then converted into the Sharp Aquos Theatre, a venue for the Blue Man Group, which opened in June 2007.
==== Nickelodeon Central ====
: → Main article: Nickelodeon Central
Nickelodeon Central is an area at many theme parks in the United States, Canada and Australia. The area features attractions, shows and themes featuring Nickelodeon characters.
==== Nickland ====
Nickland is an area at Movie Park Germany, featuring Nickelodeon-themed rides including a SpongeBob-themed "Splash Battle" ride and a Jimmy Neutron-themed roller coaster.
==== Nickelodeon Universe ====
Nickelodeon Universe is an area at Kings Island, featuring Nickelodeon-themed rides and attractions. The area is one of the largest areas in the park, and has been voted "Best Kid's Area" by Amusement Today magazine since 2001.
==== Nickelodeon Blast Zone ====
Nickelodeon Blast Zone is an area at Universal Studios Hollywood that features attractions with Nickelodeon characters and themes. There are three attractions in the area, all based on interactivity: "Nickelodeon Splash", a waterpark-style area; "The Wild Thornberrys Adventure Temple", a jungle-themed foam ball play area; and "Nick Jr Backyard", a medium-sized toddler playground.
==== Nickelodeon Splat City ====
: → Main article: Nickelodeon Splat City
Nickelodeon Splat City was an area at Great America (1995-2002), Kings Island (1995-2000) and Kings Dominion (1995-1999), which featured attractions involving getting messy or wet. The slime refinery theme was carried out in the attractions such as the "Green Slime Zone Definery", the "Crystal Slime Mining Maze", and the "Green Slime Transfer Truck".
=== Hotels ===
: → Main article: Nickelodeon Family Suites
Nickelodeon Family Suites was a Nickelodeon-themed Holiday Inn hotel in Orlando, Florida, located near Universal Studios Resort and a mile away from Walt Disney World Resort. The property included one, two and three-bedroom Nick-themed kid suites and various forms of Nick-themed entertainment, as well as a Nick at Nite-themed suite for adults. It was reverted back to a regular Holiday Inn in 2016.
== International ==
Nickelodeon also operates language or culture-specific channels for various markets in different parts of the world, and has licensed some of its cartoons and other content, in English and local languages, to TV and cable stations such as KI.KA and Super RTL in Germany, RTÉ Two (English) and TG4 (Irish) in Ireland, YTV and Teletoon (English) and VRAK.TV (French) in Canada, Canal J in France, Alpha Kids in Greece and CNBC-e in Turkey.
As of 2007, the network also broadcasts in Southeast Asia, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, UK, Scandinavia, Ireland, Netherlands, Spain, Portugal, Belgium, Germany, Cyprus, India, Italy, Israel, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Turkey, Hungary, France, Russia, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Romania, Africa, Latin America, and Brazil.
On October 11, 2006, Viacom's subsidiary MTV Networks Asia Pacific set up a new unit to manage Nickelodeon South East Asia TV based in Singapore. Nickelodeon was launched in Singapore and expanded its services in Southeast Asia, South Asia and Polynesia. Today, Nickelodeon Philippines and Nickelodeon India work independently. They started their new website Nicksplat.com in 2003.
In India, Nickelodeon is available on the One Alliance bouquet, through the Dish TV and Tata Sky DTH services. In the Philippines, it is available on SkyCable Gold, Silver and Platinum channel 45, Sun Cable channel 34 and Global Destiny Cable channel 21. In Hong Kong, it is available on now TV, while in Malaysia, it is available over Astro via Channel 60. In Singapore, it is available over Starhub Cable TV and in Indonesia, Nickelodeon is available on Astro Nusantara channel 14, and is also broadcast on Global TV, a free-to-air television channel.
A pan-Arabia version of Nickelodeon was relaunched in 2008, in countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, and Lebanon. From the late 1990s until the mid-2000s, Nickelodeon was offered on the Showtime Arabia and Orbit satellite services until they were removed; today Nickelodeon Arabia is only available on Orbit Showtime (OSN) along with Nick Jr.
Several Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. programs can also be seen overseas on the U.S. military-exclusive AFN Family channel.