Nickelodeon (previously known as Pinwheel from 1977 until 1981) is an American cable television channel owned by Viacom. Since the early-1990s and early 2000s, Nickelodeon as a brand has expanded into other territories including Europe, the Middle-East, Russia and Asia. Nickelodeon has been available in Canada since November 2, 2009.
It is often referred to by its shortened name, Nick , a practice that dates back to the early days of the channel. As of 2009, Nick currently has three blocks: Nick at Nite, Nick's Play Date, and the Hollywood Hang. Since 2006, Nickelodeon has been run by MTVN Kids & Family Group president Cyma Zarghami. The channel is aimed mostly at children ages 3–12, with the exception of their prime time block that is aimed at children ages 12–18.
History
Pinwheel (1977–1981)
Nickelodeon was originally launched as Pinwheel on December 1, 1977 and was a channel on Warner Cable's QUBE system in Columbus, Ohio. Running for only 6 hours a day, shows included Video Comicbook, Pop Clips and Pinwheel (TV series). Pinwheel went national on April 1, 1979, expanding to Buffalo, New York, thus Nickelodeon has declared that 1979 is the network's official launch year. During its broadcast day, it would air shows such as the long running Pinwheel along with other TV shows such as Video Comic Book , America Goes Bananaz , Nickel Flicks and By the Way . In 1980, Geraldine Laybourne joined Nickelodeon's production team. She would become President of Nickelodeon in 1983.
Relaunch as Nickelodeon (1981–1990)
Pinwheel was relaunched as Nickelodeon: the First Network for Kids on April 1, 1981. It extended its hours from 8am (EST) to 8pm (EST) by turning its channel over to the Alpha Repertory Television Service (ARTS) and, later for about a year, A&E Network. At one point the channel just went to a test screen after a sign-off. Its original logo was a silver pinball with Nickelodeon title in front in multicolor. Nickelodeon's first popular series was You Can't Do That On Television , a Canadian sketch comedy that made its American debut on Nickelodeon in 1981.
After a while the network became known for its iconic green slime, originally featured in You Can't Do That on Television . The green slime was then adopted by the station as a primary feature of many of its shows. In the early years, other shows such as Livewire , Standby: Lights, Camera, Action , The Third Eye and Mr. Wizard's World were part of the regular Nickelodeon time slots.
The channel struggled at first, having lost $40 million by 1984 and finishing dead last among cable channels. After firing the staff, MTV Networks president Bob Pittman turned to Fred Seibert and Alan Goodman, who created MTV's iconic IDs a few years earlier, to reverse Nickelodeon's fortunes. Seibert and Goodman's company, Fred/Alan, teamed up with Tom Corey and Scott Nash to replace the "Pinball" logo with the "orange splat" logo with the name Nickelodeon written in Bazooka font, that would be used in hundreds of different variations for the next quarter century. Fred/Alan also enlisted the help of animators, writers, producers and doo-wop group The Jive Five to create new idents for the channel. Within six months of the rebranding, Nickelodeon went from worst to first and has stayed there for 25 years. In 1985, after ARTS dropped its partnership with Nickelodeon, Nick added a late-night new block called Nick at Nite. In 1988 Nick aired the first annual Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (previously known as The Big Ballot) and introduced Nick Jr., an educational block for younger children.
Success in the 1990s and Early 2000s (1990-2009)
By October 1990, Nickelodeon was seen in 52 million homes across the United States. In 1990, Nickelodeon opened Nickelodeon Studios, a television studio, in Orlando, Florida at Universal Studios Florida and entered into a multimillion-dollar joint marketing agreement with international restaurant chain Pizza Hut, which involved licking Nickelodeon Magazine, which was available for free at participating McDonalds restaurants. In 1991, for the first time, Nickelodeon developed its first animated series, Doug , The Ren and Stimpy Show , and Rugrats . These series, known as Nicktoons, premiered on August 11, 1991. The network had previously refused to produce weekly animated series due to high cost. The three Nicktoons found success in 1993, while in mid-1993, Nickelodeon developed its 4th Nicktoon, Rocko's Modern Life , which was also a success along with the three other Nicktoons. Later, Nickelodeon partnered with Sony Wonder and released top selling video cassettes of the show's programming. By 1994, Doug ended production, but Rocko's Modern Life , The Ren and Stimpy Show , and Rugrats were still in production and airing. In mid-1996, Nickelodeon developed two new Nicktoons, KaBlam! and Hey Arnold! which would take the place of Rocko's Modern Life and The Ren and Stimpy Show since they would both end production about that time, but still would air re-runs up until about 2001. Rugrats , on the other hand, was still airing. The show got very popular in 1998, when The Rugrats Movie came out. The movie grossed more than $100 million in the United States and became the first non-Disney animated movie to ever sell that high.
In June 1993, Nickelodeon resumed its magazine brand, Nickelodeon Magazine. Nickelodeon Magazine will cease production in 2009 with the December issue being the last. In 1993, Nickelodeon removed sketch comedy You Can't Do That on Television from its schedule after twelve years on and by the next year the network had launched a new sketch comedy, All That . For many years, until its cancellation in 2005, All That would launch the careers of many actors and actresses including Kenan Thompson, Amanda Bynes, and Jamie Lynn Spears. In 1994, Nickelodeon also launched The Big Help , a public service initiative created to encourage kids to volunteer in local communities. It expanded in 2001 by encouraging kids to talk with their friends and loved ones. In October and December 1994, Nickelodeon sold Halloween and Christmas themed episodes of its Nicktoons through syndication to local markets across the United States, with then-new former corporate relative, Paramount Domestic Television (now CBS Television Distribution).
In October 1995, Nickelodeon ventured in the the world wide web and launched Nick.com. Initially the website was available only using America Online's internet service, but was later available to all internet service providers and became a strong promotional tool for Nickelodeon. The website's popularity grew and in March 1999, Nick.com became the highest rated website for children aged six to fourteen years old. Nickelodeon used the website in conjunction with television programs which increased traffic. In 2001, Nickelodeon partnered with Networks Inc. to provide broadband video games for rent from Nick.com . The move was a further step in the multimedia direction that the developers wanted to take the website. Skagerlind indicated that over 50% of Nick.com's audience are using a high speed connection which allows them to expand the gaming options on the website. To accompany the broadband content, TurboNick was created. Initially it was a popup panel which showcased broadband content on Nick.com. Nickelodeon Studios closed down in 2005 and was converted into the Blue Man Group Sharp Aquos Theatre in 2007. Nickelodeon aired a Spongebob "Best Day Ever" marathon in 2006 which ran for 24 hours. Nickelodeon had announced in May 2009 that Nick Magazine would be discontinued that year and also announced in February 2009 that Noggin and The N were to be rebranded as Nick Jr. and TeenNick.
Rebranding and the future (2009–present)
In July 2009, Nickelodeon debuted a new logo for the first time in 25 years on the packaging of Nickelodeon DVDs coming out beginning that month, the Australian service, and that year's Nickelodeon Animation Festival, intending to create a unified look that can better be conveyed across all of MTV Networks's children's channels. As of September 28, 2009, the new logo is used across Nickelodeon, and Nick at Nite, along with the rebranded TeenNick, Nick Jr. and Nicktoons (The N, Noggin and Nicktoons Network, respectively) channels in varying iterations customized for brand unification and refreshment purposes. The new logo will debut in the UK in late February-early March 2010.
On October 21, 2009, it was announced that Nickelodeon secured the rights to the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise from Mirage Studios. The network plans to develop a new CGI-animated TMNT television series and will partner with fellow Viacom company Paramount Pictures to bring a new TMNT movie to theaters. Both are expected for 2012.
Programming
Main article: List of programs broadcast by NickelodeonNicktoons
Main article: NicktoonsProgramming blocks
Various types of program a
Nickelodeon (TV channel) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The show got very popular in 1998, when The Rugrats ... website for children aged six to fourteen years old. Nickelodeon ... Retrieved 2008-11-28. ^ " Nickelodeon TV & Online Are Perfect ...
The Go Show TV Show in Fully Nick at Nickelodeon Australia
The hottest new Aussie show on Nick is all new GO SHOW! ... even discover the totally twisted tirades of 16 year old ... If you haven't see it just watchful Nickelodeon
The Gondry/Nickelodeon Connection | Hater | The A.V. Club ...
Lest you think this is a coincidence, the Gondry/Nickelodeon ... TV : Interview John Krasinski ... Savy Fav, Kid Sister play music, cook food on new IFC show ...
Drake & Josh TV Show in Fully Nick at Nickelodeon Australia
Drake is absolutely terrified of his 9-year-old sis, and is always suspicious of her plans ... Drake-&-Josh AND job IS subject A kook SHOW. go iCarly and Drake-&-Josh. you're so funny
CollegeNET Forum - Favorite Old Nickelodeon Show
Favorite Old Nickelodeon Show ... This is pretty sad, but I remember good tv show that were on long before NICK was ...
The Old Nickelodeon | Post, Read Comments & Opinions Online, tv ...
Share your own opinion and comments about The Old Nickelodeon and interact with other fans of tv at ... to know they were much better then what they show now and i miss the old ...
YouTube - Old Nickelodeon Show Tribute
Old Nickelodeon Show Tribute ... But anyways new tv just sucks. Favorite shows Johnny Bravo Fairy Odd parents Catdog ...
CollegeNET Forum - Favorite Old Nickelodeon Show
What are some of you favorite old Nick shows. The other night I saw an old Keenan and Kel episode on TV and it brought back so many good memories.
Nickelodeon Avatar TV Show | Avatar Episodes | Veoh
Videos; TV Shows; Movies; Music; Channels; Groups ... Enclosed within an iceberg for 100 years, a 12-year old ... Nickelodeon views: 4,570 added: 12 mos ago language: en
Old Nickelodeon Shows
Your best source for Old Nickelodeon Shows! ... Old Nickelodeon Show - Discount prices, fast delivery on products.