Nicktoons (American TV channel)
| Country | United States |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | New York City (Nickelodeon Animation Studios in Burbank, California is promoted on air) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | (Viacom) |
Nicktoons Network, also known as Nicktoons TV and Nicktoons, is a digital cable and satellite television network. It is a sister service of the Nickelodeon cable channel.
This network is similar to Disney Channel's sister-related project Toon Disney and Cartoon Network's sister-related project Boomerang. Unlike Noggin and The N, it is not to face rebranding anytime soon.
History
Nicktoons Network was launched on May 1, 2002 using the same name from the previous block on Nickelodeon, at first only available on digital cable until early 2004, when it began its broadcast on satellite television as well. In February 2005, Nickelodeon announced that the channel would become ad-supported.
In 2003, the channel was re-named Nicktoons. Also, the renaming made the channel focusing on just Nicktoons and non-Nicktoons programming with shorts in between programs. In addition, bumpers featured real-life and or 3D clips with images of Nicktoons characters and or the 2003-2005 network logo in 3D or 2D.
Nicktoons re-launched itself on September 23, 2005, as Nicktoons Network, introducing a brand new logo of a globe with the familiar Nickelodeon "Splat" that had been a Nick trademark since that network re-launched in 1984, and adapted a Hollywood-esque theme and a new campaign slogan of "Animation Capital of the World. On February 25, 2006, Nicktoons Network introduced their first original series, Kappa Mikey, which lasted for 52 episodes.
In 2007, Nicktoons Network changed its website again, this time the website has a monster-themed webpage filled with Nicktoons Network commercials and ads.
Programming
Its original programming consists nearly all of animated television programs formerly or currently broadcasted on its parent network. As has been the pattern with many children's networks over the years as they make forays into original programming and build up an archive of their newer series, older Nicktoons programs, along with those which had low sustaining popularity, have moved off the network's schedule. Advertising was also added after the 2005 relaunch.
For a Halloween theme week in October 2008, the network aired the 90's live-action program Are You Afraid of the Dark? on October 20, the first non-animated program to air on the network, although live-action segments involving the Nicktoons studio and animators have aired in the past in short form during commercial breaks. And on October 29, some original shows aired between 11:30-1:00.
Season 3 episodes of the series My Life As A Teenage Robot have been airing as never before seen episodes on the station starting on October 4, 2008.
On February 9, 2009, Nicktoons Network showed Nick News with Linda Ellerbee as part of Black History Month 2009 on Nicktoons Network. The episode was "We Shall Not Be Moved," which aired originally on Nickelodeon the day before. That would make this the second non-animated show to air on Nicktoons Network.
International versions
Nicktoons was launched in the United Kingdom in July of 2002, although, unlike the United States version, it has been ad-supported since it launched. Also unlike the US version, it does not broadcast 24/7. Nicktoons Network will also launch in Australia along with its competitor Toon Disney on Foxtel and Austar in mid 2009.