Nicktoons (American TV channel)

Nicktoons (also known as Nicktoons Network) is an American pay television channel owned by ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks. Geared towards children aged 7–14,[1] the channel broadcasts original animated series from sister network Nickelodeon, known as Nicktoons, along with other original animated series, some feature films, and foreign animated programs from Nickelodeon's international networks 24 hours a day.

This article is about the American television channel. For the animated series branding from Nickelodeon, see Nicktoons.
Nicktoons
CountryUnited States
Broadcast areaNationwide
NetworkNickelodeon
HeadquartersOne Astor Plaza
New York City, New York, U.S.
Programming
Language(s)English
Picture format1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
OwnerViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks
Sister channels
History
LaunchedMay 1, 2002 (2002-05-01)
Former namesNicktoons TV (2002–03)
Nicktoons Network (2005–09)
Availability
Cable
Available on most cable providersChannel slots vary on each provider
Satellite
Orby TVChannel 217
Dish NetworkChannel 178 (SD)
DirecTVChannel 302 (SD)
Astro USAChannel 620 (HD) (Coming Soon)
IPTV
AT&T TV
Channel 302 (HD)
Verizon FiOSChannel 254 (SD)
Channel 754 (HD)
AT&T U-VerseChannel 318 (SD)
Channel 1318 (HD)
Streaming media
Sling TV, Philo

As of September 2019, approximately 70 million American households (51.3% of households with television) received Nicktoons.[2]

History
Nicktoons Network typeface, (2005–09)

In 1991, Nicktoons was originally launched as a programming block on Nickelodeon, airing animated series. The block lasted until 2002.

Nicktoons was launched as a standalone channel on May 1, 2002, as Nicktoons TV, part of the digital cable-exclusive MTV Digital Suite, in order to entice cable operators to pick up the network and give them a marketing advantage over satellite services. However, by early 2004, Nickelodeon management changed course and offered it to digital satellite services DirecTV and Dish Network. The network was originally marketed as commercial-free, with comedic promos involving Nickelodeon Animation Studios, two-minute cartoon shorts from foreign markets, and former program promotions that had previously been used on Nickelodeon taking up commercial time. By June 6, 2005, as the network's distribution increased, the network began to carry regular advertising.

On September 28, 2009, the network's logo changed as part of Nickelodeon's universal rebranding effort that also saw Nickelodeon's first logo change in 25 years, and name changes for sister networks: The N to TeenNick and Noggin to Nick Jr.[3]

An HD feed was launched on August 13, 2013, and is available on several providers.[4][5] Like Viacom's other HD channels, any programming produced in 4:3 SD is pillarboxed on this feed. As the network blended in more Nickelodeon programming into its schedule, the Nicktoons website was sunsetted, recommending viewers go to Nick.com instead before eventually being fully redirected to the Nick.com domain.

Programming
Main article: List of programs broadcast by Nicktoons

Nicktoons has aired pretty much all of Nickelodeon series since launch. Despite its name, the channel does not exclusively air Nicktoons. The channel also airs some of Nickelodeon's live action series, such as The Thundermans and Henry Danger. Due to Nickelodeon moving a lot of newer content to the channel, all the older Nicktoons, such as Hey Arnold! and The Ren and Stimpy Show, were removed from the schedule. However, Rugrats aired on the channel occasionally. As of August 2020, the Nicktoons series that still remain are mostly more modern content, along with reruns of SpongeBob SquarePants and The Fairly OddParents.

NickSports

On September 3, 2014, a two-hour Wednesday prime time programming block named NickSports was launched on the channel, tying into the Kids' Choice Sports inaugurated that year.[6] The block presented mainly licensed programming focusing on sports, including the Rob Dyrdek-starring Wild Grinders and NFL Rush Zone: Guardians of the Core, SpongeBob SquarePants along with sports-related feature films such as Bend It Like Beckham, Cool Runnings, and Space Jam.[6] Sometime in 2015, the block was moved to a Friday prime time slot. The block ended in September 2018.

International versions

Current channels

Defunct feeds
  • France – launched on January 1, 2003 as a programming block on Canal J, rebranded as N-Toons on October 21, 2011 and closed down on July 31, 2015
  • Latin America – launched on February 4, 2013 and closed down in late 2020, being replaced in major cable providers by the US feed of NickMusic

Nick HD+

Nick HD+ is the Indian Pay TV channel that airs many Nickelodeon animated series from Nickelodeon Animation Studio. It airs all the Nicktoons programming and similar to Nicktoons channel. More than 40 of the Nickelodeon animated series were available on Voot streaming service.

Mascot

From 2006 until 2009, Nicktoons Network used a robot mascot in bumpers and advertisements for the channel.[7] The mascot, named "ACOW," which stands for Animation Capital of the World, was a complex robot character with a large singular eye, animated using "photo-puppetry."[8] ACOW was prominently featured on the NicktoonsNetwork.com website[9] and was used as part of the "Nicktoons Network: Animation Capital of the World" logo.[10] Several similar-looking eyeball-based characters were seen in promos for the network.

References
  1. "Viacom". Viacom. Archived from the original on July 28, 2013.
  2. "Nielsen coverage estimates for September see gains at ESPN networks, NBCSN, and NBA TV, drops at MLBN and NFLN". Awful Announcing. Awful Announcing. September 2019. Retrieved June 26, 2019.
  3. Nickelodeon Unveils New Logo, Variety.com, July 29, 2009
  4. "DIRECTV HD Channel Anticipation (Official Q3-13 Thread)". DBSTalk. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  5. "Official AVS National HD Channel Lineups – Cable/DBS/Fiber/IPTV – Updated 8/3/13". Archived from the original on August 10, 2013. Retrieved 27 October 2014.
  6. Dickson, Jeremy (September 3, 2014). "Nicktoons adds weekly sports block". Kidscreen. Brunico Communications Ltd. Retrieved December 16, 2016.
  7. "Nicktoons Network Homepage, 2009". nick.com. Archived from the original on 28 February 2009.
  8. "Nickelodeon's ACOW - www.maissito.com". maissito.com.
  9. "2007/ACOW on Nicktoons – Carlos Ordonez". carlos-ordonez.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2015.
  10. "Animation Capital of the World – Viacom". trademarkia.com.
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