Nicktoons (British and Irish TV channel)
Nicktoons (known as Toons in "Next" bumpers) is a British pay television channel launched on Monday 22 July 2002. It is a cartoon-based sister channel to Nickelodeon. The channel airs Nicktoons, as well as acquired programming from outside providers. Unlike the United States version, it has been ad-supported since launch. It targets at children aged 7 to 11.
 | |
| Country | United Kingdom and Ireland |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | United Kingdom and Ireland |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English |
| Picture format | 576i 16:9 SDTV |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Nickelodeon UK (ViacomCBS Networks UK & Australia/Sky Group) |
| Sister channels | Nickelodeon Nick Jr. Nick Jr. Too |
| History | |
| Launched | 22 July 2002 |
| Former names | Nicktoons TV (22 July 2002 – 11 October 2004) NickToons (12 October 2004 – 30 April 2010) |
| Links | |
| Website | www.nicktoons.co.uk |
| Availability | |
| Cable | |
| Virgin Media (UK) | Channel 717 |
| Virgin Media Ireland | Channel 606 |
| WightFibre | Channel 102 |
| Satellite | |
| Sky | Channel 605 |
| IPTV | |
| TalkTalk Plus TV | Channel 485 |
| BT | Channel 485 |
| BT (via Now TV) | Channel 469 |
| Plusnet | Channel 485 |
| Eir Vision | Channel 606 |
| Streaming media | |
| Now TV | Watch live (UK only) |
History
Nicktoons was launched on 22 July 2002 as "Nicktoons TV". In October 2004, Nicktoons TV was rebranded to NickToons. The rebrand featured the Pixel characters as the channel's first mascots, designed by Slomo Productions and directed by Filipe Alcada.[1]
From 17 February 2007 to 30 April 2010, there was another rebrand featuring 4 mascots; Rooftop (a moose), Beat (a mouse/rat), Colin (a brain) and Spoon (a humanlike creature), designed by Studio AKA.[2] The new 'worldwide rebrand' logo for Nicktoons was introduced in April 2010, with a new imaging campaign introduced in January 2012. In November 2014, there were new idents introduced with the eyes and faces of characters from shows on Nicktoons.
Sister channels
Nicktoonsters
On 18 August 2008, a new spin-off channel to Nicktoons was launched under the title of Nicktoonsters. The channel was exclusive to Sky. The channel broadcast older programming which was dropped from the main Nicktoons schedule prior to launch. It took up half the time of a channel space shared with Comedy Central Extra +1.[3] The channel closed on 31 July 2009 and was replaced with a 1-hour timeshift of Nicktoons, Nicktoons Replay on 1 August 2009.
Nicktoons Replay
A +1 feed of Nicktoons known as Nicktoons Replay launched in place of Nicktoonsters on 1 August 2009.[4] The channel was discontinued 1 October 2012, with Comedy Central Extra +1 again in full control of the channel slot's airtime. Nicktoons Replay's old EPG position was used to launch a one-hour timeshift of Nick Jr., titled Nick Jr. +1.
Nicktoons Ireland
On 13 September 2012, it was announced that Sky would be launching an Irish feed of NickToons.[5] It launched 16 October 2012.
Programming
Programming blocks
In 2004, when Nicktoons TV extended its hours, the 19:00 – 22:00 slot was called Toonz2Nite (extended further to 23:00 in November 2005). This had a separate, distinct presentation from the main channel, and the programmes shown were generally aimed at older children.
The network began airing shows from NickSplat on 9 January 2017 until they stopped for unknown reasons around February 2017.
Logos
Used from February 2010 to November 2014
See also
References
- "NickToons – Re-brand". Slomo Productions. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
- "NICKTOONS REFACE, Cinema promo (ref: p14)" (PDF). Stash DVD Magazine. Retrieved 30 December 2007.
- Licence Details for Nick Toonsters Archived 5 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine
- "Implementation – Nicktoons ReplayB". AGB Nielsen Media. 8 July 2009.
- "Digital marketing integral to SMEs". Irish Independent. 13 September 2012. Retrieved 26 June 2013.
