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Nick Jr.
Launched	February 2, 1999
Owned by	MTV Networks (Viacom)
Slogan	It's Like Preschool on TV
Formerly called	Noggin (1999-2009)
Sister channel(s)	Nickelodeon, TeenNick, Nicktoons
Website	http://www.nickjr.com
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV	Channel 301 Channel 1301 (VOD)
Dish Network	Channel 169
Verizon FiOS	Channel 256
AT&T U-verse	Channel 320
Cable
Comcast	Channel 342
Available on most cable systems	Check local listings for channels

Nick Jr. is the name of a cable network in the United States. The channel was known as Noggin up until September 28, 2009.

The network's logo has been adjusted as part of a brand unification effort which saw all four of the Nickelodeon networks take on a unified look. Although the former motif of using an orange 'adult' figure and blue 'child' was discontinued in the new text-only logo, the tradition of 'Nick' being orange (representing the adult) and 'Jr.' remaining in blue (as the child) was retained.^[1]

[edit] History

[edit] As Noggin (1999-2009)

Noggin logo from February 2, 1999 to September 28, 2009.

Noggin was created on February 2, 1999 as a joint venture between Viacom's Nickelodeon and the Children's Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop), but Sesame Workshop's interest was sold to Nickelodeon at some point in 2002 during the 21st century.^[2] Noggin was a 24-hour channel until 2002 when Viacom decided to launch The N, which was a combination of TEENick and Nick@Nite. The N is aimed at teens and has thought-provoking programming considered by many as too complex for Noggin's target pre- and elementary-school-age viewers. At 6:00AM Eastern/5:00AM Central on December 31, 2007, Noggin's sister channel Nickelodeon Games and Sports had left the digital cable lineups and was replaced by The N, which allowed Noggin to become a 24 hour channel after spilting from The N.

From 1999-2002, Noggin was targeted at preteens. Starting in 2002, it was targeted for preschoolers; the format was changed due to low ratings. Noggins first mascot was Feetface but now it's a moose and zee since 2003. The network takes its name from a slang term for "head" or, by extension, "brain," reflecting its original purpose as an educational channel. Until the fall of 2003, the network aired classic episodes of Sesame Street, as well as classic Sesame Workshop productions such as 3-2-1 Contact, Square One TV, Cro, and The Electric Company. As of September 2, 2007, Noggin no longer airs any show produced by Sesame Workshop (it has since premiered Pinky Dinky Doo, which is a Noggin Original produced by Sesame Workshop), but had new and old episodes (September 8, 2008-present).

For much of its existence, Noggin did not compete with any other network. When MTV Networks sold its share of PBS Kids Sprout, it became Noggin's official rival network.

In addition to classic episodes of Nickelodeon favorites such as Blue's Clues and Dora the Explorer, and original shows such as Oobi and Jack's Big Music Show, many preschool-oriented shows originating from non-U.S., English-speaking countries that would otherwise not likely be seen on American TV are shown. Some examples include Franklin from Canada and Tweenies, Connie the Cow, Tiny Planets, and 64 Zoo Lane from the UK. However, in 2006, this was being de-emphasized; Tweenies was permanently pulled from the schedule in January, and Tiny Planets was pulled in April 2006. Tiny Planets was previously shown intermittently — but not every day — at 6:00AM Eastern/5:00AM Central, as Tweenies was for a year until it was pulled. Since July 2006 this is also being done with 64 Zoo Lane, suggesting that it too may disappear eventually (however, unlike the other two shows, they also sometimes are showing it at 7:00AM Eastern/6:00AM Central). However, they have also recently introduced The Upside Down Show, which is from Australia (though like the British Tiny Planets, has American origins via Sesame Workshop).

Technically, Noggin did not show commercials, but it did show ads between shows such as Mud N' Bugs Cereal,^[3] and Connie the Cow's Milk Break, as well as other "tie-in" media such as a music video that tied in with the film Curious George, and spots for airings of shows on other channels within the Nick family. The channel's other revenues presumably come from fees paid by cable television distributors.

The network was also a launching point for the music videos of pop musician/children's performers like Laurie Berkner, Lisa Loeb and Dan Zanes, initially as filler between 23-minute-long shows run commercial-free, and (because of their success in that format) now as music video shows like Move to the Music. Also, when Sesame Workshop’s classic shows (such as The Electric Company) aired on Noggin, they had to be edited for running time.

On February 2, 2009, the "Nick Jr. on Noggin" bumper was removed.

[edit] TV channel (2009-present)

In an attempt to extend the association of the Nickelodeon brand to two sister cable channels on February 24, 2009, it was announced that Nick Jr. would be taking over Noggin and TeenNick taking over The N as the 24/7 channels. This is similar to how Nick Jr. launched its own channels in the UK on September 1, 1999 and in Australia on March 14, 2004.^[4] On February 24, 2009, it was announced that Noggin would be replaced by Nick Jr, and would become a 24/7 television channel.^[5] Noggin relaunched as Nick Jr. on September 28, 2009 at 6:00 AM Eastern/5:00 AM Central. The launch included a new logo.^[6] The new Nick Jr. network retains the Noggin mascots Moose A. Moose and Zee. The network remains commercial free and, like Noggin, does not marginalize closing credits for promotion of other shows.

[edit] Shows on Nick Jr. (TV channel)

Though Nick Jr. does repeat some of its programming over the course of a 24-hour day, it does not follow a strict repeating program wheel. Most unusually, the channel programs a handful of shows that it does not show during the day (e.g. Oobi and Gullah Gullah Island) in the extreme overnight hours, when virtually none of those shows' target audiences would normally be awake. Nick Jr. occasionally reruns programming from sister channel Nickelodeon's Play Date block in late afternoon and prime time (without commercial interruption).

[edit] See also

• Noggin
• Nick Jr. (block)
• Nickelodeon

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• Official website