Nickelodeon (Canadian TV channel)
| Country | Canada |
|---|---|
| Headquarters | Toronto, Ontario |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Corus Entertainment (branding licensed from Viacom) |
Nickelodeon, commonly known as Nick, is a Canadian English language Category B specialty channel based on the U.S. cable network of the same name. It is wholly owned by Corus Entertainment, with its name licensed from Viacom International Media Networks, which is still a division of Viacom.
As with its counterparts in the U.S. and elsewhere, Nickelodeon airs programs aimed at children and young teenagers. YTV and Treehouse TV, have also carried Nickelodeon programs for many years, under output agreements with Viacom. They continue to do so, since they have near-universal coverage across Canada on both basic analogue cable and digital satellite TV, whereas Nickelodeon is limited to digital distribution. In 2014, Nickelodeon programs began to air on another basic analogue cable and digital satellite TV channel, Teletoon, following Corus' purchase of it (as well as Cartoon Network and Teletoon Retro) and YTV's addition of select Teletoon programming.
Like Treehouse TV and unlike YTV, Nickelodeon has only one national feed from the Eastern Time Zone.
This is the second Viacom-branded channel to be owned by Corus; the companies also partner on CMT Canada.
History
The channel was launched on November 2, 2009 at 6 a.m. using the "YTV OneWorld"[1][2] license, granted to Corus by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) in September 2008. Jacob Two-Two was the first show broadcast. On the day of the channel's launch, Discovery Kids (which Corus also owned) was shut down and replaced by Nickelodeon on most cable and satellite providers after the final episode of Aquateam ended.[3] Because it is legally a distinct service, cable and satellite companies had to reach new agreements with Corus in order to carry Nickelodeon, as Discovery Kids operated under a different license.
On April 9, 2013, Telus Optik TV launched Nickelodeon HD, a high definition simulcast of the standard definition feed. It was later launched on June 25, 2013 for Rogers Cable and added to Bell Fibe TV's service on October 25, 2013.[4]
On September 22, 2015, Corus Entertainment announced the launch of Nickelodeon GO, an app that allows viewers to watch the channel live, as well as stream shows from its American counterpart. The app is currently available for iOS and Android platforms, but requires a subscription to Nickelodeon from a cable or satellite provider.[5]
Programming
In addition to shows currently airing on its U.S counterpart, Nickelodeon also airs several classic series (such as The Ren & Stimpy Show, Kenan & Kel, and Little Bill) in weekend marathons and graveyard slots. In addition, during the daytime hours, Nick carries a Nick Jr.-branded block of preschool programming broadcast commercial-free and in the morning. To fulfill Canadian content requirements, the channel also airs series sourced from Corus' other kids channels.
See also
References
- ^ Nickelodeon Canada set to launch; Media in Canada; 2009-09-29
- ^ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-257, September 18, 2008
- ^ "Corus is shuttering Discovery Kids, they will re-brand the Sex TV and Drive-In Classics channels", CARTT.ca, September 29, 2009
- ^ http://discuss.channelcanada.com/showthread.php?19111-Channel-Guide-for-Various-providers-in-Canada/page4
- ^ "Corus Launches YTV, Nick Apps", Animation Magazine, September 22, 2015