Nickelodeon, popularly known as "Nick India", is an Indian animation channel for children, based in Mumbai. It is a 24-hour English pay channel, along with option of Hindi language programming, on direct-broadcast satellite. It is the world`s only multimedia entertainment brand. Dedicated exclusively to kids, Nickelodeon channel reaches a total of 287.6 million households in 162 territories worldwide via 28 channels, 22 branded program blocks. Nick India was launched in 1999 in India. Nick India is available in 5 languages: Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu and Kannada.
History of Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon India first started broadcasting from October 1999, under Viacom 18. Initially it only showed original programmes like "Rugrats", "The Wild Thornberrys", "Rocket Power", "Klasky Csupo", "Ren and Stimpy", "As told by Ginger", "Kenan and Kel", "Catdog", "SpongeBob SquarePants", "The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron", "Hey Arnold!", "Legends of the Hidden Temple", "Drake and Josh" and others. In 2004, the network made a contract with Mattel India to produce more original programming for Nick and to broadcast exclusive Mattel programs.
Development of Nickelodeon
In 2007, after forming a joint venture with Television 18, Viacom 18 established "Nickelodeon India", as a production of local programming. Now, Nick India telecasts acquired programmes as well as locally created shows. It was done to showcase motion pictures and other programming for the Indian viewers.
Nickelodeon has also spread its web into cyberspace with the launch of its website, "Nick.com". This website enables young users to enter into a world of fun, games, previews of upcoming shows and social networking. In 2013 the first ever "Kids Choice Awards" was hosted in India.
Programmes Broadcast by Nickelodeon
Nickelodeon or Nick India broadcasts a lot of cartoon shows that attracts children, the most popular being "SpongeBob SquarePants". Apart from that, educational shows like "Dora; The Explorer" are also aired in pre-school block on Nick. The "Nickelodeon Kids` Choice Awards" is also a highly successful program on Nickelodeon India. Other than that shows like "Keymon Ache", "Ninja Hattori", "Perman", "The Penguins of Madagascar", "Avatar: The Last Airbender", "Little Krishna", "Drake and Josh", "Chicken Stew", "Power Rangers", "Shaun the Sheep", "Pick-A-Trick", "Oggy and the Cockroaches", "The Jungle Book", "Motu Patlu", "Idaten Jump", "Shiva", "Rocket Monkeys", etc. are also shown and are highly viewed by the audiences.
Starting in 2011, Nickelodeon India started producing local animated shows, starting with "Keymon Ache" and a theatrical movie based on the series. The local strategy became successful with "Motu Patlu" in 2012, and they later launched more local animated series like "Pakdam Pakdai" in 2013, "Shiva" in 2015, "Gattu Battu" in 2017 and "Rudra" in 2018.
