Nickelodeon (Philippines)

Nickelodeon Philippines (usually abbreviated as "Nick" but more commonly stated as "Nickelodeon" in commercials) is a satellite and cable TV channel that launched a dedicated channel to the country in April 1, 2011. Aimed for children and teenagers and owned by Viacom International Media Networks Asia in partnership with All Youth Channels.

In October 11, 2006, Viacom's subsidiary MTV Networks Asia Pacific set up a new unit to manage Nickelodeon's southeast Asia operations.^[1][2] On April 1, 2011, MTV Networks launched a dedicated Filipino Nickelodeon channel.^[3]

History

1998–2011: As part of Nickelodeon Southeast Asia

In November 1998, Nickelodeon decided to reach the popular channel to the Philippines, Japan & Russia as an attempt to bring the popular channel to Asia. One of their shorts were Right Here, Right Now (based on the 1993 Nick USA shorts) and their ID's were by FRONT. In 2003, it became a part of Nicksplat (Nickelodeon's headquarters in Asia).

In October 11, 2006, Viacom's subsidiary MTV Networks Asia Pacific set up a new unit to manage Nickelodeon South East Asia TV based in Singapore.^[4] Nickelodeon was launched in Singapore and expanded its services in Southeast Asia, South Asia, and Polynesia. Nickelodeon Philippines, Nickelodeon Pakistan, and Nickelodeon India started working independently. They started their new website, Nicksplat.com in 2003.

In March 15, 2010, Nickelodeon revamped their logo same as the United States and worldwide and started broadcasting newer Nickelodeon shows from the United States that represents the new Nickelodeon logo and airs latest episodes of current Nick shows.

2011–present: Nickelodeon Philippines

In April 1, 2011, the Nickelodeon Asia feed was replaced with a dedicated Filipino Nickelodeon channel, although it will still use the Nick-Asia branding used in other countries. In April 11, 2011, the lineup was changed prior to Nickelodeon Southeast Asia. The new schedule will put live-action programs in the primetime slot and will double the Nick Jr. block.

Nickelodeon celebrated the release of the new channel in April 9, 2011 on the Bonifacio Global City, Open Field, Taguig City with the event entitled, "Nick World". The event included mascots of notable Nicktoons characters with storytelling, an animals show, martial arts performances and a world of exciting attractions, booths, and modules for kids.^[5]

Starting on May 23, 2011, the lineup of Nickelodeon will once again change where they will cease airing the Nick Jr. block in the afternoon timeslot and will be replaced by live-action shows and miscellaneous NickToons programs. This lineup will double the TeenNick block which only runs in the evening and other animated shows that only airs once a day.^[6]

In 2012, Nickelodeon uses new graphics used in the US and UK, however it only applies to selected programs' promos and station IDs. The former Nick-Asia graphics is still used.

Dedicated Channel

With the dedicated feed, today the channel caters specifically to Free TV and cable viewers via scheduling, market-specific advertising and promotions specifically tailored for two- to 14-year-old audiences in the Philippines. Local advertisers and cable operators will now have enhanced opportunities to work with Nickelodeon on customized marketing solutions including sponsorships of long and short-form programming and tailored advertising opportunities including events, promotions and multi-platform marketing solutions.

The dedicated feed targeting kids aged two to 14 and families will feature 24 hours of Nickelodeon’s favorite original animation titles including the top Nickelodeon programs in the Philippines for kids age two to six years old such as Dora the Explorer, Go, Diego, Go!, The Backyardigans, Team Umizoomi, Ni Hao, Kai-Lan and evergreen hits, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Penguins of Madagascar, The Fairly OddParents and more. The program lineup also includes Nickelodeon’s latest live-action sensation, Big Time Rush, as well as hits such as iCarly, Victorious and the highly anticipated new series, House of Anubis.

At launch, Nickelodeon Philippines will reach over 1.6 million cable TV households. In 2010, Nickelodeon had its highest ratings in two years for CA 2-6, and also saw the highest increase in average time spent among all kids channels.

Nickelodeon has a strong history and brand awareness in the Philippines. Nickelodeon Asia has been available on cable television since 1998, and two Tagalog programming blocks are broadcast to over 26.8 million homes via terrestrial channels ABS-CBN and digital subchannel Yey!. Nickelodeon also has a strong presence in the market via consumer products, online, recreation, books, and feature films businesses.

Nickelodeon Philippines Kids Choice Awards

The Philippines Kids Choice Awards is the second setting of the Kids Choice Awards in Asia preceded by Indonesia. The show was first held since 2008 at the Aliw Theater in Pasay and was first hosted by Michael V. and some various Filipino artists. Nickelodeon, an American cable television network, brought Kids' Choice Awards to the Philippines in an effort to strengthen its presence in Asia.^[7] According to Amit Jain, executive Vice-President and managing director of MTV Networks India, China and Southeast Asia, "This is a milestone for Nickelodeon's business in Southeast Asia as it will deliver on Nick's commitment of providing global kids-centric shows and properties which are adapted to reflect local tastes and aspirations." ^[8] The Philippines KCA has been inactive all over the years.

Nickelodeon on Free TV

Prior to the launch of Nickelodeon Philippines in Fall 1998, Nickelodeon first aired in the Philippines as a block of the free-to-air TV channel PTV. The block used to air in morning and afternoon mostly educational, drama and game shows during that time. It aired in such channel until 1992.

Nickelodeon moved to RPN in 1992, where it aired as Nick on RPN until 1995 and returned on 2003-2004 (that year mostly air cartoons). Concurrently, GMA Network also aired Rugrats and selected Nick Jr. shows from 1997 to 2006.

After RPN lost its rights of airing Nickelodeon shows, ABC/TV5 launched Nick on ABC/TV5 in 2006. Nickelodeon shows were later dubbed for the first time into the Filipino language on August 11, 2008 (with the exception of Go, Diego, Go!), three days after ABC was relaunched into TV5, making them the first Nick broadcaster on free TV to do so. The network ended its contract with Nickelodeon on June 30, 2010, months after TV5 was purchased by PLDT Chairman Manny V. Pangilinan which caused a major reshuffle in the network's programming. Yo Gabba Gabba!, also a Nickelodeon production, was the only Nick program retained by TV5 after losing its rights to ABS-CBN. Although produced by Nickelodeon, it is not dubbed into Filipino as the contract was already expired.

SpongeBob SquarePants was also aired on Q (now GMA News TV) weekday mornings until February 18, 2011. However, it is not dubbed in Filipino either.

ABS-CBN launched Nick Time (later Nickelodeon on ABS-CBN) on July 26, 2010 at under their Team Animazing timeblock. Nickelodeon shows such as Dora the Explorer, SpongeBob SquarePants, The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, and Avatar: The Legend of Aang among others are shown during Nick Time, thus continuing the Filipino dub that was started by TV5. However, ABS-CBN's airing of Nickelodion's shows was criticized for having majority of episodes edited due to time constraints, heavy advertising gaps and ABS-CBN's importance to local programming. Dora the Explorer ended last June 2011 while The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Avatar: The Legend of Aang and SpongeBob SquarePants ended last October 8, 2011 and replaced by Go, Diego, Go!, The Penguins of Madagascar and El Tigre: The Adventures of Manny Rivera on October 15, 2011. After a week, SpongeBob SquarePants goes back to air

Studio 23, ABS-CBN's UHF affiliate, launched Nickelodeon on Studio 23 on October 4, 2010. Like its mother station ABS-CBN, programs are dubbed in Tagalog. As of now, there are no plans to air the The Fairly OddParents (currently the second longest active Nicktoon after SpongeBob SquarePants) as well as iCarly on either network, despite its popularity. Studio 23 launched Catscratch that premiered last August 2011. The Nickelodeon on Studio 23 (now S+A) block temporarily ended last October 2011 and returned last January 2012.

After 3 years, Nickelodeon on Studio 23 ended airing its block on January 16, 2014 to pave way for Channel 23's relaunch as S+A, a Sports-Oriented channel. To allow smooth transition of the new channel, Nickelodeon on ABS-CBN Sports+Action was launched last January 20, 2014 and all of its shows are reverted to its original English language rather than Filipino-dubbed. Since the launch of ABS-CBN's Digital TV signal in 2015, it is no longer seen on Channel 23 (as digital subchannel Yey! took over on its programs).

Programming

Nickelodeon airs new programs and episodes of current Nick shows every 2–7 months after the US broadcast but sometimes takes a year. The program lineup is different from the Nick-Asia feed where live-action programs are aired twice in the afternoon and evening and the Nick Jr. block runs longer. Along with the announcement of the dedicated feed, there were several shows announced to be premiering on Nickelodeon this year such as Bubble Guppies, House of Anubis, The Fresh Beat Band, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness and T.U.F.F. Puppy. Original Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. titles still remains in the channel.

Programming blocks

Programming in Nickelodeon Philippines also in Southeast Asia has often been segmented into blocks.

• Nick Jr. (Weekdays, 8am - 12noon) is a preschool block that airs children oriented programs. The programing block is now available as a channel in the Philippines on Skycable Channel 103 and G Sat channel 22.
• Hapon Hangout (Weekdays, 4pm-6pm) (English: Afternoon Hangout) is a programming block that airs animated and live-action series every weekday afternoon. The name derives from the word Hapon which is usually said by the Filipinos to indicate the afternoon.

Former blocks

• TEENick is a programming block that airs current live-action programs. This doesn't exist anymore in the channel, this is due to the fact that the TeeNick shows are aired along with Nickelodeon.
• Weekend Express is a programming block that runs every weekends at noon. The block airs programs according to a weekly theme. The block ended on June 26, 2011 together with Nickelodeon SE Asia.
• Lunch Toons is a Nicktoon-based block which shows random one Nicktoon which is repeated when airing with various episodes of the show that food is more interested in the episode. This is a limited block.

Short segments

• Nick Tunes is a segment that Nicktoons-related music videos air on the segment. Nick Tunes only appeared in commercial breaks. This was in hiatus from late 2011 to April 2, 2012. The segment is shown sometimes. The segment includes the Nicktoons: SpongeBob SquarePants, The Fairly OddParents, Back at the Barnyard (now formerly appeared in the segment) and many selected Nicktoons.

See also

• Nickelodeon
• List of programs broadcast by Nickelodeon Philippines
• Nickelodeon Asia
• Nickelodeon (Southeast Asia)
• Cartoon Network (Philippines)
• Cartoon Network (Southeast Asia)
• All Youth Channels

References

External links

• Official website (in English)
• Nickelodeon Philippines on Facebook
• Nickelodeon Philippines's channel on YouTube (inactive)