View source for NickToons (TV network)

{{Short description|American digital cable and satellite television network}}
{{About|the American television channel|the animated series branding from Nickelodeon|Nicktoons}}
{{Use American English|date=August 2023}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Nicktoons
| logo = Nicktoons_2023_Outlined_Logo.png
| logo_caption = Logo used since January 1, 2024{{efn|The logo's wordmark has been in use since September 2009. Additionally, this logo is a variant meant to be used for white backgrounds; the main variant has a white (for Nick) and green (for Toons) wordmark in conjunction with a fully orange splat.}}
| logo_size =
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|2002|5|1}}
| picture_format = [[1080i]] [[HDTV]]<br>(downscaled to [[Letterboxing (filming)|letterbox]]ed [[480i]] for the [[SDTV]] feed)
| owner = [[Paramount Global]]
| parent = [[Paramount Media Networks]]
| country = United States
| area = Nationwide
| language = {{ubl|English|Spanish (via [[Secondary audio program|SAP]] audio track)}}
| headquarters = [[One Astor Plaza]]<br />[[New York, New York]], U.S.
| sister_channels = {{collapsible list|
* [[Nickelodeon]]
* [[Nick Jr. Channel|Nick Jr.]]
* [[TeenNick]]
}}
| former_names = {{ubl|Nicktoons TV (2002–03)|Nicktoons Network (2005–09)}}
| website = {{URL|http://www.nick.com}}
| online_serv_1 = Affiliated Streaming Service
| online_chan_1 = [[Paramount+]]
| online_chan_2 = [[YouTube TV]], [[Sling TV]], [[DirecTV Stream]], [[Philo (company)|Philo]], [[Hulu#Hulu + Live TV service|Hulu + Live TV]], [[Vidgo]]
}}
'''NickToons'''{{efn|formerly '''Nicktoons TV''' and '''Nicktoons Network'''}} is an American [[pay television]] [[television channel|channel]] owned by [[Paramount Media Networks]], a division of [[Paramount Global]]. The channel is geared towards children aged 7 to 11.<ref>{{cite web|title=Viacom|url=http://www.viacom.com/brands/pages/nicktoons.aspx|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130728042044/http://www.viacom.com/brands/pages/nicktoons.aspx|archive-date=July 28, 2013|website=Viacom}}</ref>
{{As of|2023|12}}, NickToons is available to approximately 43,000,000 pay television households in the United States-down from its 2013 peak of 69,000,000 households.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://wrestlenomics.com/u-s-cable-network-households-universe-1990-2023-nielsen-data/|title=U.S. cable network households (universe), 1990 – 2023|website=wrestlenomics.com|date=May 14, 2024|access-date=July 28, 2019}}</ref>{{Evolution of Nickelodeon}}
== History ==
{{More citations needed section|date=September 2023}}
[[File:Nicktoons-Network-original-balloon-text-logo.png|200x200px|thumb|Wordmark used from September 23, 2005 to September 28, 2009|left]]
Nicktoons was launched as a standalone channel on May 1, 2002, as Nicktoons TV, part of the digital cable-exclusive [[MTV]] Digital Suite, in order to entice cable operators to pick up the network and give them a marketing advantage over satellite services.{{citation needed|date=August 2011}} However, by early 2004, Nickelodeon management changed course and offered it to [[Digital Satellite Service|digital satellite services]] [[DirecTV]] and [[Dish Network]]. The network was originally marketed as commercial-free, with comedic promos involving Nickelodeon Animation Studios, two-minute cartoon shorts from foreign markets, and former program promotions that had previously been used on Nickelodeon taking up commercial time. By September 23, 2005, as the network's distribution increased, it began to carry regular advertising.{{citation needed|date=August 2011}}
On September 28, 2009, the network's logo changed as part of Nickelodeon's universal rebranding effort.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090802094659/https://www.variety.com/article/VR1118006659.html?categoryid=14&cs=1 Nickelodeon Unveils New Logo], ''Variety.com'', July 29, 2009</ref> A high-definition feed was launched on August 13, 2013, and is available on several providers.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dbstalk.com/topic/205985-directv-hd-channel-anticipation-official-q3-13-thread/page-16|title=DIRECTV HD Channel Anticipation (Official Q3-13 Thread)|work=DBSTalk|access-date=27 October 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Official AVS National HD Channel Lineups – Cable/DBS/Fiber/IPTV – Updated 8/3/13|url=http://www.avsforum.com/t/1462894/official-avs-national-hd-channel-lineups-cable-dbs-fiber-iptv-updated-8-3-13|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130810235651/http://www.avsforum.com/t/1462894/official-avs-national-hd-channel-lineups-cable-dbs-fiber-iptv-updated-8-3-13|archive-date=August 10, 2013|access-date=27 October 2014}}</ref> Like Viacom's other HD channels, any programming produced in 4:3 SD is [[pillarbox]]ed on this feed. As the network blended in more Nickelodeon programming into its schedule, the Nicktoons website was [[Sunset (computing)|sunset]] to a [[parked domain|parking page]] directing viewers to [[Nick.com]] before it was eventually redirected quietly to the latter website.
== Programming ==
{{main|List of programs broadcast by Nicktoons}}
{{More citations needed|section|date=October 2024}}
Since its inception, Nicktoons has mainly aired programs carried over from the main Nickelodeon channel, with some occasional airing of Nickelodeon's live-action programming depending on Viacom's programming direction at the time.
Beginning in the mid-2000s, many older shows such as ''[[Rocko's Modern Life]]'' and ''[[CatDog]]'', were removed from the schedule as more acquired programming and Nicktoons Network originals were premiering, many were cancelled by the early-2010s, with some having different reasons, for example, ''[[Fantastic Four: World's Greatest Heroes]]'', ''[[Iron Man: Armored Adventures]]'', and ''[[Wolverine and the X-Men (TV series)|Wolverine and the X-Men]]'' were effectively cancelled when [[The Walt Disney Company]] acquired [[Marvel Studios]] in 2009.
Starting in the summer of 2024, the network's entire schedule is exclusively episodes of ''[[SpongeBob SquarePants]]'' and ''[[The Patrick Star Show]]'', promoted as ''Non-Stop SpongeBob''. The episodes air in a random and unthemed order.
Since 2006, Nickelodeon has used Nicktoons to burn-off the remaining episodes of under-performing shows. Including shows both acquired and initially created for the Nickelodeon channel. Some first run shows include ''[[As Told By Ginger]]'', ''[[Back at the Barnyard]]'', ''[[Breadwinners (TV series)|Breadwinners]]'', ''[[Bunsen Is a Beast]]'', ''[[Harvey Beaks]]'', ''[[It's Pony]]'', ''[[The Mighty B!]]'', ''[[Pig Goat Banana Cricket]]'', ''[[Planet Sheen]]'', ''[[Robot and Monster]]'', ''[[T.U.F.F. Puppy]]'', ''[[Welcome to the Wayne]]'', and [[The Fairly OddParents season 10|season 10]] of ''[[The Fairly OddParents]]''. Some acquired shows that were moved over and finished their runs on the network include ''[[Alvinnn!!! and the Chipmunks]]'', ''[[Ollie's Pack]]'' and ''[[Rabbids Invasion]]'' (though the series moved to [[Netflix]] for its fourth and final season).
=== NickSports ===
On September 3, 2014, a two-hour Wednesday prime time programming block named NickSports was launched on the channel, tying into the [[2014 Kids' Choice Sports|Kids' Choice Sports]] inaugurated that year.<ref name="ksn">{{cite news|last1=Dickson|first1=Jeremy|title=Nicktoons adds weekly sports block|url=http://kidscreen.com/2014/09/03/nicktoons-adds-weekly-sports-block/|access-date=December 16, 2016|work=Kidscreen|publisher=Brunico Communications Ltd.|date=September 3, 2014}}</ref> The block presented mainly licensed programming focusing on sports, including the [[Rob Dyrdek]]-starring ''[[Wild Grinders]]'' and ''[[NFL Rush Zone: Guardians of the Core]]'', along with sports-related feature films such as ''[[Bend It Like Beckham]]'', ''[[Cool Runnings]]'', and ''[[Space Jam]]''.<ref name="ksn"/> Sometime in 2015, the block was moved to a Friday prime time slot. The block ended in September 2018.
== International versions ==
=== Active channels ===
* [[Nicktoons (British and Irish TV channel)|UK and Ireland]] – launched on 22 July 2002
* [[Nicktoons (Dutch TV channel)|Netherlands]] – launched in 2007
* [[Nicktoons (German TV channel)|Germany]] – launched in March 2010
* [[Nicktoons (Sub-Saharan African TV channel)|Africa]] – launched on September 30, 2014
* Scandinavia – launched on February 1, 2017
* [[Nicktoons (Middle Eastern and North African TV channel)|Arabia]] – launched on February 15, 2017
* [[Nicktoons (European TV channel)|Turkey]] – launched on February 20, 2017
* [[Nicktoons (European TV channel)|Poland]] – launched on 15 February 2018
* [[Nicktoons (European TV channel)|Hungary and Romania]] – launched on 15 April 2019
* [[Nicktoons (European TV channel)|Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia, Albania]] - launched on 14 July 2020
* Australia - launched on 1 August 2023 ([[Free ad-supported streaming television|FAST channel]] on [[10Play]])
* Canada - launched on December 22, 2023 (FAST channel on [[Pluto TV]])
=== Defunct channels ===
* [[N-Toons (French TV programming block)|France]] – launched on January 1, 2003, as a programming block on [[Canal J]], rebranded as N-Toons on October 21, 2011, and closed down on July 31, 2015
* [[Nickelodeon (Latin American TV channel)#Nicktoons|Latin America]]  – launched on February 4, 2013, and closed down in late 2020, being replaced in major cable providers by the US feed of [[NickMusic]]
* [[Nicktoons (European TV channel)|Russia]] – launched on December 12, 2018, and closed down on April 28, 2022 because of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
== Mascot ==
From 2006 until 2009, Nicktoons Network used a robot mascot in bumpers and advertisements for the channel.<ref>{{cite web|title=Nicktoons Network Homepage, 2009|url=http://nicktoonsnetwork.nick.com/home.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090228193106/http://nicktoonsnetwork.nick.com/home.html|archive-date=28 February 2009|work=nick.com}}</ref> The mascot, named "ACOW," which stands for Animation Capital of the World, was a complex robot character with a large singular eye, animated using "photo-puppetry."<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.maissito.com/Nickelodeon-ACOW|title=Nickelodeon's ACOW - www.maissito.com|work=maissito.com}}</ref> ACOW was prominently featured on the NicktoonsNetwork.com website<ref>{{cite web|title=2007/ACOW on Nicktoons – Carlos Ordonez|url=http://carlos-ordonez.com/2007-ACOW-Nicktoons|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150213182359/http://carlos-ordonez.com/2007-ACOW-Nicktoons|archive-date=13 February 2015|work=carlos-ordonez.com}}</ref> and was used as part of the "Nicktoons Network: Animation Capital of the World" logo.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.trademarkia.com/animation-capital-of-the-world-78725074.html|title=Animation Capital of the World – Viacom|work=trademarkia.com}}</ref> Several similar-looking eyeball-based characters were seen in promos for the network.
== See also ==
{{Portal|Animation|Television|United States|Cartoon}}
* [[Noggin (brand)|Noggin]]
* [[N-Toons (French TV programming block)|N-Toons]]
* [[Nicktoonsters]]
* [[NickRewind]]
== Notes ==
{{notelist}}
== References ==
{{reflist}}
== External links ==
{{Spoken Wikipedia|date=2024-03-20|En-Nicktoons-(American_TV_channel)-article.ogg}}
{{commons category|Nicktoons|Nicktoons (TV network)}}
* [http://decider.com/2016/06/14/the-oral-history-of-nicktoons-part-i-how-the-storied-animation-block-came-to-be/ 2016 Decider's Oral History of "Nicktoons" interviews with cast and crew]
{{Nicktoons}}
{{Nickelodeon}}
{{Nicktoons video games}}
{{U.S. family-oriented television channels}}
{{Paramount Media Networks}}
{{Paramount Global}}
[[Category:Nicktoons (TV network)]]
[[Category:2002 establishments in the United States]]
[[Category:Children's television networks in the United States]]
[[Category:English-language television stations in the United States]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 2002]]
[[Category:Television networks in the United States]]
[[no:Nickelodeon]]