Nick UK to Launch Nicktoons TV on Monday 22nd July

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Offical Nick press release

Nickelodeon UK Launches Nick Toons Channel

Nickelodeon UK has announced plans to launch Nick Toons - a brand new channel featuring all of Nickelodeon's best loved cartoons. The channel, which has carriage on Sky Digital and NTL Home, is due to launch on Monday 22nd July.

Nick Toons will feature UK produced promos and idents on air, toons that are exclusive to Nickelodeon in the UK such as Spongebob Squarepants and As Told by Ginger as well as favourites from Nickelodeon UK's vast 500 hour library of animated programming.

The channel will be aimed at kids in the 4-9 age group and will also boast an interactive element. Coupled with Nickelodeon UK's other two channels - Nick Jr. and Nickelodeon - the MTV Networks BskyB joint venture is now in a very strong position to offer commercial partners and platforms a very strong proposition when wanting to connect with kids of all ages.

Nicky Parkinson, Managing Director Nickelodeon UK said:

‘After a lot of thought we feel that the time is right for us to launch Nick Toons. We've identified a gap in the current offering to kids in the UK and Nick Toons is ideal to fill that space. Nickelodeon is continuing to grow in a very competitive market despite tough competition.

We have always prided ourselves on connecting with kids and being the premier kids brand in the UK and the launch of Nick Toons means that we can now offer a dedicated place for kids of all ages in the UK to experience high quality entertainment.’

The programming on Nick Toons offers a unique experience within today's animated world in the UK. Many cartoons are simply based around slapstick comedy but Nick's Toons have an anchor of reality in them as well as the comedy element. Subjects like sibling rivalry (CatDog) and friends overcoming obstacles (Hey Arnold!) are dealt with in a way that is entertaining for the viewer without being pure fantasy - there's no running off cliffs and surviving the fall in Nick Toons. Kids are able to see parallels between their own lives and situations and the toon action on screen.

also, from c21 media:

New kids' channel for Nick UK

Nickelodeon UK is to launch a new animated children's channel in July entitled Nick Toons, dedicated to the 4-9 year-old demographic.

The channel - the third from the MTV Networks/BSkyB joint venture broadcaster – will feature locally-produced promos and idents, Nick UK's exclusive toons, and series from Nick UK's 500-hour programme library.

"We've identified a gap in the current offering to kids in the UK," said Nick UK's md Nicky Parkinson. "The launch of Nick Toons means we can now offer a dedicated place for kids of all ages in the UK."

Shows lined up for the new channel's initial slate include CatDog, Hey Arnold, SpongeBob SquarePants and As Told By Ginger. The new service has carriage on Sky Digital and NTL Home, and is due to launch on July 22. It will add to Nick UK's two other offerings: Nickelodeon and Nick Jr.

Ed Waller