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Nick Jr. (sometimes disambiguated as Nick Jr. on Nickelodeon or Nick Jr. on Nick, and sometimes referred to as Nick, Jr.) is an American morning programming block that airs on Nickelodeon every weekday. It was launched on January 4, 1988. Nick Jr. features a lineup of shows aimed at children aged 2 through 8.
In 2009, Nickelodeon launched a separate channel named after the Nick Jr. block as a replacement for the original Noggin cable channel. The channel is known on air as the "Nick Jr. Channel" to differentiate the two services.
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| 1977 | Pinwheel broadcasts on Qube |
| 1979 | Nickelodeon is launched by Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment |
| 1984 | A&E is launched as a block on Nick Nickelodeon introduces its Balloon font logo |
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| 1985 | Nick at Nite is launched after A&E spins off into a 24-hour channel |
| 1986 | Viacom gains full ownership of the network |
| 1987 | The Big Ballot (later known as the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards) premieres |
| 1988 | The programming block Nick Jr. is launched |
| 1991 | Nickelodeon debuted their "Nicktoons" brand |
| 1992 | The programming block SNICK was launched The Nickelodeon Animation Studio is founded |
| 1994 | Nickelodeon launches The Big Help |
| 1995 | Nick.com launches as an AOL channel |
| 1996 | Noggin, a joint venture with Sesame Workshop, is launched |
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| 2001 | TEENick is launched |
| 2002 | The N is launched on Noggin and Nicktoons TV is launched Sesame Workshop sells their stake in Noggin to Viacom MTV Hits is launched The Nickelodeon Group is founded |
| 2005 | SNICK is discontinued Nicktoons TV becomes Nicktoons Network |
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| 2009 | Nickelodeon goes through a major rebrand: TEENick and The N merged to form TeenNick, Noggin was replaced by the Nick Jr. Channel, and Nicktoons Network became Nicktoons Nickelodeon acquired the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise |
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| 2010 | Nickelodeon began co-producing the Winx Club franchise |
History[]
Early years (1988–93)[]
Early Nick Jr. logo created in 1988.
Since its launch on April 1, 1979, and throughout the 1980s, Nickelodeon aired programs for preschoolers (most prominently Pinwheel and Today's Special) on weekdays from 8:00 am – 2:00 pm and weekend mornings. After Nickelodeon's preschool block premiered a slew of new shows in 1987, it began using the Nick Junior branding on January 4, 1988, coinciding with the premiere of the Spanish program The World of David the Gnome. A new rebrand for the block that abbreviated its name to Nick Jr. was gradually rolled out from September 5, 1988 to summer 1989.[1] Nick Jr.'s new logo was orange for 'Nick' and blue for 'Jr.', and it varied in the shape or species (e.g.: two gears, trains, robots, planets, insects, comets, or elephants). Like with Nickelodeon, Nick Jr.'s network IDs featured the block's logo in different shapes and styles. At launch, the block aired from 8:30 am – 2:30 pm. On weekends, preschool programs aired at earlier hours of the day, and in the case of Eureeka's Castle went unbranded.
Until June 29, 1990, Pinwheel was featured, originally for three hours (two in the morning and one at noon), then for one hour starting in spring 1989. When Nick Jr.'s original series Eureeka's Castle premiered in September, Pinwheel was split into two separate half hours in the morning and afternoon, where it remained until June 29, 1990, after which the block was truncated to run from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm on July 2, 1990, another solidified timing from 9:30 am to 2:00 pm on June 15, 1992, and lastly from 9:00 am to 2:00 pm on October 5. Much of Nick Jr.'s other programs at the time were of Japanese or foreign origin (including Fred Penner's Place, Sharon, Lois & Bram's Elephant Show, Adventures of the Little Koala, Noozles, Maya the Bee, and The Littl' Bits).
Grow, Learn, and Play (1993–94)[]
On April 5, 1993, Nick Jr. premiered a new series, Cappelli & Company, and received a new rebrand which prominently featured a new logo consisting of an orange parent and a blue child, and the slogan Grow, Learn, and Play. Several Nick Jr. bumpers featured kids playing near a Nick Jr. logo and a theme song with the slogan sung to the melody of London Bridge, and interstitials were created featuring Cappelli & Company host Frank Cappelli on the set. Nick Jr. also started using a female announcer (who was replaced by a different one in 1995, 1998 and 2003) in its promos and bumpers. Nick Jr. began to invest more into producing original interstitial series (including 1994's Muppet Time, forty two-minute shorts from The Jim Henson Company) in order to stay within a self-imposed limit of five minutes of commercials per hour.
On April 4, 1994, the "Jim Henson's Muppet Hour" sub-block was created by pairing Muppet Babies reruns with the new acquisition The Muppet Show. Due to Nick Jr.'s declining ratings as well as competition from PBS' children's programs and TLC's Ready Set Learn block, Nickelodeon spent $30 million revamping the Nick Jr. block over the next three years.[2] On June 13, older-skewing Nickelodeon series Rugrats, The Alvin Show, Dennis the Menace, and Lassie joined Nick Jr.'s lineup, as the block's branding was temporarily de-emphasized in favor of regular Nickelodeon branding until October 21.
Just for Me/Play to Learn (1994–2003)[]
On October 24, 1994, the Nick Jr. block returned with new on-air branding and premiered two new original series, Gullah Gullah Island and Allegra's Window, resulting in 50% rating gains for the block. Nick Jr. also introduced Face, an animated mascot that introduced shows and interstitials and led into commercial breaks. In the context of his segments, Face was capable of materializing objects such as an astronaut, a robot, a clown, a window, a traffic light, stars, and even wood. He was also capable of creating a number of Foley sound effects and voices including an iconic signature three-note trumpet noise usually following the name "Nick Jr." at the end of almost every bumper. Also, he changed colors, moods, and feelings. Face was voiced by Chris Phillips, who also narrated several Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. promos.
In 1995, Nick Jr. acquired broadcast rights to The Busy World of Richard Scarry from sister network Showtime, and later premiered Rupert on September 11 and Little Bear on November 6 (both were produced by the Canadian animation studio Nelvana).
On September 8, 1996, the first episode of Blue's Clues premiered in primetime on Nick at Nite, then aired on Nick Jr. the next day. Nick Jr. also received a new rebrand produced by Pittard Sullivan. Blue's Clues quickly deposed Gullah Gullah Island as Nick Jr.'s most popular series. Rugrats was pushed out of Nick Jr.'s lineup after May 2, 1997, to make room for second showings of Little Bear and Blue's Clues. The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss replaced Papa Beaver's Storytime on October 7, 1997, after a series of occasional airings on the block from October 21, 1996, to February 1997. On March 16, 1998, the "nickjr.com" website was launched. Later that year, Nick Jr. rebranded again and introduced the "Just for Me" slogan. A sign-on and sign-off bumper featuring the "Just for Me" slogan was used on Nick Jr. video releases from 2000–04.
In the first quarter of 1999, Nick Jr. premiered three new series based on books, Franklin on January 11, and Kipper and Maisy in February, which helped increase the block's ratings. Later in 1999, Little Bill premiered on November 28; the series' first episodes premiered on Nickelodeon Sunday nights before airing on Nick Jr. the next day. Nick Jr. briefly aired reruns of Shining Time Station beginning June 5, 2000 (Maggie and the Ferocious Beast premiered on the same day) to promote the film Thomas and the Magic Railroad, before replacing it with Dora the Explorer on August 14, which became one of Nick Jr.'s most successful series.
The US dub of Bob the Builder premiered on Nickelodeon on January 13, 2001, before airing on Nick Jr. two days later. Oswald premiered on August 20. On September 24, 2001, Nick Jr. received a new rebrand produced by AdamsMorioka (who had previously rebranded Nickelodeon and Nick at Nite) and Editional Effects, intended to have a greater appeal towards parents. In the spring of 2002, Nick Jr. altered the format of its commercial breaks, resulting in the removal of older network IDs dating back to 1994. Beginning on January 10, 2003, Dora the Explorer and Blue's Clues were placed in Nick Jr.'s "Play Along Time" sub-block. On April 7, the day that sister network Noggin rebranded and introduced Moose and Zee, Nick Jr. aired some of Noggin's new original series (Oobi, Tweenies, and Miffy and Friends) as a cross-promotion. Nick Jr. continued to air Tweenies from July to September 25.
On August 29, 2003, the original Face interstitials ended their almost 9-year run.
Play Along (2003–04)[]
Former logo used from September 1, 2003 to January 30, 2009.
On September 1, 2003, Nick Jr. received a rebrand that introduced more than a dozen new logos; British program Rubbadubbers premiered the next day. A new interstitial series called Nick Jr. Play Along was introduced, hosted by two live-action hosts: Robin (played by actress Hillary Hawkins[3]) and Zack (played by actor Travis Guba[4]). Along with Robin and Zack were two sock puppets called the Feetbeats. Face was given a brand new look which added eyebrows and a chin and straightened his eyes by inverting their colors from white dots on black eyes to actual-looking eyes, and was voiced by Nick on CBS announcer Babi Floyd. The new Face promos were produced by Vee-Pee Cartoons.
Nick Jr. removed the Play Along interstitials aside from a re-edited block opening in February 2004. Starting in September 2004, Nick Jr. used a new on-screen bug to promote its website until March 3, 2006.
On October 8, 2004, the new Face interstitials ended their 1-year run alongside most of Nick Jr.'s older interstitial series.[5]
Love to Play! (2004–07)[]
On October 11, 2004, Nick Jr. received another rebrand containing interstitials co-produced with Little Airplane Productions featuring the block's new mascot Piper O'Possum (voiced by Ali Brustofski and created by Josh Selig), and the new slogan "Love to Play!". Nick Jr.'s female announcer was replaced with Kobie Powell and Chris Phillips. LazyTown, Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends, Blue's Room, and The Backyardigans (the latter of which premiering alongside the rebrand) premiered on Nick Jr. in 2004. Between 2004 and 2007, Nick Jr. reduced its reliance on interstitial series and increased the amount of commercials it aired.
Dora the Explorer spin-off Go, Diego, Go! premiered in 2005, whilst Wonder Pets! and Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! debuted the following year.
On November 10, 2006, the SpongeBob SquarePants "Best Day Ever" marathon on Nickelodeon pre-empted the Nick Jr. block.
On August 20, 2007, Yo Gabba Gabba! debuted, and was the only Nick Jr. series to premiere that year (Ni Hao, Kai-Lan was set to premiere in late-2007, but was later delayed to premiere on February 7, 2008).
On September 7, 2007, the Piper O'Possum interstitials ended their almost 3-year run.
Play Date (2007–09)[]
Former logo used from September 10, 2007 to September 25, 2009.
On September 10, 2007, Nick Jr. received yet another rebrand nicknamed Nick Jr.'s Play Date or Nick Jr. Play Date. A new slogan, Play with Us!, was also included. The bumpers encouraged preschoolers to play along and featured the Nick Jr. logo in the form of two stop-motion plushies. Starting in February 2008, Nick Jr.'s on-screen bugs were changed to match the branding. This marked the first time that Nick Jr. had no mascot since 1994. Starting on February 25, 2008, Nick Jr. began its broadcast at 8:30 am.
Nickelodeon rebranding (2009–present)[]
Former logo used from September 28, 2009 to May 18, 2018.
On February 2, 2009, the Nick Jr. block rebranded as Nickelodeon's Play Date, as part of an effort to unite the Nickelodeon channel's programs under a single brand. NickJr.com continued to use the Nick Jr. brand name to categorize all of Nickelodeon's preschool programming. The block's new branding was designed by Melinda Beck, and many bumpers featured drawings, finger puppets or cupcakes. The bumpers' music was a choir of kids vocalizing, and Nicolette Pierini was the announcer of each bumper. The Nickelodeon splat logo was edited onto the block's split-screen credits design and interstitials predating the rebrand. Starting on June 29 of that year, the split-screen credits were changed to match the branding. On September 28 of that year, the Nick Jr. channel was launched, replacing Noggin. That same day, the block became simply known as Nick's Play Date or just Play Date. Starting in the summer of 2010, Nick's Play Date began its broadcast at 7:00 am.
In 2011, Nick's Play Date received a new rebrand featuring characters from the block's shows. That same year, Nick’s Play Date stopped using the branding’s split-screen credits, and started using Nickelodeon’s split-screen credits design. The following year, the Play Date branding was replaced with a modified version of the Nick Jr. channel's new branding known as Weekday Mornings on Nick: The Smart Place to Play. Despite Nickelodeon displaying its shows' credits during the last 30 seconds before it since 2012, the branding retained the split-screen credits for Nick Jr. shows airing on the block until May 2, 2014.
Return of Nick Jr. branding (2014–present)[]
Logo used May 21, 2018 to July 1, 2023; in which the logo is in slightly darker color.
On May 5, 2014, Weekday Mornings on Nick: The Smart Place to Play rebranded back to Nick Jr. and began calling itself "Nick Jr. on Nickelodeon" or "Nick Jr. on Nick" while still using a Nickelodeon screen bug. When aired on the Nick Jr. channel, commercials for programs broadcast on Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. block usually end with "Over on Nick" or "Over on Nickelodeon" to differentiate the titles. On the same day, the Nick Jr. block also began to use Nickelodeon's on-screen credits to include more commercials (now 12 minutes per hour). On June 10, 2015, the Nick Jr. website was fully redesigned to match up with the Nick Jr. app.[6]
On May 21, 2018, the Nick Jr. block rebranded with new bumpers and curriculum boards. Starting in the fall of 2020, Nick Jr. began its broadcast at 7:00 am once again for the first time since 2010. As of fall 2022, the Nick Jr. block has been extended to sign off at 3:00 pm, but by January 2, 2023, it reverted to having a 2 p.m. sign off time.
Alternate logo with slightly different text placing concurrently used alongside the 2023 logo since July 5, 2023.
On July 5, 2023, the Nick Jr. block was rebranded to include a refreshed splat logo and used the Nickelodeon name in the refreshed bumpers, as well as refreshed curriculum boards, while the Nick Jr. channel eventually adopted the full rebrand on September 4.[7]
Programming[]
- Main article(s): List of programs broadcast by Nick Jr. (block)
Other Nick Jr. blocks for broadcast networks[]
From 2000 to 2002 and from 2004 to 2006, Nick Jr. programs and interstitial segments appeared as a Saturday morning block on CBS entitled Nick Jr. on CBS. From 2002 to 2004, it was part of the general Nick on CBS block, which also included programming from the main Nickelodeon channel. It ended after Viacom and CBS Corporation were separated at the start at 2006 (but re-merged in later years) and was replaced by the KOL Secret Slumber Party block on September 16, 2006.
Spanish-language US network Telemundo has aired Blue's Clues (Spanish Pistas De Blue) (from 1998 to 2000, as part of the Nickelodeon en Telemundo block) and Dora the Explorer (Spanish Dora la Exploradora) (from 2005 to 2006, as part of the Telemundo Kids block) in Spanish. On April 5, 2008, competing Spanish network Univision added Spanish-dubbed versions of Dora the Explorer and its spin-off Go, Diego, Go! to their Saturday morning Planeta U line-up. A Spanish-dubbed version of The Backyardigans was later added to the lineup on January 8, 2011.
For a brief time in summer 2010, Tr3s, a sister network to Nickelodeon, aired a daily block of Spanish-dubbed Nick Jr. programs under the name Tr3s Jr. to meet E/I requirements for its broadcast affiliates. Shows like Pistas de Blue (the Spanish version of Blue's Clues) and Wonder Pets! were featured in the block.
Face's reappearances[]
The 1990s Face made an appearance during the 2012 New Year edition of The '90s Are All That, TeenNick's former 1990s-oriented late-night block. Face's appearances consisted of out-of-context clips that make him appear to be drunk or making adult comments (e.g.: "Yeah, grow a pair!").
In October 2015 for the Halloween/Nick or Treat season, the "Face the Monster" bumper would play on the block as a transition of introducing episodes of Aaahh!!! Real Monsters. The same bumper would be used on the block as an April Fools' Day prank on April 1, 2017.
Face also appeared in an Easter promo for The Splat, The '90s Are All That's successor, in 2016, encouraging viewers to look for the Easter bunny in 1990s Nickelodeon shows.
A re-designed Face voiced by Cedric Williams hosted the Nick Jr. show Face's Music Party, which premiered on June 3, 2022. Face's original voice actor Chris Phillips continued to narrate promos for Nick Jr. until 2023.
See also[]
- Dance and Sing! The Best of Nick Jr.
- Nick Jr. Channel
- Nickelodeon
Notes[]
References[]
- ↑ "The Rugrats Timeline -- Through 1989". 2012-06-16. http://www.rugratonline.com/timepr90.htm.
- ↑ Nick to spend $30 million on kids (page 53) from Broadcasting & Cable
- ↑ "Hillary Hawkins". http://www.hillaryhawkins.com.
- ↑ "About". http://www.travisguba.com/about.html.
- ↑ "Nickelodeon's '90s Mascot Face Returns in Face's Music Party, Brand-New Music Variety Show Premiering Monday, June 6, at 11 A.M. (ET/PT)" (Press release). Nickelodeon. May 5, 2022. https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/nickelodeons-90s-mascot-face-returns-in-faces-music-party-brand-new-music-variety-show-premiering-monday-june-6-at-11-am-etpt-301541082.html.
- ↑ "Nick Jr. site gets a redesign, debuts new preschool series". http://kidscreen.com/2015/06/10/nick-jr-site-gets-a-redesign-debuts-new-preschool-series/.
- ↑ Albiniak, Paige (July 5, 2023). "Nickelodeon Returns to Its Roots with Preschool Rebrand". Promax. https://brief.promax.org/index.php/article/nickelodeon-returns-to-its-roots-with-preschool-rebrand.
External links[]
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nick Jr. (TV programming block). |
| Viacom |
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| Parent company: National Amusements
Predecessors: Paramount Communications | Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment Company | Viacom International | Paramount Famous Lasky Corporation | Famous Players Film Company | Jesse L. Lasky Feature Play Company Film production Home Entertainment Television production US channels International channels Nickelodeon: Paramount Network/Channel: Comedy Central: VH1: Spike: Telefe: Other channels: UK & Ireland channels Former channels India channels5 Regional channels: Colors Kannada (HD) | Colors Super (Kannada) | Colors Bangla (HD) | Colors Marathi (HD) | Colors Tamil (HD) | Colors Odia | Colors Gujarati Television station: KVMM-CD (Tres) Radio network: Nick Radio Video Games: South Park Digital Studios | Paramount Digital Entertainment | Nickelodeon Games Record Labels: Other assets Defunct/Dissolved/Former Notes  |
Template:MTV Networks Template:Nickelodeon
v - e - d | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Nick Jr. original programming | |||
| Current | 1980s debuts | Pinwheel (since 1988) • Eureeka's Castle (since 1989) | |
| 1990s debuts | Nick Jr. Lunchbreak Theater (since 1992) • Allegra's Window (since 1994) • Gullah Gullah Island (since 1994) • Blue's Clues (since 1996) • Binyah Binyah! (since 1998) • Little Bill (since 1999) | ||
| 2000s debuts | Dora the Explorer (since 2000) • Oswald (since 2001) • Whoopi's Littleburg (since 2004) • Blue's Room (since 2004) • The Backyardigans(since 2004) • Go, Diego, Go! (since 2005) • Holly Hobbie & Friends (since 2006) • Wonder Pets! (since 2006) • Ni Hao, Kai-Lan(since 2008) • The Fresh Beat Band (since 2009) • Moose and Zee (since 2009) | ||
| 2010s debuts | Team Umizoomi (since 2010) • Bubble Guppies (since 2011) • Peter Rabbit (since 2012) • Dora and Friends: Into the City! (2014) • Blaze and the Monster Machines (since 2014) • Mutt & Stuff (since 2015) • Little Charmers (since 2015) • Fresh Beat Band of Spies (since 2015) • Rusty Rivets (since 2016) • Nella the Princess Knight (since 2017) • Sunny Day (since 2017) • Top Wing (since 2017) • Zoofari (since 2018) • Becca's Bunch (since 2018) • Butterbean's Café (since 2018) • Blue's Clues & You! (since 2019) | ||
| 2020s debuts | Santiago of the Seas (since 2020) • Baby Shark's Big Show! (since 2020) • Face's Music Party (since 2022) • The Tiny Chef Show (since 2022) • Rubble & Crew (since 2023) • Bossy Bear (since 2023) | ||
| Upcoming | Super Duper Bunny League • Tim Rex in Space • HexVets and Magic Pets • Cowboy Joe | ||
| Former | |||
| Noggin series | Jack's Big Music Show • Kinderwood • Noggin Knows • Oobi • Toot & Puddle • The Upside Down Show | ||
| See also | Nick Jr. Channel • programming • Nickelodeon on CBS • Nickelodeon • Noggin • Nickelodeon Animation Studio | ||
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