Noggin (TV channel)

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Noggin
Launched February 2, 1999
Owned by (Viacom)
Slogan It's like preschool on TV (formerly I'm Using My Noggin)
Sister channel(s) Nickelodeon
Nick Jr
Nicktoons Network (formely Nicktoons TV and Nicktoons)
The N
Nickelodeon GAS
Nick at Nite
TV Land
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV US Channel 298
Dish Network US Channel 169 (Timeshared with The N) (until 1/31/09)
Cable
Available on most cable systems Check Local Listings for channels

Noggin is a cable television network in the United States, intended to help children learn. One of Nickelodeon's sister channels, it concentrates on preschool programs and features the animated characters of Moose A. Moose (a moose) and Zee (a blue bird). The network's programming consists mostly of recent Nick Jr. and Noggin original series.[1]

From April 1, 2002 through December 31, 2007, the channel only aired between 6:00am and 6:00pm ET/3:00am and 3:00pm PT, with The N airing through the rest of the channel's airtime. This timeshare practice is still in place on Dish Network until January 31, 2009.

On December 31, 2007,[2] Noggin's sister channel, Nickelodeon GAS, left the satellite and digital cable channel lineups, and moved to the online-only TurboNick,[3] with The N took over Nick GAS's channel position after splitting from Noggin.[4]

Contents

[edit] History

Noggin was originally created as a joint venture between Viacom's Nickelodeon and the Children's Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop), but Sesame Workshop's interest was sold to Nickelodeon in 2002.

At one point, Noggin was targeted at preteens, but the format was changed, due to low ratings. The network takes its name from a slang term for "brain" (see noggin), reflecting its original purpose as an educational channel. Until the Fall of 2003, the network aired classic episodes of Sesame Street, as well as classic Sesame Workshop productions such as 3-2-1 Contact, Square One TV, Cro, and The Electric Company. As of September 2, 2007, Noggin no longer airs any show produced by Sesame Workshop (it has since premiered Pinky Dinky Doo, which is a Noggin Original produced by Sesame Workshop).

In addition to classic episodes of Nickelodeon favorites such as Blue's Clues and Dora the Explorer, and original shows such as Oobi and Jack's Big Music Show, many preschool-oriented shows originating from non-U.S. English-speaking countries that would otherwise not likely be seen on American TV are shown. Some examples include Franklin from Canada and Tweenies, Connie the Cow, Tiny Planets, and 64 Zoo Lane from the UK. However, in 2006, this is being de-emphasized; Tweenies was permanently pulled from the schedule in January, and Tiny Planets was pulled in April 2006. Tiny Planets was previously shown intermittently — but not every day — at 6:00AM Eastern/5:00AM Central, as Tweenies was for a year until it was pulled. Since July 2006 this is also being done with 64 Zoo Lane, suggesting that it too may disappear eventually (however, unlike the other two shows, they also sometimes are showing it at 7:00AM Eastern/6:00AM Central). However, they have also recently introduced The Upside Down Show, which is from Australia (though like the British Tiny Planets, has American origins via Sesame Workshop).

Technically, Noggin does not show commercials, but it has shown ads between shows such as Mud N' Bugs Cereal,[5] and Connie the Cow's Milk Break, as well as other "tie-in" media such as a music video that tied in with the film Curious George, and spots for airings of shows on other channels within the Nick family. The channel's other revenues presumably come from fees paid by cable television distributors.

The network has also become a launching point for the music videos of pop musician/children's performers like Laurie Berkner, Lisa Loeb and Dan Zanes, initially as filler between 23-minute-long shows run commercial-free, and (because of their success in that format) now as music video shows like Move to the Music. Also, when Sesame Workshop’s classic shows (such as The Electric Company) aired on Noggin, they had to be edited for running time.

[edit] Programming

[edit] International

There was a Noggin brand in the United Kingdom that was broadcast on TMF UK and then Nick Jr. that showed identical programs, but has since been rebranded as Nick Jr. Classics.

[edit] See also

[edit] References

[edit] External links