Nickelodeon is a TV channel that is dedicated to kids' programming. In the UK and Ireland, it is operated under a joint venture between Viacom International Media Networks Europe and Sky plc.
On 1 September 1993, a localised version of the US channel launched in the United Kingdom and much later in Ireland. In the United Kingdom, the channel is available on Sky, Virgin Media, and TalkTalk Plus TV. In Ireland, the channel is available on Virgin Media Ireland, eVision and Sky Ireland.
Different than other Nickelodeon versions worldwide, Nickelodeon UK and Ireland does not air any animated programming on its schedule apart from Winx Club and SpongeBob SquarePants, and all Nickelodeon animated programming is switched to Nicktoons in the UK and Ireland.
Sister channels[edit]
Nick Jr.[edit]
Main article: Nick Jr. (UK and Ireland)
Nick Jr. first appeared in the UK and Ireland from 1995, between 9am – 3pm on weekday school days on the main Nickelodeon UK channel. On 1 September 1999, Nick Jr. launched on Sky, allowing the channel to broadcast all day. Nick Jr. shows programming aimed at pre-school children, which was previously shown during the daytime on the main channel, but this strand has long since been dropped (though it was reintroduced briefly during 2005). Nick Jr. originally timeshared with MTV Dance when that channel launched in early 2001, though this ceased some time ago, with MTV Dance having gone 24 hours since then.
Nicktoons[edit]
Main article: Nicktoons (UK and Ireland)
On 22 July 2002, Nicktoons was launched, airing Nicktoons cartoons, as well as other cartoons, throughout the day. SpongeBob SquarePants and The Fairly OddParents are part of the Nicktoons schedule.
Nick Jr. Too[edit]
Main article: Nick Jr. Too
On 24 April 2006, Nick Jr. 2 was launched. It broadcasts Nick Jr. shows on a different schedule to the main Nick Jr. channel. However, unlike the main Nick Jr., it does not broadcast 24 hours a day.
Nick +1, Nicktoons Replay and Nick Jr. +1[edit]
On 1 September 1999, a one-hour timeshift of Nickelodeon was initially launched on Sky. It is available on Sky, UPC Ireland 605 and Virgin Media 713. The channel originally launched as Nick Replay but was rebranded as Nick +1 on 2 October 2012, along with the launch of Nick Jr. +1 and the closure of Nicktoons Replay.
A one-hour timeshift of Nicktoons, Nicktoons Replay, was also available on Sky channel 630. The timeshift channel replaced the Nicktoons spin off sister channel Nicktoonsters. It closed on 1 October 2012 and was replaced with Nick Jr. +1 the following day.
Nick Jr. +1 launched on 2 October 2012, replacing Nicktoons Replay, which closed the previous day. The timeshift channel is available on Nicktoons Replay's previous space.
Republic of Ireland feeds[edit]
In 2004, Viacom International Media Networks launched a Republic of Ireland advertising feed for Nickelodeon.
Nicktoonsters[edit]
Main article: Nicktoonsters