Nickelodeon (Canadian TV channel)

Last updated

Nickelodeon Canada
Nickelodeon 2023 logo (outline).svg
Final logo used from November 2, 2023 to September 1, 2025. [a]
CountryCanada
Broadcast areaNationwide
Headquarters Toronto, Ontario
Programming
Language(s) English
Picture format 1080i HDTV
(downscaled to letterboxed 480i for the SDTV feed)
Ownership
Owner Corus Entertainment
(branding licensed from Paramount Skydance)
Parent YTV Canada, Inc.
Sister channels YTV
Treehouse TV
History
LaunchedSeptember 3, 2001;24 years ago (2001-09-03) (as Discovery Kids)
November 2, 2009;15 years ago (2009-11-02) (as Nickelodeon)
ClosedSeptember 1, 2025;23 days ago (2025-09-01)
Replaced by Paramount+ (most programming)
Former namesDiscovery Kids (2001–2009)
Links
Website Nick Canada (archived July 2025)

Nickelodeon was a Canadian English language discretionary specialty channel owned by YTV Canada, Inc., a subsidiary of Corus Entertainment, under a brand licensing agreement with the Paramount Media Networks division of Paramount Skydance. It was a localized version of the U.S. cable network of the same name, broadcasting programs aimed at children and young teenagers.

Contents

The channel launched on September 3, 2001 as a Canadian version of Discovery Kids (now known as Discovery Family), under the joint ownership of Corus Entertainment and Discovery Communications. Like its U.S. namesake, Discovery Kids aired nature, science, and technology-themed programming aimed at children ages four to eight. In September 2009, Corus announced that the channel would relaunch as a Canadian version of Nickelodeon under license from MTV Networks, which took place on November 2, 2009.

Historically, YTV and Treehouse TV served as the main Canadian outlets for Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. Channel programming. Until September 1, 2025, both channels continued to premiere new original series from the U.S. networks, since they (as basic cable channels) are more widely distributed than the digitally-distributed Nickelodeon channel.

Nickelodeon was one of two Paramount Skydance-branded channels owned by Corus, along with CMT. On July 10, 2025, it was announced that Nickelodeon, alongside ABC Spark, Disney Jr., Disney XD, and La Chaîne Disney, would close on September 1 due to financial pressure within Corus.

History

As Discovery Kids (2001–09)

Logo used as Discovery Kids (2001-2009) Discovery Kids Canada.png
Logo used as Discovery Kids (2001-2009)

In December 2000, Corus Entertainment, on behalf of an organization to be incorporated, was granted approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch Discovery Kids, described as "a national English-language Category 2 specialty television service that offers children of all ages a fun, entertaining way to satisfy their natural curiosity with stimulating, imaginative programming that asks the questions of how? and why? and awakens the power of the mind." [1]

The channel was launched on September 3, 2001, [2] with the Earth Science for Children episode "All About Fossils" being the first program to air on the network. Discovery Communications purchased a minority stake in the service either prior to or shortly after the channel's launch.

As Nickelodeon (2009–25)

Logo used from November 2, 2009 to September 1, 2025. Concurrently used with the 2023 logo from November 2, 2023 to September 1, 2025. Nickelodeon 2009 logo.svg
Logo used from November 2, 2009 to September 1, 2025. Concurrently used with the 2023 logo from November 2, 2023 to September 1, 2025.

In September 2008, Corus Entertainment was given approval by the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) to launch a specialty channel named "YTV OneWorld", described as featuring "programming from around the world targeting children and teenagers aged 6 to 17 and their families. The schedule would include programs devoted to entertainment, humour, travel, games and science and technology." [3] In September 2009, Corus announced it had reached an agreement with MTV Networks, a subsidiary of Viacom (one of two predecessors of the current Paramount Skydance), to launch Nickelodeon in Canada as a domestic channel.

The channel was relaunched as Nickelodeon on November 2, 2009, at 6 a.m. using the "YTV OneWorld" license. [4] Jacob Two-Two was the first show broadcast under the Nickelodeon name, shortly after Discovery Kids' final broadcast of Aquateam. [5] Because it was legally a distinct service, subscription television companies had to reach new agreements with Corus in order to carry Nickelodeon, as Discovery Kids operated under a different license. [6] Earlier in April, Discovery announced that it would relaunch the U.S. version of Discovery Kids in a joint venture with Hasbro, which came to be known as the Hub Network and, as of 2014, Discovery Family. [7] [8]

On April 9, 2013, Telus Optik TV launched Nickelodeon HD, a high-definition simulcast of the standard-definition feed. It was later launched on June 25, 2013, for Rogers Cable and added to Bell Fibe TV's service on October 25, 2013. [9]

On September 22, 2015, Corus Entertainment announced the launch of Nickelodeon GO, an app that allowed viewers to watch the channel live, as well as stream shows from its U.S. counterpart. The app was available for iOS and Android platforms, but required a subscription to Nickelodeon from a pay-TV provider. [10]

In June 2019, as part of the launch of Amazon Prime Video Channels in Canada, Corus launched a standalone subscription video on demand channel featuring Nickelodeon content, [11] later branded as Nick+. [12] On August 30, 2022, it was announced that Nick+ would be discontinued and replaced on September 1 by Teletoon+, which focuses on programming from Warner Bros. Animation and Cartoon Network. [12]

Closure

On July 10, 2025, Corus announced that it would stop distributing and close Nickelodeon along with four of its Disney Branded Television-affiliated specialty channels (Disney Jr., Disney XD, La Chaîne Disney and ABC Spark) on September 1 due to existing financial pressure at the company. [13] Despite the closure, Corus formally initially confirmed that it would continue to air both Nickelodeon and Disney content on its other channels. However, those plans were rendered moot when it was reported on August 18 that Corus would stop airing only Nickelodeon programming altogether on both YTV and Treehouse the same day the Nickelodeon channel would cease operations, after which its channel space created in 2001 by Discovery Kids would permanently cease to exist. [14] The final show to air on the channel ahead of its midnight closure was the Zoo Diaries episode "Monkeys in Trouble". [15]

A number of Nickelodeon programming formally aired on this channel along with YTV and Treehouse all remain available in Canada through the Paramount+ streaming service.

Programming

Nickelodeon primarily aired a mix of both contemporary and older original programming seen on its U.S. counterpart, with most of its programming aired on YTV and Treehouse TV. The channel also featured a commercial-free (ad-supported on the weekends), Nick Jr.-branded block of preschool programming during the daytime hours. In order to fulfil Canadian content guidelines, Nickelodeon also aired programming sourced from other Corus-owned networks.

Notes

  1. ↑ The logo's wordmark had been in use since November 2, 2009. Additionally, this variant was meant for use on white backgrounds; the main variant had a white wordmark in conjunction with a fully orange splat.

See also


References

  1. ↑ Government of Canada, Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) (December 14, 2000). "ARCHIVED - Decision CRTC 2000-525, Discovery Kids". crtc.gc.ca. Retrieved May 22, 2023.
  2. ↑ DISCOVERY KIDS LAUNCHES WITH A UNIQUE BLEND OF “EDU-TAINMENT” Archived 2015-09-23 at the Wayback Machine Corus Entertainment press release 2001-08-08
  3. ↑ Broadcasting Decision CRTC 2008-257, September 18, 2008
  4. ↑ Nickelodeon Canada set to launch; Media in Canada; September 29, 2009
  5. ↑ "Corus is shuttering Discovery Kids, they will re-brand the Sex TV and Drive-In Classics channels", CARTT.ca, September 29, 2009
  6. ↑ Corus is shuttering Discovery Kids, they will re-brand the Sex TV and Drive-In Classics channels Archived 2012-02-25 at the Wayback Machine ; Cartt.ca; 2009-09-30
  7. ↑ Flint, Joe (January 14, 2010). "Discovery and Hasbro Name New Kids Channel "The Hub"". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved September 23, 2014.
  8. ↑ Schneider, Michael (April 30, 2009). "Hasbro Nabs Discovery Kids Stake". Variety. Archived from the original on June 30, 2012. Retrieved July 12, 2017.
  9. ↑ "Channel Guide for Various providers in Canada - Page 4". channelcanada.com.
  10. ↑ "Corus Launches YTV, Nick Apps", Animation Magazine , September 22, 2015
  11. ↑ "Amazon Prime Video Channels coming to Canada". Realscreen. June 3, 2019. Retrieved June 12, 2019.
  12. 1 2 Lang, Jamie (August 30, 2022). "Corus Is Rebranding Nick+ As Teletoon+ And Will Focus On Warner Bros. And Cartoon Network Series". Cartoon Brew. Retrieved September 1, 2022.
  13. ↑ "Corus to pull plug on some kids channels amid financial pressure". Cartt.ca. July 10, 2025. Retrieved July 14, 2025.
  14. ↑ "Nickelodeon Programming Set to Leave YTV and Treehouse - NickALive!".
  15. ↑ "TV Schedule for Nickelodeon Canada". TV Passport. Archived from the original on August 26, 2025. Retrieved August 26, 2025.
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