Sky Kids (New Zealand TV channel)

Last updated

Sky Kids
CountryNew Zealand
Programming
Picture format 1080i (HDTV) 16:9
Ownership
Owner Sky Network Television
Sister channels Sky Open
Sky 5
Vibe
Jones!
Sky Movies
Sky Comedy
History
Launched2 December 2025;0 days ago (2025-12-02)
Replaced Nickelodeon (channel space and programming)
Nick Jr. (programming)
Links
Website Official Site
Availability
Streaming media
Sky Go skygo.co.nz

Sky Kids is a television channel in New Zealand available on Sky, launched on 2 December 2025.

Contents

Sky Kids's programmes are mostly sourced from US cable networks Nickelodeon and Nick Jr. and serves as a replacement to both channels, which were removed per the end of its contract with Paramount. The channel is available on channel 101. [1]

History

Background

Nickelodeon as a channel had been present in New Zealand since 2000, when it launched as a basic channel on its digital service. [2] This later led to the creation of a dedicated local feed on 1 August 2006. [3] This feed closed on 1 December 2010, as part of the announcement of the closure of the offices in Auckland and the move of its staff to Sydney, whereafter Sky replaced it with the Australian feed. [4] In tandem with this decision, Sky added Nick Jr. to its offer. [5]

In July 2025, Sky announced the removal of the Paramount networks from its offer after refusing to sign a new contract, putting the Nickelodeon channels off the service later in the year. [6]

Launch

On 10 November 2025, Sky announced the creation of Sky Kids to compensate for the loss of the Paramount channels. An NZ On Air study released the previous week shows that 11% of kids in New Zealand still watch Sky channels, far behind YouTube, at 69%. Programming would be dayparted into a morning block for pre-schoolers and an afterschool block for older kids. The Nickelodeon content will be complemented by local productions. [1]

Programming

Information correct as of the time of the announcement. [1]

Local output

From Nick Jr.

From Nickelodeon

References

  1. 1 2 3 Comedy Central and Cartoon Network; music channels to replace MTV
  2. ↑ Best of British for sky viewers. (2000, Feb 05). Dominion
  3. ↑ 24-Hour Localised Mtv And Nickelodeon in NZ
  4. ↑ "MTV to close NZ offices". The New Zealand Herald . New Zealand Press Association. 28 September 2010. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  5. ↑ "Nick Junior To Launch on Sky in New Zealand" (Press release). MTV Networks Asia Pacific. 28 September 2010. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 1 December 2010.
  6. ↑ Media Insider: Sky TV content shake-up - some channels set to be culled as pay-TV broadcaster reformats entertainment offering
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