Nickelodeon (Middle Eastern and North African TV channel) facts for kids
Final logo used from 1 August 2023 to 25 November 2024
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| Broadcast area | Middle East & North Africa |
|---|---|
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English Arabic |
| Picture format | HDTV 1080i |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Paramount Networks EMEAA (Paramount International Networks) |
| Sister channels |
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| History | |
| Launched | June 1996 (Original in Showtime Network English only) 23 July 2008 (in Arabic) 5 January 2015 (relaunch) |
| Closed | 8 September 2011 (original) 25 November 2024 (relaunch) |
| Replaced by | Nickelodeon Global |
Nickelodeon was a TV channel especially for kids in the Middle East and North Africa. You could watch it only on OSN, a special TV service. This channel was the official Arabic version of the famous Nickelodeon channel. Until 2011, it was the only Nickelodeon channel in the world that still used the old "splat" logo. This logo was used in the United States from 1984 to 2009.
Contents
The Story of Nickelodeon Arabia
Early Days: Launching the Channel
Nickelodeon Arabia first started in June 1996. It was part of Showtime Arabia and only showed programs in English. Later, on July 23, 2008, a special version for the Middle East was launched. This new version had both Arabic and English sound options. Nickelodeon was the second international kids' TV network to offer shows in Arabic. Disney Channel was the first.
This channel was a partnership between Viacom International Media Networks and Arabian Television Network. Arabian Television Network is part of Arab Media Group, a very large media company in the United Arab Emirates. This partnership came after their successful launch of MTV Arabia, which is now known as MTV Middle East.
Logo Change and Channel Hiatus
By 2011, Nickelodeon Arabia was the only Nickelodeon channel worldwide that still used the orange "splat" logo. Other Nickelodeon channels had changed to a new orange text logo in 2009. From late 2010, the channel started having problems. It kept showing the same programs over and over. There were no new updates, and its official website stopped working. No one explained why the channel was being ignored, even though it stayed on air. Its sister channel, MTV Arabia, was having similar issues.
Channel Closure and Relaunch
On September 8, 2011, just after midnight in the U.A.E., the channel suddenly closed. There was no warning or explanation. At first, a message appeared telling viewers to watch Nickelodeon shows on MBC 3. A few days later, the signal changed to a simple test pattern. Then, TV providers removed the channel, and its signal disappeared completely.
However, on December 17, 2014, good news arrived! Viacom International Media Networks announced that Nickelodeon Arabia would return. It would be in HD and available on OSN, a pay-TV service in Dubai. A Nick Jr. channel was also planned. Both channels launched on January 5, 2015, with Arabic sound. In February 2015, they added an English sound option too. A new Nickelodeon website, social media pages, and a special Nick app were also launched.
In 2018, the official websites for Nickelodeon in Southeast Asia, the Middle East, and Africa were combined into one site, nick.tv. Since November 25, 2024, the channel has been showing programs from Nickelodeon Global.
Other Channels from Nickelodeon
Nick Jr.: Shows for Younger Kids
Nick Jr. is a TV channel for younger Arab kids. It shows Nick Jr. programs for preschoolers, all dubbed in Arabic. This channel started on January 5, 2015, at 10:00 am. It launched on OSN at the same time as Nickelodeon Arabia. Nick Jr. also has an English sound option.
NickToons: Animated Fun
Nicktoons is a TV channel for Arab kids that shows animated Nickelodeon programs. These shows are dubbed in Arabic. It often airs older Nickelodeon cartoons. The channel launched on February 15, 2017, on OSN. Nicktoons Arabia used the same on-air look as Nicktoons UK & Ireland from 2014. It also has an English sound option.
TeenNick: Live-Action Series
TeenNick is a video on demand channel for Arab kids. It shows Nickelodeon's live-action TV series. These programs are usually in English with Arabic subtitles. The channel airs both old and new Nickelodeon shows. TeenNick launched on April 15, 2017.
What Shows Were On?
The animated shows on Nickelodeon Arabia were available in both Arabic and English. The live-action TeenNick shows were originally in English with Arabic subtitles. However, some special shows made by Nickelodeon Arabia, like Shoof Kids and Jamaatna, were only in Arabic.
Many of the shows on the network were older series that had already finished. An exception was SpongeBob SquarePants. Even though some shows were old, many Arab viewers had never seen them before. Some series, like The Fairly OddParents, were not on Nickelodeon Arabia at first. The Fairly OddParents had been on Disney Channel Arabia since 2006. It later appeared on Nicktoons Arabia in 2017. Characters from Fairly OddParents sometimes appeared in activity sections from Nickelodeon Magazine cutouts.
Like most Arab channels, Nickelodeon had some censorship. This was mostly limited to certain scenes. After the channel relaunched, there was no censorship.
Original Shows on the Older Channel
Catch Match: A Game Show
Catch Match (كاتش ماتش) was a game show made especially for Nickelodeon Arabia. It was shown every year during the holy month of Ramadan. In this show, two teams of kids competed in different physical challenges. The goal was to earn the most points. Taj Aser hosted this show, and it was filmed in Jeddah.
Shoof Kids: Viewer Videos
Shoof Kids was another original show. It featured home-made videos that viewers sent in.
See also
In Spanish: Nickelodeon Arabia para niños
