NICKELODEON moves to FREE-TO-AIR as more Kids content departs FOXTEL

In a significant move for the Australian broadcasting landscape, Network 10 is set to rebrand its multichannel, 10 Shake, as the Nickelodeon Channel, beginning Tuesday, 1 August.

Paramount ANZ has today confirmed that it will introduce a free-to-air, dedicated Nickelodeon service for the first time in Australia, providing a comprehensive suite of Nickelodeon content across daytime and night-time programming.

Paramount ANZ’s shift will bring Nickelodeon content in-house from Foxtel, ending a partnership that has existed since the early day’s of Pay-TV in Australia.

The loss of Nickelodeon programming on Foxtel follows the closure of Disney and PBS Kids channels in recent years.

The new arrangement will see Nickelodeon content distributed across free-to-air channel Nickelodeon, BVOD service 10 Play, and SVOD service Paramount+.

Paramount ANZ has assured audiences that the new channel will offer a diverse and extensive program line-up.

Daytime programming will start with Nick Jr.’s family favourites, including popular preschool series such as PAW Patrol, Blue’s Clues & You!, Baby Shark’s Big Show!, Santiago Of The Seas, Bubble Guppies, and Blaze and the Monster Machines.

The channel refresh will also feature new-to-air series such as Bossy Bear and the third season of Ryan’s Mystery Playdate.

Evening programming will see the return of popular characters such as SpongeBob SquarePants, along with an array of comedy and action-adventure shows, including The Loud House, The Thundermans, the original iCarly, The Casagrandes, and Danger Force.

Nickelodeon will also debut new animated comedy series on free-to-air for the first time, including Middlemost Post, The Smurfs, Monster High, and Transformers: EarthSpark.

In a shift to cater to more mature audiences, the Nickelodeon channel will transform into Nick@Nite during the evenings, offering premium content including The Graham Norton Show, Gogglebox UK, The Middle, and a selection of movies from Paramount’s vast entertainment library, featuring franchises such as Mission Impossible, Star Trek, Sherlock Holmes and Transformers.

Commenting on the departure of Nickelodeon channels from the Foxtel platform, a spokesperson told TV Blackbox,

The way in which audiences view content has changed over the last few years. With the rise in on-demand viewing and streaming through the growing number of third-party apps integrated into our Foxtel offering, we have been on a journey of evolving our channel mix. 

“With a diverse pipeline of content coming to on-demand via our long-term studio partners from around the world, third-party apps integrated into our Foxtel offering and our growing focus on premium Australian Originals, we have made the decision to make changes to our partnership with Viacom.

“These changes will see Nickelodeon and Nick Jr move to a new home on 10Play and Paramount+ integrated into our Foxtel IQ set top boxes from 1 August 2023, joining a growing suite of third-party integrated apps including Netflix, Disney+, Prime Video, YouTube, ABC Kids, SBS On Demand, 9Now, YouTube Kids and vevo.”

In addition to the free-to-air channel, Paramount+ will continue to host a selection of Nickelodeon properties and exclusive first-run titles, including the hit series revival iCarly, Big Nate, Kamp Koral: SpongeBob’s Under Years, and the new YA original movie Zoey 102.

Jules Borkent, Executive Vice President, Kids & Family for International Markets at Paramount, expressed excitement over the new channel, stating that Nickelodeon, as the leading entertainment brand for kids, will now be accessible to all Australian fans for free.

“As the number-one entertainment brand for kids, Nickelodeon is home to the world’s most beloved characters and stories for kids of all ages.

We are thrilled to bring our deep library of content direct to fans in Australia for free as we launch this new Nickelodeon channel.”

Daniel Monaghan, SVP Content & Programming, Paramount ANZ, reiterated that Nickelodeon’s offerings are diverse and that the rebranding will ensure that the content is accessible to everyone via the free-to-air Nickelodeon channel.

“From television programming and production around the world, to consumer products, digital, location-based experiences and events, gaming, publishing and feature films, Nickelodeon offers something for everyone and now it is accessible to everyone on our free-to-air Nickelodeon channel.”