{{Short description|German children's television channel}} {{Use dmy dates|date=June 2022}} {{Infobox television channel | name = Nickelodeon | logo = Nickelodeon 2023 logo (outline).svg | logo_size = 250px | logo_alt = Nickelodeon_2023_logo.svg | logo_caption = Logo used since 1 August 2023{{efn|The logo's wordmark has been in use since 31 March 2010. Additionally, there is a variant meant to be used for white backgrounds; the main variant has a white wordmark in conjunction with a fully orange splat.}} | launch_date = 5 July 1995 (original)<BR />12 September 2005 (relaunch) | replaced = MTV2 Pop (second iteration) | closed_date = 31 May 1998 (original) | area = Germany<br />Austria<br />Liechtenstein<br />Luxembourg<br />Switzerland | network = Paramount Networks EMEAA | owner = Paramount Networks EMEAA (Paramount Skydance Corporation) | parent = Nickelodeon Group | picture_format = 1080i HDTV<br />{{small|(downscaled to 16:9 576i for the SDTV feed)}} | country = Germany | language = German<br />English | headquarters = Düsseldorf, Germany (1995–1998)<br> Berlin, Germany (2005–present) | former_names = Nickelodeon (original use; 1995–1998)<br />Nick (2005–2010)<br />Nickelodeon (second use, 2010–2017)<br /> Nick (second use, 2017–2023) | sister_channels = Nicktoons<br />Nick Jr. | website = [http://www.nick.de/ Official website] | availability_note = <br />{{small|(channel space shared with nighttime programming block Comedy Central +1)}} | online_serv_1 = nick.de }}
'''Nickelodeon''' is a German free-to-air television channel for children, part of the international. based on the U.S. counterpart brand originally launched in 1995, and relaunched in 2005 as ''Nick'', Nickelodeon is based in Berlin. The channel is available on subscription services and as an unscrambled, free-to-air (FTA) satellite signal. On 31 March 2010, the channel readopted the name ''Nickelodeon'' on air and online after being shortened to ''Nick'' since its relaunch in 2005, in addition to the new Nickelodeon logo and graphical package being rolled out internationally at the time. In 2017, The ''Nickelodeon'' name was shortened again to ''Nick'' before being reversed and readopted once again when it rebranded on 1 August 2023, nearly five months after its rebrand in the U.S.<ref>[http://www.techwatch.co.uk/2010/02/22/mtv-goes-global-with-nickelodeon/ "MTV goes global with Nickelodeon"]. Techwatch Tech News – Rapid TV News. February 22, 2010.</ref> Since then, the channel is also broadcast in English in addition to German on a secondary audio track. It is aimed at children between the ages of 6 and 13.
==Nicknight==
'''Nicknight''' was a German, Austrian and Swiss programming block operating from 2014 to 2021. On 1 November 2018, Nicknight Germany was replaced by MTV+ (Comedy Central +1 since 1 March 2021). Nicknight closed in Switzerland and Austria on 1 October 2021, and were replaced by Comedy Central Austria and 7+ Family respectively.
==History== ===1995–1998=== The original version of Nickelodeon was launched on 5 July 1995 on the DFS Kopernikus satellite and a few cable providers in North Rhine-Westphalia. The station was launched in a joint venture between Viacom, who owned 90%, and Ravensburger's film and television division, who owned the remaining 10%.<ref>{{Cite web |date=1997-04-01 |title=Special Report: MIP-TV: German Overview: German market heats up: German kids are spending more time in front of the tube and a dozen broadcasters are vying for their attention |url=https://kidscreen.com/1997/04/01/17603-19970401/ |access-date=2024-08-22 |website=Kidscreen}}</ref> Nickelodeon initially aired for six hours per day from 1:00{{nbsp}}pm to 7:00{{nbsp}}pm on weekdays and 8:00 am to 1:00pm on weekends; during off-air hours, the channel looped a half-hour special featuring excerpts from its shows. The station was headquartered in Düsseldorf where live presentation came from. Starting in October 1995, Nickelodeon aired from 6:00{{nbsp}}am until 8:00{{nbsp}}pm, and timeshared with Arte starting in 1996, truncating its broadcast to 5:00 pm, though later expanded to 7:00 pm.
After Der Kinderkanal launched in January 1997, Nickelodeon's channel slot replaced by Kinderkanal on many cable providers and started timesharing with VH-1 Germany on satellite between 6:00am and 8:00pm. Nickelodeon was a financial failure and lost 150,000,000 Deutsche Mark due to weak advertising sales and its inability to compete against the more successful Kinderkanal.<ref>{{Cite news |date=1998-03-08 |title=Kampf um Kinder |language=de |work=Der Spiegel |url=https://www.spiegel.de/politik/kampf-um-kinder-a-2e48f870-0002-0001-0000-000007833112 |access-date=2023-01-01 |issn=2195-1349}}</ref> The channel's future had been deliberated since the beginning of 1998 and its closure had been planned months in advance.<ref name="liquidation">{{Cite web |last=Kroetz |first=Paddy |title=Die Liquidation |url=http://www.paddykroetz.de/onair_nickelodeon_liquidationstory.html |access-date=2023-02-19 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050409184422/http://www.paddykroetz.de/onair_nickelodeon_liquidationstory.html |archive-date=9 April 2005 }}</ref> Viacom announced it with only days of notice given to employees. During the station's final three days, a testcard aired after each programme informing viewers of its incoming closure.
During the final three days, the final episode of ''Nick Live Club'' aired, in which the channel's in-vision presenters thanked viewers for watching before performing a farewell song. This episode was filmed on 29 May and was repeated up to and including the final day.<ref>{{Cite web |title=25 Jahre Nickelodeon - Ralf Kühler: "Das Größte, was ich beruflich je erlebt habe!" |url=https://www.wunschliste.de/interview/25-jahre-nickelodeon-ralf-kuehler-das-groesste-was-ich-beruflich-je-erlebt-habe |access-date=2023-01-01 |website=TV Wunschliste |language=de}}</ref> The channel closed on 31 May 1998 at 8:00{{nbsp}}pm with a video thanking viewers and informing them Nickelodeon's programming would soon be available elsewhere, before switching to VH1. Its transponder space was occupied with an edited version of the testcard in the following weeks,<ref>{{Cite AV media |title=Nickelodeon Germany Sendestart Verabschiedung | date=15 October 2014 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E1GAs8R9tEk |language=de |access-date=2023-02-27 |via=YouTube}}</ref> before MTV was relocated to the transponder the following year.
Viacom soon thereafter struck a deal with RTL owner CLT-UFA to broadcast their programming on RTL's own children's channel, Super RTL, in addition to a weekend morning Nicktoons block on the main RTL channel. After VH-1 Germany shut down in 2001 (and was replaced by a pan-European feed on a separate channel), it was replaced with MTV2 Pop.
===Relaunch: 2005–2010=== On 7 April 2005, it was announced that Nickelodeon Germany would be relaunched under the name ''Nick'' as a new channel on 12 September 2005.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mantel|first=Uwe|publisher=DWDL de GmbH|title=Nickelodeon kehrt als "Nick" nach Deutschland zurück|url=https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/4493/nickelodeon_kehrt_als_nick_nach_deutschland_zurck/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=DWDL.de|language=de}}</ref> Nick started with a prime-time programming block titled Nick Comedy that aired sitcoms and other comedy shows. Nickelodeon eventually replaced MTV2 Pop; since February 2006, in addition to international series, it started airing locally produced shows.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wittmann|first=Henrik|publisher=DWDL de GmbH|title=Bürger Lars Dietrich wird erster Moderator von Nick|url=https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/6088/brger_lars_dietrich_wird_erster_moderator_von_nick/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=DWDL.de|language=de}}</ref> In October 2007, a special German version of the Kids' Choice Awards was produced and broadcast on the channel.
In the start of 2008, Nick launched a family-oriented programming block named {{lang|de|Nick nach acht}} (Nick after eight), which was the local adaptation of US overnight block ''Nick at Nite''. It aired documentaries, drama series, films and sitcoms.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mantel|first=Uwe|publisher=DWDL de GmbH|title=Nick setzt künftig auf Dokus in der Primetime|url=https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/12783/nick_setzt_knftig_auf_dokus_in_der_primetime/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=DWDL.de|language=de}}</ref> It used an adapted logo of its US counterpart. Most of the block's programming schedule consisted on repeats of ''The Ren & Stimpy Show'' and ''CatDog''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mantel|first=Uwe|publisher=DWDL de GmbH|title=Nick zeigt künftig auch spätabends Cartoons|url=https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/15178/nick_zeigt_knftig_auch_sptabends_cartoons/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=DWDL.de|language=de}}</ref> On 15 December 2008, Comedy Central Germany replaced Nick nach acht on Nickelodeon, taking over its airing time as a timeshared channel starting 8:15 pm.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Lückerath|first=Thomas|publisher=DWDL de GmbH|title=Viacom stellt TV-Kanal Comedy Central ein|url=https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/18260/viacom_stellt_tvkanal_comedy_central_ein/|access-date=2022-02-13|website=DWDL.de|language=de}}</ref>
=== 2010s === On 31 March 2010, the channel adopted the new international branding. The full ''Nickelodeon'' name was restored, while Nick Premium was rebranded as ''Nicktoons''.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Voß|first=Jochen|publisher=DWDL de GmbH|title=TV-Sender Nick verpasst sich neuen alten Namen|url=https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/22387/tvsender_nick_verpasst_sich_neuen_alten_namen/|access-date=2022-01-24|website=DWDL.de|language=de}}</ref>
On 1 June 2011, Nickelodeon Germany started broadcasting in HD.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mantel|first=Uwe|publisher=DWDL de GmbH|title=MTV, Viva, Nickelodeon/Comedy Central auch in HD|url=https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/31259/mtv_viva_nickelodeoncomedy_central_auch_in_hd/|access-date=2022-01-24|website=DWDL.de|language=de}}</ref>
On 1 October 2014, Nickelodeon Germany became a 24-hour channel, with Comedy Central leaving Nickelodeon's channel slot and moving to VIVA Germany. Furthermore, Nickelodeon introduced a new overnight programming block called ''Nicknight'', replacing Comedy Central's airing time from 9:00{{nbsp}}pm to 5:45{{nbsp}}am.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Mantel|first=Uwe|publisher=DWDL de GmbH|title=Kastner dampft Viva ein und baut Nickelodeon aus|url=https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/46381/kastner_dampft_viva_ein_baut_nickelodeon_aus/|access-date=2022-01-24|website=DWDL.de|language=de}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://medianet.at/front/detail/21677_0 |title=Nickelodeon sendet 24 Stunden, Comedy Central siedelt zu Viva |access-date=2014-07-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140817065436/http://medianet.at/front/detail/21677_0 |archive-date=2014-08-17 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On 28 June 2017, the channel rebranded and shortened its name back to ''Nick''.
On 1 November 2018 at 5 am, Nicknight was discontinued. At 8.15{{nbsp}}pm on that day MTV+ launched airing from 8:15{{nbsp}}pm to 5{{nbsp}}am. However, the Austrian and Swiss feeds continued carrying the Nicknight brand until 1 October 2021, when they were replaced by Comedy Central Austria and 7+ Family.
=== 2020s === On 1 March 2021, MTV+ was replaced by Comedy Central +1.<ref>{{cite news |title=ViacomCBS to launch Comedy Central+1 in Germany |url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2021/01/21/viacomcbs-to-launch-comedy-central1-in-germany/ |work=Broadband TV News |date=21 January 2021}}</ref>
On 1 August 2023, Nickelodeon Germany rebranded on the same date as other international feeds and reverted to the original "Nickelodeon" name.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Krei|first1=Alexander|title=Neues Design, alter Name: Nick wird mal wieder zu Nickelodeon|url=https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/94070/neues_design_alter_name_nick_wird_mal_wieder_zu_nickelodeon/|access-date=18 February 2024|work=DWDL|date=1 August 2023|language=de}}</ref>
On 23 April 2024, it was reported that RTL Group (the former CLT-UFA) had reached an agreement with Paramount Global to acquire Nickelodeon Germany, as Paramount wants to refocus its resources on Paramount+ and Pluto TV. If the deal were to have been approved, RTL Group would rebrand the channel as Toggo, the same name used for Super RTL's programming block for children, while also having the broadcasting rights for Nickelodeon shows on German television.<ref>{{cite news|last1= Lückerath|first1=Thomas|title=Deal mit Paramount: Super RTL will Nickelodeon übernehmen|url=https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/97708/deal_mit_paramount_super_rtl_will_nickelodeon_uebernehmen/|access-date=23 April 2024|work=DWDL|date=23 April 2024|language=de}}</ref> On 17 September 2024, it was announced by the German Federal Cartel Office (FCO) that they had blocked RTL's purchase of Nickelodeon Germany.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://kidscreen.com/2024/09/17/the-fco-blocks-a-super-rtl-nickelodeon-merger/ | title=The FCO puts down a merger between Super RTL and Nickelodeon }}</ref>
==Other feeds== ===Austrian channel=== {{multiple issues|section=yes| {{unreferenced section|date=July 2025}} {{advert|date=March 2026|section}} }} thumb|Logo of Nickelodeon Austria On 1 June 2006, an Austrian subfeed of the channel was launched, initially timesharing with VIVA Austria from 6.00{{nbsp}}am to 7.00{{nbsp}}pm.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Wittmann|first=Henrik|publisher=DWDL de GmbH|title=Viacom-Sender VIVA und NICK ab Juni mit Österreich-Fenster|url=https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/6290/viacomsender_viva_und__nick_ab_juni_mit_sterreichfenster/|access-date=2022-01-24|website=DWDL.de|language=de}}</ref> On 1 January 2011, it started timesharing with Comedy Central Austria. The channel is known on-air as ''Nickelodeon Austria''.
On 1 October 2014, Nick Austria started broadcasting 24 hours a day with the launch of ''NickNight''.
On 1 October 2021, the channel started timesharing with Comedy Central Austria, along with a new licence from ''RRtv'', using the European graphics package, its schedule and its original name, ''Nickelodeon''. Nick Austria rebranded into the 2023 Splat, and was reverted back to its original name "Nickelodeon".
At the end of June 2025, Nickelodeon Austria stopped broadcasting and was replaced by the German feed.
===Swiss channel===
{{Main|Nickelodeon Schweiz}} thumb|Logo of Nickelodeon Schweiz A Swiss subfeed for German-speaking viewers was launched on 1 April 2009, first timesharing with VIVA Switzerland and then with Comedy Central starting on 16 May 2011. For many years, its programming schedule was identical with the main, German feed. Nevertheless, it got its own, separate schedule. The channel is known on-air as ''Nickelodeon Schweiz''.
On 1 October 2014, Nick Switzerland started broadcasting 24 hours a day with the launch of ''NickNight''.
Since 1 October 2021, the channel has been run by CH Media under license from Paramount.
On 23 August 2023, Nick Switzerland rebranded into the 2023 Splat and was reverted back to its original name "Nickelodeon".
This is the only remaining Nickelodeon Germany subfeed following the shutdown of the Austrian subfeed.
==Sister channels== ===Nicktoons=== {{Main|Nicktoons (German TV channel)}}
thumb|Nicktoons logo Nicktoons was launched in December 2007 as Nick Premium.<ref>[http://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/11812/premiere_star_zwei_mal_mtv_und_nick_premium/ Premiere Star: Zwei Mal MTV und Nick Premium]</ref> In 2009, Nickelodeon announced that Nick Premium would be rebranded as Nicktoons.<ref>{{Cite web|last=Voß|first=Jochen|publisher=DWDL de GmbH|title=Ab März: Aus Nick wird wieder Nickelodeon|url=https://www.dwdl.de/nachrichten/24835/ab_mrz_aus_nick_wird_wieder_nickelodeon/|access-date=2022-01-24|website=DWDL.de|language=de}}</ref> The channel airs animated programmes from Nickelodeon.
===Nick Jr.=== thumb|right|150px|Nick Jr. logo {{Main|Nick Jr. (German TV channel)}}
'''Nick Jr.''' is a channel that broadcasts to younger children. The channel was launched on 12 September 2005 as a block and on 31 March 2009 as a channel. Before the channel launched, some programmes were broadcast on Super RTL and Disney Channel.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2011-07-10 |title=MTVNHD & Nick Jr. going Deutsch -- Engadget HD |url=http://hd.engadget.com/2009/01/14/mtvnhd-and-nick-jr-going-deutsch/ |access-date=2022-01-24 |website= |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110710192624/http://hd.engadget.com/2009/01/14/mtvnhd-and-nick-jr-going-deutsch/ |archive-date=10 July 2011 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2010-10-05|title=MTV turns pay in Germany|url=https://www.broadbandtvnews.com/2010/10/05/mtv-turns-pay-in-germany/|access-date=2022-01-12|website=Broadband TV News|language=en-GB}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
==Notes== {{Notelist}}
==External links== * [http://www.nick.de/ www.nick.de] * [http://www.nickelodeon.at/ www.nickelodeon.at] * [http://www.nick.ch/ www.nick.ch]
{{Nickelodeon}} {{MTV Networks}} {{MTV Networks Europe}} {{Viacom}} {{Television in Germany}}
Category:1995 establishments in Germany Category:1998 disestablishments in Germany Category:2005 establishments in Germany Category:Children's television networks Germany Category:Re-established companies Category:Television channels and stations established in 1995 Category:Television channels and stations disestablished in 1998 Category:Television channels and stations established in 2005 Category:Television stations in Austria Category:Television stations in Berlin Category:Television stations in Germany