Nick Jr. (Australian and New Zealand TV channel)

For other uses, see Nick Jr. (disambiguation).

Nick Jr. is a 24-hour children's pay television channel in Australia and New Zealand designed for pre-schoolers. Nick Jr. was a morning programming block on Nickelodeon until 2004, when Foxtel launched it as a full 24-hour kids channel.^[1] The channel is owned by Paramount Networks UK & Australia, and was also available on Optus Television.

Nick Jr.

Country	Australia
Broadcast area	Australia New Zealand
Programming
Language(s)	English Māori
Picture format	576i (SDTV 16:9)
Ownership
Owner	Paramount Networks UK & Australia
Sister channels	Network 10 10 HD 10 Bold 10 Peach MTV Club MTV MTV Classic MTV Hits Nickelodeon (pay-TV) Nickelodeon (free-to-air) NickMusic Comedy Central
History
Launched	1 January 1998 (1998-01-01) (block) 14 March 2004 (2004-03-14) (channel)
Links
Website	www.nickjr.com.au
Availability
Streaming media
Fetch Mobi (AU)	Channel 253
Sky Go (NZ)	skygo.co.nz

History

 

logo used from 2004 to 2010

Before Nick Jr. officially launched as a 24-hour TV channel, it was part of Nickelodeon's morning line-up which included such shows as Blue's Clues, Dora the Explorer and Oswald, the block itself was also joined by a presenter known as "Face" which presented the Australian-input from 1998 until 2006, the Australian-input was also the last of the few international Nick Jr. block to have Face being replaced, as others stopped using him by 2004 and 2005, the actor who voiced the Australian dubbed Face is currently unknown.

On 21 January 2004, Foxtel announced a brand new digital service along with new channel line-ups which included Nick Jr.^[2] On 14 March 2004, Nick Jr. officially launched to be the first 24-hour Australian kids channel to play shows suited for pre-schoolers.

For a few months after Nick Jr. became a full channel, it kept a two-hour time slot on Nickelodeon in the mornings from 8:00 am until 10:00 am, but the time allocated to the block was far shorter than it was before it became a full channel.

The channel introduced some original short-form programming, including Cooking for Kids with Luis^[3] and Gardening for Kids with Madi.

The channel used the new Nick Jr. logo from Friday 26 March 2010.^[4] From 2004 until 2010, the channel used a localised logo with two kangaroos with the tradition of 'Nick' (representing the adult) and 'Jr.' (as the child).

During the time Nickelodeon had a separate channel in New Zealand, it had a Nick Jr. block running from 9:30 am to 2 pm from Monday to Wednesday, 9:30 am to 2:30 pm on Thursday and Friday and 6:30 am to 8 am on weekends. After the closure of the New Zealand feed, the Australian feed of Nick Jr. launched in New Zealand on 24 December 2010.^[5]

On 29 February 2012, a 60-second anthem aired.^[6]

On 3 December 2013, Nick Jr. became available on Foxtel's streaming service Foxtel Go.^[7]

On 1 January 2014, Nick Jr. launched on Australian IPTV provider FetchTV.^[8][9]

The channel aired for a time as a two-hour block in the afternoons on Sky Television in New Zealand, until this ceased in 2013.

On 1 August 2023, Nick Jr. was removed from Foxtel^[10] following an announcement that 10 Shake would rebrand as Nickelodeon^[11] on the same day, with selected programmes being shifted to that channel. Fetch TV continues to broadcast the channel in Australia, and a variant of the channel is offered as a FAST channel on 10Play.^[12]

Programming

Current programming

• The Adventures of Paddington (2020–2023)
• Baby Shark's Big Show! (2020–2023)
• Barbapapa: One Big Happy Family! (2020–2023)
• Blaze and the Monster Machines (2015–2023)^[13]
• Blue's Clues & You! (2019–2023)
• Bossy Bear
• Bubble Guppies (2011–2023)
• Butterbean's Café (2019–2023)
• Calvin and Kaison’s Play Power
• Deer Squad (2020–2023)
• PAW Patrol (2014–2023)
• Peppa Pig (2004–2023)
• Play Along With Sam (2013–2020)
• Ready Set Dance
• Ricky Zoom
• Ryan's Mystery Playdate
• Santiago of the Seas (2020–2023)
• The Tiny Chef Show

Former Programming

• 44 Cats (2020–2023)
• 64 Zoo Lane (2005–2008) (later aired on ABC kids)
• Abby Hatcher (2020–2023)
• Angelina Ballerina (2004–2012)
• The Backyardigans (2005–2019)
• Balamory (2004–2010)
• Ben & Holly's Little Kingdom (2010–2023)
• Beat Bugs (2016–2019) (Now On 7flix)
• Bing (2018–2020)
• Bill and Ben (2004–2006)
• Blue's Clues (2004–2019)
• Blue's Room (2004–2012)
• Bob the Builder (2004–2007)
• Busy Buses (2004–2007)
• Buzzy Bee and Friends (2009–2012)
• Cooking For Kids with Luis (2004–2007)
• Curious George (2008–2021)
• Dougie In Deguise (2006–2010)
• Digby Dragon (2016–2019)
• Doki (2014–2019)
• Dinosaur Train (2009–2014)
• Didi and B. (2012–2021)
• Dora and Friends: Into the City! (2013–2020) (Now On 10 Shake)
• Dora the Explorer (2004–2021) (Now On 10 Shake)
• The Doozers (2013–2018)^[14]
• Engie Benjy (2004–2007)
• Ethelbert the Tiger (2004–2006)
• The Fairies (2008–2010)
• Fifi and the Flowertots (2005–2014)
• The Fresh Beat Band (2009–2015)
• Fresh Beat Band of Spies (2015–2020) (Moved to 10 Shake)
• Franny's Feet (2006–2013)
• Gardening for Kids with Madi (2004–2007)
• Go, Diego, Go! (2006–2021)
• Hana's Helpline (2007–2009)
• Harry and His Bucket Full of Dinosaurs (2006–2012)
• Henry's World (2004–2005)
• Hi-5 (2004–2014)
• Hi-5 House (2013–2018)
• It's a Big Big World (2008)
• Julius Jr. (2014–2017)
• Kid-E-Cats (2017–2020)
• The Kingdom of Paramithi (2008–2012)
• Kipper (2004–2007)
• Kiva Can Do! (2016–2019)
• The Koala Brothers (2004–2007)
• Lalaloopsy (2014–2017)
• Lah-Lah (2009–2010)
• LazyTown (2005–2012)
• Little Bear (2004–2008)
• Little Bill (2004–2008)
• Little Charmers (2016–2018)
• Little Robots (2004–2007)
• Maggie and the Ferocious Beast (2004–2008)
• Maisy (2004–2007)
• Make Way for Noddy (2004–2007)
• Max & Ruby (2012–2019)
• Martha Speaks (2009–2016)
• Miffy and Friends (2004–2007)
• Minuscule (2007–2015)
• Miss Spider's Sunny Patch Friends (2005–2008)
• Mutt & Stuff (2016–2019)
• My Friend Mark (2007–2014)
• Nella the Princess Knight (2017–2020)
• Ni Hao, Kai-Lan (2008–2012)
• Noddy (2004–2007)
• Olive the Ostrich (2012–2015)
• Open Sesame (2004–2012)
• Oswald (2004–2008)
• Pablo the Little Red Fox (2004–2006)
• The Paz Show (2004–2006)
• Pinky Dinky Doo (2007–2011)
• Pic Me (2007–2009)
• Play Along with Ollie (2004–2013)
• Poppy Cat (2012–2016)
• Puffin Rock (2017–2018)
• Rusty Rivets (2018–2021)
• The Save-Ums! (2004–2008)
• Shaun the Sheep (2009–2021)
• Shimmer and Shine (2015–2021) (Now On 10 Shake)
• Sid the Science Kid (2009–2012)
• Sunny Day (2017–2020) (Moved to 10 Shake)
• Super Why! (2009–2014)
• Team Umizoomi (2010–2021) (Now On 10 Shake)
• Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends (2004–2010)
• Tickety Toc (2012–2015)
• Top Wing (2018–2021) (Now On 10 Shake)
• The Upside Down Show (2007–2013)
• Wallykazam! (2014–2018)
• Wanda and the Alien (2013–2016)
• Wonder Pets! (2006–2014)
• Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! (2007–2013) (later aired on ABC Kids)
• Wobbly Land (2007–2008)
• WordWorld (2009–2013)
• Yo Gabba Gabba! (2008–2018)
• Zack & Quack (2014–2019)
• Zoofari

Logos

•  

  logo used from 2004 to 2010 with two Kangaroos, the national animal of Australia

•  

  logo used since 2010

Presenters

• Face (14 March 2004 – 2006), (1998–2006, block)
• Ollie the Australian Muppet (2004–2013)

See also

• Nick Jr. Channel (United States)
• Nickelodeon (United States)
• Nickelodeon (Australia and New Zealand)

References

1. Fenech, Stephen (17 March 2004). "Supplement: The future is in your hands". The Advertiser. p. D01.
2. "Unknown Error". Foxtel. Retrieved 25 November 2017.
3. "Worldwide distribution for children's cookery show". C21Media.
4. Knox, David (23 March 2010). "Nickelodeon logo switch". tvtonight.com.au. Retrieved 23 March 2010.
5. . web.archive.org. 25 July 2015. Retrieved 6 August 2023.
6. Nick Jr. (Australia) Anthem - 2012, retrieved 6 August 2023
7. Knox, David (3 December 2013). "Foxtel Go adds Nickelodeon, MTV, ESPN". TV Tonight. Retrieved 4 January 2014.
8. FetchTV (16 December 2013). "Fetch TV". Facebook. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
9. Davidson, Darren (16 December 2013). "Fetch muscles up before a Foxtel grab". The Australian. Retrieved 3 January 2014.
10. Foxtel (18 July 2023). "Thank you for watching Nick Jr". Foxtel. Retrieved 30 July 2023.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
11. Mediaweek (22 June 2023). "Shake It Off: 10 Shake to rebrand to the Nickelodeon channel as the brand goes in-house at Paramount". Mediaweek. from the original on 22 June 2023. Retrieved 30 July 2023.
12. "Fetch". www.fetchtv.com.au. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
13. Higgins, D (9 March 2015). "New this week: Australian Grand Prix, The Red Road, Turn, Science Of Stupid, 2015 ASTRA Awards and more". The Green Room. Foxtel. Retrieved 9 March 2015.
14. "Kidscreen » Archive » Henson's Doozers arrive on Nick Jr. Australia".

External links

• Official website