Nick Jr.
This page details both the Nick Jr. channel and former programming block. Programs on the list may be currently on airing the channel or may have aired in the past on either, both, or the channel when it was known as "Noggin."
Nick Jr. is a sister network of Nickelodeon primarily focused for preschoolers and young children. It was formerly known as Noggin, until 2009, when Nickelodeon re-branded the channel for synergy purposes.
The channel, launched in 1999, was a joint venture between the Children's Television Workshop and Nickelodeon until 2002, when CTW sold its share to Viacom when the Nostalgia Filter programming they brought in such as Sesame Street and The Electric Company reruns didn't do much for ratings according to Viacom. Then in 2002, Nickelodeon launched The-N as a timeshare channel sharing space with Noggin. Noggin programming ran from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, and then The-N would take over. When The-N (now known as TeenNick) split off from Noggin in 2008, Noggin ran preschool programming 24/7. Nick Jr. has commercial-free programming (without a standard schedule). The network was hosted by Moose A. Moose and Zee, a moose and bird combo who also have onscreen games and activities for kids to play. In March 2012, Nickelodeon retired the pair from both the television network and its official website, and replaced the interstitial content and themes with the "The Smart Place to Play" branding already seen in their morning block on Nickelodeon. This has already prompted a backlash amongst some long-time fans.
The Nick Jr. programming block lasted from 1988 to 2009. This block contained programming for a preschool audience and typically ran from 7 a.m./8 a.m. to 2 p.m. CST/3 p.m. EST. The block was home to many classic off-network cartoons and foreign anime such as The World of David the Gnome, Muppet Babies, Belle and Sebastian and Rupert. The block was revamped in 1994 with mostly Nickelodeon-made programming with a new host, Face, who later was replaced by Piper 'O Possum.
The block was mainly known for launching the pre-school juggernauts Blues Clues and Dora the Explorer, as well as airing some early fondly remembered anime such as The Noozles, The Adventure Of The Little Koala and Grimm's Fairy Tale Classics.
In 2009, Nickelodeon re-branded its preschool channel Noggin as Nick Jr. and took away the branding on the pre-existing block. It is now a block of preschool shows with very little branding separating it from the rest of the schedule, and much more advertising, likely a purposeful move to drive viewers to the new channel and reclaim the airtime for regular Nick programming.
Notable Nick Jr. channel programming includes:
- Allegra's Window
- The Backyardigans
- Bob the Builder
- Blues Clues
- Bubble Guppies
- Dino Dan
- Dora the Explorer
- The Elephant Show
- Eureekas Castle
- Fifi and the Flowertots (Non-USA)
- Franklin
- The Fresh Beat Band
- Go, Diego, Go!
- Gullah Gullah Island
- Jacks Big Music Show
- LazyTown
- The Littl' Bits
- Little Bear
- Little Bill
- Maggie and the Ferocious Beast
- Maisy
- Max and Ruby
- Miss Spiders Sunny Patch Friends
- Muppet Babies
- My Little Pony Friendship Is Magic (Germany)
- Ni Hao, Kai-Lan
- Olivia
- Oobi
- Oswald
- Pinky Dinky Doo
- Rugrats
- Rupert
- Team Umizoomi
- Toot & Puddle
- Wonder Pets
- The World of David the Gnome
- Wow! Wow! Wubbzy!
- Yo Gabba Gabba!