Check out the latest headlines in kids television, primarily for the cable TV networks of Nickelodeon, Disney Channel, and Cartoon Network. You can also view the News Archive for thousands of past articles, press releases, and more.
- Second Season of “BrainSurge” Premieres Monday, June 21 on Nickelodeon
June 3, 2010 | Nickelodeon welcomes back its popular game show BrainSurge with 40 brand-new episodes of brain twisters, signature slime and special guests beginning Monday, June 21, at 6:00 p.m. ET/PT. Since its launch in September 2009, the series has emerged as a hit with kids and is currently the most-watched program on all TV in its time period among kids 2-11, boys 2-11, boys 6-11 and boys 9-14. Delivering an average of 2 million total viewers per episode, the first season of BrainSurge has grown by double-digits (+10%) among kids 2-11 since its premiere. (Source: NMR 9/28/09-5/23/10). The new season of BrainSurge, which will feature real kids competing in three intense levels of mind-bending game play, will air in a new timeslot on Nickelodeon weekdays at 6 p.m. (ET/PT).
- Nickelodeon Premieres New “iCarly” Special on Friday, Along With New Episodes of “VICTORiOUS” and “Big Time Rush”
June 3, 2010 | Kids are in for a wild and crazy night as Carly, Sam and Freddie meet the ultimate iCarly super fan, in Nickelodeon’s brand-new hour-long movie “iPsycho,” premiering Friday, June 4, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT). Immediately following “iPsycho,” the craziness continues with outrageous all-new episodes of Victorious at 9 p.m. (ET/PT) and Big Time Rush at 9:30 p.m. (ET/PT). Year-to-date, iCarly ranks as the number-one live-action show on television with kids 2-11 and is Nickelodeon’s number-one series with kids and tweens.
- Disney Channel Renews “Wizards of Waverly Place” for a Fourth Season
June 3, 2010 | Disney Channel has ordered a fourth season of its Emmy Award-winning sitcom “Wizards of Waverly Place,” and is in development on the sequel to “Wizards of Waverly Place The Movie,” cable TV’s second-highest rated scripted telecast of all time in Total Viewers (13.5 million), Kids 6-11 and Tweens. The announcement was made today by Gary Marsh, president, Entertainment, and chief creative officer, Disney Channels Worldwide. Production on the fourth season is scheduled to begin in August with show runners Vince Cheung and Ben Montanio (“Married…with Children,” “Greetings from Tucson”) executive-producing. Todd J. Greenwald (“Hannah Montana,” “Saved By the Bell: The New Class”) is the series creator and also an executive producer.
- YTV, Nickelodeon Canada July 2010 Programming Highlights
June 3, 2010 | Corus Entertainment, Canada’s largest kids’ broadcaster, is celebrating summer with Season 3 of YTV’s popular reality series The Next Star as well as 48 hours of SpongeBob programming including the Canadian premiere of SpongeBob SquarePants: The Clash of Triton starring Victoria Beckham.
- The Hub Announces Two New Seires: “Pictureka!” and “The Adventures of Chuck and Friends”
June 3, 2010 | Continuing to bulk up its program lineup and define its direction ahead of the network's October 10 launch (10-10-10), The Hub's President and CEO Margaret Loesch announced today the addition of two new Hub Original Series, the live-action program "Pictureka!" and the animated series "The Adventures of Chuck and Friends." The announcement builds on the momentum of the network, coming on the heels of The Hub's recent unveiling of a robust slate of original, premiere and acquired series. The Hub is a joint venture between Discovery Communications and Hasbro, Inc. and will be available to 60 million U.S. households upon its launch.
- Cable Ratings: May 24 – 30, 2010
June 2, 2010 | View a list of last week’s top cable shows and networks.
- Disney Channel May 2010 Ratings Highlights
June 2, 2010 | With original episodes of “The Suite Life on Deck,” “Wizards of Waverly Place” and “Good Luck Charlie,” May 2010 finished as Disney Channel’s most-watched May ever in Total Day in Total Viewers (1.5 million), Kids 6-11 (525,000/2.1 rating) and Tweens 9-14 (459,000/1.9 rating).
- Cartoon Network May 2010 Ratings Highlights
June 2, 2010 | Compared to May 2009, Cartoon Network earned solid double-digit prime time ratings and delivery gains across May 2010, between 11%-20%. Overall, monthly kids 6-11 ratings (2.0) increased by 11% and delivery (493,000) by 14%, kids 2-11 ratings (1.8) increased by 20% and delivery (740,000) increased by 19%, and kids 9-14 ratings (1.5) increased by 15% and delivery (354,000) increased by 12%. In Total Day, Cartoon Network improved ratings and delivery with kids 6-11, with average delivery (314,000) ahead by 5% and ratings (1.3) by 8%. Kids 2-11 also saw ratings and delivery gains, with average delivery (518,000) ahead by 10% and ratings (1.3) by 8%.
- Nickelodeon Networks May 2010 Ratings Highlights
June 2, 2010 | Nickelodeon closes May as basic cable’s number-one total day network with kids 2-11, kids 6-11 and total viewers for the month, and also scored its best-ever May performance with total viewers. According to Nielsen Media Research (4/26/10-5/30/10), Nickelodeon averaged 2.1 million total viewers, a 3.3/1.2 million K2-11 and 2.7/576,000 K6-11 for the month.
- New “ThunderCats” Series Coming to Cartoon Network in 2011
June 2, 2010 | Warner Bros. Animation (WBA) has begun production on “ThunderCats,” an all-new animated series for Cartoon Network, based upon the iconic 1980s action classic. “ThunderCats” is the newest series from WBA, joining “Batman: The Brave and the Bold,” which was recently renewed for a third season, and the following forthcoming programs: “The Looney Tunes Show,” “MAD,” “Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated” and “Young Justice.” The announcement was made today by Sam Register, Executive Vice President, Creative Affairs, Warner Bros. Animation.
