“Pinwheel” aired on the Columbus, Ohio channel QUBE earlier than increasing nationwide as a part of the brand new Nickelodeon channel in 1979. Reportedly, Kavanaugh (who grew to become Nick’s first director of programming) is the one who got here up with the identify “Nickelodeon.” Interviewed for Mathew Klickstein’s 2013 ebook “Slimed!: An Oral Historical past of Nickelodeon’s Golden Age,” Kavanaugh recalled:
“The primary phrase my daughter ever learn was ‘Nickelodeon.’ She pointed to it on a T-shirt and stated, ‘Nickanee!’ It has been there for her [during] her complete life.”
One of many main improvements of Nickelodeon was that it was a cable community focused at youngsters. Income did not come from promoting, however from cable suppliers paying to hold the channel — 10 cents every for each family reached. Talking to The New York Occasions when Nick first launched in 1979, Horner stated this mannequin would guarantee Nick would prioritize being kid-friendly above being industrial:
“The tempo is completely different, slower, gentler. There may be not one of the bang‐bang‐bang that the industrial folks suppose essential to catch and maintain consideration. The programming [is] made up of various supplies of various lengths, in order that none of it begins or ends on the hour. I consider it as an digital sandbox the youngsters can come to every time they need.”
This in all probability does not sound just like the Nickelodeon you realize, and for good purpose. In line with the 2004 ebook “Nickelodeon Nation: The Historical past, Politics, and Economics of America’s Solely TV Channel for Youngsters,” the no-ads mannequin wasn’t financially sustainable, so Nick launched promoting in 1983 after which industrial spots in 1984. By 1985, Nickelodeon had turn into worthwhile; Horner had additionally left and the channel had been offered to Viacom. Nickelodeon stays underneath that company umbrella (now known as Paramount International) to today. Geraldine Laybourne, who was president of Nickelodeon from 1984 to 1996, is credited by many (together with Horner) with creating the fashionable and edgier Nick.
“[Laybourne’s] Nickelodeon has an angle, like Angelica from ‘Rugrats,” Horner advised Forbes in 1999. “I respect it, however I like softer programming myself. I am a bit old style. I am undecided if I may have made Nickelodeon such a giant hit.”
Laybourne’s tenure is when Nickelodeon began to diversify into completely different programming blocks, and when lots of its well-known and best-remembered exhibits (“Rugrats,” “Doug,” and so forth.) started. As we speak, authentic cartoons (“Spongebob” particularly) are the spine of Nickelodeon.
That is to not say Nickelodeon’s historical past is all hunky dory. See: the 2024 documentary “Quiet on Set: The Darkish Aspect of Youngsters TV.” This doc revealed disgusting particulars about working situations on the productions of Nickelodeon’s live-action comedy applications (many created/overseen by producer Dan Schneider) throughout the Nineteen Nineties and 2000s. Drake Bell, star of Schneider’s sitcom “Drake & Josh,” revealed he had been groomed and repeatedly sexually assaulted by appearing and dialogue coach Brian Peck throughout this time.
The legacy of Nickelodeon within the reminiscences of kids (together with those that’ve since grown up) is plain, but it surely’s additionally necessary to always remember the unflattering elements of any storied historical past.
