Nickelodeon (ニコロデオン) was a Japanese television channel which was targeted mainly at children, teens and adults, operated by ViacomCBS Networks Japan K.K. (a subsidiary of ViacomCBS Networks EMEAA division of the eponymous television channel in the United States). It originally launched in November 1998 as a cable and satellite television channel, but due to declining viewership, the television channel was shut down on September 30, 2009. The channel was revived for OTT media services from January 30, 2018, to January 31, 2022.
History
Nickelodeon launched on DirecTV channel 272 on November 15, 1998, in Japan. The withdrawal of DirecTV from Japan led to Nickelodeon moving to SKY PerfecTV! channel 278 on October 1, 2000. In January 2006, Nickelodeon switched to telecommunications service utilization broadcasting and moved to channel 751 on SKY PerfecTV! while also being available on select cable providers across Japan. The channel was renewed in October 2006.
Nickelodeon closed in Japan on September 30, 2009, due to declining ratings and robust domestic and international competition. Viacom continued to distribute select Nickelodeon series to its other networks (including MTV Japan), DTH satellite channels, and terrestrial television networks. NHK Educational TV, which had already been airing SpongeBob SquarePants, premiered The Penguins of Madagascar and iCarly in 2010. Nickelodeon's programs (including SpongeBob SquarePants) were also broadcast on Animax