Nickelodeon (Dutch TV channel)

Nickelodeon replaced a similarly-themed channel, Kindernet (launched in 1988), in 2003 after it was acquired by Viacom at the end of the year 2001.[5] Before this, Nickelodeon aired as a programming block on Kindernet from 1.00 to 3.00 PM, starting in February 2002.[6][7] Throughout the course of 2003, Nickelodeon programming began to gain more prominence on Kindernet outside of the block, before expanding into a 24-hour channel on 14 July.[8] As a result, Kindernet was degraded into a morning block, which later became Nick Jr.[9][1]

On 1 August 2005, Nickelodeon began time-sharing with Talpa, now airing between 6.00 AM and 6.00 PM.[10] By the end of the year 2006, MTV's deal with Talpa ended and Nickelodeon began sharing channel space with The Box Comedy on 1 December.[11] Nickelodeon extended its airtime up until 8.00 PM and The Box Comedy changed into Comedy Central on 30 April 2007.[12]

Comedy Central switched to TMF on 1 January 2011, and Nickelodeon resumed its 24-hour broadcast on 14 February.[13] Sometime after, a TeenNick block was added to the channel's schedule during the overnight hours, airing between 9.00 PM and 6.00 AM. All programming on Nickelodeon's regular schedule is available in Dutch, with the exception of Dutch-Belgian productions.

A high-definition simulcast of Nickelodeon was slated to launch through UPC Netherlands on 3 April 2012, but ended up being delayed due to technical issues.[14] Nickelodeon HD eventually launched on 13 September 2012, the time through KPN Interactive TV.[15]

On 1 October 2015, sister channel Spike was launched and initially aired during Nickelodeon's overnight hours.[16][17] On 12 December 2016, Spike became its own 24-hour channel on Ziggo, before launching on other providers (such as KPN, Telfort, XS4ALL, Caiway and T-Mobile Thuis) three months later.

Nickelodeon continues to air 24/7 in the Netherlands, broadcasting TeenNick programming at night and also introducing a version of The Splat. In Belgium, Spike and Nickelodeon continue to time-sharing.[18][19][20]

Since 2002, Stichting Kijkonderzoek (SKO) has been monitoring the viewer ratings for Nickelodeon programmes in the Netherlands. Between 2003 and 2017, SKO published an annual list of the most-watched broadcasts of the channel. From 2018 onwards, it publishes a list of the most-watched programmes within the Viacom-owned network.[21]

• Nickelodeon Nederland