Nickelodeon

Viacom 's Nickelodeon has struck a deal to sell its programming to Hulu Plus, the subscription arm of the online video platform Hulu. Starting today, recent episodes of Nickelodeon shows such as "iCarly" and "SpongeBob SquarePants" and its much-anticipated new version of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" will be available to Hulu Plus subscribers. The episodes will be available three weeks after airing on Nickelodeon. The move has some analysts shaking their heads, who point to the Burbank animation studio's willingness to sell its programming to Netflix as playing a part in the cable network's ratings decline during the past year.

Another influential programmer at Nickelodeon -- Margie Cohn -- is leaving the children's network as the operation struggles to remain relevant with pint-sized viewers who are watching content on different platforms. Nickelodeon said Monday that Cohn, president of content development, as well as Alison Dexter, the Los Angeles-based executive vice president of production, were exiting the network immediately. The shuffles come at a sensitive time for Nickelodeon, which recently made its sales pitch to advertisers looking to buy commercial time for the upcoming season.

"iCarly" fans, dab those tears. A week after the hit Nickelodeon show wrapped its run, the network has announced the series pickup of "iCarly"/"Victorious" offshoot "Sam & Cat. " The spinoff comedy , which was given a 20-episode order, features Jennette McCurdy ("iCarly's" Sam Puckett) and Ariana Grande ("Victorious'" Cat Valentine). The two will reprise their roles from their respective shows -- only in this universe, they'll pair up as roommates and start their own babysitting business.

The turtles are being unleashed in the nick of time. On Saturday morning, Nickelodeon will take the lid off a slicker, hipper version of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. " The armed reptiles, a hugely popular cartoon franchise in the '80s and '90s, are the latest effort by the children's network to combat a dramatic ratings plunge. Over the past year, Nickelodeon has lost 28% of its young audience, according to ratings firm Nielsen. The network's signature programming, "SpongeBob SquarePants" and tween sensation "iCarly," have lost cache with kids who are turning to other channels and other entertainment such as video games.

Reeling from its spectacular ratings fall, Burbank-based Nickelodeon has pushed out animation chief Brown Johnson, the executive most responsible for creating the network's cartoon sensation "Dora the Explorer. " Johnson is leaving Nickelodeon "to pursue her own creative endeavors," Nickelodeon said in a statement Wednesday. She had served as president of animation for four years, but had been a creative force within the network for two decades. Johnson was key to Nickelodeon's enormous success during the last decade, guiding "Dora the Explorer" and "Blues Clues," cornerstones of the network's ground-breaking preschool programming.

Nickelodeon announced Tuesday that its revamp of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" has been picked up for a second season. This calls for a pizza, yes? The writing was written on the sewer wall. Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo and Donatello proved that shelled crusaders never go out of style with its mid-morning premiere on the network over the weekend. It ranked as the week's top telecast with kids 2-11 (2.1 million -- more than half were boys) and was the No. 1  kids program on basic cable, with 3.9 million viewers for the week.

Ratings for Viacom 's Nickelodeon have fallen dramatically in the days since the channel was dropped from satellite broadcaster DirecTV over a fee dispute. On July 10, the last day Burbank-based Nickelodeon had distribution on DirecTV, its total day audience was about 1.8 million. On July 11, that figure fell 33% to 1.2 million.  On Friday, the average was up slightly to 1.3 million. Losing carriage on DirecTV couldn't have come at a worse time for Nickelodeon.

The blacktop at Washington Elementary School was transformed Friday into an explosive canvas of color as Nickelodeon artists helped students celebrate the 11th annual California Arts Day. “I love that we just get to express ourselves and draw what we love,” said fifth-grader Alexandria Llamas, 10, as she and classmates labored over chalk drawings. Washington Elementary has marked Arts Day with a chalk festival for about a decade, said Principal Arlene Mooradian-Zenian, and it is more anticipated and beloved than any of the traditional holidays.

BURBANK -- A production assistant at Nickelodeon was arrested Friday on suspicion of child molestation, after a two-day investigation led to allegations that he fondled a 14-year-old Burbank boy, police said. Ezell Channel, a 36-year-old Tarzana resident, has been charged with two felony counts of lewd and lascivious acts with a child by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office for allegedly molesting the boy at Nickelodeon, Burbank Police Sgt. Jay Jette said, declining to elaborate on the allegations.

Nickelodeon to stay in Burbank for five years The animation headquarters for Nickelodeon studios will remain in Burbank for another five years, thanks to a lease agreement of more than $12 million. Viacom International, parent company of Nickelodeon, has renewed the lease on the more than 72,000-square-foot headquarters. The complex includes two buildings on a 2.35-acre campus. A five-story structure provides 366 spaces. This is the 10th year Viacom has held a lease on the property with Nickelodeon as the tenant.

Nickelodeon Animation Studios has formed a partnership with Muir Middle School to help get its media program running, said Carson Smith, human resources manager. Nickelodeon's media technology services team, under Director Boris Beaubien, worked with Muir's Principal Greg Miller to develop a three-session, one-hour class that serves as an introduction to the role of the computer in the animation process. The media technology team brought computers into the classroom and instructed the students on how to safely install hardware and trouble-shoot potential issues during the first class.

Another influential programmer at Nickelodeon -- Margie Cohn -- is leaving the children's network as the operation struggles to remain relevant with pint-sized viewers who are watching content on different platforms. Nickelodeon said Monday that Cohn, president of content development, as well as Alison Dexter, the Los Angeles-based executive vice president of production, were exiting the network immediately. The shuffles come at a sensitive time for Nickelodeon, which recently made its sales pitch to advertisers looking to buy commercial time for the upcoming season.

Nickelodeon recently donated more than 60 “gently used” computers and 40 monitors to the Burbank Unified School District Arts For All program. A number of the machines donated by the Burbank animation studio were used in the production of computer-generated shows, said Carson Smith, Nickelodeon Human Resources manager. The company made the donation for two reasons. “We at Nickelodeon think it is extremely important to partner with the community, and since our motto has always been 'Kids First,' we thought it was fitting that the machines would benefit children in the area,” Smith said.

"iCarly" fans, dab those tears. A week after the hit Nickelodeon show wrapped its run, the network has announced the series pickup of "iCarly"/"Victorious" offshoot "Sam & Cat. " The spinoff comedy , which was given a 20-episode order, features Jennette McCurdy ("iCarly's" Sam Puckett) and Ariana Grande ("Victorious'" Cat Valentine). The two will reprise their roles from their respective shows -- only in this universe, they'll pair up as roommates and start their own babysitting business.

Viacom 's Nickelodeon has struck a deal to sell its programming to Hulu Plus, the subscription arm of the online video platform Hulu. Starting today, recent episodes of Nickelodeon shows such as "iCarly" and "SpongeBob SquarePants" and its much-anticipated new version of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" will be available to Hulu Plus subscribers. The episodes will be available three weeks after airing on Nickelodeon. The move has some analysts shaking their heads, who point to the Burbank animation studio's willingness to sell its programming to Netflix as playing a part in the cable network's ratings decline during the past year.

Nickelodeon announced Tuesday that its revamp of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" has been picked up for a second season. This calls for a pizza, yes? The writing was written on the sewer wall. Leonardo, Raphael, Michelangelo and Donatello proved that shelled crusaders never go out of style with its mid-morning premiere on the network over the weekend. It ranked as the week's top telecast with kids 2-11 (2.1 million -- more than half were boys) and was the No. 1  kids program on basic cable, with 3.9 million viewers for the week.

The turtles are being unleashed in the nick of time. On Saturday morning, Nickelodeon will take the lid off a slicker, hipper version of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. " The armed reptiles, a hugely popular cartoon franchise in the '80s and '90s, are the latest effort by the children's network to combat a dramatic ratings plunge. Over the past year, Nickelodeon has lost 28% of its young audience, according to ratings firm Nielsen. The network's signature programming, "SpongeBob SquarePants" and tween sensation "iCarly," have lost cache with kids who are turning to other channels and other entertainment such as video games.

Reeling from its spectacular ratings fall, Burbank-based Nickelodeon has pushed out animation chief Brown Johnson, the executive most responsible for creating the network's cartoon sensation "Dora the Explorer. " Johnson is leaving Nickelodeon "to pursue her own creative endeavors," Nickelodeon said in a statement Wednesday. She had served as president of animation for four years, but had been a creative force within the network for two decades. Johnson was key to Nickelodeon's enormous success during the last decade, guiding "Dora the Explorer" and "Blues Clues," cornerstones of the network's ground-breaking preschool programming.

Ratings for Viacom 's Nickelodeon have fallen dramatically in the days since the channel was dropped from satellite broadcaster DirecTV over a fee dispute. On July 10, the last day Burbank-based Nickelodeon had distribution on DirecTV, its total day audience was about 1.8 million. On July 11, that figure fell 33% to 1.2 million.  On Friday, the average was up slightly to 1.3 million. Losing carriage on DirecTV couldn't have come at a worse time for Nickelodeon.

The blacktop at Washington Elementary School was transformed Friday into an explosive canvas of color as Nickelodeon artists helped students celebrate the 11th annual California Arts Day. “I love that we just get to express ourselves and draw what we love,” said fifth-grader Alexandria Llamas, 10, as she and classmates labored over chalk drawings. Washington Elementary has marked Arts Day with a chalk festival for about a decade, said Principal Arlene Mooradian-Zenian, and it is more anticipated and beloved than any of the traditional holidays.