Nickelodeon Scores Its Most-Watched Quarter Ever; Tops Basic Cable With Kids, Tweens and Total Viewers

NEW YORK, March 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon's first quarter performance marks its biggest audience ever with total viewers (P2+) in the network's 30-year history and its 60th straight quarter as the top basic cable network with kids 2-11 and total viewers—the longest run of its kind.  Nick also claims basic cable's top spot in total day with kids 2-11, kids 6-11, tweens 9-14 and persons 2+ for 1Q10.  According to Nielsen Media Research (12/28/09-3/28/10), Nickelodeon averaged 2.3 million total viewers; a 3.7/1.3 million K2-11; a 3.2/684,000 K6-11; and 2.3/490,000 T9-14 for the quarter.

Nick's 1Q10 was fueled by performances of the number-one kids' live-action show iCarly, which scored basic cable's top entertainment telecast ("iSaved Your Life", Monday, Jan. 18, 8 p.m. ET/PT) with total viewers for the quarter.  iCarly's "iSaved Your Life" also stands as broadcast and basic cable's top entertainment telecast with kids 2-11, kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14 for the quarter, ranking behind only Super Bowl XLIV overall.  

Nick's record-setting premiere of its latest live-action hit, Big Time Rush (Jan. 18, 8: 30 p.m. ET/PT) ranked among basic cable's top five most-watched entertainment telecasts with total viewers this quarter.  The debut also finished second to iCarly among all broadcast and basic cable's top entertainment telecasts with kids 2-11, kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14 for the quarter.  

Nickelodeon boasts the top three entertainment telecasts for the quarter.  Nickelodeon's 23rd Annual Kids' Choice Awards (KCAs) hosted by Kevin James (Saturday, March 27, 8:00 p.m. [ET/PT]) ranks as basic cable's  number-two entertainment telecast with total viewers (behind iCarly) for the quarter and the number-three entertainment telecast on broadcast and basic cable with kids 2-11 (behind Nick's own #1 iCarly and #2 Big Time Rush).  The KCAs telecast also ranks as the network's second biggest Awards ever, taking basic cable's top spot for the week of 3/22/10-3/28/10 with total viewers (7.6 million), and scored the top telecast for the week with kids and tweens on broadcast and basic cable.  

This year's KCAs were followed by the debut of Nickelodeon's latest live-action hit, Victorious (9:30 p.m. [ET/PT]), which now stands as the second biggest live-action series premiere in Nickelodeon's history (behind only Big Time Rush [Jan. 18, 8:30 p.m. ET/PT]), and was basic cable's number-two telecast for the week it premiered (3/22/10-3/28/10) with total viewers (5.7 million), kids 6-11 and tweens 9-14.

With kids 2-11 for the quarter, Nickelodeon boasts six of the top 10 programs on broadcast and basic cable, including top-ranked SpongeBob SquarePants, iCarly and The Penguins of Madagascar.  Additionally, SpongeBob SquarePants and The Penguins of Madagascar were the top two animated shows on all of basic cable with total viewers.  

Additionally, Nick at Nite drew its most-watched quarter ever with total viewers (1.7 million P2+) and finished 1Q10 as the top cable network among W18-49 (0.7/422,000).  Nickelodeon's digital networks TeenNick and Nick Jr. closed first quarter with their best quarterly performances among total viewers, while Nicktoons had its most-watched first quarter with its core demo of boys 6-11.

TeenNick posted its most-watched quarter ever with total viewers, averaging 194,000 viewers P2+ (up +5% over last year) and also had its best first quarter with its core demographic of teens 12-17 (0.4/63,000, tied with 1Q09).  Nick Jr. also netted its most-watched quarter ever with its preschool audience (2.9/302,000, +12%) in addition to total viewers (568,000).  Nicktoons scored its most-watched first quarter performance ever with kids 6-11 (0.4/50,000, +2%), and tweens 9-14 (0.3/37,000, 0%) and its most-watched and highest-rated first quarter ever with boys 6-11 (0.6/36,000, +9%) and boys 9-14 (0.4/27,000, +4%).

Nickelodeon, now in its 30th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in almost 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 15 consecutive years. For more information or artwork, visit http://www.nickpress.com. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom Inc. (NYSE: VIA, VIA.B).

Source: NMR, Live +7 Blended with Live +Same Day data 12/28/09-3/14/10, Live + Same Day data 3/8/10-3/28/10

SOURCE Nickelodeon