MTVN’s Noggin, The N to Become 24-Hour Channels

NEW YORK, December 18: MTV
Networks’ preschool service Noggin and nighttime teen block The N are each
expanding into 24-hour channels on December 31 at 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.,
respectively.

Noggin will kick off its
launch as a 24-hour commercial-free preschool network with its first five-hour
prime-time movie marathon, hosted by Moose and Zee, featuring the premiere of a
new 90-minute movie Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure. Other features in the block include the hour-long Dora
the Explorer TV movie Dora
Saves the Mermaids, the half-hour
special Save the Wonder Pets! and
the Go, Diego, Go! feature Great
Jaguar Rescue.

The preschool network will
also premiere Toot & Puddle,
a new 26-episode animated series based on the best-selling Holly Hobbie book
collection. Furthermore, Noggin has greenlit a new 26-episode second season of Pinky
Dinky Doo, an original animated
series dedicated to early literacy, based on the popular books by Jim Jinkins (Doug
and PB&J Otter).

Other original programming
currently on Noggin includes Jack’s Big Music Show, Oobi and The Upside Down Show. The network also offers hit shows including Bill
Cosby’s Little Bill, Franklin,
Max & Ruby, Little Bear, Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! and Oswald, in addition to Nick Jr. favorites like Dora the Explorer, Go,
Diego, Go!, The Wonder Pets!, Blue’s Clues and The Backyardigans.

"Noggin’s expansion
into a 24-hour network reinforces Nickelodeon’s commitment to preschoolers and
their caregivers, to be there whenever they need us," said Brown Johnson,
the executive VP and executive creative director of Nickelodeon Preschool and
general manager of Noggin. "We have heard time and time again that
offering our entertaining and educational programming during prime-time hours
is key for families and their schedules, and we think it’s an excellent way to
kick off the New Year!"

The N will also expand
from a 12-hour programming block, and become its own 24-hour teen network. The
channel will feature a daytime block of hit TEENick programming, and will usher
in new shows to its nighttime schedule of originals, including the reality
series Queen Bees and The N’s
Student Body and the scripted
comedy The Assistants, among
others.

To kick off the channel’s
debut, The N will count down with 24 Reasons to Love The N in 2008, a 12-hour programming marathon beginning December
31 at 12 p.m. It will be hosted by Degrassi’s Aubrey Graham, Shenae Grimes and Cassie Steele,
along with TEENick’s Lil’ JJ of Just Jordan and Malese Jow and Raja Fenske of Unfabulous. The marathon will look back at favorite episodes
from the network’s five-year history, and gives viewers a sneak peek at the
upcoming programming highlights of the 2008 season.

At 11:30 p.m., the
marathon concludes with a half-hour special revealing the number-one reason to
love the N in 2008, along with the debut of the network’s first on-air
screening party. The special will showcase The-N.com’s social-media
application, where online users can chat, play games and watch video content in
a virtual party environment.

Upcoming highlights for
The N include the classic series Saved by the Bell, premiering
January 14, 2008; the seventh season of Degrassi: The Next Generation, making its debut January 18 at 8 p.m.; Degrassi
in Kenya, a half-hour documentary
special, premiering in February, which follows the Degrassi cast members as they travel to the impoverished
region; and About A Girl, which
debuts January 19 at 8 p.m.

Rolling out in
spring/summer of 2008 are the series South of Nowhere, That ‘70s Show and Queen Bees, with The N’s Student Body and The Assistants set to debut in the fall.

"The N going 24 is a
great opportunity to provide around-the-clock teen programming to our growing
audience as we continue to roll out new series, specials and
acquisitions," said Sarah Tomassi Lindman, the senior VP and general
manager of The N. "The network’s distinct perspective that reflects the
teen experience will now be available anytime and everywhere."

Both networks are
available in 64 million households via cable, digital cable and satellite TV.

—By Kristin Brzoznowski