Nickelodeon‘s about to go through a major schedule change after 40 years with a huge shift in its nightly programming. For those who might not have been paying close attention, broadcast and cable networks have been going through some troubles thanks to the success of streaming and other short media platforms. Due to the success of these offerings, traditional viewing habits have changed significantly, and the last few years have especially shown how cable and broadcast television has been skewing further into older (and more loyal) demographics. This has been even more so the case for children’s media focused networks too.
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Nickelodeon has been hit with a number of these changes, but one of the biggest is coming very soon as Nick at Nite’s nightly programming block is reportedly scheduled to expand. As spotted by @HyperSchedules on X, Nick at Nite will be kicking off an hour earlier beginning on September 29th. Which means that once it kicks in, Nick at Nite will then be airing from 7PM ET to 7AM ET on a nightly basis, the biggest change in its schedule since the nightly block began with the network back in 1985.
Nick at Nite Gets Major Change to Its Schedule After 40 Years
Nick at Nite has had some schedule changes in the past, and has even started earlier on some occasions during the earliest years of its broadcast run, but this is set to be the biggest schedule change yet. Nick at Nite currently begins at 8PM ET and runs through 7AM ET, but this extra hour will mean that the nightly programming block will be running for at least 12 hours. Which ultimately also makes a lot of sense considering that this nightly block is supported by reruns of classic adult sitcoms like Friends, which always generate viewers regardless of streaming options elsewhere.
Nickelodeon has been going through a lot of changes to its schedule as children’s media has been shifting away from cable television, and this will mark another sign in that direction. Nick at Nite offers reruns of classic adult sitcom shows, and while it’s still fit for families, this block was always more geared towards that older audience in mind. It’s become a mainstay for those who still have cable, and will continue to watch these reruns even after all of the other changes in the world of media.
What Does This Mean for Nickelodeon’s Future?
This additional hour for Nick at Nite is likely more a cost focused decision than any other. Much like how Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim identity has since expanded a few hours earlier in the past year to compensate for the fact that fewer kids are watching cable television these days, Nickelodeon’s shift with Nick at Nite is likely within that same scope. But it’s also a good move for the longevity for Nickelodeon on a whole. It’s best to air these more reliable shows to keep the network strong.
But it is also reflective of the change on a whole for children’s media. These formerly strong networks are struggling to appeal to younger viewers that have had their tastes change even more in the past few years. Traditional media has shifted towards shorter, and more instantly gratifying material, so it seems cable’s answer to this has been to further highlight the older audiences that have stuck around instead.
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HT – @HyperSchedules
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