Newsround Extra | Nickelodeon and the Expansion of Cable Television (1st July 1983)
An episode of an former Newsround spin-off series from 1983 that features its former iconic presenter John Craven talking about the differences to cable television and analogue television and the expansion of cable in the U.S. thanks to the launch of QUBE in Columbus, Ohio and New York, with talks about bringing it to the U.K. for the big changes to terrestrial television (which BSB/Sky Television would later become a big part of thanks to the success of OTS and Swindon Cable).
One of the main features was the kids' cable network that used to include no commercials, Nickelodeon, which at the time was the one of Pinwheel, Standby: (Lights, Camera, Action!), Livewire and some others like the cult classic You Can't Do That on Television, notable for introducing green gunge (or slime to the American audiences) on the show that later turns out to be an iconic symbol for the network.
The report includes interviews with Geraldine B. Laybourne, the then "Boss Lady"/President of the network, and Fred Newman, host of Livewire, and talks about Nickelodeon planning to introduce advertising.
Most people’s relationship with Nickelodeon is a little different than with other cable channels. You watch an insane amount of it whilst growing up, you become intimately familiar with the programming during that time, and then, one day, they leave it all behind. This can lead to feelings of intense nostalgia—a sense that things were better when you were a kid—and also the conviction that the programming Nickelodeon aired during your childhood is somehow the best they ever did it. One YouTube channel is doing that in a big way.
Inspired by the idea that each generation has a sense of loyalty to the shows they grew up watching, YouTuber poparena has unveiled a new series of shorts titled Nick Knacks, an epic 40-year journey into the history of Nickelodeon, the first cable channel for kids! The series aims to take a look at how Nickelodeon programming has it changed over the years - from reruns of 1950s serials to Double Dare to Fairly OddParents and beyond - to find out: exactly was its golden age? And is it really as bad today as some people seem to think?
To do this, Nick Knacks has gone all the way back to the beginning and assess the quality of everything Nickelodeon ever put on air, starting with the network’s premiere seasons in the late-’70s, the episodes go chronologically and range from ten to thirty minutes, depending on how impactful the show was or how much surviving footage there is. Occasionally, he’ll sneak in a “Nick Knacks Special” that throws the chronological convention out the window and takes a deep dive into one of the network’s many holiday programs, like Marc Summers’ Mystery Magical Special or The Weinerville Hanukkah Special.
Due to his thoroughness, poparena is still quite a ways off from covering any shows that “only ‘90s kids will remember.” The most recent episode covers Matt And Jenny, a live action show from the early-’80s that follows the adventures of kids in the wilds of Canada. But, even if you have no recollection of these shows, it’s still fascinating to see how the burgeoning cable network tried and tried again to find its footing. From puppet shows (Pinwheel) to video comics to music video shows hosted by Mike Nesmith (PopClips), Nickelodeon has tried nearly everything once, and a lot of kids out there loved it all.
Watch all your '90s Nickelodeon favorites on NickSplat, your late-night destination for your favorite childhood Nickelodeon cartoons and live-action shows! NickSplat doesn't question football-shaped heads, but embrace them - along with Reptar bars, a Big Ear of Corn, orange soda, and even slime for Pete (and Pete's) sake. Make your slime-covered Nickelodeon childhood dreams come true every night at 11 PM ET/PT, only on TeenNick USA! #NickSplat!
