Nickelodeon is Basic Cable's Number-One Network in April; Captures Three of Cable's Top Five Shows Among Total Viewers

SpongeBob SquarePants Tops all Kids' Programs in April; iCarly Rules as Kids' Top Live-Action Show for Year to Date

NEW YORK, April 28 -- Nickelodeon is basic cable's top total day network for April, posting double-digit leads with its kid 2-11 target audience over competitors for the month, as well as year to date. Nickelodeon also owned the top three kid-targeted programs (SpongeBob SquarePants, The Penguins of Madagascar, iCarly) on basic cable among total viewers in April -- and placed those three shows among all of basic cable's top five programs with total viewers for the month.

Nickelodeon is also home to the number-one live-action kids' show--iCarly--and the top two animated programs for kids and tweens--SpongeBob SquarePants and the brand-new hit The Penguins of Madagascar.

Additionally, Nicktoons Network (available in 54 million U.S. households) lodged its highest-rated April ever this month with all core demographics and total viewers, averaging a 0.4/55,000 K6-11 (+33%), a 0.3/40,000 T9-14 (+50%) and 168,000 total viewers (+56%). Nicktoons Network grew its April ratings by +50% with boys 6-11 in total day and +33% in prime time, averaging a 0.6/39,000 B6-11 (total day) and 0.8/48,000 B6-11 (prime time). The network also posted a +67% April ratings gain with boys 9-14 in both total day and prime time, averaging a 0.5/29,000 B9-14 (total day) and a 0.5/31,000 B9-14 (prime time). Nicktoons Network's recent debut of Iron Man: Armored Adventures (April 24, 7:30 p.m. ET) was the network's highest-rated original series premiere ever with boys 6-11, averaging a 2.0/125,000 B6-11 (+100% in rating).

Nick at Nite also was total day's number-one basic cable network with Adults 18-49 and Women 18-49, closing its most-watched April ever with those demographics and total viewers.

Nickelodeon again was tops with kids 2-11 and total viewers (persons 2+) for both the month and year to date:

April 2009 (source: NMR, 3/30/09-4/26/09):

Nickelodeon averaged 2.1 million total viewers. This marks a +30% lead over The Disney Channel (1.7 million P2+) and a +118% lead over Cartoon Network (980,000 P2+).

Nickelodeon averaged 3.3/1.2 million K2-11, a +22% lead over The Disney Channel (2.7/930,000 K2-11) and +120% over Cartoon Network (1.5/519,000 K2-11).

2009 Year to Date (source: NMR, 12/29/08-4/26/09):

Nickelodeon is averaging 2.2 million total viewers (P2+), a +37% lead over The Disney Channel (1.6 million P2+) and a +107% lead over Cartoon Network (1.1 million P2+).

Nickelodeon is averaging a 3.5/1.2 million kids 2-11, +30% ahead of Disney (2.7/927,000 K2-11) and +119% over Cartoon Network (1.6/576,000 K2-11).

Nickelodeon is averaging a 3.1/651,000 K6-11, a +15% lead over The Disney Channel (2.7/567,000 K6-11) and +72% over Cartoon Network (1.8/371,000 K6-11).

Below are April grids for kid, tween and total viewer demographics:

Persons 2+ Rank Net All Basic Cable Programs Rating Del (000)

1 USA WWE ENT (MON 9P) 2.2 5567

2 NICK SPONGEBOB (SA 930A) 1.7 4330

3 NICK PENGUINS (SA 10A) 1.7 4188

4 USA NCIS (MON-FRI 8P) 1.5 3901

5 NICK ICARLY (SA 8P) 1.4 3425

Top 5 Kids' Programs in April (3/30/09-4/26/09) - Total Day (6A-6A)

Kids 2-11 Rank Net Program Rating Del (000)

1 NICK SPONGEBOB (SA 930A) 7.0 2452

2 NICK PENGUINS (SA 10A) 6.8 2396

3 NICK ICARLY (SA 8P) 5.6 1961

4 NICK BARNYARD (SA 1030A) 5.3 1869

5 DSNY WIZARDS (SUN 830P) 4.8 1662

Kids 6-11 Rank Net Program Rating Del (000)

1 NICK SPONGEBOB (SA 930A) 7.4 1576

2 NICK PENGUINS (SA 10A) 7.2 1529

3 NICK ICARLY (SA 8P) 6.8 1438

4 DSNY WIZARDS (SUN 830P) 6.7 1390

5 DSNY SONNY (SUN 8P) 5.9 1222

Kids 6-14 Rank Net Program Rating Del (000)

1 NICK SPONGEBOB (SA 930A) 6.1 1949

2 DSNY WIZARDS (SUN 830P) 6.1 1922

3 NICK PENGUINS (SA 10A) 5.9 1891

4 NICK ICARLY (SA 8P) 5.9 1884

5 DSNY SONNY (SUN 8P) 5.3 1677

Tweens 9-14 Rank Net Program Rating Del (000)

1 DSNY WIZARDS (SUN 830P) 6.5 1373

2 DSNY SONNY (SUN 8P) 5.5 1171

3 NICK ICARLY (SA 8P) 5.3 1134

4 NICK SPONGEBOB (SA 930A) 5.1 1096

5 NICK PENGUINS (SA 10A) 5.0 1070

Kids 2-5 Rank Net Preschool Programs on Commercial TV Rating Del (000)

1 NICK MAX & RUBY (MF 1030A) 6.7 936

2 NICK DIEGO (MF 930A) 5.9 826

3 NICK BACKYARDIGANS (MF 1230P) 5.6 786

4 NICK DORA THE EXPLORER (MF 9A) 5.6 784

5 DSNY MICKEY MOUSE CLB (S-S 930A) 5.6 769

Persons 2+ Rank Net Kid-Targeted Programs Rating Del (000)

1 NICK SPONGEBOB (SA 930A) 1.7 4330

2 NICK PENGUINS (SA 10A) 1.7 4188

3 NICK ICARLY (SA 8P) 1.4 3425

4 DSNY WIZARDS (SUN 830P) 1.3 3311

5 NICK BARNYARD (SA 1030A) 1.3 3245

Source: Nielsen Media Research, Live + 7 day through 4/12/09, Live + Same Day from 4/13/09-4/26/09

Ranked by delivery (000) and based on regularly scheduled plays

Nickelodeon's programming day ends at 9 p.m. ET/PT (M-Th, Su) and 10 p.m. ET/PT (Fri-Sa)