Nickelodeon Is 2009's Top-Ranked Cable Network

Nick Projected to Score Year's Top Kids' Programs with iCarly and SpongeBob SquarePants; Sweeps Kid and Total Viewer Demos for 59th Straight Quarter at Top

Nick Will Finish First with Kids, Tweens in 4Q

NEW YORK, Dec. 22 -- Led by mega-hits iCarly and SpongeBob SquarePants, Nickelodeon will finish 2009 in first place among all basic cable networks in total day for the 15th straight year among total viewers (P2+) and all kid demos, according to Nielsen Media Research for the year to date (12/29/08-12/20/09). Fourth quarter will mark Nickelodeon's 59th straight quarter at number one with an average of 2.2 million total viewers and 3.5/1.2 million Kids 2-11 and 3.1/664,000 Kids 6-11 in 2009.

In fourth quarter to date (9/28/09-12/20/09), Nick is set to finish first among basic cable networks with the total viewer, kid and tween demographics, delivering 2.2 million P2+ (up +26% of the nearest competitor), and averaging a 3.6/1.3 million K2-11 (up +29% over the nearest competitor); a 3.2/676,000 K6-11 (up +10%); and a 2.3/488,000 T9-14 (up +5%). For the quarter, Nick also has three of the top five shows with kids 2-11: SpongeBob SquarePants (#1); The Penguins of Madagascar (#3); and Fanboy and Chum Chum (#5).

For the year, iCarly is projected to rank as broadcast and basic cable's top-rated series for kids 2-11, and as basic cable's number-one kids' show with total viewers. SpongeBob SquarePants will cap the year as all of TV's number-one animated show among kids 2-11, and cable's top animated kids' show with total viewers.

Additionally, Nickelodeon Kids and Family TV networks--Nick Jr., TeenNick and Nicktoons--are on track to deliver their best yearly performances ever, as well as solid year-over-year growth.

Nickelodeon ranks first with kids and total viewers (P2+) year to date (12/29/08-12/20/09). Highlights include:

Nick will finish at number one with kids 2-11 (3.5/1.2 million K2-11), kids 6-11 (3.1/664,000 K6-11) and with total viewers (2.2 million).

Nickelodeon will wrap up the year with three of the top five kids 2-11 shows on basic cable in 2009, including: iCarly (#1); SpongeBob SquarePants (#2); and The Penguins of Madagascar (#5). iCarly is the number-one kids' 2-11 show for the year, and SpongeBob SquarePants is the number-one animated kids 2-11 show.

Nick is the number-one destination for preschoolers on commercial TV, averaging a 4.0/551,000 K2-5 in total day, with four out of the top five preschool series for K2-5: Go, Diego, Go! (#1); Max and Ruby (#2); Dora the Explorer (#4); and The Backyardigans (#5).

Nickelodeon programming highlights for 2009 include (source: NMR, Live + 7 Day data):

iCarly is broadcast and basic cable television's number-one show in 2009 with kids 2-11 and tops all kids' programs among total viewers. Led by "iFight Shelby Marx" (Aug. 8) and "iQuit iCarly" (Dec. 5), iCarly is the highest-rated and most-watched program with kids 6-11 and tweens on Saturday nights. The series' ratings are up +44% with kids 2-11 (8.4/3.0 million K2-11) and up +49% among tweens (9.9/2.1 million T9-14) over last year.

SpongeBob SquarePants--TV's number-one animated series with kids 2-11 for seven consecutive years--will close 2009 as the number-one animated series on all TV with kids 2-11. SpongeBob's "Truth or Square" (Nov. 6) special was the year's top animated telecast with kids 2-11 on TV (13.7/4.8 million K2-11, +234%), and basic cable's number-one animated telecast with 8.4 million P2+ (+231% in delivery).

Nickelodeon's new animated series, The Penguins of Madagascar will finish the year as TV's top animated show with kids 2-11 and with total viewers on basic cable for the year, behind only SpongeBob SquarePants. The Penguins of Madagascar--which premiered Saturday, March 28--holds the record as Nickelodeon's most-watched series premiere in Nickelodeon's history with 6.4 million total viewers.

Fanboy and Chum Chum--which set new records in its debut (Nov. 6) as Nick's highest-rated and most-watched series' premiere with K2-11 and K6-11--is among fourth quarter to date's top programs for kids 2-11 on all of TV. The series is averaging a 3.9 million P2+, a 6.8/1.5 million K6-11 (+24% over last year) and a 6.6/2.4 million K2-11 (+22%).

Nickelodeon's 2009 Kids' Choice Awards set a ratings record (March 28) as the biggest KCAs ever with a record 8 million total viewers (P2+) and the show's highest kid 2-11, 6-11 and tween ratings. The Awards also scored the most votes in the show's history--a record 90 million--and led Nick.com to its highest trafficked day ever.

Nickelodeon's Kids and Family portfolio highlights for 2009 include:

Nick at Nite is projected to finish 2009 as basic cable's number-one network in total day with Women 18-49, averaging a 0.7/415,000 W18-49 and 1.5 million total viewers.

Nicktoons had its highest-rated and most-watched year in history with boys 6-11 (+16% in delivery); kids 6-11 (+16%); and total viewers (+17%). It also posted gains of +33% with boys 9-14 and +22% with tweens.

Nick Jr.-Nick's 24-hour preschool network-will be the year's number-one preschool cable network in total day, scoring its highest-rated and most-watched year ever with kids 2-5 and total viewers. The network posted double-digit gains over last year--+37% in rating and delivery with kids 2-5 and +34% in delivery with P2+.

TeenNick--the 24-hour network for teens--delivered its most-watched year in 2009 with its core audience of teens 12-17 (+4%), and total viewers (+5%).

Nickelodeon's portfolio of digital sites will top all kid and family web destinations in 2009 based on its monthly average of 128 million visits, 85 minutes time spent per visitor and 20.4 billion page views (source: January-November comScore U.S. Media Metrix). The digital sites drew their best year ever with 29.7 million unique visitors per month (+9% over 2008), and generated 1.8 billion streams in 2009 (source: Nielsen Videocensus data).

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, magazines 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. ( VIA, VIA.B).

Nickelodeon Programming Hours: M-Th: 6:30 a.m.-8 p.m.; Fri: 6:30 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sat: 6 a.m.-9 p.m.; Sun: 6 a.m.-8 p.m. (ET)