Nickelodeon has announced a new endeavor tentatively titled "Project
Nozzle." This initiative will transform the Nick.com website from its
current TV-centric position into a full, free online service for kids.
Project Nozzle, which will compete with Walt Disney's Disney Blast and
Disney Channel's Zoog Disney services on the Disney.com site, will have
such features as guided Web tours, auditoriums, bulletin boards, moderated
chats and e-mail, along with kid content from a wide range of content
creators and partners. Nickelodeon president Herb Scannell stated, "Just as
Nickelodeon transformed television by providing the first full-time network
for kids, 'Project Nozzle' will transform the Web by offering kids the
first registered community including all of the features that adult portals
provide, but in an environment built just for kids." The service is
scheduled to launch on September 1, 1999, with testing slated to begin on
June 1. Nickelodeon has acquired two companies to help assist in this huge
online venture: Nvolve, Inc., a San Mateo-based Web developer; and Red
Rocket, an online educational retailer. As part of these new online
efforts, Viacom is announcing the creation of a new Internet division with
a satellite office in San Mateo. This is not a replacement for the Nick.com
site but rather an expansion to help create a home base for kids on the Web.