Announcement from Viacom:
LONDON/NEW YORK/TEL AVIV – Viacom International Media Networks (VIMN), a unit of Viacom Inc., announced that together with its long-time local partner Ananey Communications, it will launch leading pre-school children’s channel, Nick Jr., on 7th February as part of the company’s continued efforts to providing high quality kids’ programming to audiences around the world.
The 24-hour locally managed Hebrew language Nick Jr. service will launch via leading cable operator, HOT and will be seen in 900,000 Israeli households. Aimed at the under fives, Nick Jr. will focus on programmes designed to stimulate, educate, involve and excite young minds, and encourage interaction through a mix of local and international programming such as Emmy nominated hit Dora the Explorer, Blue’s Clues, Go! Diego, Go!, Bubble Guppies, The WonderPets! and Team Umizoomi.
“Nick Jr. Israel is yet another example of how the Nickelodeon brand continues to be an integral part of kids' lives all over the world,” commented Andy Goodhand, Senior Vice President, Senior Vice President, Nickelodeon; Russia, Israel & CEE. “Having debuted in 2003, Nickelodeon is now the number one children’s channel in Israel and as part of the network’s natural evolution I’m delighted that hit shows such as Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego, Go!, whose characters are beloved by Israeli children, will have a dedicated new home.”
“Ananey is proud to add the Nick Jr. channel to its roster as it perfectly complements its existing older and successful sister channel, Nickelodeon,” added Udi Meron, CEO, Ananey Communications. “The launch of Nick Jr. in Israel is a result of extensive and collaborative team work and valuable professional relationships between the team at Ananey and Viacom International Media Networks.”
“Extending the Nickelodeon brand through a new pre-school channel underlines our commitment to the Israeli market and to ensuring that exciting, high quality programming steeped in a play-to-learn philosophy is made available to pre-schoolers in Israel,” commented Bartosz Witak, Vice President and General Manger, Viacom International Media Networks CCE & Israel. “Our long term collaboration with Ananey Communications continues to go from strength to strength and HOT’s expertise and deep infrastructure make it the natural choice of partner to deliver Nick Jr. to homes across Israel.”
The launch of Nick Jr. bolsters the already diverse bouquet of stellar VIMN multi-platform content and channel brands active in the Israeli market including Nickelodeon Israel, a local language channel aimed at 8–12 year olds which launched on 1 July 2003 – now reaching 1.5m homes – and more recently, youth and comedy entertainment brands MTV and Comedy Central which have successfully launched as localised channels in Israel.