Could Paramount Plus Have Halted Production Of Original Kids Programming As Further Content Move To Nickelodeon Channels?

During the year, it was reported that Danger Force would end with a season 3 on Nickelodeon leaving only two live-action shows on the network. On top of that, several content from Paramount+ such as Rugrats and Big Nate have new episodes on Nicktoons.

Nicktoons serves as a secondary network filtered on reruns meaning less consumption. In a turn of events, Paramount Global had opted to divert these shows away from Nickelodeon where the latter would get more exposure and burn it off to Nicktoons.

This comes prior to the time when Monsters At Work being a Disney+ exclusive following its rollout in 2021 moved to Disney Channel for a second season. Unlike Disney Channel, this could be worrisome as most shows to have entered Nicktoons are usually axed.

On top of a possible sale, Paramount Global has undergone a restructure laying off 800 employees as part of streamlining attempts. The idea of original kids programming from Paramount+ being purged in this possible shake-up wouldn't seem far fetched. 

Paramount+ hasn't been profitable in the United States due to high level of competition from Netflix and Disney+. It had led them to change their distribution strategy internationally with most markets in Europe and Africa opting on a third party for the content. 

Netflix has been building up Nickelodeon's content slate with the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender based on the animated series of the same name. They even acquired exclusive rights to The Fairly OddParents: Make A Wish and The Casagrandes Movie.

With the lack of new kids content coming as Paramount+ exclusive it wouldn't seem far fetched if Paramount Global had opted to move this to Netflix while other content is accessible on linear platforms.

Recap To The Week: Akira Toriyama Creator Of DragonBall Z Alongside The Backyardigans Creator Janice Burgess Has Passed Away

DragonBall creator has died 

When it comes to the world of anime and Japanese pop culture, many will know and love the Dragon Ball franchise. The manga, which was first created by Toriyama in September 1985, won over the hearts of fans instantly. 

However, news has hit the Dragon Ball community as well as the manga and anime industries at large on March 7, 2024. Dragon Ball creator Akira Toriyama is confirmed to have died at age 68.

Statement from the official DBZ account:

“We are deeply saddened to inform you that Manga creator Akira Toriyama passed away on March 1 due to acute subdural hematoma. It’s our deep regret that he still had several works in the middle of creation with great enthusiasm. Also, he would have many more things to achieve.”

Backyardians creator had died

Janice Burgess, a longtime executive of the Nickelodeon channel who sought to promote children’s curiosity and sense of play for decades, overseeing popular television shows like “Blue’s Clues” and “Little Bill” and creating her own musical children’s show, “The Backyardigans,” died on Saturday in hospice care in Manhattan. She was 72.

Brown Johnson, a longtime friend and the creator of Nick Jr., the Nickelodeon channel for younger viewers, said the cause was breast cancer.

Could TNT Sports Replace TruTV In The United States?

During the week, it was reported that TNT Sports would be expanding to the United States. This comes a few months after Warner Bros. Discovery had launched it in the UK in place of BT Sport offering a variety of sports ranging from MMA, Bundesliga and UEFA.

Unlike the UK, TNT Sports would be rolling out in the United States as a dedicated nightly block on TruTV. Aside from live events, Warner Bros. Discovery is looking to get more sports themed content with a range of films and documentaries. 

Confirmed titles for the block include a betting show known as The Line, an interactive show known as The Bill and an NBA themed show known as The Inside Story.

News of the blocks arrival traces back to 2022 where Warner Bros. Discovery was looking to increase their investment toward the sector. After halting original productions for TNT and TBS, a turnaround plan was purposed with one of the two emphasizing sports.

With the standalone TNT channel remaining intact for the time being. Consumers are led to believe that Warner Bros. Discovery could be looking to replace TruTV with TNT Sports as it was reported that one of their flagship shows Impractical Jokers would move to TBS.

TruTV has been going through identity crisis for several years after converting to a court based brand would divulge into crime and variety. Since its inception, the brand has garnered traction for Hardcore Pawn, Carbonaro Effect, Top Funniest and Impractical Jokers. 

Development Alert: TNT Sports Expands To The United States Through TruTV, Impractical Jokers Moves To TBS

Warner Bros. Discovery is making cable network TruTV a regular home for sports, adding a weeknight sports block and shifting established franchise Impractical Jokers to TBS this summer.

A mix of live sports, original sports programming and ancillary sports content will start appearing on TruTV next Monday, March 11, under the banner “TNT Sports on TruTV.” The block will start at 6 p.m. ET and run through late night.

The NCAA Division I Men’s Basketball Championship, aka March Madness, gets under way the following week. WBD, which shares in March Madness rights with Paramount, often makes use of TruTV as a home for early-round tournament games.

The push toward daily sports programming comes as WBD, Fox and Disney have embarked on a joint sports-focused streaming venture. The JV, scheduled to launch this fall, will bring 14 linear network feeds to subscribers via the internet. Apart from the NCAA tournament, TNT is known for its NBA coverage and TBS broadcasts Major League Baseball.

Impractical Jokers, a cornerstone TruTV property since its premiere in 2011, will move to TBS with a batch of new episodes this summer. During the transitional period, the series will continue to simulcast on both truTV and TBS through early April. Series from the TruTV library, including past seasons of Impractical Jokers, will air on TruTV prior to 6 p.m. each day. 

“We are constantly striving to create and deliver the best sports content and experiences to sports fans wherever they are, and this is an exciting opportunity to expand the reach of our premium TNT Sports programming with greater consistency throughout the year,” said Luis Silberwasser, Chairman and CEO, TNT Sports. “By creating a primetime block of sports programming on truTV, in addition to our existing premium live sports on TNT and TBS, we are now able to deliver a more comprehensive sports offering for our fans, while generating additional growth opportunities for our sports division and strategic business and league partners.”

The upcoming programming lineup will include select alternative presentations of live TNT Sports games; simulcasts of games appearing on TNT or TBS; a new 30-minute news and highlight show, TNT Sports Update, airing nightly at 6 p.m.; betting show The Line, airing weeknights at 6:30; NBA-centric show Handles airing in late night; and a House of Highlights show produced weekly as a TruTV exclusive. (WBD’s digital subsidiary Bleacher Report is known for its House of Highlights vertical.)

Also in store for the new sports block are movies and documentaries, including The Inside Story, which looks at TNT’s Inside the NBA studio show; in-season episodes of The Steam Room vodcast featuring Ernie Johnson and Charles Barkley, and special editions of Shaqtin’ a Fool, among other originally produced programming; and an upcoming schedule of MotoGP races.

April 2024 On Nickelodeon, Nick Jr. And Nicktoons Across South Africa | New Series Alert: Dora | Returning Shows Including Deer Squad And Rubble And Crew | More

Nickelodeon

Young Dylan 

New Episodes

Premier: 01/4 – 11/04

Slot: Weekdays

Time: 18:15

New eps: 410 - 418

Dylan continues to explore his art and his adolescence as he leans on his cousins and. learns from his aunt and uncle. Yasmine, Myles and Viola guide the kids and each other toward what it means to continually grow together as a family.

Monster High 

Premier: 15/04 – 26/04

Slot: Weekdays

Time: 17:00

New Eps: 119 - 126

The series follows Frankie Stein, Draculaura, and Clawdeen Wolf, the respective children of Frankenstein, Dracula and a Werewolf, as well as other children of famous mythical monsters they navigate the hilarity of high school in the hallowed halls of Monster High.

SpongeBob SquarePants 

New Episodes

Premier : 29/04/24 – 09/05/2024

Slot : Monday - Thursday

Time: 15:00

New eps: 294, 295, 298, 299

The misadventures of a talking sea sponge who works at a fast-food restaurant, attends a boating school, and lives in an underwater pineapple.

Nicktoons 

Monster High 

Premiere: 15/04/2024- 26/04/2024

Episodes: 119-126

Slot: Monday- Friday

Time: 17:30

NEW EPISODES

Life gets wild when human girl Clawden discovers Monster High, school where anything is possible

Rock, Paper, Scissor

Premiere: 29/04/2024-10/05/2024

Episode: 101-110

Slot: Monday- Friday

Time: 17:00

Rock, Paper and Scissors are three best friends who share an apartment together and compete over everything. Week to week, they have tiny problems that always get out of hand.

Nick Jr.

TINY EXPLORERS STUNT

Premier: 01/04/2024 – 12/04/2024

Slot: Monday-Friday

Time: 09:30am/pm, 06:00pm

Including sneak peek of Dora #102

Premier : 05/04/2024 – 12/04/2024

Slot: Friday

Time: 10:15am/pm, 06:45pm

Two weeks with the most curious world explorers.

Featuring Nick Jr’s most beloved series: Paw Patrol, Rubble and Crew, Baby Shark’s Big Show, Blaze and the Monster Machines. Including a very special sneak peek into our newest shows: Dora

DEER SQUAD

NEW EPISODES

Episodes: #311-320

Premier: 01/04/2024 – 12/04/2024

Slot: Monday-Friday

Time: 07:50am/pm, 04:00am/pm

The Deer Squad are back with more amazing adventures and heroic rescues! In Season 3 the brave squad learn more about spectacular space, discover an incredible Sparkle Island, and travel to the depths of the awesome Sparkle Sea!

DORA 

SERIES LAUNCH

Episodes: #101-110

Premier: 15/04/2024 – 26/04/2024

Slot: Monday-Friday

Time: 09:30am/pm, 03:10am/pm, 06:00pm

RUBBLE & CREW

NEW EPISODES

Episodes: #121-123, 125-126

Premier: 15/04/2024 – 26/04/2024

Slot: Monday-Friday

Time: 07:25am/pm, 09:05am/pm,

02:45am/pm, 05:30am/pm

Rubble moves with his family of construction pups to the nearby town of Builder Cove where they live, play, and build whatever the community needs.