Nick announces programming blocks, channel launch in China

MUMBAI: Viacom Inc’s kids entertainment brand Nickelodeon Asia has announced two big deals for expanding its distribution in China.
Nickelodeon has reached a partnership agreement with China’s national television station CCTV to air its shows on the recently launched 24-hour Children’s Channel. Nick shows are already being telecast on the channel since 28 December.
Nick has also announced its partnership with Hong Kong’s Galaxy Satellite Broadcasting Ltd to broadcast its 24-hour Nickelodeon Asia channel on Galaxy’s new pay-TV service exTV set to launch in February 2004. Galaxy is a joint venture between Intelsat and TVB.
Presently, CCTV’s Children’s Channel will provide 30 minutes of Nick programming every day, including the animation series CatDog and The Wild Thornberrys.
Viacom China’s senior VP, managing director, Yifei Li is quoted in a company release as saying, “We are honoured that Nick has become one of our first content partners of CCTV’s Children’s Channel. This is the beginning of a long term cooperation between two media giants in developing quality programming targeted at young audience.”