Wikia

Nick Jr.
Launched	1 September 1999
Owned by	Nickelodeon UK; (MTV Networks Europe/BSkyB)
Audience share	0.4%; (February 2009, BARB)
Sister channel(s)	Nickelodeon (UK & Ireland); Nicktoons; Nick Jr. 2; Nicktoonsters
Website	www.nickjr.co.uk
Availability
Satellite
Sky Digital	Channel 615
Cable
Virgin Media	Channel 715
UPC Ireland	Channel 607
IPTV
Tiscali TV	Channel 318

Nick Jr. is a television channel in the United Kingdom and Ireland is operated by Nickelodeon (UK & Ireland). The channel is aimed at younger children.

HistoryEdit

Nick Jr. in the UK and Ireland was for many years broadcast during the daytime hours on the main Nickelodeon UK channel. In 1999, the slot was spun off into its own channel, initially broadcasting on its own channel (then ch.606) on Sky Digital, and from 6am-midday alongside Sky Sports 3 on analogue satellite, although this schedule would sometimes be altered if sports were being covered in the early morning. Analogue transmissions ceased some years later. When it first properly aired it was presented by Face. In 2001 TV Dance started broadcasting during its downtime hours after it was spun off from MTV Extra. MTV Dance acquired its own separate channel in 2002 and both channels have since extended their broadcasting hours. Nick Jr. UK now broadcasts between 6AM and 10PM, offering a lineup of 'Nick Jr. Classics' including classic programming such as Rainbow, Bagpuss, Mr. Benn, and the like, between 8PM and 10PM.

The shows are sometimes presented by a number of anthropomorphic characters. The morning show, between 6AM and 9AM is presented by 'The Early Worms', Arnie and Barney, who have mini adventures in their burrow and garden, but also travel to tourist locations like Me. At 9.30AM they are replaced by Piper-O-Possom, which appers to be runs of the original Piper character from the US version of Nick Jr., but re-dubbed with a British accent. Piper says goodnight to the viewers after 6:30PM and the remaining shows are generally shown with no character presenters in between. Face (90's Character) also appears on Nick Jr. 2, but Piper does not.