Nickelodeon Maintains Number One Position as Top Cable Network for 46 Consecutive Quarters

Nickelodeon Maintains Number One Position as Top Cable Network for 46 Consecutive Quarters

Network Shows Tremendous Growth in Digital Space in Third Quarter 2006 with Broadband Video Sites Garnering Triple Digit Increases, Online Offerings Showing Double Digit Gains, and Record Highs on VOD

Season Premieres in Sunday Night's TEENick Block Earn Highest Ratings since March 2005; Number-One Position with Tweens for Time Period

NEW YORK, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- Nickelodeon secured its 46 consecutive quarter as the number-one cable network within the total programming day with the just completed third quarter of 2006 (6/26/06-9/24/06). Taking the lead across all kids demos for the quarter, according to Nielsen Media Research, the network not only maintains a leadership on television, but also achieved unprecedented growth within the digital space. Nick.com and Nickjr.com, the network's broadband platforms, and video-on-demand have all shown increases by double to triple digits, and achieved record highs during the third quarter.

Among the network's primary demo of kids 2-11, the network posted a 3.6/1.2 million K2-11, +26% ahead of Disney Channel (2.9/928,000 K2-11) and +57% ahead of Cartoon Network (2.3/756,000 K2-11). With preschoolers, the network also ranked first, averaging a 3.9/490,000 K2-5, up +5% over last year's like time period, ahead of Cartoon Network by +127% (1.7/216,000 K2-5) and +40% versus Disney Channel (2.8/348,000 K2-5). Among kids 6-11, Nick is up almost one rating point above its closest competitor. Nick earned a 3.5/702,000 while Disney Channel averaged a 2.9/581,000, equating to a 19% lead. And with tweens 9-14, Nickelodeon earned a 2.5/521,000, beating its competition by double digits; Disney Channel by +11% (2.3/463,000) and Cartoon Network by 42% (1.8/363,000). All numbers are based on Nickelodeon's total programming day.

This past Sunday, Sept. 24, Nickelodeon premiered all-new seasons of its hit tween series Drake and Josh, Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide and Zoey 101. This week's TEENick was the highest rated TEENick block since March of this year averaging a 5.08/1.0 million for tweens 9-14, an +18% gain. The block earned a number-one position with tweens for the time period (7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.), besting Disney (4.3/873,000 tweens 9-14) by +19%. Drake and Josh (7 p.m.) posted a 6.1/1.3 million tweens 9-14, a +27% increase over last year's like time period. Ned's Declassified (7:30 p.m.) earned a 7.4/1.5 million tweens 9-14, up +40% over year ago, and its highest rating since Nov. 20, 2005. And Zoey 101 (8 p.m.) earned a 8.8/1.8 million tweens 9-14, up +48% versus last year, and its highest rating since Nov. 13, 2005.

As Nickelodeon continues its leadership on television, it is also excelling on its various new media platforms in the kids' space. Its broadband platforms, TurboNick, Nick Jr. Video and Nick Jr. Parents TV, have increased user ship by triple digits over last year. Online, Nick.com and Nickjr.com have increased user numbers by double digits. And Nick's video-on- demand hit a quarterly record for third quarter.

-- TurboNick, Nickelodeon's broadband video service on Nick.com, generated
89.8 million streams in third quarter 2006, up +338% over third quarter
2005. The site also garnered 4.4 million unique visitors, +283% versus
last year's like time period.

-- Nick Jr. Video, Nick Jr.'s broadband video service on Nickjr.com,
garnered more than 14 million content streams in third quarter 2006, a
+123% increase versus year ago.

-- Nick Jr. Parents TV, the networks broadband service geared towards
parents, generated more than 25.6 million streams for third quarter
2006, up +164% versus last year's third quarter.

-- Nick.com generated 15.2 million unique visitors and more than
383 million page views for third quarter 2006, +58% and +46%
respectively versus last year. The site had its best month ever in
July during the third quarter with 15.6 million unique visitors. It
also had more than 217 million game plays this quarter, up +20% over
third quarter 2005. "SpongeBob's Bikini Bottom Carnival" was the
number-one game for the quarter recording 10.9 million game plays on
Nick.com.

-- Nickjr.com had approximately 7.8 million unique visitors this quarter,
a +70% increase from third quarter 2005. August 2006 marked
Nickjr.com's best month ever with 7.8 million unique visitors. The
site also racked in more than 212 million game plays, up +73% versus
last year's third quarter. "The Backyardigans Adventure Maker" was
number-one on Nickjr.com recording 6.3 million game plays for the
quarter.

Source: Omniture SiteCatalyst 2005 and 2006; Nick Jr. Video

-- The network also continues to maintain its leadership position in
Video-on-Demand (VOD). VOD hit a quarterly record in third quarter
totaling more than 25.2 million views of Nick programming (through
Sept 25, 2006). This was up +89% over last year's like time period
(13.3 million). The top titles for third quarter included SpongeBob
SquarePants, Dora the Explorer, Blue's Clues and Drake and Josh.
(Source: Rentrak)

Nickelodeon, now in its 27th year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books, magazines and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 90 million households and has been the number- one-rated basic cable network for more than eleven consecutive years. Nickelodeon and all related titles, characters and logos are trademarks of Viacom International Inc.

Nickelodeon Programming Hours: M-Th: 6:00 a.m.-9 p.m.; Fr-Sat: 6:00 a.m.- 10 p.m.; Sun: 6 a.m.-9 p.m. (ET/PT)

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Nickelodeon

CONTACT: Joanna Roses, +1-212-846-7326; Marianne Romano,
+1-310-752-8208

Web site: http://www.nick.com/
http://www.nickjr.com/

-------
Profile: intent