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The complex relationship between content providers and streaming giant Netflix has taken another turn, as numbers from independent researchers tie Netflix streaming directly to precipitous drops in viewership for kids channel Nickelodeon. To make the story stranger, the effect is distinctly pronounced for Nickelodeon rather than other child-oriented channels.
Google TV was dealt another major blow on Sunday after viewers discovered that Viacom had blocked the platform on its networks. Websites for Comedy Central, MTV, Nickelodeon and other networks now show that the "content is unavailable for your device" rather than loading the Flash video. The restriction was expected earlier given Viacom's failed lawsuit against YouTube but comes relatively late.
Navigation device maker TomTom on Thursday added two downloadable voices from Nickelodeon. Parents can now put the voice of Dora the Explorer and SpongeBob SquarePants onto their navigators, allowing children to listen to their favorite TV cartoon characters while traveling. The two voices will say turn-by-turn driving directions, with other phrases from the cartoons thrown in.
Avanquest Software’s Nova Development unit in collaboration with Nickelodeon has launched three new children’s software titles for the Mac, consisting of Dora the Explorer and Go, Diego Go! characters. The two latest Dora the Explorer games include Dora Saves the Crystal Kingdom and Dora the Explorer Lost and Found Adventure--both require children to search for various items that have been taken from them and hidden away.
Dell in an unusual evening launch revealed its first non-education PC aimed at kids. A Nickelodeon Edition of the Inspiron Mini 10v will have a "slime" color scheme both on the lid and palm rest as well as a custom, Stardock-designed Windows XP skin with colors and icons themed around the TV network's shows. It also gets multiple links to special web portals on Nickelodeon's website and an updating desktop widget.
Verizon today officially expanded its V CAST Mobile TV network to include key larger California cities. The FLO TV-based digital broadcasts are now available in San Francisco as well as Fresno and Sacramento further south. Channel selection should remain the same and provides a mix of both live and pre-recorded content from both kids' channels like NickToons and more mature content from CBS, Fox, NBC and others.
Nickelodeon has introduced a large portion of its back catalog to the US iTunes Store, the TV studio has announced. As a part of its Nick Rewind selection, the company now has the beginning seasons of a number of older kids' shows, including Doug, Hey Arnold and Aaahhh Real Monsters. More common are "best-of" compilations, for shows like Rugrats, Rocko's Modern Life and Clarissa Explains It All.
Programming from several TV networks has been added to iTunes Stores in Canada and the UK. ITV has signed a deal to bring a variety of "classic" TV shows to the UK iTunes Store, among them international hits such as The Prisoner and The Saint, along with more locally famous series such as Captain Scarlet and Brideshead Revisited. Downloads are priced at an average of £1.89 per episode, but not all shows and seasons are currently available.
