The N

The N
The prelaunch logo for The N
NetworkNoggin
LaunchedApril 1, 2002; 22 years ago (2002-04-01)[a]
ClosedDecember 31, 2007; 16 years ago (2007-12-31) (all providers)[b]
May 6, 2009; 15 years ago (2009-05-06) (on Dish)
Country of originUnited States
Owner
FormatEducational and personal development series[4][5]
Running time12 hours
Original language(s)English

The N (standing for Noggin)[6] was a prime time and late-night programming block on the Noggin television channel, aimed at preteens and teenagers.[7] It was launched on April 1, 2002, by MTV Networks and Sesame Workshop.[8]

Before the block's introduction, Noggin's daytime lineup included tween shows like A Walk in Your Shoes, Sponk!, and Big Kids. In 2002, Noggin restructured its daytime lineup to cater to preschool children. From then onward, the shows targeted to older children only aired during the night as part of The N.[5][9]

The N focused on shows that promoted personal development,[4] and the block was described as "an educational twin"[10] of Nickelodeon's teen blocks. The N's original shows were created with educational goals,[11] which was uncommon for teen programming at the time. The block was managed by the same team that made Noggin's preschool shows; the team considered it a challenge to focus on both preschoolers and an older audience at the same time,[4] but they felt that Noggin and The N had a consistent, unified brand identity because both were educational.[10] To create shows for The N, Noggin created research groups to determine their shows' topics.[12] They decided to create shows that educated older children for their futures through cautionary tales, life lessons, and realistic depictions of growing up.[5]

In August 2002, Sesame Workshop sold its stake in Noggin, but it continued to produce shows for Noggin and The N,[13] including Out There. The N launched a variety of spin-off media, such as live events and a soundtrack album. From 2007 to 2009, the block was moved from Noggin to a new channel, which carried TEENick programming throughout the day and relegated The N's content to a block at night.[2][14] In 2009, TEENick and The N were merged to form TeenNick. The TeenNick channel was based on TEENick's branding and shows, and it stopped repeating The N's series in 2015. According to Polygon, "Nickelodeon began phasing out The N's programming and replacing it with TEENick, an entertainment block with no educational curriculum and zero involvement from Noggin. The N lost its footing by 2009, and both [The N] and its website closed down completely."[15]

  1. ^ Umstead, R. Thomas (June 11, 2001). "Noggin Adds Interactive Series". Multichannel News.
  2. ^ a b "MTVN's NOGGIN and The N Channels to Split into Two Separate 24-Hour Services, Dec. 31, '07" (Press release). Nickelodeon. August 13, 2007 – via The Futon Critic. [The channel] will serve tweens and teens with programming from Nickelodeon's popular TEENick block during the day and continue as The N at night.
  3. ^ Waller, Ed (April 18, 2002). "Noggin takes Fireworks drama for The N". C21Media. The N is US kids channel Noggin's new block aimed at kids 9–14 and, like Noggin itself, is a joint venture between Nickelodeon and Sesame Workshop.
  4. ^ a b c McGuire, Mark (November 24, 2004). "Noggin and The N have children covered". The Chicago Tribune.
  5. ^ a b c Connell, Mike (January 3, 2002). "Noggin has tween educon on the brain". Kidscreen.
  6. ^ Cite error: The named reference 1logo was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  7. ^ "Viacom Business Segments". U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. March 14, 2003. In April 2002, NOGGIN launched THE N™, a tween and teen program block for viewers ages 9 to 17.
  8. ^ Godfrey, Leigh (March 21, 2002). "Noggin Launches New Programming Initiative". Animation World Network.
  9. ^ Heffley, Lynne (April 1, 2002). "Noggin Is Enrolling in Junior High". Los Angeles Times.
  10. ^ a b Hendershot, Heather (February 2004). Nickelodeon Nation: The History, Politics, and Economics of America's Only TV Channel for Kids. NYU Press. pp. 62–. ISBN 978-0-8147-3652-4.
  11. ^ "Out There". Sesame Workshop. Archived from the original on August 9, 2008.
  12. ^ Curiel, Jonathan (May 26, 2002). "Beam set at tweens / TV goes after new slice of the demographic pie". San Francisco Chronicle.
  13. ^ Everhart, Karen (September 2, 2002). "Sesame Workshop sells its stake in Noggin cable network". Current. The Workshop has already contributed to three original series now airing on Noggin and The N
  14. ^ Calder, Kate (April 1, 2008). "Breaking Up Not So Hard To Do?". Kidscreen. The gameplan for now is to run a daytime block of TEENick shows ... and then stack the originals, specials and movies in the evenings .... Sarah Tomassi Lindman expects the TEENick fare to create a more gender-balanced audience.
  15. ^ Cite error: The named reference polygon was invoked but never defined (see the help page).


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