Nickelodeon to spend £50m on online games

Nickelodeon is splashing out $100m (£50m) over two years on developing online video games aimed at children. It is looking to tap into the expanding casual games sector. The Viacom-owned children’s TV network, which runs programmes such as SpongeBob SquarePants, will invest in multi-player games, virtual worlds for children and a raft of new subscription services.

Nickelodeon is splashing out $100m (£50m) over two years on developing online video games aimed at children. It is looking to tap into the expanding casual games sector. The Viacom-owned children’s TV network, which runs programmes such as SpongeBob SquarePants (pictured), will invest in multi-player games, virtual worlds for children and a raft of new subscription services.

Online Nickelodeon products to be launched include myNoggin, a subscription service of educational games for pre-schoolers and parents. It will be in partnership with cable companies Charted Communications, Cox Communications and Insight Communications.
Nickelodeon also plans to launch the subscription service Nick Gaming Club, which will feature multi-player games and avatars or three-dimensional digital characters that members can use to interact with other subscribers.

Nickelodeon will expand its existing games websites such as AddictingGames while the Neopets site will be renamed as Neostudios. Earlier this year the company extended its brand to include holiday resorts in a tie-up with hotel group Marriott International.