CableSystem to Broadcast Nickelodeon For Children

CableSystem to Broadcast Nickelodeon For Children

The Peach Section Story, Thursday, December 20, 1979

By Norman Dresser, Blade Entertainment Editor

www.vintagetoledotv.squaraspace.com/

In a major expansion of cablevision services CableSystem on Christmas Day will begin broadcasting “Nickelodeon,” a children’s entertainment channel offering programing 10-11 hours daily.

The new service is delivered to the CableSystem via space satellite from Warner Communications, an arm of one of the nation’s largest entertainment conglomerates. It will be broadcast on the CableSystem without commercials.

“Nickelodeon” will be carried on CableSystem’s Channel 5 throughout Toledo, Perrysburg, and Rossford according to John Karl, president of Buckeye Cablevision, operators of the CableSystem.

“Nickelodeon” service on weekdays will be from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. On weekends, the children’s programming will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Among the chief contributors to the programming concept of “Nickelodeon” is Vivian Horner, former director of the research for “The Electric Company” at the Children’s Television Workshop. She is an authority on children’s education and language learning.

In all, some six programs will be telecast daily, ranging in length from a half-hour to five hours. They are designed to be part entertainment, part educational.

Opening daily programming at 10 a.m. (9 on weekends) will be “Pinwheel,” a special show geared to the interest and short attention span of preschoolers.

Among the other shows are “By the Way,” for 7 to 12 age group, which combines animation and live action; “Children’s Classics,” which comes from the British Broadcasting Corporation and “America Goes Bananaz,” a teen variety show which blends informative segments on current teen-age interests and a talent showcase for young artists.

A unique show called “Video Comic Books” invites young viewers to read along with the narration, with one segments requiring the youngsters to read the dialogue themselves.

“Nickel Flicks,” a half-hour show, is a salute to the movie serials of the 1930s and 1940s, with such stars as Buster Crabbe, Tom Mix, John Wayne and Gene Autry.

“Nickelodeon” is the CableSystems first major service delivered via satellite. It doubtless is the forerunner of man innovations which are transforming this rapidly developing electronic medium.