Nickelodeon will resurrect its 1990s pre-school series Blues Clues, part of the more than 800 episodes of new and returning series slated in the upcoming year, the networks announced prior to its Tuesday evening upfront presentation.

The additional episodes – up 20% from last year – is part of the network’s overall strategy of giving it target kids audience an opportunity to experience its content on a variety of platforms and through new technologies such as virtual reality and location-based experiences. 

Among the new shows to hit Nickelodeon in 2018 and 2019 is a remake of Blues Clues, featuring the original animated puppy Blue and an as yet revealed new live-action host, according to the network. The series ran on Nick Jr. from 1996 to 2006 

Also making a comeback to Nickelodeon is a spinoff of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. The animated Rise Of The Mutant Ninja Turtles series will feature the voice of WWE superstar John Cena as villain Baron Draxum, according to the network.

Other new series include Los Casagrandes, a spinoff from the network’s animated series The Loud House featuring show characters Ronnie Anne and his brother Bobby Santiago; and Pony, an animated buddy comedy that follows the life of an average girl whose talking pony comes to live with her and her family.

On the live-action front, new shows include Keep It Spotless, a competition series from the WWE’s John Cena; Knight Squad, a comedy set at a magical school for knights in training; and Musical Dares, a short-form series that features a new twist on the classic concept of musical chairs. 

Signature Nickelodeon series returning with new episodes include Spongebob Squarepants, The Loud House, Henry Danger, The Thundermans and Nicky, Ricky, Dicky and Dawn.

Nickelodeon also announced a new partnership with IMAX to bring its multi-player, virtual reality offering SlimeZone to select IMAX VR Centres globally this month.

Nickelodeon Group President Cyma Zarghami said the network’s rollout of new content and new technological advances represent the network’s efforts to “reinvent” itself for a new generation of audiences accessing content on new generation platforms. While the network is not abandoning its linear TV roots, she said the network has to reach kids where they are with content they want.

“Great IP will take viewers to every platform,” she said. “That’s not to say we’re leaning one way or the other; it is to say that unlike five or 10 years ago when something works, it works everywhere. The reach you get with linear, even with a diminishing universe is still a significant audience.”

New York-- Nickelodeon is taking former linear service Noggin mobile.

The kid's kingpin announced at its upfront presentaiton to advertisers that it was reviving the educational service -- the forbear of Nick. Jr. --  as a stand-alone mobile, subscription product, targeting preschoolers and their care-givers.

Bowing March 5 via the app store for iPhone, iPad and iTouch, Noggin will retail for $5.99 a month. The programmer said it is also tallking to distributors about offering the service as a premium complement to authenticated subscribers.

At launch, content will include such educational fare as Blue's Clues, Little Bear and Ni Hao, Kai-Lan, plus music videos. Moose and Zee will reprise their roles hosting videos that can help youngsters learn letters, shapes and matching skills, as they prep for kindergarten.

Nickelodeon signaled in January that it would offer a new mobile video service.

Noggin and its former channel mate The N became Nick Jr. and Teen Nick in September 2009, as the programmer sought to solidify the Nick name and brand across its portfolio.

In other Nick upfront developments:

--The network has greenlit three new live-action shows, including Make It Pop, a music-infused strip series about three girls who star in their own K-Pop-inspired band; Talia’s Kitchen, which follows a teenage girl who gains magical powers working in her grandmother’s Miami restaurant; and The W.I.T. Academy, a spinoff for series Every Witch Way.

Nickelodeon also touted a new Dan Schneider-produced series, Game Makers, which follows two 12-year old girls who start a multi-million-dollar gaming company.  As part of a multi-platform experience for viewers, the games seen in the episodes will be released through apps and online.

In addition, the network has greenlit Every Witch Way for a fourth season and Max & Shred for a sophomore campaign.

The programmer also formalized  its array of consumer insighs, multimedia services and partnership marketing plays under the “Inside Out Solutions” banner.  The unit will provide advertising partners with in-depth collaboration across the Nickelodeon portfolio of digital and linear channels. Partners can access the network’s proprietary insights, full-service marketing and creative resources and multi-platform media destinations to create branded experiences that are authentic to Nickelodeon’s kids and family audience, according to network officials.