Nickelodeon has promoted Keith Dawkins to executive vice president of TeenNick and Nicktoons, the network said Wednesday.

Dawkins will be responsible for the day-to-day operations for the tween/teen-targeted and animation-based networks, along with their recently launched programming initiatives The Splat on TeenNick and Nicktoons’ NickSports. 

Dawkins previously served as Senior Vice President and General Manager for Nicktoons and TeenNick, where he developed  a variety of partnerships with media companies such as Marvel Animation, FremantleMedia, Lionsgate, LEGO and the National Football League (NFL) designed to bring new content to the networks. 

Kids-targeted networks Nickelodeon and Disney Channel are turning back the clock, offering blocks of classic TV programming in the hopes that young parents will tune in and watch along with their kids on multiple platforms.

Disney’s Wednesday late-night “Disney Replay” block and Nickelodeon’s daily late-night “Splat” block on TeenNick both offer popular original series from the 1990s to early 2000s. Those shows resonate with 18-to-34-year-olds who grew up watching shows such as Nick’s Rugrats and Hey Arnold! or Disney’s That’s So Raven! and The Suite Life of Zack and Cody.

“We know that there’s an audience that is engaged with the series, characters and talent that they watched growing up,” Paul DeBenedittis, senior vice president of programming strategy for Disney Channels Worldwide, said. “We hear this across our social-media platforms. For many who loved this timeless programming over the past decade, it’s like comfort food.”

SOLID ANCHORS

The “Disney Replay” block of shows, which airs from midnight to 6 a.m. on Thursday mornings, launched in 2014. Since June, it has been anchored by That’s So Raven! and Lizzie McGuire, which are generating sizable audiences.

Since June, That’s So Raven! (which airs two episodes from midnight to 1 a.m.) is averaging 1.3 million viewers and Lizzie McGuire (1 to 2 a.m.) is averaging 1.1 million viewers on a live-plus-seven-day basis. That compares favorably to Disney’s October total-day average of 1.1 million viewers.

Other shows, such as Duck Tales and Kim Possible, are drawing both parents and their kids to the network’s Watch Disney Channel and DisneyChannel.com digital services. DeBenedittis said the Disney Replay offerings on digital provide the network’s targeted tween viewers with alternative programming to view, while drawing in adults who may not ordinarily access the network’s digital offerings.

“Across our digital platforms, Disney Replay allows us to expand our reach beyond the core audience of kids and families who see Disney Channel as a daily destination,” he said. “Disney Replay ignites a fan base that continues to have a special love and affinity for these classic shows across social commentary and video consumption.”

Nickelodeon last month launched “The Splat,” a multiplatform programming block on its TeenNick service.

The Splat, which runs from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m., offers classic Nickelodeon shows including Kenan & Kel and Hey Arnold!, while offering a fan-driven web site built to drive discussion among parents and fans of the classic programming fare.

While the network would not reveal specific ratings for the block, executives have said that the block was created in response to viewer requests to see the classic Nick series available on multiple platforms.

Both networks are on course to continue vintage programming efforts for the foreseeable future.

ON-DEMAND FORMULA

DeBenedittis said Disney will continue to build on its Disney Replay strategy. The network is looking to expand the classic offerings across linear and on-demand platforms with more series and show episodes, and wants to create stunt packages that will include some new and fresh editorial elements.

For example, Disney will offer several episodes of Miley Cyrus-starrer Hannah Montana — which ran on Disney Channel from 2006 to 2010 — during the Thanksgiving week on the Watch Disney Channel site to engage both parents and kids during the holiday break.

“We saw Hannah Montana become a favorite again across all platforms this summer,” DiBenedittis said. “It’s the timeless themes of wish fulfillment; following your dreams with relatable fantasy elements; music; and great storytelling, topped with a key character played so well by Miley, that drives engagement.”

After weeks of teasing its launch, Nickelodeon Thursday said it will debut its ‘Splat’ multiplatform programming block Oct. 5 on TeenNick.

The block will run from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. on TeenNick and will feature classic Nickelodeon shows from the 1990s including Rugrats, Kenan & Kel and Hey Arnold!, said network officials. The block will look to recreate specific days of programming as they aired in the ‘90s and will feature original promos and interstitials.

In addition, the Splat will feature a fan-driven web site built around social conversations, an Splat-branded keyboard featuring emoticons, stickers and GIFs and a social media presence of Facebook, Instagram, Pinterest, Tumblr, twitter, Vine and YourTube, said the network.

“We have been listening closely to our first generation of Nick kids that are craving the great characters and shows they grew up with watching Nickelodeon in the ‘90s,” said Cyma Zarghami, President of Viacom Kids and Family Group. “We designed ‘The Splat’ with fans and their requests in mind, which means we’re bringing together these beloved series and a high level of digital engagement to give fans a retro media experience they can’t get anywhere else.”

90's Nickelodeon stars Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell reunite on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon

Nickelodeon will simulcast Saturday’s Kids’ Choice Awards across several cable networks as well as online, the network said Thursday.

The 28th Annual Kids’ Choice Awards will air simultaneously on Nickelodeon, TeenNick, Nicktoons and TV Land, and will be streamed live on Nick.com and the Nick App beginning at 8 p.m., said network officials. The simulcast will mark the first time the annual event will air live outside of the Nickelodeon kids network.

Immediately following the Kids Choice Awards, Nick will air an episode of its new animated series Harvey Beaks, created and executive produced by C.H. Greenblatt (Chowder), said network officials.  

Sunday’s 2014 Nickelodeon HALO Awards telecast drew 3 million viewers across three networks, Nick said Tuesday.

The pro-social awards show, which was simulcast on Nickelodeon, TeenNick and Nicktoons, averaged 2.4 million viewers on Nickelodeon. The kids-targeted network posted double-digit increases in several key kids demos compared to last year’s telecast, said network officials.

TeenNick also posted double-digit increases among kids 6 to 11 and triple-digit gains on Nicktoons within the 12 to 17 demo.

The Nick Cannon-produced show, which celebrates regular kids doing exceptional things within their communities, featured musical performances by Nick Jonas, Jessie J, Meghan Trainor, Echosmith, The Vamps and Fifth Harmony.

Nickelodeon and TeenNick’s annual Halo Awards will morph into a one-hour concert event to premiere across several Nick networks on Nov. 30.

The Nick Cannon-produced Halo Awards telecast, which recognizes real-life kids doing extraordinary things in their communities, will feature musical performances from Jessie J (pictured), Nick Jonas, Meghan Trainor, Echosmith and The Vamps, said network officials. Previous Halo Awards telecasts featured a traditional awards-based format.

Nickelodeon, TeenNick, Nicktoons and Nick Jr. will telecast the sixth annual Halo Awards telecast, while Nick.com, and the Nick App will live stream the event, said network officials.