Key Points
- Nickelodeon is channel 170 on DISH Network. The West Coast feed is on channel 171.
- Nickelodeon programming appeals to kids from 2 to 17 during the day and nostalgic sitcom-loving adults during the night.
- Nickelodeon’s success in the 2000s can be credited to SpongeBob SquarePants, Drake & Josh, The Fairly OddParents, and The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius.
- Nickelodeon’s new live-action sitcoms include Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan, Danger Force, That Girl Lay Lay, The Really Loud House, and Erin & Aaron.
Nickelodeon is home to some of the most beloved animated and live-action children’s programs on television. In recent years, it has also become the home for highly stylized, kid-friendly NFL games. Whether you’re trying to turn to Nick for your kids or trying to catch the football game yourself, it helps to know what channel Nickelodeon is on DISH Network. We’ll help you find it — not to mention all of Nick’s sister stations.
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Pick your choice of ESPN+, Hulu, and Disney Plus. Plans start as low as $4.99/month for ESPN+ only.
Free trial available. Watch 75+ channels, including local channels and special premium channel offers.
Take a 7-day free trial and stream more than 70 channels live. Record your favorites with unlimited DVR.
Nickelodeon Channel Guide
| Channel Name | DISH Network Channel Number |
|---|---|
| Nickelodeon (East) | 170 |
| Nickelodeon (West) | 171 |
| Nick Jr. | 169 |
| Nicktoons | 178 |
| TeenNick | 181 |
| Nick Music | 368 |
History of Nickelodeon
©History-Computer.com
First launched in 1979, Nickelodeon has been home to some of the most unique children’s television programming for nearly 45 years. It’s owned by Paramount Global under its Nickelodeon Group heading. Nick appeals to fun-loving kids from 2 to 17 during the day and nostalgic sitcom-loving adults during the night.
The station was commercial-free for its first five years. But, as it grew in popularity, network higher-ups realized this model just wasn’t sustainable. Ad breaks would be the key to a long and healthy future for the station. It started implementing commercials in 1984. In turn, this allowed Nick the funding to grow to new heights. Case in point? Nick Jr. began in 1988, offering preschool programming in the early hours of the day.
Nick found continued success with the debut of several iconic shows in the 1990s. Doug, Rugrats, Ren & Stimpy, Rocko’s Modern Life… the list of cartoons goes on. Same for live-action comedies like The Adventures of Pete & Pete, Clarissa Explains It All, and Kenan & Kel. These shows were unlike anything found on rival stations like Disney Channel, giving Nickelodeon a great competitive edge.
Nickelodeon’s success continued into the 2000s with cartoons and sitcoms such as SpongeBob SquarePants, Drake & Josh, The Fairly OddParents, and The Adventures of Jimmy Neutron, Boy Genius. Nick’s shows proved to be more bizarre, more crude, and more outrageous than anything Disney had to offer. This allows them to remain a top player in the TV space today.
Nickelodeon Sister Stations
| MTV |
| MTV2 |
| MTV Classic |
| MTV Live |
| MTV Tres |
| MTVU |
| CMT |
| Comedy Central |
| Logo TV |
| Paramount Network |
| Pop |
| Smithsonian Channel |
| TV Land |
| Showtime |
| The Movie Channel |
| Flix |
| Nickelodeon |
| Nick Jr. |
| Nick at Nite |
| NickMusic |
| Nicktoons |
| TeenNick |
Nickelodeon Programming
SpongeBob SquarePants
is the longest-running show on Nickelodeon.©Paramount Media Networks – License
The aforementioned shows helped cement Nickelodeon in TV history. However, the network’s daily programming has changed quite drastically in the last several years or so. The removal of former longtime showrunner Dan Schneider was a major blow. So was the passing of SpongeBob creator Stephen Hillenburg. Plus, the continued rise of streaming services. Due to these factors and more, Nick has had to get very creative with its programs throughout the 2020s. Here’s what you’re likely to find airing on the station today.
Cartoons
For decades now, Nickelodeon has built a reputation around its Nicktoons. These Nickelodeon original cartoons are just as bountiful as ever. (Even if many haven’t had the chance to build up the sort of untouchable status the classics of the 1990s and 2000s enjoy.)
Popular Nickelodeon cartoons currently airing include The Loud House, Big Nate, Monster High, and Transformers: EarthSpark. We can’t forget SpongeBob SquarePants and its spinoffs The Patrick Star Show and Kamp Koral, either. A new revival of Rugrats currently airs on Nick, as well.
Sitcoms
Nickelodeon also has a ton of live-action sitcoms for its adolescent audiences. Interestingly, they’re all from 2020 or sooner. They include Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan, Henry Danger spinoff Danger Force, That Girl Lay Lay, The Loud House spinoff The Really Loud House, and Erin & Aaron.
Preschool
Alongside Nickelodeon’s other programming blocks and sister stations Nicktoons and TeenNick, we can’t forget to mention Nick Jr. It’s chock-full of shows geared toward preschoolers. This umbrella includes PAW Patrol, Peppa Pig, Bubble Guppies, Blue’s Clues & You!, and several other kiddie hits.
Late Night
Every night, Nickelodeon switches from children’s programming to retro sitcoms for older audiences. This programming block aims to give adults something to watch when the kids go to sleep. It currently includes Friends, Mom, and Mike & Molly.
