Noggin (TV channel)

Noggin is a cable television network for preschoolers between 6AM and 6PM EST (3AM and 3PM PST).

At 6PM, Noggin becomes The N, a teen-oriented network. Some of The N's shows are Degrassi: The Next Generation, Radio Free Roscoe, Daria, Just Deal, and My So-Called Life.

Noggin was originally created as a joint venture between Viacom's Nickelodeon and the Children's Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop), but CTW's interest was sold to Nickelodeon in 2002, though Sesame Workshop continues to develop content for the network, including Play With Me Sesame, an interactive show based on the original Sesame Street.

At one point, Noggin was targeted at tweens, but the format was changed due to low ratings. The network takes its name from the slang term for head (see noggin), reflecting its original purpose as an educational channel. Until the Fall of 2003, the network aired classic episodes of Sesame Street, as well as former CTW productions such as 3-2-1 Contact, Square One, and The Electric Company. They still show classic episodes of Sesame Street once per day.

Currently, in addition to classic episodes of Nickelodeon favorites like Blue's Clues and Dora the Explorer and "made for Noggin" shows like Oobi, Noggin shows many pre-school oriented shows originating from non-U.S. English-speaking countries that would otherwise not likely be seen on American TV. Some examples include Franklin from Canada; and Tweenies, Connie the Cow, Tiny Planets, and 64 Zoo Lane from the UK. The network has also become a launching point for the music videos of pop musician-cum-children's performers like Laurie Berkner and Dan Zanes, initially as filler between 23 minute long shows run commercial-free, and (because of their success in that format) now as music video shows like Move to the Music.