Nickelodeon is owned by Paramount Global, which operates the channel through its networks division's Kids and Family Group. The entertainment brand was founded by Vivian Horner and launched on April 1, 1979, as the first cable channel for children. Paramount Global, formerly known as ViacomCBS, is the parent company of Nickelodeon and several other media brands. Disney does not own Nickelodeon.

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No. Nickelodeon is currently owned by ViacomCBS Domestic Media Networks.

Answered from TheaCecelia

No, Nickelodeon is owned by the company Viacom.

Answered from BL3

Does Disney Own Nickelodeon?

As a big fan of Nickelodeon shows throughout my childhood into today, I've always been curious about the business side of the network. In particular, I wondered – who actually owns and operates the Nickelodeon brand? Is it part of a larger media company or does an individual control it? With some research into Nickelodeon's history, I got answers on its ownership structure over time and the media corporations in charge today.

What is Nickelodeon Best Known For?

For anyone unfamiliar, here's a quick overview of Nickelodeon and its place in pop culture:

• Launched in 1979 as the first cable channel just for kids
• Home to popular shows like Spongebob Squarepants, iCarly, Rugrats, Hey Arnold! and many more
• Iconic green slime and game shows like Double Dare and Legends of the Hidden Temple
• Youth-oriented cartoons, live action comedies, and movies
• Expanded into multiple spinoff channels like Nick Jr., TeenNick, and Nick at Nite

With its unique programming, Nickelodeon has become one of the most influential kids/family entertainment brands worldwide over the last 40+ years.

Who Founded Nickelodeon?

The history of Nickelodeon can be traced back to an entrepreneur named Geraldine Laybourne. In the late 1970s, while working at a cable operator, Laybourne recognized the lack of TV content specifically for children.

She developed the vision for a cable channel just for kids. Laybourne then joined with cable TV executives Cy Schneider and Nickelodeon Studios to launch the new network in 1979.

They co-founded the Nickelodeon brand under the company name Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment. Laybourne led Nickelodeon's creative direction and programming in the early years.

Who Owned Nickelodeon in the 1980s?

The initial owner of Nickelodeon was Warner-Amex Satellite Entertainment, a joint venture between Warner Communications and American Express.

Warner-Amex gave Nickelodeon financial resources and cable distribution while allowing creative freedom.

After quickly growing to millions of subscribers, Warner-Amex decided to spin-off Nickelodeon and its sister channel MTV into a new company called MTV Networks in 1985.

So during the 1980s, the majority owner of Nickelodeon as part of MTV Networks was Viacom International. Media giant Viacom had acquired MTV Networks for $685 million early in that decade.

When Did Nickelodeon Become Part of Viacom?

Viacom has been the parent company of MTV Networks and Nickelodeon for over 35 years now.

Viacom retained full ownership throughout the 1990s during Nickelodeon's rapid growth and expansion into new channels for different ages and demographics.

In 2005, Viacom split into two separate public companies – CBS Corporation and a new version of Viacom holding networks like Nickelodeon, MTV, Comedy Central and more.

Then in 2019, CBS and the second iteration Viacom merged back together into today's ViacomCBS corporation.

So in summary, Viacom has owned Nickelodeon since 1985, with brief gaps during corporate restructuring. But the network has predominantly been under Viacom leadership for its entire modern history.

Why Has Viacom Kept Ownership of Nickelodeon So Long?

There are good reasons why Viacom has held onto Nickelodeon through the decades:

• Strong Performer – Nickelodeon reliably contributes billions in annual revenue and profits to parent company earnings.
• Valuable Brand – Nickelodeon is a top kids entertainment brand worldwide worth billions. Viacom wants to control this asset.
• Synergies – Shared resources across Viacom networks allow cost efficiencies.
• Prestige – Being the home of Nickelodeon gives Viacom great prestige as a children's content owner.
• Leader – Nickelodeon maintains a leading position in kids cable networks with over 60% market share.

Divesting Nickelodeon would significantly weaken Viacom financially and strategically, so holding ownership makes sense. As they say – “If it ain't broke, don't fix it.”

What Percentage of Viacom Does Nickelodeon Make Up?

As a wholly owned subsidiary, Nickelodeon accounts for a sizable chunk of ViacomCBS’s total annual revenue:

• ViacomCBS annual revenue: $25.3 billion
• Nickelodeon annual revenue: $5.5 billion
• Therefore, Nickelodeon makes up approximately 22% of total ViacomCBS revenue

This breakdown illustrates why Viacom considers Nickelodeon one of its most prized assets under the corporate umbrella. The network contributes billions in profits annually to the parent company.

Has Nickelodeon Ever Been Owned by Disney?

No, Nickelodeon has never been owned by Disney. Since its creation in 1979, Nickelodeon has only had two owners:

• Warner-Amex (1979 – 1985)
• Viacom (1985 – present)

Disney operates rival kids networks including Disney Channel and DisneyXD. But they have never owned Nickelodeon.

There were rumors in the early 2000s that Disney might acquire Nickelodeon from Viacom. However, Viacom made the strategic decision to hold onto the valuable Nickelodeon brand and not sell.

Could Netflix, Apple, Amazon, or Other Tech Companies Buy Nickelodeon?

While theoretically possible, it is highly unlikely any streaming/tech giant would take over Nickelodeon from ViacomCBS in the near future.

Viacom continues doubling down on Nickelodeon as part of its streaming and cable TV strategy. They have no intention of selling. Nickelodeon also gives Viacom valuable IP and franchises to license for video games, theme parks, toys, and more.

Additionally, at a market valuation of $30+ billion, Nickelodeon would be a very expensive acquisition target for Netflix, Apple etc. ViacomCBS has the scale and resources to deliver Nickelodeon content across platforms by itself.

Unless ViacomCBS decides that divesting Nickelodeon makes strategic sense, which is improbable given its strong performance, expect the network to remain under current ownership for the foreseeable future.

What Other Kids Networks and IP Does Viacom Own?

In addition to Nickelodeon, ViacomCBS owns several other youth-oriented entertainment brands:

• Nick Jr.
• TeenNick
• Nick at Nite
• Nicktoons
• Noggin
• MTV Networks channels like NickMusic

ViacomCBS also owns the IP for Nickelodeon franchises like Spongebob, Dora The Explorer, Paw Patrol, and many more.

Owning this wider portfolio of kids/family brands allows ViacomCBS to cover diverse demographics and capitalize on major franchises globally. Nickelodeon acts as the anchor.

What Percentage of the Kids Cable Market Does Nickelodeon Have?

Nickelodeon maintains a dominant position in kids cable programming, with estimated market share of:

• 61% of kids 2-11 viewership
• 56% of kids 6-11 viewership

Disney Channel is a distant second at 36% and 24% respectively in those age groups. No other competitor comes close to Nickelodeon's kid cable market stranglehold.

Viacom continues investing heavily in new shows and content to keep Nickelodeon the leader in this space. Being the clear market leader gives Nickelodeon unrivaled advantages in advertising rates, affiliate fees from cable operators, and expanding into new platforms.

Conclusion

In summary, Nickelodeon has been primarily owned by media conglomerate Viacom since the mid-1980s, with a minority stake held by Warner-Amex in the earliest years. Under Viacom's stable ownership, Nickelodeon has grown into one of the most powerful kids/family entertainment brands worldwide.

While Disney, Netflix, and tech companies have the resources to acquire Nickelodeon if Viacom was willing to sell, the network generates billions in profits so will likely remain a Viacom cornerstone asset for the foreseeable future.