Ad taken out by Viacom regarding Time Warner dispute

This appears to be a classic struggle between the provider, who wants more money, and the cable company, who wants to retain more money. The provider side says it will only cost subscribers pennies a month ($0.23 per subscriber per month), the cable company says that they are looking out for the best interests of their subscribers by holding costs down (it’s a 22 to 36% increase).

Typically it’s the innocent bystanders, the people who just want to watch TV, that lose out in these deals. Really though, I can’t see how a cable provider cannot have the Viacom suite in their offering because the channels are such strong brands and really represent what cable TV is from a programming standpoint.

There has been a crawl on Noggin today urging customers to contact Time Warner. The number they are providing is: 1-800-762-3786. Bright House Network customers are also effected and Bright House can be contacted at 1-866-309-3279.

UPDATE 12:28 ET: In fairness, here is the number for Viacom 212-258-6000. Also, Time Warner’s CEO has released a statement.

Time Warner Cable Loses Viacom: MTV, Nickelodeon, Comedy Central To Go Dark

• Noggin’s Warm and Fuzzy marathons
• Sprout’s Christmas Eve Snooz-a-thon
• Sprout: Preschool Musical on a Stick
• PBS Kids: New Episodes
• Nick Jr. Frosty Friday’s
• Playhouse Disney Snow Day Saturday

If you’re interested in getting reminders for new episodes and specials, follow TV for Tots on Twitter @TVforTots

Toot and Puddle Christmas Special - cr Nick Jr.

Noggin’s holiday slate consists of Warm and Fuzzy Marathons. They are airing a number of Christmas specials on Sundays through Christmas, and airing specially themed episodes for New Year’s as well. Toot and Puddle and Pinky Dinky Doo are the centerpiece shows. The complete slate of specials and premieres is below.

SUNDAY 12/14

10:00AM – Dora the Explorer “Dora Saves the Snow Princess” (1 hour)

12:00PM – Miss Spider’s Sunny Patch Friends “Bug Talk/Befuddled Butterfly” (PREMIERE)

Dragon finds out that learning a new language is like a secret password into another world.

When Shimmer’s friend, Cookie, loses her butterfly instincts, Miss Spider and her bug clan must help her regain them before winter arrives in Sunny Patch.

4:30PM – Yo Gabba Gabba! “Christmas”

5:00PM – Toot & Puddle “Door Drawers and Floors/Abominable Toot” (PREMIERE)

Toot & Puddle’s house is becoming overrun with all of Toot’s travel souvenirs so they end up donating many of their treasures to the local museum for all to enjoy.

Climbing the mountains in Tibet with Puddle, Toot is so anxious to move ahead that he forgets to take the time to stop and enjoy where they are.

7:00PM – Toot & Puddle “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (1 hour special)

SUNDAY 12/21

10:00AM – Toot & Puddle: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (1 hour special)

4:30PM – Ni Hao, Kai-lan “Snowiest Ride”

5:30PM – Wow! Wow! Wubbzy! “A Great and Grumpy Holiday/The Super-Special Gift”

7:00PM – The Wonder Pets! “Save the Nutcracker” (30 min. special)

WEDNESDAY 12/24 (Christmas Eve)

8:00AM – Franklin’s Magic Christmas (90 Min. Special)

6:00PM – Dora the Explorer “Dora Saves the Snow Princess” (1 hour)

9:00PM – Toot & Puddle: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (1 hour special)

THURSDAY 12/25 (Christmas Day)

7:00AM – Toot & Puddle: “I’ll Be Home for Christmas” (1 hour special)

10:00AM & 10:00PM– Franklin’s Magic Christmas (90 Min. Special)

SUNDAY 12/28 RING IN THE NEW YEAR WITH NOGGIN!

3:00PM – Pinky Dinky Doo! “Great Big New Year/Pinky Dinky Doo Year” (PREMIERE)

Tyler is curious why Jackson’s family doesn’t put up baby decorations for the New Year like the Dinky Doos because thought that was a TRADITION for every family. Pinky tells a story about when the Toilette family and the alien family come to visit Monkey Island for the New Year holiday. Big Sister Monkey can’t wait for her family’s New Year TRADITION: Baby Monkey dresses like a New Year’s Baby and hands out banana smoothies. But Daffinee can’t wait for her family TRADITION: to play “Happy New Year Clock Toss.” Bleepy Bloopy can’t wait for the his family TRADITION: an alien lightshow. They all want to do their TRADITION tonight and can’t decide which one they should do. Big Sister Monkey THINKS BIG and, when she sees everyone sharing the different food they brought, realizes they can share their New Year’s TRADITIONs too! So they do all three and it’s so much fun that it becomes a new New Year’s holiday TRADITION. Tyler asks why they hang baby stuff on New Year’s Eve and Pinky explains that Daddy was born on New Year’s Eve so it became a family TRADITION.

It is almost time for the New Year which means it’s time for a new calendar and a new storypad. But Tyler doesn’t want a new storypad or a new year because he isn’t MOTIVATED to try new things. So Pinky tells a story where she takes Tyler and Mr Guinea Pig on a walk through Made-Up Storyland on the last day of the Great Big Year. As they walk through the Garden of Last Year’s Stories they run into some of their old friends and remember the good times they had. They see Burpzilla, P. Piddy Pony, and Vicki Chicken, all of whom they invite along on their walk. But as they continue on their journey they come to the end of the path – a wall blocks the way to more characters and more new stories. It is time for Pinky to THINK BIG. Pinky takes up a piece of chalk and draws an entryway in the wall. On the other side there is more sidewalk and many more adventures to be had for Pinky and her friends. Tyler realizes that you can make up new stories while also keeping old favorites. He is now MOTIVATED to hear lots of new stories in the New Year. Pinky, Tyler, and their friends celebrate with a Happy Doo Year celebration.

Encores:

Wed. 12/31: New Years Eve @ Midnight!

Thurs. 1/1/09: New Years Day @ 3:00PM

5:00PM – Toot & Puddle “Year of the Pig/Robinson Toot” (PREMIERE)

It’s New Years in Woodcock Pocket and the gang is celebrating. All are happy and excited except for Dr. Ha Song, who is now a bit homesick missing his family in China. Toot sees this, so he devises a plan for everyone to surprise Dr. Ha Song with his very own Chinese New Years Party. Kung Hei Fat Choy! Toot and Puddle craft a dancing dragon costume, while Otto puts together some paper lanterns. With the help of a few additional townspeople, the team is able to surprise Dr. Ha Song, and have another great party!

Tired of Woodcock Pocket’s snowy weather, Toot travels off to the islands of Palau where he meets a crab. Together they have a carefree life of volleyball, snorkeling, and snoozing in a grass hut, on a secluded little island, until Toot has to return to Woodcock Pocket.

Noggin has ordered but 26 episodes of the series which aims to expand preschoolers’ awareness of the variety of people and places around the world and encourage exploration and adventure.

The show will be rolled out with 2 prime time episodes on Sunday night at 7:00 p.m. (Party Pride/The Race)and 7:30 p.m. (Free Falling Friends/Curried Flavors). It’s regular time slot will be 5:00 p.m. ET and Monday through Friday until November 28th new episodes will debut.

It is currently airing on Nick Jr. UK and the shows website describes the show thusly:

Peppa is a loveable, cheeky little piggy who lives with her little brother George, Mummy Pig and Daddy Pig. Peppa’s favourite things include playing games, dressing up, days out and jumping in muddy puddles. Her adventures always end happily with loud snorts of laughter.

‘Peppa’ hits Nickelodeon’s Noggin – Entertainment News, TV News, Media – Variety

First they greenlighted a second season of Pinky Dinky Doo. The new season will contain 26 episodes.

Also, they will premiere a full 26 episode season of Toot & Puddle starting in Fall 2008. The series is based on books by children’s author Holly Hobbie.

To kickoff the move Noggin has some new programming planned for New Year’s Eve including a 90 minute Franklin movie.

• 6:00 – 7:30 p.m. (ET) “Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure” (*TV Premiere)
• 7:30 – 8:30 p.m. (ET) “Dora Saves the Mermaids”
• 8:30 – 9:00 p.m. (ET) “Save the Wonder Pets!”
• 9:00 – 10:30 p.m. (ET) “Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure”
• 10:30 – 11:00 P.M. (ET) “Great Jaguar Rescue”

In “Franklin and the Turtle Lake Treasure,” Franklin is on a holiday break from school when he receives a surprise visit from his Aunt Lucy, an explorer whose specialty is finding archaeological treasures. This family reunion gives Franklin’s Granny the chance to relive her own childhood. When she mentions a box filled with treasures that she buried at Turtle Lake as a child, Franklin is intrigued. When Granny falls ill and Aunt Lucy remembers a talisman that was hidden in the famous box, a treasure hunt becomes extremely important. Franklin decides immediately to hunt for this remedy which could save his grandmother. His friends Beaver and Bear accompany him, with Aunt Lucy and her goddaughter Samantha, a headstrong little turtle with whom Franklin has a hard time contending with. It’s a difficult journey, but Franklin is ready to do anything to help Granny and it also gives him the chance to make new friends.

New Blocks for PBS KIDS Sprout | Animation Magazine

As a parent who has Noggin on while I’m getting dinner ready, I like this move. Sometimes it would switch over at 6pm and I’d look up to see stuff that really a preschooler doesn’t need to be seeing.

It will mean competition for Sprout’s The Goodnight Show as there will be another preschool alternative in the evenings.

A Coming of Age at Nickelodeon: Noggin and the N Will Get Their Own Channels – New York Times