Nickelodeon launching 24-hour service

Children's entertainment channel Nickelodeon is to launch its full 24-hour service for the first time in Asia starting in the autumn.

Yesterday Nickelodeon's global network ventures general manager Bruce Tuchman confirmed Japan's direct-to-home satellite service DirecTV and the Philippine cable TV channel distributor Asian Cable Communication, will take Nickelodeon in the final quarter of 1998.

Nickelodeon has been selling programmes to Asian broadcasters since 1991 but the Viacom International-owned channel has never committed to an around the clock service in the region.

The new accord will see Nickelodeon reach 140,000 Japanese DirecTV subscribers and 500,000 homes in the Philippines.