Nickelodeon is an American television network that broadcasts children's programs. It began on December 1, 1977 using the name Pinwheel. The name was changed to Nickelodeon on April 1, 1979.
The first program broadcast on Nickelodeon was Pinwheel. It was a preschool series created by Dr. Vivian Horner. Horner also created the idea for the channel itself.[1] When it began, Nickelodeon was commercial-free. It mainly showed educational programs. By 1984, the channel began using co by commercials . They also started airing programs that were more for entertainment than education.[2] In January 1988, the network began a block for preschoolers. It was called Nick Jr.. The block aired Pinwheel and other educational series. Around the same time, Nickelodeon began making its own animated programs. These were first aired in 1991 under the "Nicktoons" branding.
Nickelodeon was the brainchild of Dr. Vivian Horner of WACCI, who created 'Pinwheel' for pre-schoolers while at the MSO's Qube system in Columbus, Ohio.