Nickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids
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| Nickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids
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Nickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids (commonly referred to as Nickelodeon GAS, Nick GAS or GAS), is a U.S. cable television network which was launched on March 1, 1999 as part of MTV Networks' suite of digital cable channels. Olympic swimmer and Figure It Out host Summer Sanders was named the Commissioner of Nick GAS. Dave Aizer, Mati Moralejo and Vivianne Collins were the network's original on-air hosts.
Nick GAS' programming primarily consists of children's game shows and sports-related programs from Nickelodeon, its parent network. These include Finders Keepers, Nickelodeon GUTS, Double Dare 2000 and Figure It Out. Recently, Nick GAS began producing its own original programming, including Gamefarm and Splash TV. Programs are usually grouped together in blocks such as "Family Fuel" (which was removed in 2002), "Extreme GAS" (removed in 2002) and "Pumping GAS" (removed on November 1, 2005).
In lieu of commercials, Nick GAS airs interstitial segments, some of which were produced at Nickelodeon Studios in Orlando, Florida. However, in-show advertising (like consolation and grand prizes of Legends of the Hidden Temple) has been left intact, as it was part of the show itself. Since some of the programming is over a decade old, this effectively makes for a look back in time.
The studio segments often include competitions between families, or interviews with athletes and other celebrities. Other interstitials include "Heroes of the Game," "GAS Grill," "Trade Tricks," "Time Out," "Skill Drill," and "MLS Play of the Week." Some look at Nick GAS as a children's version of Game Show Network.
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[edit] History
Nick GAS was created by Nickelodeon in May of 1999 as a channel where game shows produced by Nickelodeon could air more frequently. This was when game shows that were playing re-runs up until March 1999 such as Figure it Out, What Would You Do?, Nick Arcade, Family Double Dare, You're On!, GUTS, Legends of the Hidden Temple and Wild and Crazy Kids were drafted to this channel. This also marked the return for game shows that weren't played for years such as Think Fast!, Finders Keepers, Double Dare, Super Sloppy Double Dare, Get the Picture and Super Special Double Dare.
On January 2, 2000 Make the Grade (which was last played on regular Nickelodeon on December 29, 1991) started airing on Nick GAS.
In December of 2002 game shows such as What Would You Do? and Super Special Double Dare were removed and Double Dare 2000 was taken off Nickelodeon and put on Nick GAS. This was also when programming blocks such as Family Fuel and Extreme GAS were removed.
In Spring of 2003 Nick GAS began to broadcast original series. This was when they began showing Gamefarm, Play2Z, Robot Wars and Splash TV.
On April 19, 2004 Think Fast!, Make the Grade, Gamefarm, Splash TV, and Play2Z were removed from Nick GAS. On November 1, 2005 Pumping GAS was removed, along with Super Sloppy Double Dare, Global GUTS, Rocket Power, Speed Racer, Scaredy Camp, SK8-TV, and Family Double Dare, to be replaced with additional repeats of shows such as Legends of the Hidden Temple, Get the Picture, GUTS, Figure it Out and Double Dare 2000. Over the past few years, Nick GAS has gradually removed more and more shows, leaving just seven that are regularly broadcasted. Also, much of the studio segments during the commercial breaks have been removed.
As of November 2006 the Nick GAS webpage on Nick.com says it is "under construction", possibly indicting a change in format of the website, television channel or both.
[edit] List of programs broadcast by Nickelodeon GAS
Nickelodeon GAS plays or has played every Nickelodeon game show to first air by around 2002 or earlier. Nickelodeon GAS has also shown some Nickelodeon non-game show programming like Speed Racer, Scaredy Camp, Rocket Power and Gamefarm.
[edit] Programs currently broadcast on the network
- Double Dare 2000
- Figure It Out
- Figure It Out: Family Style
- Figure It Out: Wild Style
- Get the Picture
- Nickelodeon GUTS
- Legends of the Hidden Temple
- Nick Arcade
[edit] Programs not currently broadcast on the network
- Double Dare
- Family Double Dare
- Finders Keepers
- Gamefarm
- Global GUTS
- Make the Grade
- Play 2Z
- Pumping Gas
- Robot Wars
- Rocket Power
- Salute Your Shorts
- Scaredy Camp
- SK8-TV
- Speed Racer
- Splash TV
- Super Sloppy Double Dare
- Think Fast!
- What Would You Do?
- Wild and Crazy Kids
- You're On!
