Nickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids

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Nickelodeon Games and Sports for Kids

Launched	May 1, 1999
Owned by	MTV Networks (Viacom)
Sister channel(s)	Nickelodeon
Website	Official Site(under construction) Secondary Website: Nick.com's Sports Central
Availability
Satellite
DirecTV	None
Dish Network	Channel 177
Cable
Available on most cable systems	Check Local Listings for channels

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 May 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 were 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.

1 History
2 Programs broadcast by Nickelodeon GAS

[edit] History

Nickelodeon 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!, Nickelodeon 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 Nickelodeon 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 Double Dare Double Play, Extreme GAS, Family Fuel, Heads Up! and Wild Card were removed.

In Spring of 2003 Nickelodeon GAS began to broadcast original series. This was when they began showing Gamefarm, Play2Z, Robot Wars and Splash TV.

On April 5, 2004 Think Fast!, Make the Grade, Gamefarm, Splash TV, and Play2Z were removed from Nickelodeon 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, Nickelodeon GUTS, Figure It Out and Double Dare 2000.

On September 4, 2006 Finders Keepers was removed to replace with Figure It Out & Legends of the Hidden Temple on Nickelodeon Gas, only to be added back on in February 2007.

Over the past few years, Nickelodeon GAS has gradually removed more and more shows, leaving just six that are regularly broadcasted.

As of March 2007 the Nickelodeon GAS webpage on Nick.com says it is "under construction", possibly indicating a change in format of the website, television channel or both.

[edit] 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.