Nickelodeon brings back the '90s in new programming block "The Splat"

By Staff Writer | Sep 16, 2015 | 06:00 AM EDT

Classic Nickelodeon cartoons such as "Rugrats," "Hey Arnold" and "Rocko's Modern Life" and other nostalgic 90's shows are coming to the television again this October.

According to Screen Crush, a spokesperson from Nickelodeon Australia clarified what "The Splat" means: "The Splat is a new day part (10pm - 6am) that is launching next month in the U.S." Although Nickelodeon has not released the scheduled list of shows that will be coming back, it is hinted that "The Splat!" would be dedicated entirely for 90's shows only.

"We are looking at our library to bring back ideas, shows that were loved, in a fresh new way," Russel Hicks, Nickelodeon's president f content and development, told Variety last month. "We are getting ready to bring back some of the ones they've told us multiple times they want to have brought back."

Since then, the internet has been alight and speculating about what Hicks and Nickeledon could be digging up from the old Nicktoons archive.

"They all follow the same pattern. They will monitor social media closely and they'll turn people on to the process." said Ken Harris of Cadent Consulting Group, via a CNBC interview. "The whole goal is not to spring something on people, but rather to have them anticipate it."

Social media accounts for "The Splat" has been popping left and right and teasing social media users with bits of information and a hashtag #TheSplatIsComing. A teaser montage of classic Nickelodeon cartoons including scenes from "Rugrats," "CatDog," "Rocket Power," "Hey and Arnold!" to name a few, has also been release. The programming block also has a bare-bones website and several social media accounts to tease and promote their hashtag.

Additionally, the CNBC report stated that this isn't the first time that Nickeledeon had a throwback of their past shows. The Viacom-owned network created the TV LAnd channel in 1996 which screened 1960s to 2000s television series including "Roseanne," "Walkter, Texas Ranger," and "Golden Girls."

"Any nostalgic brand can hit a chord with a consumer base that is interested because they remember it fondly," said Harris. "The Splat" will allegedly be aimed at Millenials and the new generation. Variety reports that the move comes from television programming losing out to internet streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon.

During the '90s Fest in Brooklyn, New York in Sept. 12, "The Splat" also made waves as its logo was on display. According to MTV, '90s singers and performers including Smash Mouth, Pauly Shore, Lisa Loeb, Salt N Pepa, and Coolio were there to give performances.

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