The Internet is about to get slimed.
Nickelodeon will soon be offered online without the need for a cable subscription, Viacom CEO Philippe Dauman announced during a call with analysts on Thursday.
The move makes Nickelodeon among the first pure cable channels to move into the "over-the-top" (OTT) space, in which content is streamed online for a subscription fee. Premium channels like HBO and Showtime are already working on a similar offering, and CBS also offers a streaming service. Companies like ESPN, TNT and TBS are available through Dish Network's Sling service, but not as standalone options.
Nickelodeon is owned by Viacom, a media conglomerate that operates a variety of TV channels, including MTV, Comedy Central, BET and VH1, among others.
The new OTT offering will be introduced in March, Dauman said, adding that the name of the service will also be announced then. He said more information will be released when Nickeloden make presentations (known as upfronts) to advertisers in March.