Viacom's Nickelodeon has struck a deal to sell its programming to Hulu Plus, the subscription arm of the online video platform Hulu.
Starting today, recent episodes of Nickelodeon shows such as "iCarly" and "SpongeBob SquarePants" and its much-anticipated new version of "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles" will be available to Hulu Plus subscribers. The episodes will be available three weeks after airing on Nickelodeon.
The move has some analysts shaking their heads, who point to Nickelodeon's willingness to sell its programming to Netflix as playing a part in the cable network's ratings decline during the past year.
Viacom executives have denied that there is a connection between the popularity of Nickelodeon's programming on Netflix and a decline in ratings at the cable channel.
Nickelodeon is the latest Viacom channel to cut a deal with Hulu. Comedy Central, MTV, Spike and BET already have content available on Hulu and Hulu Plus.
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Follow Joe Flint on Twitter @JBFlint.
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