Saturday Nick Television
| Company type | Television program |
|---|---|
| Industry | Children's television |
| Founded | 2003 |
| Defunct | 2005 |
| Headquarters | Melbourne , Australia |
| Parent | Nickelodeon Australia |
Saturday Nick TV (widely referred to as sn:tv) was a weekend morning program broadcast on Nickelodeon Australia, airing Saturdays from 10am until 2pm. Produced by Burberry Productions and recorded in Melbourne, the show debuted with promotional backing from Britney Spears.
Format
This series represented the Australian version of the UK’s SMTV Live, originally hosted by Ant & Dec and Cat Deeley. Each episode commenced at 10am, immediately following the "Double Up" Nicktoons block, which showcased premieres of hit Nickelodeon cartoons such as SpongeBob SquarePants, The Fairly OddParents, and Saved by the Bell. The program incorporated a variety of segments and comedic sketches, including the "Strip Search" interview feature led by Natalie Garonzi, where Australian celebrities faced quick-fire questions. Within each episode, four half-hour Nickelodeon series were broadcast. The finale segment, titled "Mates," was a pantomime-style parody of Friends that played over the credits in both seasons.
Series one
The initial series garnered impressive viewership, becoming the first Foxtel program to dethrone The Simpsons after more than seven years at number one. Well-loved segments such as "Wonkey Donkey" and "Mates" drew wide audiences. The format included a live studio audience at ABC Studios Melbourne and interactive games like "Strip Search" and "Challenge Dave," where host Natalie Garonzi facilitated contests between Dave Lawson and audience participants competing for Nickelodeon merchandise prizes. The premiere season featured appearances by celebrities including Britney Spears, along with US stars like Destiny's Child, Justin Timberlake, and Jennifer Love Hewitt.
Series two
Building on the success of the first series and following the exit of hosts Kambo and Nat, Nickelodeon refreshed the show with new segments and updated visuals, while maintaining filming in Melbourne and retaining the original logo. The only segment preserved was "Mates," owing to its popularity. Audience members were divided into two teams named after Nickelodeon programs (for example, The Catdogs, The Angry Beavers) competing in games often involving messy challenges. In one game, "Vomit Comet," team members answered yes/no questions; hesitation or specific responses triggered slime being dumped on a contestant. The victorious team earned Nickelodeon merchandise rewards. Compared to season one, season two concentrated more on children and featured fewer celebrity guests.
Hosts
- Natalie Garonzi (Season 1)
- Dave Lawson (Seasons 1 & 2)
- David "Kambo" Kambouris (Season 1)
- Jesse Tobin (Season 2)
- Emily Perry (Season 2)
Dave Lawson, introduced during the first season, remained a prominent host throughout both series. After sn:tv concluded, he briefly co-hosted 'Sarvo' alongside original hosts Kambo and Nat, then took charge of reality show Camp Orange, before returning to 'Sarvo' with James Kerley. Lawson also co-hosted the Nickelodeon Australian Kids' Choice Awards in 2006 alongside Kerley and Sophie Monk. He left Nickelodeon on 23 February 2007.
Cancellation
sn:tv was discontinued in 2005 after completing two seasons, primarily due to a drop in audience numbers.
To occupy the Saturday morning schedule, Nickelodeon launched Slam, a two-hour segment featuring action-oriented cartoons, along with Sarvo Rewind, a 30-minute weekly summary of Sarvo, which concluded by the end of 2006. Hosts Perry and Tobin ceased appearing on Nickelodeon after 2005, whereas Lawson remained until his departure was publicly announced in February 2007.