Corus Entertainment is to represent Nickelodeon digital assets in Canada.

The move follows the Canadian broadcaster’s recent re-upping of its output deal for Nickelodeon series with MTV Networks International, with the new supply agreement to include broadband, mobile and video-on-demand content.

As part of a new multi-platform side deal, the parent of YTV and Treehouse will secure Canadian rights to all media for Nickelodeon series including SpongeBob SquarePants and Dora the Explorer. These will also include the digital rights for pay-per-view, electronic sell-through and gaming.

The output deal renewal is significant as Nickelodeon’s parent Viacom has long pursued a strategy to launch a Nickelodeon Canada specialty channel, but has so far been thwarted by regulatory protections.

Now Corus will close a gap as it expands from domestic broadcast rights to Nickelodeon series in Canada to emerging digital platforms.

For example, Corus will now be able to sell advertising on Nickelodeon websites like nick.com that will migrate to Canada.

Paul Robertson, president of television at Corus, says the output deal renewal and expansion into digital rights take his company’s ties with Nickelodeon to a new level.

‘By enriching the interactive experience with Nickelodeon content, we’re dialing up audience’s involvement, which, in turn, builds viewer loyalty. Viacom has made an extraordinary commitment to digital content which Corus can leverage successfully with our strong television brands and advertiser relationships,’ he explains.

Corus’ YTV channel first tied up with Nickelodeon in 1992 when it acquired the TV rights to Rugrats.