MUMBAI: Viacom kids' channel Nickelodeon rolls out new live-action and animated series designed for 2005-06 season in the US. The kid's channel is slated to introduce 248 episodes of 18 returning hit Nick and Nick Jr. series. The season will also showcase a programme created by Whoopi Goldberg.

Totaling 124 hours of original programming, the line-up includes 20 new episodes of SpongeBob SquarePants, 24 new episodes of preschool series Dora the Explorer as well as new seasons of Nickelodeon's live action Zoey 101, Ned's Declassified School Survival Guide, Unfabulous, Drake & Josh and Romeo.

The new programmes, which Nickelodeon is adding to its programming schedule will introduce Catscratch, in the month of September.

Power Strikers, a live-action comedy executive produced by Whoopi Goldberg about a girl's soccer team and The X's to telecast from November is about a family spies living in the suburbs, informs an official communiqué.

Meanwhile, Nick Jr. roster with three new play-to-learn series; Go, Diego, Go! to air in October an animated spin-off of the Dora the Explorer. The Wonder Pets, Wubby Widegt and Walden will beam from 2006.

Launched in May 2002, Nicktoons targets kids and tweens and beams as a commercial-free television network.

Meanwhile, come August, Nicktoons, which features animated favorites from the past, will become ad-supported in August.

Nicktoons will also add three new series to its line-up in 2006; Skyland, Shuriken School and Kappa Mikey.

Earlier this year an announcement was made from the channel that it would cease advertising junk food products on kids' television, one media buyer doesn't think Nickelodeon will suffer much.