MUMBAI: Nicktoons, the animated kids channel from the Nickelodeon stable, will beam ads from August.

Nickelodeon Television president Cyma Zarghami says, "Nicktoons' emerging popularity enables us to use another screen as an avenue to reach kids in a more targeted way. Now that it is in almost 34 million homes, Nicktoons is well on its way to becoming a top viewing destination for animation lovers and a sought-after brand with an identity all its own."

Featuring current and classic programming that is 75 per cent exclusive to the channel, Nicktoons targets kids and tweens. Launched in May 2002, Nicktoons has been a commercial-free television network and website since its inception.

Nickelodeon Digital Television executive VP and GM Tom Ascheim said, "It is exciting for us to be bringing another one of Nickelodeon's networks to the ad sales market. Under the leadership of general manager Keith Dawkins, Nicktoons will continue to develop its own unique flavor and showcase original animated programming from around the world, building on the current line-up of classic Nicktoon hits."

As had ben reported earlier by indiantelevision.com next year Nicktoons will launch three new series. Skyland is a sci-fi action adventure series set in the year 2251 that follows a heroic young brother and sister team searching for their parents in a new world order. Kappa Mikey centers on an American actor named Mikey who inadvertently becomes a huge star in Japan after joining the cast of a struggling Japanese anime series. Shuriken School -- produced by Xilam Entertainment is a quirky comedy with a martial arts twist about a boy's adventures at Ninja school.