MUMBAI: It may still be struggling to find its feet in India but in the US Nickelodeon continues to set a trail blazing path when it comes to ratings.
Nick Jr.'s preschool show Dora The Explorer reached another milestone recently.
The episode of Dora's Pirate Adventure became the series' highest-rated special ever. The show, launched five years ago, has aired 10 specials till date. Dora's Pirate Adventure, aired on 17 January, averaged a 12.5/1.5 million kids 2-5, up 42 per cent over last year's like time period. With total viewers, the special averaged 3.4 million persons 2+, up +15% from last year.
For the uninitiated Dora the Explorer is a play-along, animated adventure series. Dora is a seven-year-old Latina heroine whose adventures take place in an imaginative, tropical world filled with jungles, beaches and rainforests. Dora explores her world just as preschoolers do everyday. The show is designed to actively engage its audience in an interactive quest using a variety of learning techniques.
In the ratings busting special Dora, Boots, Diego and the rest of their pals plan to put on a big musical pirate show for an audience of their family and friends. Just as the play is about to start, the Pirate Piggies sail in and take their treasure chest filled with costumes.
Dora and her friends then set off on an adventure to get their pirate costumes back so the show can go on. They sail across the Seven Seas and through the Singing Gate on their way to Treasure Island, all the while singing catchy tunes that kids will love.
In fact the storyline of the special will form the inspiration of a new production for the American theatre. Dora the Explorer Live! will be a co-production between Nickelodeon and Clear Channel Entertainment. Hitting the road later this month Dora the Explorer Live! is entering its third touring season. The show is scheduled to travel to more than 40 American cities, including a return engagement at New York City's legendary Radio City Music Hall, where it was the highest-grossing family show in the history of family attractions at the venue.
