NEWS BRIEF: Animation channel Nicktoons is set to launch in Mexico next month, making iconic shows such as SpongeBob SquarePants and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles available 24/7.

Targeting 6-14s, the channel will be available on Cablevision, Megacable and Cablemas from February 4. It joins Nickelodeon and Nick Jr in Mexico, giving Nick a combined reach of 20 million households in the territory. Viacom has also secured branded blocks on free-to-air across Latin America.