CBS Makes 39-Year History With Major Pop Culture Score In 2026
Cher Thompson is a Senior Staff Writer at Screen Rant, where she covers everything from explosive reality TV moments to cast interviews about the twists and turns of scripted dramas. With a background in creative writing, marketing, and teaching, Cher knows how to spot both the storytelling genius and the guilty pleasures in pop culture. Her work blends wit with insight, making readers feel like they’re chatting with a friend who just happens to know way too much about TV.
As the fall TV schedule of 2026-27 plays out, there have been major plays for all the big networks, including CBS, to take big swings and make history whenever possible, including with special events. For CBS, which is a subsidiary of Paramount and has reach into all of the other Paramount networks, this has meant bringing major milestones from other networks to the network TV level. Earlier this year, CBS hosted the MTV Video Music Awards, simulcasting the broadcast on CBS, MTV, and Paramount+ in order to give more viewers acces. Now, the network is doing something similar, and making history at the same time.
Embracing pieces of their identity that aren't necessarily the norm has been interesting for CBS, and seeing the network choose to embrace the upcoming events this year is a fun, fresh move that will change the scope of their viewership. Engaging in pop culture, especially for a network that has a reputation for courting older viewers, is always exciting and refreshing – CBS' decision to move forward with airing an event that may not be their typical fare is a bold, new strategy that will allow viewers to dive into something different than they'd usually see on the network.
Marking a new chapter for a beloved awards institution, CBS is making a bold move with its programming this week. Nearly four decades after the event began airing on its primary network, CBS will be airing the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards for the first time on Saturday, November 14.
CBS Is Broadcasting The Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards For The First Time Ever
The Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards will be airing on CBS this Saturday, November 14 from 8 to 9:30 p.m. ET. With a simulcast on Nickelodeon and Paramount+, the awards show is taking the same tactic that the MTV VMA's did earlier this year, which will allow even more eyes to find the big event. This will also mark the first time that the Kids' Choice Awards will appear on CBS, and with that broader audience able to tune in, could be a major draw for the legendary award show honoring what the kids love both on screen and off.
As one of the defining pieces of Nickelodon's culture as a channel, the Kids' Choice Awards jumping to CBS for their broadcast is a huge deal on both sides of the coin. First airing in a totally different incarnation in the late 1980s, the Kids' Choice Awards picked up steam throughout the 90s and 00s, with nearly 40 years of orange blimp trophies to mark the occasion. The ceremony, hosted by singer-songwriter Alex Warren, will honor entertainment legends and newcomers, and will especially recognize Chris Pratt with the King of Comedy Award. With a ton of programming, the Kids' Choice Awards picked the right time to find broader exposure.
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Why The Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards Is A Big Part Of The Pop Culture
While the show has always been geared towards what kids are interested in, the Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards have been a massive piece of pop culture for almost four decades because of their distinct identity. With Nickelodeon being a network that is specifically targeted toward kids, their decision to prioritize the opinions of their specific audiences with an award show that felt like it was uniquely for them was exciting in the late 80s. As the Kids' Choice Awards became more normalized and Nickelodeon continued its trend of wanting its programming to feel like it was made by kids, for kids, the awards continued to be part of the network's overall culture.
With its specific kid-centric tone, the ever-present use of slime, and some legendary stars, the Kids' Choice Awards are distinct. The show itself being broadcast on a major network like CBS rather than only being broadcast on a cable network like Nickelodeon gives it far more exposure to audiences that may not have thought to tune-in before. Whether it's parents who remember enjoying the Kids' Choice Awards as kids in their own day or children who don't have access to the network, Nickelodeon partnering with CBS for this year's awards could be a major step forward for both networks.
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