History AdoredByTheNetwork / SpongeBobSquarePants

* A marathon was held on January 20, 2019 to entertain children stuck inside their houses due to a snowstorm that hit most of the East Coast. And ironically, The Ballad of Flirty Muck ended up being the first episode in SpongeBob history to premiere under 1 million viewers as a result as declining cable ratings.

* Still Nickelodeon's top show after 19 years [[note]]the first few years during parent Viacom's merger with "America's Most Watched Network" itself, Creator/{{CBS}}[[/note]], and they've obviously decided to [[CashCowFranchise milk it for all its worth.]] Today, Nickelodeon's typical schedule (not counting the Creator/NickJr or Creator/NickAtNite blocks) is comprised almost entirely of either ''[=SpongeBob=]'' or ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse''. It's gotten so bad, the animation fandom (particularly Pan of WebVideo/RebelTaxi) has even coined the term "The [=SpongeBob=] Principle": If a new Nick cartoon comes out and it isn't an instant smash hit, Nickelodeon will just ignore it, never give it reruns, never promote it, move the premiere dates around and dump the last few episodes on their much less popular channel Nicktoons Network while they replace it with more [=SpongeBob=] reruns.

* On April 28, 2018, they showed a marathon of Mermaidman and Barnacle Boy-themed episodes to compete with the opening weekend of ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', a highly-anticipated movie about superheroes. It makes some sense, as the channel did notably show a couple of exclusive sneak peaks of the film during their programming. And also the fact that said film referenced the show (and also [[CelebrityParadox raised several questions about the existence of]] [[Creator/ClancyBrown two]] [[Creator/ScarlettJohansson actors]] [[CelebrityParadox who've appeared in both properties]], as well as one of the people who did special effects for the FramingDevice segments of ''Party Pooper Pants'' also working on ''Infinity War''). They did the same thing for ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' a year later from April 28th to 29th, but this time, it was all day long and only stopped for a new ''WesternAnimation/{{RBUK}}'', as well as reruns of ''Ryan's Mystery Playdate'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse'', which ended with the Nickelodeon premiere of ''Film/PiratesOfTheCarribeanTheCurseOf

* On April 28, 2018, they showed a marathon of Mermaidman and Barnacle Boy-themed episodes to compete with the opening weekend of ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', a highly-anticipated movie about superheroes. It makes some sense, as the channel did notably show a couple of exclusive sneak peaks of the film during their programming. And also the fact that said film referenced the show (and also [[CelebrityParadox raised several questions about the existence of]] [[Creator/ClancyBrown two]] [[Creator/ScarlettJohansson actors]] [[CelebrityParadox who've appeared in both properties]]). They did the same thing for ''Film/AvengersEndgame'' a year later, to the point where only two other shows aired that day.

* On April 28, 2018, they showed a marathon of Mermaidman and Barnacle Boy-themed episodes to compete with the opening weekend of ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', a highly-anticipated movie about superheroes. It makes some sense, as the channel did notably show a couple of exclusive sneak peaks of the film during their programming. And also the fact that said film referenced the show (and also [[CelebrityParadox raised several questions about the existence of]] [[Creator/ClancyBrown two]] [[Creator/ScarlettJohansson actors]] [[CelebrityParadox who've appeared in both properties]]). They did the same thing for ''Film/AvengersEndgame''.

* On April 28, 2018, they showed a marathon of Mermaidman and Barnacle Boy-themed episodes to compete with the opening weekend of ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', a highly-anticipated movie about superheroes. It makes some sense, as the channel did notably show a couple of exclusive sneak peaks of the film during their programming. And also the fact that said film referenced the show (and also [[CelebrityParadox raised several questions about the existence of]] [[Creator/ClancyBrown two]] [[Creator/ScarlettJohansson actors]] [[CelebrityParadox who've appeared in both properties]]).

** Speaking of KCAs, it has won for the category Best Cartoon every year it been nominated since 2003 (only Avatar the Last Airbender can beat it and that was back in 2008), much to the chagrin of many cartoon fans. The outrage grows every year (although what happened in 2008 was rather unexpected), as people believes other cartoons deserve to win a blimp for this category.

* In late August of 2018, nothing but ''[=SpongeBob=]'' reruns airs on the Nicktoons channel from 11PM-6AM, ''every single day.''
* A marathon was held on January 20, 2019 to entertain children stuck inside their houses due to a snowstorm that hit most of the East Coast.
* On the day of the 53rd Super Bowl, "The Secret Box / Band Geeks" played several times throughout the day.

* Before the show got the overexposure treatment, Nickelodeon kept tying the show into their advertising, doing everything from making blocks themed around the show (like the Summer Nicktoon Splash), having [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick do the "Favorite Cartoon" segment of the 2000 [=KCAs=] and having Patchy the Pirate appear on several episodes of U-Pick Live. It got to the point where [=SpongeBob=] characters even appeared in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXChyPwJGn0 an ad that was played on]] the Nick Jr. block in 2002.

* On TV Osaka, the show is one of two animated programs to air every single day (the other being re-runs of ''Anime/YokaiWatch''.)

* On the day of the 53rd Super Bowl, "The Secret Box / Band Geeks" played several times throughout the day.

* A marathon was held on January 20, 2019 to entertain children stuck inside their houses due to a snowstorm that hit most of the East Coast.

* A marathon was held on January 19th, 2019 to celebrate Martin Luther King Day and to compete with the ''WesternAnimation/StevenUniverse'' special "Change Your Mind".

* In late August of 2018, nothing but ''[=SpongeBob=]'' reruns airs on the Nicktoons channel from 11PM-6AM, ''every single day.''

* On April 28, 2018, they showed a marathon of Mermaidman and Barnacle Boy-themed episodes to compete with the opening weekend of ''Film/AvengersInfinityWar'', a highly-anticipated movie about superheroes. It makes some sense, as the channel did notably show a couple of exclusive sneak peaks of the film during their programming.

* In late August of 2018, nothing but ''[=SpongeBob=]'' reruns airs on the Nicktoons channel from 11PM-6AM, ''every single day.''
* To honor the late Stephen Hillenberg, a marathon of the show played all afternoon on December 2, 2018. This marathon was later replayed during the morning of December 8, 2018.

* To honor the late Stephen Hillenberg, a marathon of the show played on December 2, 2018.

* In late August of 2018, nothing but ''[=SpongeBob=]'' reruns airs on the Nicktoons channel from 11PM-6AM, ''every single day.''

* Still Nickelodeon's top show after 15 years [[note]]the first few years during parent Viacom's merger with "America's Most Watched Network" itself, Creator/{{CBS}}[[/note]], and they've obviously decided to [[CashCowFranchise milk it for all its worth.]] Today, Nickelodeon's typical schedule (not counting the Creator/NickJr or Creator/NickAtNite blocks) is comprised almost entirely of either ''[=SpongeBob=]'' or ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse''. It's gotten so bad, the animation fandom (particularly Pan of WebVideo/RebelTaxi) has even coined the term "The [=SpongeBob=] Principle": If a new Nick cartoon comes out and it isn't an instant smash hit, Nickelodeon will just ignore it, never give it reruns, never promote it, move the premiere dates around and dump the last few episodes on their much less popular channel Nicktoons Network while they replace it with more [=SpongeBob=] reruns.

* Still Nickelodeon's top show after 15 years [[note]]the first few years during parent Viacom's merger with "America's Most Watched Network" itself, Creator/{{CBS}}[[/note]], and they've obviously decided to [[CashCowFranchise milk it for all its worth.]] Today, Nickelodeon's typical schedule (not counting the Creator/NickJr or Creator/NickAtNite blocks) is comprised almost entirely of either ''[=SpongeBob=]'' or ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse''. It's gotten so bad, the animation fandom (particularly Pan of WebVideo/RebelTaxi) has even coined the term "The [=SpongeBob=] Principle": If a new Nick cartoon comes out and it isn't an instant smash hit, Nickelodeon will just ignore it, never give it reruns, never promote it, move the premier dates around and dump the last few episodes on their much less popular channel Nicktoons Network while they replace it with more [=SpongeBob=] reruns.

* Starting on July 2018, ''[=SpongeBob=]'' reruns has suddenly snuck into the early hours of Nick @ Nite, thus making the weekly amount of ''[=SpongeBob=]'' airing on Nick matches to the time when its reruns was at an all time high between 2008-2011.

* In late-August 2018, nothing but ''[=SpongeBob=]'' reruns airs on the Nicktoons channel from 11PM-6AM, ''every single day.''

* For some reason, Nick seems to be fond of airing both ''[=SpongeBob=]'' movies. The 2004 movie normally airs on holidays, big events, and whenever there isn't enough movies to play. But ever since ''Sponge Out of Water'' debuted on television, it has been played on Nickelodeon almost every week. It makes you wonder if Nick even acknowledge the rest of the movies they produced.

** Still Nickelodeon's top show after 15 years [[note]]the first few years during parent Viacom's merger with "America's Most Watched Network" itself, Creator/{{CBS}}[[/note]], and they've obviously decided to [[CashCowFranchise milk it for all its worth.]] Today, Nickelodeon's typical schedule (not counting the Creator/NickJr or Creator/NickAtNite blocks) is comprised almost entirely of either ''[=SpongeBob=]'' or ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse''. It's gotten so bad, the animation fandom (particularly Pan of WebVideo/RebelTaxi) has even coined the term "The [=SpongeBob=] Principle": If a new Nick cartoon comes out and it isn't an instant smash hit, Nickelodeon will just ignore it, never give it reruns, never promote it, move the premier dates around and dump the last few episodes on their much less popular channel Nicktoons Network while they replace it with more [=SpongeBob=] reruns.

* Now in 2017, the usual morning to mid afternoon schedule during non-Nick Jr (Saturdays and Sundays) hours consists of [=SpongeBob=] and The Loud House, taking up most of the weekends schedule.

* As of 2016, there's usually about 6-7 episodes a day, inbetween episodes of ''WesternAnimation/ALVINNNAndTheChipmunks'' and ''WesternAnimation/TheLoudHouse''.

* For some reason, Nick seems to be fond of airing both ''[=SpongeBob=]'' movies. The 2004 movie normally air on holidays, big events, and whenever there isn't enough movies to play. But ever since ''Sponge Out of Water'' debuted on television, it has been played on Nickelodeon almost every week. It makes you wonder if Nick even acknowledge the rest of the movies they produced.

* Starting on July 2018, SpongeBob reruns has suddenly snuck into the early hours of Nick @ Nite, thus making the weekly amount of SpongeBob airing on Nick matches to the time when its reruns was at an all time high between 2008-2011.
* For some reason, Nick seems to be fond of airing both SpongeBob movies. The 2004 movie normally air on holidays, big events, and whenever there isn't enough movies to play. But ever since Sponge Out of Water debuted on television, it has been played on Nickelodeon almost every week. It makes you wonder if Nick even acknowledge the rest of the movies they produced.

* Now in 2017, the usual morning to mid afternoon schedule during non-Nick Jr hours consists of [=SpongeBob=] and The Loud House.

* On July 7, 2018, Nickelodeon had an mid-morning to mid-afternoon marathon (only stopping for a new episode of ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaSteel'') to compete with the premiere of ''WesternAnimation/SummerCampIsland'' on Cartoon Network.

* Whenever a new episode is going to be aired (and a ''15-minute one'' at that), Nickelodeon will hype it up with a big marathon and tons of promos that air on Nickelodeon, other Viacom networks, and networks that aren't owned by Viacom! [[note]] though the latter instance may depend on your cable/satellite provider, as some of them overwrite ads to air local commercials or promos for other networks. Make note that Creator/{{CBS}} is no longer part of Viacom[[/note]]

''WesternAnimation/SpongeBobSquarePants'' was pretty much the poster-child for the trope (at least until ''WesternAnimation/TeenTitansGo'' [[AdoredByTheNetwork/TeenTitansGo stole the sponge's thunder in 2015]]). Since the show was uncanceled in 2005, it would run at least ''eight'' times on an average weekday. It would often be the first thing they show in the morning and the last thing they show at night (before turning into Creator/NickAtNite), and it's the only show that they run at all different hours of the day to get pre-schoolers, after-school kids, ''and'' evening teenager audiences. "Special" ''[=SpongeBob=]'' episodes would be hyped up and promoted more often than the regular Nicktoons on the network. Some days, it'd get more airtime than all the other Nicktoons still on Nickelodeon combined. At least during 2009-2011, even ''repeats'' got higher ratings than the average that most kids' shows, as well as several primetime shows, got back then. Eventually, ratings for the show dropped - probably due to overexposure. Despite all this, it still remains a favorite for Nick to this day.
* When the show first premiered, they kept tying the show into their advertising, doing everything from making blocks themed around the show, having [=SpongeBob=] and Patrick do the "Favorite Cartoon" segment of the 2000 [=KCAs=] and having Patchy the Pirate appear on U-Pick Live. It got to the point where [=SpongeBob=] characters even appeared in [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXChyPwJGn0 an ad that was played on]] the Nick Jr. block in 2002.

* On July 7, 2018, Nickelodeon had an mid-morning to mid-afternoon marathon (only stopping for a new episode of ''Series/PowerRangersNinjaSteel'' to compete with the premiere of ''WesternAnimation/SummerCampIsland'' on Cartoon Network.)