Nickelodeon (previously known as Pinwheel from 1977 until 1981) is an American cable television channel owned by Viacom. Since the mid-1990s and early 2000s Nickelodoen as a brand has expanded into other territories including Europe, the Middle-East, Russia and Asia. It is often referred to by its shortened name, Nick, a practice that dates back to the early days of the channel.