MTV Networks International has secured two content deals for Nickelodeon preschool content in Kazakhstan and Afghanistan, including the launch of the first Nick Jr.-branded block worldwide.

Beginning next month, Nickelodeon's animated preschool programming will be localized and broadcast on national public broadcaster Kazakhstan1 and as a branded block on new kids' channel Balapan in Kazakhstan. The deal includes 204 episodes of Nickelodeon content, including "Dora the Explorer" (seasons 1 to 5), "Go, Diego, Go!" (seasons 1, 2 and 3) and "Ni Hao, Kai -Lan" (seasons 1 and 2).

In Afghanistan, localized Nickelodeon programming will feature on the Ariana Television Network, Afghanistan's free-to-air satellite TV network. ATN will air "Dora the Explorer" (seasons 1 and 2). The deals were brokered by Marco Arabit, MTVNI's sales executive for emerging markets.

As part of the new deals, "Dora the Explorer" will be dubbed into Kazakhi, Dari and Pashto for the very first time, bringing the number of languages into which the program has been dubbed to 31.

"We are delighted that Nickelodeon has grown its footprint in Central Asia with these two new deals, bringing high-quality Nickelodeon preschool content to new audiences for the first time, dubbed into their local languages," says Maria Rakhmatullina-Ufland, sales director for emerging markets at MTVNI. "We are looking forward to working with Kazakhstan1, Balapan and ATN to firmly establish the Nickelodeon brand as the destination for top-quality animation for kids and families in Kazakhstan and Afghanistan."