...and for Television

Nickelodeon and Children's Television Workshop have put their heads together and come up with "Noggin," their name for a new cable network to be devoted to education fare for the young.

Any innovation in the realm of children's television is welcome. Noggin, to premier next January, will face the standard challenge: how to draw kids away from the loud, frenetic, often violent stuff that now passes for juvenile entertainment. They'll also face the standard pitfall: how to attract youngsters without aping the programming they hope to compete with and diluting the educational value.

Much of the new network's material will come from the extensive libraries of the collaborating companies. But there's also the possibility of brand-new content from independent producers who now have little outlet for their work. May Noggin stir creativity, and never underestimate the intelligence of its young audience.