Penguins, SpongeBob Fuel Nick Ratings

Nickelodeon’s Penguins of Madagascar was the top-rated animated series with kids and total viewers for the second quarter of 2009, followed closely by SpongeBob SquarePants.

The strength of both shows helped make Nick the top total day network for kids and total viewers ‘ continuing a 15-year streak in that category.

Penguins of Madagascar, a spinoff of the DreamWorks Animation feature film series, has averaged more than 24 million total viewer a week since it debuted in March.

SpongeBob, which is celebrating its 10th anniversary, is the No. 1 animated series year-to-date among kids 2-11 ‘ a status it has held for seven years running.