Opening on June 7, 1990, as The First World Headquarters for Kids, the studio attracted young tourists as contestants and audience members for Nickelodeon's live-action programming.

[1] Universal had determined through market research that a working studio was crucial in attracting guests to a movie themed park, and they offered Nickelodeon a sweetheart deal to supply that production.

[4] The contract stipulated that Nickelodeon promote Universal Studios Florida on-air 1,000 times per year, while also broadcasting the park's television commercials.

[6][7] Viacom senior vice president Scott Davis would supervise the design and construction of the complex, and he was later named the first general manager of Nickelodeon Studios.

[11] Nickelodeon's live-action productions had traditionally been shot on rented soundstages in multiple cities, which was not cost-effective and limited the network's growth.

Bamberger, who also served as executive producer of Make the Grade and Total Panic, wrote "I Love TV Production" above his name.

[13] The event was announced by John Harvey of Super Sloppy Double Dare and co-hosted by Greg Lee of Total Panic, Skip Lackey of Think Fast, Christine Taylor and Kelly Brown of Hey Dude (in character as Melody and Brad respectively), and Alie Smith, Matt Brown, Wendy Douglas and Will Friedle of Don't Just Sit There!.

Celebrity appearances were made by Andrea Elson, Bill Cosby, Brooke Theiss, Danny Ponce, Gerard Christopher, Jane Seymour, Jason Hervey, Kellie Martin, Les Lye, Linda Blair, Steven Spielberg and Wil Wheaton.

The burial ceremony was broadcast live on Nickelodeon and hosted by Mike O'Malley of Get the Picture and Joey Lawrence of Blossom, with an appearance by Dr. Emmett Brown of Back to the Future: The Ride (portrayed by the park's costumed performer and not Christopher Lloyd).

[25] To stay competitive, Universal broke ground on Islands of Adventure in 1995, recommitting itself primarily as a theme park with the $2 billion expansion.

[28] That same year, producers Mike Tollin and Brian Robbins requested Nickelodeon move filming of their hit live-action show All That from Orlando to Los Angeles so they wouldn't have to leave home for production.

The network obliged, and the third season of All That was filmed on a rented soundstage at Paramount Pictures while Nickelodeon searched for a permanent Hollywood studio.

The show's producer, Alan Goodman, would move production of The Mystery Files of Shelby Woo to Montreal for the filming of its final season.

[37] The studio began laying off employees in March 2001 since a majority of Nickelodeon's closed-set productions had moved to California, game shows were no longer being produced, and the network's highest rated programming was animated.

[50] On November 9, 2006, Universal announced that Soundstage 18 would be redesigned to become a 1,000-seat permanent venue for the Blue Man Group's self-titled residency show.

The complex became popular for urban exploration, as Universal left much of the original Nickelodeon branding intact for years after the studio closed.

In 2012, YouTube personality adamthewoo gained access to Soundstage 19 and the upper floors of Building 17, documenting vastly untouched murals and decor from the heyday of the studios.