Indicating the way social media revolutionalising just about every aspect of communication and media, Nickelodeon on Thursday premiered the first episode of the new five-episode SpongeBob SquarePants series, 'The Legends of Bikini Bottom', on the social networking site Facebook.

The first episode titled 'Trenchbillies' premiered on the SpongeBob SquarePants Facebook page on Thursday at 8 p.m. ET. The premier on the popular social networking site came a day ahead of it scheduled broadcast on Nickelodeon.

This decision by the children's cable network aimed at attracting the young and the restless hooked to the internet and the social media.

The marine cartoon character has over 16,000,000 fans on Facebook.

The five-story anthology on FaceBook features Ginnifer Goodwin and Amy Sedaris. The ninth season of the show comically pokes into underwater myths.

In an earlier news release on the renewal of the hit animated show, the network said it was adding 26 episodes that will roll out in 2012 and will include the series' 200th episode. SpongeBob SquarePants has been TV's number-one animated series with kids 2-11 for 10 consecutive years. The last SpongeBob SquarePants special, 'Mystery with a Twistery',aired November 11, was the year's top animated telecast on TV.

If the social media premier was not publicity enough, the new season of Spongebob is also getting backing from Burger King. The fast food chain last Sunday kick started kids meal toys promotion for SpongeBob's 'Legends of Bikini Bottom'. While one of six toys get included free with every Burger King kids meal, extra toys are available for purchase separately.

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