TheninthseasonofSpongeBobSquarePantswasannouncedonMondayJanuary3,2011.Atotalof26episodeswillbeproducedfortheseason,whichbeganairingJuly21,2012.Itwillbringthenumberofepisodesupto204andwillpassthe200-episodemilestone.[1]Theseasonpremieredwiththeepisode"ExtremeSpots"onJuly21,2012.ThiswillalsobethefirstseasontobeproducedinHD.