KidsCo

KidsCo
Channel's logo from 2012 until its closure.
CountryUnited Kingdom
Broadcast areaEurope, Asia, Africa, Australia
HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
Programming
Language(s)Various
Picture format480i (SDTV)
576i (SDTV)
Ownership
OwnerNBCUniversal (33%, later expanded to 51%)
Corus Entertainment (33%, later expanded to 43.8%)
DiC Entertainment/Cookie Jar Group (33%, until May 2012)
History
FoundedApril 2007
LaunchedSeptember 7, 2007 (Central and Eastern Europe)
January 8, 2008 (Asia, South Africa, Middle East)[1]
April 10, 2008 (Africa)
May 9, 2008 (Spain)
May 12, 2008 (Hong Kong)
November 15, 2009 (Australia)
November 27, 2009 (Greece)
May 1, 2010 (South Africa)
ClosedMay 5, 2013 (Poland)
June 30, 2013 (Austria)
December 31, 2013 (Europe)
2014 (remaining territories)
Links
Websitekidscotv.tv

KidsCo was an international children's television channel active from 2007 until 2014. It was a joint venture between Corus Entertainment, DIC Entertainment (later part of Cookie Jar Group) and NBCUniversal whose content was mainly commissioned by DIC and Corus subsidiary Nelvana. At its peak in 2011, it was available in at least 95 countries in 18 languages.[2]

In early 2014, it was shut down by its owners, in light of NBCUniversal's acquisition of US children's network Sprout and "growing challenges in the international children's television industry". The network was based in London at the time of its closure.[3][4]

History

Original logo used from 2007 to 2012

KidsCo was co-founded by former BBC Radio 1 controller Paul Robinson, citing an increasing focus on older "tween" audiences and increasing vertical integration by mainstream counterparts Disney Channel, Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, in addition to the need to reduce costs for other content producers by not adopting a traditional license fee deal.[2]

The network, effectively a start-up, depended on funding provided in the form of a joint venture between Corus Entertainment (the owner of Nelvana), DIC Entertainment and Sparrowhawk Media Group.[2][5] Subsequently, its offering was said to have included "over 3,000" half-hour episodes each of DIC and Nelvana content, with a broadcast facility made available by Sparrowhawk Media in the United States.[6] Later in 2007, Sparrowhawk Media was purchased by media conglomerate NBCUniversal, while DIC was merged into Cookie Jar Group the following year.[7][8]

Although numerous claims had been made of an imminent UK launch throughout its existence,[9][10][11][12][13] the channel struggled to establish an official foothold there because market conditions at the time meant a launch would not be commercially viable.[2][14][15] Plans had also been discussed for a potential expansion throughout France, Germany, Italy and Latin America, but these did not transpire.[2][9][16] Robinson served as managing director of the network through 2011, after which he was succeeded by Hendrik McDermott.[17][4]

The channel was first launched in Central and Eastern Europe on September 7, 2007.[18][19] On January 1, 2008, KidsCo launched in the Philippines on SkyCable and on Showtime Arabia on March 20, 2008.[20] In the first trimester of 2009 the channel was launched in Portugal on Optimus Clix. The channel become available also on Vodafone Casa TV platform on July 25, 2010.[21]

On November 15, 2009, KidsCo launched on Australian platform Foxtel.[22] That same month, it launched in Greece on Conn-x TV[23] and in Cyprus on CytaVision.[24] In November 2010 it additionally launched on IPTV in Greece.[25] It launched on South African platforms TopTV on May 1, 2010[26] and DStv on July 12, 2010.[27][28]

In May 2012, Cookie Jar's minority shares in KidsCo were bought by NBCUniversal and Corus, which saw the former obtain a controlling 51% stake while the latter increased its share to 43.8%.[29][30]

On January 8, 2013, KidsCo began broadcasting from Corus Quay in Toronto, while also introducing a refreshed schedule, on-air look and website.[31][32] In February 2013, as part of a joint venture with the NBC-affiliated Syfy network, it debuted a new programming block titled Syfy Kids.[33][34]

On April 30, 2013, KidsCo was shut down on some Polish cable networks, and on others on May 5.[35][36] It was removed from the AustriaSat platform on June 30, 2013.[37]

In November 2013, citing "growing challenges in the international children's television industry", and the addition of the competing USA channel Sprout to NBC's portfolio due to its recent acquisition by Comcast, KidsCo announced that it would shut down in early 2014.[38] KidsCo ceased broadcasting in Europe on December 31, 2013, followed by its feeds in Southeast Asia and Africa in February 2014.[4] On VOO, the channel was replaced by Piwi+.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ "WildBrain". Archived from the original on January 19, 2008.
  2. ^ a b c d e "Globetrotter KidsCo wants success closer to home". The Telegraph. February 4, 2011. Archived from the original on March 10, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  3. ^ "TV KidsCo". LSC. Archived from the original on October 15, 2007. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c Dickson, Jeremy (November 15, 2013). "KidsCo shuts down". Kidscreen. Archived from the original on March 21, 2019. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  5. ^ "Sparrowhawk Media, DIC Entertainment and Corus Entertainment partner to launch KidsCo, a branded global channel for children". DIC Entertainment. April 3, 2007. Archived from the original on January 15, 2008. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  6. ^ "S-a lansat KidsCo, nou canal dedicat întregii familii". IAA Romania (in Romanian). October 9, 2007. Archived from the original on May 25, 2009. Retrieved August 30, 2024.
  7. ^ Haycock, Gavin (August 28, 2007). "NBC Universal agrees to buy Sparrowhawk Media". Reuters. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  8. ^ Vlessing, Etan (June 23, 2008). "Cookie Jar gets its hands on DIC in $87 mil merger". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  9. ^ a b Ramsay, Fiona (March 26, 2008). "NBC Universal kids' channel seeks brand sponsorships". Campaign Live. Archived from the original on January 7, 2023. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  10. ^ "Licence Details for KIDSCO". Ofcom. October 19, 2007. Archived from the original on July 21, 2009.
  11. ^ "KidsCo signs three-year deal with the BBC". Broadcastnow. September 2, 2008. Archived from the original on October 19, 2008. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  12. ^ "KidsCo expands into five new markets". Media Week. September 3, 2009. Archived from the original on September 18, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  13. ^ "KidsCo eyes 2010 launch". Broadcastnow. October 6, 2009. Archived from the original on October 9, 2009. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  14. ^ "Cost hurdles block KidsCo UK launch". C21 Media. July 8, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  15. ^ "KidsCo looking at UK channel launch". Digital Spy. July 19, 2007. Archived from the original on August 27, 2024. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  16. ^ "Expert views on KidsCo". The Telegraph. February 4, 2011. Archived from the original on March 10, 2011. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  17. ^ Roxborough, Scott (March 27, 2014). "MIPTV: Former KidsCo CEO Paul Robinson Joins Germany's Your Family Entertainment". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  18. ^ "KidsCo branches out". Broadcastnow. September 6, 2007. Archived from the original on May 6, 2021. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  19. ^ "Dialogue: KidCo's Paul Robinson". The Hollywood Reporter. Associated Press. October 5, 2007. Archived from the original on August 29, 2024. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  20. ^ "New channel on SHOWTIME". Showtimearabia.com. December 31, 2007. Archived from the original on January 2, 2008.
  21. ^ "C21Media". Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  22. ^ "FOXTEL NEXT GENERATION – Giving Viewers What They Want When They Want it" (Press release). Foxtel. November 13, 2009. Retrieved November 20, 2013.
  23. ^ "KidsCo to Launch in Greece". Animation World Network. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  24. ^ "Cyta: TV". cytavision.com.cy. Retrieved February 10, 2015.
  25. ^ "KidsCo launches on Greek IPTV". Latest News. Digital TVEurope.net. November 8, 2010. Archived from the original on July 23, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  26. ^ "Welcome to TopTV". Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  27. ^ Chris Forrester (July 6, 2010). "KidsCo gets DStv feed". RapidTVNews. Archived from the original on October 2, 2011. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  28. ^ Jane Muirhead (January 8, 2008). "KidsCo expands to Asia, South Africa and Middle East". Press. NBC Universal Global Networks. Archived from the original on January 21, 2008. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
  29. ^ Dickson, Jeremy (May 14, 2012). "NBCUniversal, Corus up their stakes in KidsCo". Kids Screen. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  30. ^ Szalai, Georg (May 14, 2012). "NBCUniversal International Raises Stakes in Children's Channel KidsCo". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved November 19, 2013.
  31. ^ "Press Release - KidsCo Transmits From Corus Quay Starting January 8, 2013". Corus Entertainment. January 7, 2013. Archived from the original on April 12, 2013. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  32. ^ Knox, David (September 27, 2012). "KidsCo to refresh with Zuzu". TV Tonight. Archived from the original on November 1, 2023. Retrieved January 29, 2013.
  33. ^ Dickson, Jeremy (February 6, 2013). "KidsCo to launch first Syfy children's block". KidScreen. Archived from the original on February 10, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  34. ^ Ng-See-Quan, Danielle (April 16, 2013). "KidsCo sends new Syfy block to Asia". KidScreen. Archived from the original on May 12, 2013. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
  35. ^ "Kanał KidsCo kończy nadawanie w Polsce | Polonica". SATKurier.pl. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  36. ^ "KidsCo kończy nadawanie w Polsce 5 maja | Polonica". SATKurier.pl. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  37. ^ "KidsCo-Sendestopp ab 30.6.2013". AustriaSat (in Austrian German). December 14, 2013. Archived from the original on December 14, 2013. Retrieved August 29, 2024.
  38. ^ Vlessing, Etan (November 18, 2013). "NBCUniversal, Corus to Shutter KidsCo Network in Early 2014". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on May 7, 2021. Retrieved August 27, 2024.
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