KidsCo explained

KidsCo
Founded:April 2007
Launch Date:September 7, 2007 (Poland, Romania, Turkey, Ukraine, Hungary, Russia)
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)
Closed Date:May 5, 2013 (Poland)
December 31, 2013 (Europe)
February 13, 2014 (Southeast Asia and Australia)
2014 (all countries)
Picture Format:480i (SDTV)
576i (SDTV)
Owner:NBCUniversal (33%, later expanded to 51%)
Corus Entertainment (33%, later expanded to 43.8%)
DiC Entertainment/Cookie Jar Group (33%, until May 2012)
Type:children's television channel
Country:United Kingdom
Area:Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia
Headquarters:London, United Kingdom
Language:available in 18 languages
Website:kidscotv.tv (closed)
Availability Note:at time of closure

KidsCo was an international children's television channel founded and owned by a joint-venture between Corus Entertainment, DIC Entertainment, and Sparrowhawk Media Group in April 2007.[2] By the end of 2007, Sparrowhawk was purchased by media conglomerate NBC Universal, thus giving the company its share in the brand.[3] In June 2008, DiC Entertainment was acquired by Cookie Jar Group, thus also having a stake.[4] In May 2012, Cookie Jar's minority shares in KidsCo were brought by NBCUniversal and Corus, which saw NBCUniversal become majority shareholder with a 51% share while Corus obtained a 43.8% share.[5] [6]

KidsCo was closed down worldwide on early 2014 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.[7]

History

The first KidsCo networks were launched in Poland, Romania and Turkey on September 7, 2007. The channel also launched in Hungary, and Russia.[8]

On January 1, 2008, KidsCo launched in the Philippines on SkyCable and in the Arab World on Orbit Showtime[9] on March 20, 2008. On 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.[10] On November 15, 2009, KidsCo launched in Australia on Foxtel.[11]

In November 2009, Kidsco launched in Greece on Conn-x TV[12] and in Cyprus on CytaVision.[13] In November 2010 KidsCo became carried via Greece's IPTV On Telecoms platform.[14] On May 1, 2010, Kidsco launched in South Africa on TopTV[15] and on DStv on July 12, 2010.[16]

[17] In 2008 KidsCo suggested that it intended to launch throughout France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands and the United States that year, but this did not transpire.[8] Despite numerous claims of an imminent UK launch since 2007,[18] [19] [20] [21] [22] the channel never had presence in the country because market conditions mean a launch isn't commercially viable.[8] [23]

On January 8, 2013, KidsCo began broadcasting from Corus Quay in Toronto – a state-of-the-art facility that would broadcast the channel to over 100 territories in 18 languages.[24] A refreshed logo, on-air look and website was also launched.[25]

On April 30, 2013, KidsCo was closed in cable networks in Poland, and on other on May 5.[26] [27]

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.[28]

The main KidsCo feed in Europe closed down on January 1 (New Year's Day 2014), followed by its feeds in Southeast Asia and Australia on February 13. On VOO, the channel was replaced by Piwi+.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: WildBrain. https://web.archive.org/web/20080119182657/http://www.dicentertainment.com:80/press/. January 19, 2008.
  2. http://www.dicentertainment.com/press/details.php?121 SPARROWHAWK MEDIA, DIC ENTERTAINMENT AND CORUS ENTERTAINMENT PARTNER TO LAUNCH KIDSCO, A BRANDED GLOBAL CHANNEL FOR CHILDREN
  3. News: NBC Universal agrees to buy Sparrowhawk Media. Reuters. Haycock. Gavin. August 28, 2007. November 20, 2013.
  4. Web site: Cookie Jar and DIC Entertainment to Merge, Creating Independent Global Children's Entertainment and Education Powerhouse. Market Wired. June 20, 2008. November 20, 2013.
  5. Web site: NBCUniversal, Corus up their stakes in KidsCo. Kids Screen. Dickson. Jeremy. May 14, 2012. November 19, 2013.
  6. NBCUniversal International Raises Stakes in Children's Channel KidsCo. The Hollywood Reporter. Szalai. Georg. May 14, 2012. November 19, 2013.
  7. Web site: TV KidsCo . LSC . June 17, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20071015082944/http://lyngsat-address.com/gk/KidsCo.html . October 15, 2007 . dead.
  8. Web site: About NBC Universal Global Networks . NBC Universal . Terms of Service . June 17, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20080723171926/http://nbcuni.com/Global_Networks . July 23, 2008.
  9. News: New channel on SHOWTIME . Showtimearabia.com . December 31, 2007 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080102160303/http://www.showtimearabia.com/Announcements/NewChannels_en_gb.aspx . January 2, 2008 .
  10. Web site: C21Media. February 10, 2015.
  11. FOXTEL NEXT GENERATION – Giving Viewers What They Want When They Want it. Foxtel. November 13, 2009. November 20, 2013.
  12. Web site: KidsCo to Launch in Greece. Animation World Network. February 10, 2015.
  13. Web site: Cyta: TV. cytavision.com.cy. February 10, 2015.
  14. Web site: KidsCo launches on Greek IPTV . Digital TVEurope.net . Latest News . November 8, 2010 . June 17, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20110723095057/http://www.digitaltveurope.net/news_articles/2010/nov_10/08_nov_10/kidsco_launches_on_greek_iptv . July 23, 2011 . dead.
  15. Web site: Welcome to TopTV . June 17, 2015 . https://web.archive.org/web/20121021194936/http://www.toptv.co.za/bouquet . October 21, 2012 . dead.
  16. Web site: KidsCo gets DStv feed . RapidTVNews . July 6, 2010 . June 17, 2015 . Chris Forrester . https://web.archive.org/web/20111002043648/http://www.rapidtvnews.com/index.php/201007067008/kidsco-gets-dstv-feed.html . October 2, 2011 . dead.
  17. Web site: KidsCo expands to Asia, South Africa and Middle East . NBC Universal Global Networks . Press . January 8, 2008 . June 17, 2015 . Jane Muirhead . https://web.archive.org/web/20080121110259/http://www.dicentertainment.com/press/details.php?132 . January 21, 2008 . dead.
  18. Web site: NBC Universal kids' channel seeks brand sponsorships. Brand Republic. March 26, 2008.
  19. Web site: Licence Details for KIDSCO . Ofcom . October 19, 2007. dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20090721023538/http://www.ofcom.org.uk/static/tvlicensing/cs/1600.htm . July 21, 2009.
  20. KidsCo signs three-year deal with the BBC. Broadcastnow. September 2, 2008.
  21. KidsCo expands into five new markets. Media Week. September 3, 2009.
  22. KidsCo eyes 2010 launch. Broadcastnow. October 6, 2009.
  23. Web site: Cost hurdles block KidsCo UK launch. C21 Media. July 8, 2011.
  24. Web site: January 7, 2013 . Press Release - KidsCo Transmits From Corus Quay Starting January 8, 2013 . https://web.archive.org/web/20130412142703/http://www.corusent.com/home/Corporate/PressReleases/tabid/1697/Default.aspx?Id=2413 . April 12, 2013 . January 29, 2013 . Corus Entertainment.
  25. Web site: Knox . David . September 27, 2012 . KidsCo to refresh with Zuzu TV Tonight . live . https://web.archive.org/web/20231101225509/https://tvtonight.com.au/2012/09/kidsco-to-refresh-with-zuzu.html . November 1, 2023 . January 29, 2013 . TV Tonight.
  26. Web site: Kanał KidsCo kończy nadawanie w Polsce Polonica. SATKurier.pl. August 3, 2019.
  27. Web site: KidsCo kończy nadawanie w Polsce 5 maja Polonica. SATKurier.pl. August 3, 2019.
  28. Web site: NBCUniversal, Corus to Shutter KidsCo Network in Early 2014. Vlessing. Etan. The Hollywood Reporter. November 18, 2013.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "KidsCo".

Except where otherwise indicated, Everything.Explained.Today is © Copyright 2009-2024, A B Cryer, All Rights Reserved. Cookie policy.