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KidsCo

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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

KidsCowas an international children's television channel active from 2007 until 2014. It was a joint venture betweenCorus Entertainment,DIC Entertainment(later part ofCookie Jar Group) andNBCUniversalwhose content was mainly commissioned by DIC and Corus subsidiaryNelvana.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 networkSproutand "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 formerBBC Radio 1controller Paul Robinson, citing an increasing focus on older "tween"audiences and increasingvertical integrationby mainstream counterpartsDisney Channel,Cartoon NetworkandNickelodeon,in addition to the need to reduce costs for other content producers by not adopting a traditionallicense feedeal.[2]

The network, effectively a start-up, depended on funding provided in the form of a joint venture betweenCorus Entertainment(the owner of Nelvana), DIC Entertainment andSparrowhawk 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 conglomerateNBCUniversal,while DIC was merged intoCookie Jar Groupthe 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 thePhilippinesonSkyCableand onShowtime Arabiaon March 20, 2008.[20]In the first trimester of 2009 the channel was launched in Portugal on Optimus Clix. The channel become available also onVodafone Casa TVplatform on July 25, 2010.[21]

On November 15, 2009, KidsCo launched on Australian platformFoxtel.[22]That same month, it launched inGreeceon Conn-x TV[23]and inCyprusonCytaVision.[24]In November 2010 it additionally launched onIPTVin Greece.[25]It launched on South African platformsTopTVon May 1, 2010[26]andDStvon 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 fromCorus Quayin 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-affiliatedSyfynetwork, it debuted a new programming block titledSyfy 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 channelSproutto NBC's portfolio due to its recent acquisition byComcast,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]OnVOO,the channel was replaced byPiwi+.[citation needed]

References

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