Holiday’s and special occasions are always a great excuse to get some specific programming and specials on and it certainly seems that the Queen’s Jubilee is a trick that is not going to be missed for the Kids channels. Over on Disney Debbie Ryan has recorded a special promo, originally titled ‘Jessie’s Jubilee Half Term’. PopGirl have a ‘Rock and Royal’ half term, which includes a spoof interview with the Queen and some very inventive Guess the lyric Breakholders. While not Royal specific Nickelodeon have ‘Spongebob Top 100 Countdown’, blocking the popular cartoon out from 12-2pm. While half terms are always a great time to get boosted viewing figures, we will have to see whether coverage of the celebrations will mean that kids are tuning in elsewhere. Especially if parents are in control of the remote!
It was announced yesterday that children’s programming will no longer be shown on BBC One and Two following the digital switchover. No date has yet been set for the change, but the BBC Trust have confirmed that all of BBC’s children programming will be shown on either the CBeebies channel or CBBC channel.
It’s very easy to feel sentimentally sad about this change, as though this decision will undermine the credibility of kids TV. And if you have grown up, like myself, coming home from school and tuning religious into BBC 1 to catch the afterschool shows, this switchover can sit uncomfortably amongst us oldies. However if you look at the facts and figures behind the move, a very different story comes to light. Firstly spending on children’s programmes won’t be affected at all – so the quality of programming is still safeguarded. Secondly keeping kids programs on BBC’s main terrestrial channels just doesn’t make viewing figure sense. In recent months the number of young people watching CBBC on the main terrestrial channel has occasionally dropped as low as 1,000 people. As over on CBBC channel a show like Blue Peter picks up an average audience of 123,000 6-12 year olds. As one trust spokesperson succinctly puts:
“Only a very small percentage of children still solely watch these programmes on BBC One and BBC Two alone, so moving them to digital channels is merely following current viewing patterns and reflects the fact that CBeebies and CBBC will be universally available on digital TV from the end of this year.”
At that’s just it – this move is following the current viewing pattern of today’s generation of kids. Just because we watched children’s TV on BBC 1 and 2, doesn’t mean that that’s what the next wave of children viewers are doing. So while it may be sad for us, I don’t think current CBBC fans will bat an eyelid.
We all know that social media is on the rise and that TV programmes now have to incorporate cross-platform interaction, but how much do kids actually use social media? The people currently making TV programmes are from the ‘Generation Y’ era, growing up without the likes of Twitter, Facebook or even the Internet. So to keep your finger on the pulse on what the kids of today are doing online you have to carry out some careful research. And Childwise have just done this. Their results, which were released yesterday, make for some interesting reading:
- Three quarters of 5-16s now own their own computer; half have a laptop, and a quarter have a desktop PC, and around one in ten claim to have their own iPad or tablet PC.
- Two thirds of all 7-16 year olds can access the Internet in their own room, up from just a fifth in 2005.
- 7-16 year olds using the Internet do so on average for around two hours a day, and access on more than five days a week.
- Facebook and YouTube remain the top favourite websites, although attachment to Facebook is falling, with younger children now preferring Moshi Monsters.
- Three in five 5-16s have their own TV, down from a high of more than four in five in 2005. One in ten watch TV on their computer, and eight in ten use on-demand services to watch TV.
- Children watch an average of 2.5 hours of TV a day, falling from a peak of 2.8 hours in 2009
- Seven in ten 5-16 year olds own a mobile phone, and the majority of owners now go online on their mobiles.
- There has been an increase in spending across most categories this year, whilst the amount given as pocket money has fallen back slightly.
So to answer the question – how much do kids actually use social media – we can conclude a lot! Actually these statistics show that online will soon become just as prolific, if not more, than TV. And as companies such as Moshi Monsters and Amazon start to develop into making TV programmes, the Kids TV market will have a surge of both opportunities, but also competition.
CBBC has commissioned a raft of new in-house entertainment and factual programmes. Despite Damian Kavanagh having moved on to Channel 4 factual programming, all these programmes were acquired before his departure. And there’s a whole range to get excited about:
Secret World – Lots of children say they want to be famous when they grow up…but being famous isn’t a one man show.This exciting new series will peel back the curtains on fame to reveal the huge network of people working tirelessly to create, guide and advise just one person.
Hoopla – CBBC legends Dick and Dom are back and this time they’re the ringmasters of their very own funfair, packed to the rafters with oddities, games and pure entertainment of the kind that only Dick and Dom can provide.
Alesha’s Street Dance Stars – In this second series Alesha Dixon is on a mission to find Britain’s most original, entertaining and accomplished young street dancing crew.
Sam & Mark’s Big Friday Wind-Up – Pranks, games and surprises are around every corner with Sam & Mark’s Big Friday Wind-Up, which returns to CBBC for a second action-packed series.
Superhumans – Prepare to be amazed as we follow extreme enthusiast and explorer Tim Fitzhigham as he tracks down real life Superhumans and tests himself against them, in an attempt to become the ultimate Superhuman. Each programme will follow the story of an amazing individual, such as the real life Iceman, Daredevil, Incredible Hulk, Spiderman, The Flash and Batboy. Tim learns how the human body copes in extreme situations – and how some individuals have the ability to do superhuman things against the odds.
Who Let the Dogs Out? – Join champion dog trainer Zak George in the Dog House and find out just how incredible Britain’s top pups can be!
Who Let the Dogs Out and About? – Zak George presents a series of magazine-style roadshows which invite children from all over the UK to come and visit with (or without!) their dogs.
All Over the Place USA – All Over the Place returns to CBBC for a third series, and this time Ed Petrie and his CBBC mates are off to the USA on a bizarre quest to find the most unusual, strange and amazing places to visit in the United States of America.
The ever growing business giant Amazon is taking a new turn into creating original TV programming, with a specific call out for kids TV shows. ‘Amazon Studios’ is the new development division of the well known online retail brand. This new branch is now selecting a number of proposals to take to development. While it is currently based in the US I am sure it won’t take long before ‘Amazon Instant Video’ will be hitting UK servers. The new video streaming service is on the hunt for original writers, animators and filmmakers from around the world to submit series proposals to www.studios.amazon.com/getting-started/series. Ex-National Geographic Kids head Tara Sorensen has been hired to head up series development with ex-Fox exec Joe Lewis. Not only is it exciting to see a new platform being created, but Amazon have the budget to encourage something fresh and impressive to come out of the woodworks. If Amazon chooses to distribute a full-budget series, the project creator will collect a US$55,000 payment up front and up to 5% of Amazon’s net receipts from toy and t-shirt licensing, other royalties and bonuses! So watch this space as I am sure this opportunity will attract some new and exciting kids programming.
Disney XD’s new animated series TRON: Uprising is set to make its Disney XD television premiere on June 7 and a 30-minute series prelude, TRON: Uprising, Beck’s Beginning, will air on May 18 on Disney Channel. The new Disney Television Animation-produced series, executive produced and directed by Charlie Bean (Robotboy, Samurai Jack and The Powerpuff Girls) , takes place in the time period between the two Tron feature films. It introduces a new character, Beck, a young program played by Lord of the Rings actor Elijah Wood who becomes the unlikely leader of the new revolution.
Filming has begun at the BBC’s Roath Lock Studios in Cardiff on Russell T Davies and Phil Ford’s latest thrilling new action drama for CBBC.
The show, Wizards Vs Aliens is set to air on CBBC this coming Autumn in a 12 part series. And it has a very impressive list of people working on it. Russell T. Davies, former Doctor Who and Sarah Jane Adventures showrunner, has got a whole host of talent on board the project. Newcomers Scott Haran and Percelle Ascott will be joined by Annette Badland (Doctor Who), Michael Higgs (Eastenders), Jefferson Hall (Doctors) and Gwendoline Christie (Game of Thrones) as well as Don Gilet (Eastenders) and Nina Sosanya (Teachers), who make guest appearances as Ascott’s parents.
The show, being described as “Doctor Who meets Harry Potter” centres on Tom Clarke (Haran) a seemingly ordinary boy who lives with his father and grandmother. But Tom has a secret – his family are wizards and when the alien Nekross arrive on Earth hungry for magic it proves dangerous for all wizardkind. Tom enlists his super brainy friend Benny (Ascott) to help him defeat the Nekross before they devour all the magic on the Earth.
This show certainly has all the ingredients to be hugely popular and is once again another example of how Children’s produce great original drama.
Horrible histories seems to be the talk of the town, and not just in the kids world, the program has made that very difficult jump to get recognition in mainstream TV. Critics are claiming that it is one of the smartest comedies on TV – full stop – and with the fourth series being released this week, the show is really waving the kids TV flag. The sketch-based program manages to comment superbly on popular culture, has an astonishing cast and educates all in one comedic blow. The biggest testament to just how far Horrible Histories has come is the reunion of The League of Gentlemen; Steve Pemberton, Reece Shearsmith and Mark Gatiss. The trio play an obnoxious board of film executives to whom historical figures pitch their biopics – a spoof of Orange cinema ads. This program genuinely appeals to both kids and adults, but what’s fantastic about it is that it has sprung from the kids corner. And when it comes to TV, it’s not often you get to say that.
WGBH have launched D.W.’s Unicorn Adventure, the first app for the iPhone and iPod Touch based on hit kids series Arthur. The healthy-themed app targets kids ages four to six and challenges players to help Arthur’s sister D.W. save a lost unicorn by powering up on nutritious foods. It features three fantasy worlds with 12 levels, and while kids must collect a variety of vittles, they are encouraged to avoid junk food.
Educational? Yes. A game? Yes. On the web? No. On the TV? No. This new app marks a shift where multi-platform content no longer just means appearing on the web and TV. Kids are increasingly having access to iPads and iPhones and accommodating to this new market is vital. While initial development costs may be high, using well known characters and not to mention the free air-time advertising, make android apps a potentially lucrative source of income.
Easter is time of new beginnings and that certainly seems to be the case for Sky pre-school channel Tiny Pop. Over the bank holiday weekend the channel is trying it’s hand at continuity presenting for the first time. Produced in-house with presenter led green screen pieces, Tiny Pop is following in the steps of its competitors CBeebies and Milkshake who both already have sets of presenters introducing the channel’s key shows. New presenter Luke Franks gives a fun and non-patronising performance that I’m sure will prove popular with Tiny Pop’s young viewers. Check out the compilation clip below to see for yourself.
Over on the other channels the usual mix of specials and key programme blocking will keep the kids entertained as they munch their way through all those Easter Eggs!
Boomerang: Tom & Jerry & The Garfield Show
CN Too: Ben 10, Batman, Bakugan
Disney Channel: “All star Easter” blocking from 10-1.30pm of key shows including Jessie, Wizards of Waverly Place & Ant Farm.
CBBC: Blocking from 10am-1pm of key programmes. Horrible Histories, Young Dracula, Legend of Dick & Dom
CITV: Double blocking of Horrid Henry, Almost Naked Animals, Fleabag Monkey Face
Disney Cinemagic: New film ‘Cars 2’ features highly on the schedule
Disney XD: Phineas & Ferb & Kickin It
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