HIT, TV Azteca to Launch Free-TV Block

NEW YORK/MEXICO CITY: HIT Entertainment has teamed up with TV Azteca to launch a branded preschool block on free-to-air television in Mexico.

The block, Niños Siete, launched January 4, airing Sundays from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. The block features a host of properties from the HIT library, delivering more than 350 episodes of Barney & Friends, Bob the Builder, Thomas & Friends and Pingu, among others. The block is hosted by ten-year-old twin brothers and a 12-year-old girl, with interstitials delivering learning-based activities, songs and arts and crafts. The block and its accompanying website will also showcase fan letters and original artwork, submitted by young viewers throughout Mexico.

"This all-new, branded program block is an unprecedented venture for HIT Entertainment and we’re thrilled to be working with TV Azteca to bring our gold-standard and original content to kids throughout Mexico," said Rodrigo Piza, the VP of television for Canada, U.S. Hispanic and Latin America at HIT Entertainment. "HIT’s characters and programming are already well-loved in the territory, with Barney being a favorite in the region for the past two decades. We’re confident that kids—as well as parents—will embrace this safe, fun, engaging new preschool programming block, and make it their top choice on Sunday mornings."