TV Kids: 2015 Year in Review

The kids’ programming business has been evolving at a rapid clip, and in 2015, digital continued to be top of mind for children’s content creators, distributors and buyers alike.

Broad-targeted, global OTT services like Netflix and Amazon were not only acquiring new kids’ product, but also commissioning original children’s programming. Amazon greenlit a slew of youth titles as part of its pilot scheme. Netflix recently strengthened ties with DreamWorks Animation for original series for the whole family. Hulu expanded its partnership with Viacom that includes a wealth of Nickelodeon programming.

The number of kid-specific, niche OTT services continued to multiply. Established digital hubs such as Toon Goggles, Hopster, Kidoodle.TV and Kabillion extended their footprints into more international markets, and a bevy of new platforms came onto the scene, ready to conquer various corners of the globe. For example, the Chinese VOD service YOU On Demand launched the children’s subscription platform YOU Kids On Demand for cable and IPTV. Meanwhile, Google began to roll out a child-friendly version of YouTube featuring age-appropriate content and controls. YouTube Kids made its debut in the U.S. and has since expanded to the U.K. and Ireland.

Disney entered the subscription-based streaming services market with the launch of DisneyLife, positioning itself as an all-in-one “experience” with on-demand access to classic movies and family TV shows, a library of music from Disney recording artists, children’s books and free games. Nickelodeon, meanwhile, brought its streaming app into a range of new territories, including the Middle East and North Africa.

A host of other linear channels extended into the digital space with apps and various other TV Everywhere offerings. France’s TF1 debuted TFOU MAX, aimed at kids 3 to 12. Australia’s ABC iview and ABC KIDS launched a new free app for the iPad, ABC KIDS iview, developed specifically for preschoolers. BBC Children’s unveiled plans for a new iPlayer app with programming targeted specifically at children that will arrive this year. Canada’s Corus Entertainment rolled out the TV Everywhere services TreehouseGO, YTVGo and NickGO.

Corus also made waves in 2015 with its landmark deal with the Disney/ABC Television Group that brought Disney Channel to Canada. The long-term licensing agreement also gave Corus the English- and French-language rights to Disney content. Concurrently, DHX announced that it would be phasing out Disney branding on its specialty channels. This fall, DHX launched the rebranded networks Family Jr., Télémagino and CHRGD. The company increased acquisitions and original commissions to fill the schedules, and it also lined up a multiyear agreement with Mattel for new episodes and specials.

In the programming space, the trend toward reboots continued. The Powerpuff Girls is coming back this year with a new series on Cartoon Network, as is the popular Ben 10 franchise. Teletubbies, Danger Mouse and Inspector Gadget are among the other classic properties being revived.

Speaking of comebacks, Iftah Ya Simsim, the Arabic-language version of Sesame Street, returned to the Middle East after a 25-year hiatus. The venerable kids’ brand also got its first-ever U.S. Spanish-language show, Sesame Amigos, which launched exclusively on Univision. Later this month, Sesame Street makes its move to HBO from its longtime home on public broadcaster PBS. Following a five-year pact between Sesame Workshop and the premium pay service, the 46th season of the iconic series will become available on January 16 on HBO and its multiplex channels, HBO GO, HBO On Demand and the internet-only SVOD service HBO NOW. It will feature a revamped set, shorter running time and a new character.

For the year ahead, change seems as though it will be the one thing that remains constant in the kids’ programming business. Children’s content distributors will continue to find more opportunities with emerging digital platforms to place new programs and mine back catalogues, while producers work closer with established OTTs on original content. These digital platforms have even had an impact on the format of kids’ programming; their on-demand nature makes serialized story arcs more appealing—and linear broadcasters are taking a cue. TV Kids Daily, TV Kids Weekly and TVKids.ws will be keeping you up to date on all the latest developments throughout 2016 and beyond.