The Kiddie Channel

**The Kiddie Channel** is an American digital broadcast and television network owned and operated by Tiny Tots Broadcasting Service. It is a nonprofit company and the most prominent provider devoted to children's television programming aimed at preschool audiences in the United States. However by August 5, 2011, Kiddie UK, a British version of the network, was also launched in the United Kingdom.

The network features a broad mix of live-action and animated children's programs distributed to Kiddie by independent companies and select member stations, which are designed for improving the early literacy, math, and social skills of young children ages 2 to 14. The channel has seen a significant increase in viewership since its launch. Since then, the network has also spawned sister channels such as Kiddie Junior, Kiddie Toons, Kiddie Sandbox, etc.

On January 3, 2022, the company launched a streaming service called Kiddie Plus, which features many of the network's proprietary shows.

## Overview

Kiddie is headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri. The company and its network were created on January 1, 2000, with a reach of around 16 million viewers across various television providers, and began to devote its primetime lineup to programming targeting a preschool-kindergarten audience, including various random content, imported series from other countries, and even their very own original shows. Kiddie Channel continues to air preschool-oriented programming throughout its 24/7 schedule. The network has won more than 23 awards than any other kids media company in the world. The company's mascot is a green animated puppy with a mohawk.

However, the channel's widespread comeuppance, mostly in situations for which it is not intended, Kiddie is often the subject of criticism, mockery and sometimes even dislike.

Commenting on its critics and fans everywhere, Kiddie co-founder and CEO Reilly Scribbner said, "If you love it, you don't know much about Kiddie, but if you hate it, you really don't know much about Kiddie either, and you should probably just watch something else."

She even claims that Kiddie's programming would be renowned from its rivals, such as PBS Kids, Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and Disney Channel.

Scribbner also states that "we're offering something to 2 to 14 year olds that has a slightly different purpose — widening their eyes, opening their minds and celebrating many aspects of being a kid. We have great shows for the preschoolers, which is important in growing up with the rest of the family."

## Production of original shows

As The Kiddie Channel is often known for doing, they will sometimes create their own original programs, produced entirely in-house by Kiddie's studio staff. These shows include Ready to Decorate, Rainbow Kitty, Strawberry Care Shop, Flopsy, Skipperdoodle and Friends, Corn on the Cob, etc.

Television shows produced by Kiddie are noted for using the same crew on all series, something that is not typical for scripted television series, especially shows that are created by the same writers. Voice actors working for most of Kiddie's series include Chaister Garrincha, Braddock Schroeder, Maxillane Charrest, Gallego Slovencina, and Dallaire Wippenberg, among many others. Directors Heloise Berthellier and Toulouse Franceppo also work for the company, often directing many episodes. Musicians Lindred Fischer and Delliney Lessive are largely responsible for the music on the shows, with lyrics performed by Holly Willoughby.

## Current sister channels and platforms

### Kiddie Junior

The Kiddie Junior channel schedule mainly features shows from Kiddie's library of preschool programming, many of which is targeted at ages 2-5.

### Kiddie Toons

Kiddie Toons is primarily aimed at older children ages 6 to 11 years old. The channel's programming consists of various first-run television series, current and former original series, primetime blocks inherited from sister networks, theatrically released films, and acquired programs from other distributors.

### Kiddie Sandbox

Sandbox (formerly named *Sandbox by Kiddie*) is a TV channel owned and operated by Kiddie Channel with various international versions. Sandbox debuted in 2009 and is often known as a "second flagship" brand alongside Kiddie Channel. Sandbox is dedicated to classic archived animation from Kiddie's library. Historically, Sandbox would engage in drifts rather than airing more modern and minimalistic programming, including reruns of shows that were either acquired or produced for Kiddie Channel.

### Playground Kiddie

On July 11, 2006, Kiddie repackaged some of their existing children's educational programming as a new weekday/weekend children's morning block called "Playground Kiddie", that showcases themed shows, premieres or special episodes of new and existing Kiddie programs.

### Kiddie UK

Kiddie UK is a British counterpart of the original US channel. It launched in 2011 and mostly features UK-dubbed versions of Kiddie's original programs.

### Kiddie Plus

Kiddie Plus is an American subscription video on-demand streaming service owned and operated by the Media and Entertainment Distribution division of Kiddie Holdings. The service primarily distributes various original television series produced by Kiddie.

Kiddie Plus was launched on January 3, 2022. Upon launch, it was met with positive reception of its content library, but was criticized for technical problems and missing content. Alterations made to films and television shows also attracted media attention. Ten million users had subscribed to Kiddie Plus by the end of its first day of operation. The service has 137.7 million global subscribers as of April 3.

Upon request by other media companies, and with their streaming distribution deal with Netflix ending in 2019, Kiddie took the opportunity to use technologies being developed to establish their own Kiddie-branded streaming service that would feature all of its content. Production of films and television shows for exclusive release on the platform began shortly thereafter.

## List of shows and programming

*Main article: List of shows on The Kiddie Channel*