What if Universal Kids was launched in 1996?

In the real life, we know that Universal Kids was launched in 2017. But in the alternate universe, what if Universal Kids was launched in 1996 instead of 2017.

This theory is interconnected to What if DreamWorks Pictures was founded in 1980 as The Geffen Film Company?

This idea was thought of by DannyD1997.

## Changes

* Universal Kids would've been a Universal's American kids network (1996-present), along with Disney Channel, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, Sony YAY!, Fox Kids (until 2001), Kids' WB (until 1996) and UPN Kids (until 1986).
* *Escape from Jurassic Park* would've produced and premiered on Fox Kids from 1994-1996 as one of the last animated shows to air outside of an American channel that is not Universal alongside *Earthworm Jim and The Pooch the Pup Show.*
* MCA Inc. would've only own and operate Universal Kids from October 18th, 1996 to December 9th, 1996; less than two months, and would've been the last thing MCA Inc. would've make for Universal before eventually being sold off to Seagram, a Canadian beverage company, during that time
	+ Because of that, MCA Inc. would've only extend Universal Kids to places like Canada (with its Canadian channel licensed by Accessible Media Inc. from 1989-present and onwards), Mexico, South America (including Brazil), Europe (yes, all of it, including Eastern Europe, Russia, and Northern Europe), and that's it.
* Universal Kids would've it's own Magazine, Consumer Products, VHS Tapes/DVDs and Music CDs.
* Universal Kids would've aired Pokémon anime since 1998 instead of Kids' WB in 1998 then Cartoon Network in 2006, later Disney XD in 2016 and now Netflix in 2020.
	+ At the same time, Universal would've announced plans to create their own basic cable network for kids. In October 18th, 1996, Universal Kids was officially launched, and so were Discovery Travel & Living, Discovery Civilization and Science Channel.
* Many of the shows that would've aired on Universal Kids would've mainly consist of shows and movies that Universal owns in their family library, from An American Tail to Beethoven to Land Before Time to Back to the Future to Jurassic Park to Woody Woodpecker to Balto to Pooch the Pup to Universal Family Network shows etc.
	+ They also would've air live-action family friendly shows as well, even from Universal, like *My Secret Identity*
	+ They'd also air a line of European shows, usually from Marathon Media and others, like "Totally Spies".
	+ They'd also air a line of Japanese shows, Like Anime.Universal Kids would've also produce their own line of teen sitcoms to compete with Nickelodeon and Disney Channel.
		- However, they would've occasionally air live action shows and teen sitcoms as the channel would focus more on animated content.
* The first six original shows would've premiered in 1996 upon the channel's potential launch on October 18th of that year; consisting of The Pooch the Pup Show (beginning with season 2; after acquiring the show from Fox Kids), Earthworm Jim (beginning with season 2; after acquiring the show from Kids' WB!), Chilly Willy (1996), Wing Commander Academy, Vor-Tech: Undercover Conversion Squad, and Jetty the Weak Jet Plane, with the title character being voiced by Richard Steven Horvitz, who also would've served as the announcer for the channel from 1996-2004.
	+ A Andy Panda reboot would've premiered in 1996.
	+ Pooch the Pup, Andy Panda and Jetty would've been hit shows for Universal Kids, while even then, Vor-Tech and WCA would just do okay. And when Jurassic Park: Chaos Effect would've been picked up by Universal Kids for a full series in 1998, it would've never do as well.
	+ Action themed original cartoons on Universal Kids would've mostly do okay during the 1990s, but not as much as their animated comedies or even teen sitcoms. Universal Kids would've still air action themed programming with their Universal Kids Action Pack block, similar to the syndicated Universal Action Pack block, but for kids.
* In September 5th, 1997, Universal Kids launched their own preschool block every morning with Sprout Universal, which would've mainly broadcast preschool shows, including ones by HIT Entertainment, and ones eventually owned by Entertainment Rights, as well as *Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories*, *Salty's Lighthouse*, *Skinnamarink TV* and *Bingo and Molly*, with *Kipper* being their first one.
	+ Here are the HIT shows that would've exclusively air on Sprout Universal (now Universal Junior) internationally outside of the UK where they would've still air on BBC at: Kipper, Oswald (which would've been co-produced by Universal Cartoon Studios instead of Nickelodeon Animation Studios), Rubbadubbers, Angelina Ballerina, Bob the Builder, Thomas and Friends (series 5 onwards), Angelina Ballerina: The Next Steps, Fireman Sam (series 5 onwards), Wobbly Land, Sheeep, Frances, Pingu (seasons 5 and 6), The Magic Key, Mike the Knight, Brum (series 3-5), Barney and Friends (seasons 4 onwards), the last five episodes of the Enchanted World of Brambly Hedge and the last two specials and the 1999 full episodes of Percy the Park Keeper.
	+ Maisy the Mouse would've been more exclusive to Universal Kids' preschool block Sprout Universal.
	+ The Ready Set Learn block on Sprout Universal would've been launched in February 4th, 1999, and then discontinued in October 8th, 2010.
	+ Seagram's entertainment assets were all sold to Vivendi, who became Vivendi Universal Entertainment, and by 2001, would've helped bring Universal Kids to even more places outside the United States, such as Africa, Middle East, Asia (especially India and Japan), and Australia (the whole continent, including New Zealand).
		- The first Universal Kids original series during the Vivendi age would've been a potential TV series adaptation of Balto, and it probably would've never been that good either, but at least it would've never turn out like We're Back!.
	+ Universal Kids would've had five animated shows premiering in 2001, such as the animated Mummy series, Oswald, Sitting Ducks, Angelina Ballerina and Trevor!.
		- Speaking of the latter, it was pitched to Cartoon Network in 2000, and produced by Cuppa Coffee Studios, but was rejected. As a result, Universal Kids would've been picking up certain concepts rejected by Nickelodeon, Cartoon Network, and even Disney Channel.
		- Trevor! would've been a collaboration between Universal Cartoon Studios, Cuppa Coffee Studios, and Teletoon Canada, lasting from 2001 to 2005.Throughout some more years, they would continuously pick up rejected concepts rightfully so, like Constant Payne and Kitty Bobo in 2002, Colin Versus the World in 2003, Longhair and Doubledome (with Maktar) in 2004, Craig Bartlett's Party Wagon in 2005, even Klasky Csupo shows like Rollin' Rock Starz in 2006 and Ronnie Biddles in 2007.
			* Universal Kids would've pick up the Wizard of Krudd, and turn it into a series in 2008.
		- Universal Kids even would've had their own awards show with the Universal Kids Worldwide Globe Awards.
		- Though, they'd still have other animated shows based on pre-existing properties, such as any reboot of a Classic Media property, any Entertainment Rights reboot, Curious George (exclusive to Sprout Universal), and the Penguins of Madagascar (instead of Nickelodeon).
		- They would've do an animated series based on Pixel Chix, having Shakeh Hagnazarian (of Hi Hi Puffy AmiYumi) involved, animated by Boulder Media for Universal Animation Studios/Universal Kids and Mattel, being the late-2000's equivalent.
		- That said, they would've picked up the Phabulizers from Disney Channel.
		- Universal Kids would've also acquired imports like New Zealand.
	+ Universal Kids would've launch 4 spin-off sister channels by that point, such as Cartooniversal (May 2nd, 2002), Sprout Universal (February 4th, 1999), Universal Family Network (September 14th, 1998) and Universal Teens (October 11th, 2009).
	+ Universal Kids Worldwide would've also bought out Sparrowhawk Media Group by the end of 2007, making the Universal Kids brand even bigger.
		- In 2008, Paramount opted to sold the rights to Raggedy Ann to Universal Studios, with the publishing rights being transferred from Simon & Schuster to Random House, and newer Raggedy Ann shows will be produced
		- Universal Kids would've also showcase live-action shows to compete with Nickelodeon and Disney Channel. And they would've picked up more original shows from then on in the 2010s, like Dugly Uckling, Kung Fu Panda: Legends of Awesomeness, Dragons, Lassie, Monsters vs. Aliens, My Science Fiction Project, Turbo Fast, All Hail King Julien, The Adventures of Puss in Boots, Dinotrux, The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, Dawn of the Croods, Welcome to My Life, Voltron: Legendary Defender, Trollhunters: Tales of Arcadia, Trolls: The Beat Goes On!, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Kung Fu Panda: The Paws of Destiny, She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, 3Below: Tales of Arcadia, DreamWorks Dragons: Rescue Riders, Fast & Furious Spy Racers and Archibald's Next Big Thing; while stuff like Animal Jam, Hi-5, The Paz Show, The Save-Ums!, Peep in the Big Wide World, ToddWorld, Bigfoot Presents: Meteor and the Mighty Monster Trucks, Hip Hop Harry, Wilbur, Maryoku Yummy, Secret Millionaires Club, The Adventures of Chuck and Friends, Noddy: Toyland Detective, Where's Waldo?, and VeggieTales Bible Tales (the AU version of VeggieTales in the House/City) would be exclusive to Sprout Universal (then referred to as Universal Junior).
			* NBCUniversal would've never fire Phil Vischer, Mike Nawrocki, Lisa Vischer and Kurt Heinecke as they would've let them have more creative control over their properties, so there would've been a third VeggieTales movie, which would've co-produced by DreamWorks Animation.
			* As a result, Big Idea Entertainment would've still been open.
		- And in the 2020s, they would've picked up stuff like Rhyme Time Town, The Mighty Ones, Doug Unplugs, Gabby's Dollhouse, Trolls: TrollsTopia, Go, Dog, Go!, The Croods: Family Tree, DreamWorks Dragons: The Nine Realms, Kipo and the Age of Wonderbeasts, Wizards: Tales of Arcadia, Cleopatra in Space, Jurassic World Camp Cretaceous, Team Zenko Go, Pinecone & Pony, and Kung Fu Panda: The Dragon Knight. If any of them are preschool shows, they would've not only be shown on Peacock, but on Universal Junior
		- All of Universal Kids' original shows and/or co-productions would've streamed on Peacock.
		- Universal Television Animation would've also produce adult animated shows during the age of Universal Kids like *the Blues Brothers: the Animated Series*, *Neighbors from Hell* and *the Peacock Brothers* for NBC, *Scott Pilgrim* for G4, and *Q-Force* and *Saturday Morning All Star Hits!* for Peacock and also USA Network.
			* With the case of the latter two, they actually did here, only for Netflix.
* Peacock would've a larger animation library.
* It will have an time capsule and opened in October 18th 2026 and buried on Universal Studios Hollywood.
* Universal Kids characters will be on Universal Studios Orlando, and it will have an themed hotel like nickelodeon suites and resorts.
* Cocomelon won't aired on Universal Kids and Universal Sprout