Australia becomes KidsCo market number 59, in just over two years since its launch, as the children’s TV network joins the FoxTel platform in time for the summer holidays. KidsCo will be launching a new dedicated feed for Australia, having chosen RRsat to provide playout and uplink services, as well as to distribute the channel to the Foxtel DBS platform via Asiasat 5. KidsCo is also looking to leverage RRsat’s Global Network to provide additional playout to Western and Eastern Europe, Latin America and Asia in the future. KidsCo MD Paul Robinson says there has been significant investment in the Australia channel; it will feature Australian children and, “….needed an Australian flavour. Our five-year deal with FoxTel will see KidsCo remaining ad-free, packaged with the other children’s channels, and filling a gap for 6-10 year olds in a safe learning environment.” Robinson says programming deals have been secured with Beyond Entertainment, Southern Star (now Endemol), “largely for Australia buts also for elsewhere. The channel will be scheduled for the Australian (long) school holidays. We are looking at producing content and acquiring more for that market.” KidsCo’s biggest local production initiative in the region thus far is new animated programme Boo & Me. The show, which has been developed with Malaysian animators Inspidea, adds to KidsCo’s original content portfolio which also includes arts and crafts show Jass Time! Boo & Me follows the exploits of a mischievous orangutan called Boo who is rescued from poachers and delivered to the safety of a nature reserve in Malaysia. Stories revolve around Boo’s adventures with two children, Aiman and his cousin Yasmin, who befriend him. The show aims to increase kid’s awareness of the importance of conservation and caring for the environment. The launch of Boo & Me took place at the Marriott Hotel in Kuala Lumpar and was attended by The Honourable Datuk Dr. Puad Zakarshi, Deputy Minister of Education for Malaysia. Representatives from KidsCo, Inspidea and Astro Entertainment were also in attendance. Following the launch, Malaysian Airlines began airing the show on selected routes. Asked how KidsCo, aiming to be the fourth global children’s TV network, can be eyeing break-even to coincide with its third anniversary, Robinson says there’s a whole world of great content out there – and KidsCo’s different revenue model helps keep costs down. “We don’t pay license fees, instead 15 companies have signed up on a revenue share basis. They take a risk on our channels, but they share the revenues, hence our break-even is much lower. The ‘big three’ kids channels don’t tend to buy much third-party content, which offers a wealth of opportunity for KidsCo.”
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