TVO proposes new 24/7 kids channel

March 22, 2010 by Etan Vlessing

Canadian provincial pubcaster TVOntario has applied to the CRTC, the country’s broadcasting regulator, to operate a new category 2 digital channel TVOKids+.

The application, to be heard May 12, calls for a new specialty channel that will effectively program TVO’s current daytime kids offering round the clock.

‘TVOKids+ represents another important opportunity for TVO to take advantage of opportunities to monetize our assets and new self-generated revenues,’ Lisa de Wilde, CEO of TVO, wrote to the CRTC last December when submitting the original license application.

‘This will assist TVO in its objective of building a financially responsible, sustainable business, a key element of our strategic business plan,’ she added.

The channel, free of all commercials aside from sponsor messages, will target young Ontarians with educational content that complements what they already learn in elementary school classrooms to grade five.

Being curriculum-based, TVO told the CRTC that TVOKids+ service will not compete directly with existing kids specialty channels.

Besides formal educational content, proposed programming for TVOKids+ will include TV dramas, MOWs and animated series and films.

TVO added that ‘on-staff educators’ will oversee all programming produced for TVO Kids+, whether at the educational broadcaster or from local or international producers.

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