Kathleen Tracy
Leading the digital charge
NEWSKids content companies are creating new media divisions at break-neck speeds and relying on a new crop of execs to turn emerging platforms into revenue generators. But right now it seems like they’re either way ahead of the curve, or playing a game of hurry up and wait. While 21st century digital media may not [...]
U.S. kidnets reach farther through VOD and new demos
NEWSFacing the challenge of staying alive and relevant with kids in an ever-broadening multi-screen universe has put U.S. kidnets in a bit of an expansionist frame of mind this season. And the drive to claim new territory seems to be centered around two goals – offering services on new delivery platforms and tapping into ever-younger viewing demographics.
U.S. programmers start painting in broader strokes to widen their reach
NEWSIn the annals of the upfront, 2004 should go down in history as the year the kids market stole the show. While prime-time broadcast networks finished flat over last year, U.S. kidcasters enjoyed higher-than-anticipated revenue growth. ‘In talking to vendors, everyone was up double digits in demand periods,’ says Dan Kopec, assistant media director at Starcom Worldwide. Harry Keeshan, executive VP of national broadcast for PHD, agrees. ‘There’s a very big push these days for entry-level marketing – that is, targeting kids and teens – based on both demand and ratings points.’
U.S. kidnets coast into fall on an upfront high
NEWSState-side kids channels are basking in the glow of a rosier 2003 upfront that saw sales jump by an estimated 10% over last year, culminating in a total take pegged at US$9.4 billion.
A heartier kids upfront puts a rosy glow on the new U.S. fall season
NEWSAfter two years of economic downturn, a more robust 2002 kids upfront has kidnets singing an optimistic tune as they head into the fall season launch. The consensus among both media buyers and network ad sales execs is that the overall market is up over last year by as much as 5%, putting the total take at around US$800 million.
Sensitive post- 9/11 programming strategies trigger ratings boom for U.S. kidcasters
NEWSAs the U.S. embraced an anti-violence, family-centric values system in the wake of September 11, even the most family-oriented of kids programmers took stock of their portfolios, making nearly imperceptible shifts and tweaks in programming lineups and strategy. The reward? A ratings upswing that, for some nets, shows no signs of abating.
Prodcos see signs of normalcy ahead
NEWSFor producers trying to gauge what long-lasting aftershocks September 11 may have on the kids TV biz, the conventional wisdom has been to tread more cautiously–at least for the time being.
Lightspan and Sony put video games in the classroom
NEWSNot only is the video game biz on the verge of becoming the most profitable sector in the entertainment industry (with some estimates predicting sales to exceed US$16.9 billion by 2003), but it is now stepping into schools and turning its products into educational tools.
Enthusiast mags thrive in niche markets
NEWSIn the case of enthusiast magazines, less really is more. While the mindset of most kids entertainment providers is to present product that appeals to as wide a range of young consumers in their target demo as possible, enthusiast mags thrive…
Acquisitions signal a sea of change in the video game biz
NEWSIn the world of video gaming, the days of the successful indie software developer may be numbered. Analysts and developers alike view the recent spate of acquisitions of third-party hotshops by Sony, Microsoft and, to a lesser degree, Nintendo as part…
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Kidscreen Summit 2010 -