Chinese children’s entertainment company UYoung has launched Ukids, a preschool-skewing SVOD, in China. The goal of the platform is to expand the reach of its production and distribution catalogue, while helping kids in the region learn English.

Available today as an OTT service, and as an app on iOS and Android devices, Ukids also has a dedicated area for parents on Wechat with additional information on its programming and language courses. The SVOD will have more than 3,000 animated eps at launch available in both English and Mandarin, including, Peppa Pig, Bob the Builder, Thomas & Friends, Sesame Street and Hey Duggee. Shows that UYoung distributes in China, such as Moon & Me, along with shows it’s co-producing such as Boat Rocker Studios and BBC Children’s Love Monster, will be added to the platform in the future, according to UYoung.

On the education side, UYoung teamed up with the educational organization the British Council to create a section featuring English-language versions of the shows that are grouped into categories from easiest to follow to hardest, through which kids can learn English.

The app also hosts more than 1,000 songs and audio stories, including YouTube content from Skyship Entertainment’s Super Simple Song brand. The two companies will also release English-language learning resources later this year.

UYoung is seeking a range of international content to add to the platform, including more animated TV shows, half-hour TV movies, documentaries, live-action content and mixed-media programs, says UYoung’s VP of international business, Clara Yang.  Content with a STEM focus, that teaches social-emotional learning and feature arts & crafts are of particular interest, she adds.

The distributor is staking a claim to China’s kids audience with the new SVOD, and prior to this it was primarily the distributor for international producers looking to reach Chinese broadcasters. In the last year it has sold TeamTO’s Mighty Mike and Cottonwood Media’s The Ollie and Moon Show to China’s Tencent and Mango TV, as well as a trio of animated shows Mia and Me, Space Racers and Messy Goes to Okido to state-owned broadcaster CCTV.