Breaking new iTV ground, Fox Kids Europe and Paris-based tech company Visiware are planning to start rolling out a slew of subscription-based interactive games channels across Europe for kids ages four to 14. Branded as Fox Kids Play, each channel will house a lineup of four to six games tailored to appeal to kids in that region. France and Italy will be the first countries to try out the concept, with channels tentatively slated to roll out there within three months.

Fox Kids Play will be delivered on a stand-alone basis or as part of a subscriber’s basic service via cable and DTH satellite platforms. Kids can download games into their digital decoder box and then play them on-screen using their remote controls. Ten games based on characters and properties in the FKE library are finished-including Digimon, Princess Sissi and Diabolik titles. Some games will be developed for specific countries, while others will be tapped by all the channels.

Fox Kids Europe expects the Fox Kids Play project to yield advertising and subscription revenues, and it will be responsible for marketing and promoting the channels on existing Fox Kids outlets. FKE is currently broadcasting into 53 countries to more than 24 million subscribers. Visiware will take care of channel development and hardware interface with cable and satellite operators.