KidsCo, the joint venture channel owned by leading media companies Sparrowhawk Media, DIC Ent. (DIC) and Corus Ent. Inc.'s Nelvana Enterprises, goes on air today in Romania, Hungary, Russia, Turkey and Poland carried by local cable operators. Deals have also been signed in Ukraine, where KidsCo will launch next month, and in Asia Pacific, where viewers will be able to tune in by early 2008.
It is anticipated that the family-friendly, 24-hour, multi-platform channel will be available in up to 40 territories -- including Europe and Latin America -- within the next 18 months. KidsCo utilizes Sparrowhawk's state-of-the-art broadcast distribution facility in the U.S. and the company's international network of affiliates.
KidsCo features renowned animated and live-action television series and feature-length movies from independent animation program suppliers DIC and Nelvana. Among the offerings are DIC's INSPECTOR GADGET, STRAWBERRY SHORTCAKE, MADELINE, DENNIS THE MENACE, CARE BEARS and Nelvana's BABAR, FRANKLIN, THE ADVENTURES OF TINTIN and ROLIE POLIE OLIE. KidsCo has also acquired programming from other major children's content suppliers after signing deals with Entertainment Rights and TV-Loonland.
