BBC Children’s Has Ordered A Trio Of New Shows For CBeebies and CBBC (BBC Kids)

For CBeebies, the pubcaster has commissioned Mojo Swoptops (52 x 11 minutes) from Blue Zoo and Tararaboom. The CG-animated preschool series stars an anthropomorphic vehicle who solves the problems in his local community by literally donning new headgear, such as helicopter blades. The series is based on Cindy Black’s book series of the same name.

CBeebies has also greenlit the animated series Rafi the Wishing Wizard from BBC Studios Kids & Family Productions, about a family of modern-day wizards who face the challenges of living in a bustling city.

And for the six-to-12 demo, CBBC has ordered Black Dog Television’s Pickle Storm (10 x 22 minutes), a live-action series about the adventures of a nine-year-old who has to leave his fantasy world and seek refuge in the UK.

In renewal news, CBeebies has reupped Maramedia’s

animated/live-action preschool series Olga da Polga (13 x 11 minutes) for a second season. It’s about an eight-year-old girl, her family and her pet guinea pig, and is based on a book series by Michael Bond (who is better known as the creator of Paddington Bear.)

CBBC has also renewed 9 Story Media Group’s A Kind of Spark for a second season. Based on the same-name book by Elle McNicoll, the series premiered on CBBC in April. Season two will continue the story of Addie, a neurodivergent 11-year-old girl who solves mysteries.

The BBC has been busy adding content to CBeebies and CBBC lately. Just last week, the pubcaster ordered a Hey Duggee preschool spinoff from Studio AKA called Hey Duggee’s Squirrel Club (26 x seven minutes), as well as renewing the original series for a 20 x seven-minute fifth season. And earlier this month, the broadcaster partnered with Toronto-based Sinking Ship Entertainment to produce a UK version of the live-action series Odd Squad (12 x 30 minutes).

BBC Studios Kids & Family Orders Hey Duggee Spinoff

BBC Studios Kids & Family and CBeebies have commissioned new preschool series Hey Duggee’s Squirrel Club from Studio AKA.

A spinoff of the London-based prodco’s Hey Duggee, the new 2D-animated series centers around a friendly dog who encourages his animal friends to try new things. A release date hasn’t yet been announced for the 26 x seven-minute show.

BBC Studios Kids & Family and CBeebies have also renewed the original Hey Duggee series for a 20 x seven-minute fifth season, which will premiere sometime in 2025. 

Since its debut on CBeebies in December 2014, several broadcasters have picked up Hey Duggee, including Nick Jr. (US), Tencent Video (China) and Cartoonito (Italy). The show remains popular—it was the most streamed CBeebies title on BBC iPlayer in 2022 and the second most-watched series on CBeebies between January and August this year, according to the pubcaster.

Hey Duggee also made the leap from screen to stage this year with Hey Duggee The Live Theatre Show, which ran in the UK from December 2022 to August 2023. BBC Studios handles the IP’s consumer products rights, and to date has signed 28 L&M partners in the UK alone, including master toy partner Golden Bear.

News Shorts: CBeebies Set To Debut Brand New On-Air Look, M-Net Movies Action HQ To Rollout On DStv And Zee World Undergoes Various Schedule Changes

CBeebies is set to align themselves with the rest of the BBC channels

In the UK, BBC Studios has begun phasing out the playful and enthusiastic CBeebies logo for a more bold and plan design. The new logo looks identical to the current BBC Kids and most of their linear channels the change is likely part of another alignment or streamlining strategy from the BBC.

BBC Studios is looking to boost their streamlining endeavours similar to the The Walt Disney Company with more details set to be unveiled later in the year.

M-Net Movies Action is being revived for a limited time

In September 2020, M-Net Movies restructured their movie offering by reducing their 6 movie channels at the time to just 4 each of them numbered with the second being a fusion of Action and Action+ channel. After 2 years, the M-Net Movies Action concept is being revived as a pop-up channel.

The Big Bosses Of Action will air on channel 111 from March 17 to April 2 with catch-up till May 1. Feature films include Die Hard, Unchartered, Tom Gun Maverick, John Wick: Chapter 2 and Taken.

Zee World is bringing more extraordinary to the tele

As seen this past week, Zee World in Southern African markets had their schedules adjusted with Twist Of Fate at 2pm-4pm (double bill), Can You See Me at 4pm, It's Not Easy To Love at 8pm, Broken Bonds at 8.50pm, Razia Sultan at 9.40pm and Age Is Just A Number at 10.30pm. All times are allocated in CAT.

The channel has several upcoming attractions such as Radha Mohan alongside 3 other shows and judging by these changes it's safe to put them in the coming soon tile.

BBC Kids Is Currently Available In The United States With WildEarth Planning More International Expansions

BBC Kids is available in the United States

BBC Studios launched two ad-supported kids streaming platforms via Pluto TV in the US which saw the first-ever, child-focused ad-supported channels—BBC Kids and Spanish-language Ninos por BBC—stream more than 450 hours on Pluto TV.

Titles available include, Sarah & Duck, Andy’s Prehistoric Adventures, Andy’s Wild Adventures, Dinopaws, and Mr. Bloom’s Nursery.

Pluto TV has been stocking up on new content since its parent company ViacomCBS Networks International (VCNI) acquired a majority stake in Fox TeleColombia and Estudios TeleMéxico to grow the company’s Spanish-language content. VCNI has also been building Pluto’s distribution reach, teaming up and Nordic Entertainment Group to launch the platform across Sweden, Denmark and Norway this year.

Also read:
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- The last FOX Life available in the United States closes down in March
- National Geographic ending in the UK and several other markets
- Why VH1 Classic was terminated on DStv?
- tvN pushing to become a permanent linear channel in Africa
- As Africa await for their Disney Channels to close in 2024 Latin America starts with Star Life, National Geographic Wild, Disney XD and FX Movies
- Possible terminations and additions on DStv

WildEarth reaches new heights

WildEarth has been available in North America through XUMO from mid 2021 with key international territories rolling out in the future. The WildEarth channel will feature a variety of interactive, ‘front seat’ experiences from dozens of game reserves and parks, including a live safari from the comfort of the viewer’s living room, and more.

“WildEarth is all about sharing nature with everyone so we can all see why we must conserve our beautiful home. This partnership with a leading FAST operator in XUMO is a major step in achieving this as more people are relying on connected TVs and popular streaming devices as their primary sources of entertainment,” commented Graham Wallington, CEO and Co-Founder of WildEarth.

“WildEarth delivers compelling content that captures the beauty and appeal of nature in uniquely immersive ways,” noted Stefan Van Engen, SVP of programming and partnerships at XUMO. “XUMO audiences around the world will enjoy a variety of live and enthralling nature experiences as if they were actually there.”

Also read: 
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- Cartoonito launches on Boomerang across Europe possibly as a trial run before scrapping the channel
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- WWE Network might be getting discontinued globally
- TelkomOne reportedly adds two channels: Toonami and Boing
- Zee World becoming a Sony Channel could lead to a name change
- Discovery World revived for 6 seconds on DStv

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The Scrapped Canadian Children's Brand BBC Kids Rolls Out In Australia, Will DStv Or Starsat Perhaps Get It?

BBC Kids is the international counterpart of the UK's CBBC channel owned by BBC Studios that launched in Canada as a partnership with Knowledge Network from 2001 until 2019.

BBC Kids is a sister channel of BBC Brit, BBC Earth, BBC Lifestyle and the preschool counterpart, CBeebies. The difference with this brand is BBC Studios is calling the shots.

The brand was revived 2 years later on Australia's Fetch TV as a placeholder for Cartoon Network and Boomerang in that platform only.

BBC Kids offers programming for 6 to 10-year-olds and broadcasts comedy, documentaries, drama, entertainment and nature shows such as The Sarah Jane Adventures, Jamie Johnson, Deadly 60 On A Mission and Project Parent. Shows which aren't viewable anywhere in Africa.

Telemundo and PBS Kids were in the same boat as this brand with their availability being limited to certain regions now they're both available in Africa through MultiChoice's DStv.

If BBC Kids launched in Africa it would compete with other brands such as PBS Kids and Da Vinci Kids while it's preschool counterpart CBeebies is taking on Nick Jr and Disney Junior.

Read Also:
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- MultiChoice announce new shows for Nicktoons and Nick Jr
- Global Fashion Channel makes its African debut
- tvN might be permanent on DStv
- June on Cartoon Network and Boomerang (updated)
- DStv might be losing more Disney Channels
- June on Da Vinci Kids
- Upcoming programming for Disney Channel and Disney Junior
- June on Nicktoons and Nick Jr
- Details on SABC's kids brand (not SABC Education)
- Other shows coming soon to eToonz?
- Boomerang might be discontinued