ABC Kids Channel

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ABC Kids Channel
ABC Kids Channel Logo
Launched August 1, 2001
Closed June 30, 2003
Network ABC Television
Owned by Australian Broadcasting
Corporation
Picture format 576i (SDTV)
Website abc.net.au/children/digital
Availability
Terrestrial
SD Digital Channel 21
Satellite
Austar Digital Channel 14
Cable
Optus Digital Channel 21
This article is about the former digital television channel. For the programming strand on ABC1 and ABC2, see ABC Kids.

The ABC Kids Channel was an ABC Television channel available to viewers of digital terrestrial television in Australia. Launched on August 1, 2001, the channel offered repeats of popular ABC Kids programmes both simulcast and timeshifted.[1] The ABC Kids Channel closed on June 30, 2003 due to funding shortages.

Contents

[edit] History

Further information: History of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation

The ABC Kids Channel commenced transmission nationally on August 1, 2001, becoming ABC Television's first digital multichannel service. The channel, broadcast from 6:00am to 6:00pm, was officially inaugurated by former ABC Managing Director, Jonathan Shier, at the Australian Parliament House in Canberra on August 7, 2001.[1] The ABC launched the channel without additional funding, hoping that its success would prompt an additional government grant.

The ABC Kids Channel closed on June 30, 2003 along with Fly TV, in the first of a series of cuts to save around AU$25 million a year for the ABC.[2] The ABC could not secure government funding to keep the channel on-air. However, the ABC Kids brand did survive on ABC1, ABC2 and ABC Online.

[edit] Programming

Further information: List of programs broadcast by ABC Television

The ABC Kids Channel's programming consisted primarily of timeshifted and simulcast shows from ABC1, and classic content from the ABC Television archives.

[edit] Typical schedule

6:00 AM 6:30 AM 7:00 AM 7:30 AM 8:00 AM 8:30 AM 9:00 AM 9:30 AM 10:00 AM
SUN Black Rose Castle Franklin Brum Madeline The Wayne Manifesto Stickin' Around Albert Blazing Dragons
MON Anthony Ant George Shrinks Tracey McBean Bob the Builder Sesame Street Bananas in Pyjamas Play School Rosie and Jim
TUE
WED Simon in the Land of Chalk Drawings Snailsbury Tails
THU Skipper & Skeeto Old Tom
FRI
SAT Black Rose Castle Farthing Wood Enchanted Lands Arthur Atlantis High Stickin' Around Albert Blazing Dragons

Note: Australian programs are in Purple; British programs are in Green; New Zealand programs are in Orange; Canadian programs are in Red; American programs are in Blue. The above represents the ABC Kids Channel's September 2002 morning schedule.[3]

[edit] Availability

The ABC Kids Channel was available from 6:00am to 6:00pm on both digital terrestrial television and subscription services; Austar and Optus Television. However, it could not gain carriage on Foxtel due to Foxtel's financial interests in the Australian rights to competitors Nickelodeon and Fox Kids.

The channel created significant tension between the Australian Broadcasting Corporation and Viacom (owners of Nickelodeon), as ABC Television interpreted it's free-to-air rights deal for the screening of Nickelodeon content on ABC1 to allow them to broadcast the programs on the ABC Kids Channel for no extra cost. While this interpration was found to be correct, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation lost the free-to-air rights to newly produced Nickelodeon programs to Network Ten.

[edit] Logos

The ABC Kids Channel only used one main logo throughout its history, from 2001 to 2003.

Used from 2001 to 2003
2001 - 2003

[edit] References

[edit] External links