| Type | Saturday morning block |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Availability | National |
| Launch date | September 3, 2011 |
| Official website | http://www.littonweekendadventure.com |
Litton's Weekend Adventure (originally known as ABC Weekend Adventure) is a block of live-action children's television series programmed by Litton Entertainment that is broadcast on the ABC network on Saturday mornings.[1][2] Announced on May 24, 2011, Litton's Weekend Adventure launched on September 3, 2011, replacing the ABC Kids block.[3][4][5][6]
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Programming featured primarily targets 13-16 year olds, and the block satisfies the E/I programming guidelines outlined by the Federal Communications Commission.[3][4][5][6][2]
The block came as a result of ABC deciding in early 2011 to no longer provide E/I programming as part of its Saturday morning network lineup to its affiliates; the network had not introduced any new E/I programs for its ABC Kids block since 2008, and the E/I programs that were airing had been in reruns for three years at the time of the decision. As a compromise, the network's affiliate board agreed to instead look for a broadcast syndication package that would only air exclusively on ABC stations. Litton Entertainment was eventually selected, beating out two other competitors.[3]
Although the block airs exclusively on ABC owned-and-operated stations and affiliates, Litton's Weekend Adventure is formatted similarly to a syndication package. There are no references to the network in promotions for the lineup and it does not use the network's logo bug during any of the programs, nor do commercial breaks include any promotions for ABC primetime programming. Although Litton's Weekend Adventure is meant to be a children's programming block, advertising is not targeted at children and includes only direct response and pharmaceutical advertising targeted towards adults instead, outside of public service announcements.
The Walt Disney Company offers a different Saturday morning block with original and new programming, Toonin' Saturdays, on Disney Channel which began in June 2011 and is now Disney's primary Saturday morning children's block.
Though the block follows the federally-mandated E/I programming guidelines outlined by the FCC, therefore allowing ABC stations to carry it without issues regarding lack of educational content, KDNL-TV in St. Louis, Missouri and WAWV-TV in Terre Haute, Indiana are the only ABC affiliates that do not carry the block (WAVW re-affiliated with the network on September 1, 2011, two days before Weekend Adventure's debut, airs syndicated children's programs in place of the block, same with KDNL; Litton's Weekend Adventure is one of two ABC programs that WAWV does not clear, along with overnight news program World News Now).
| Eastern & Alaska |
Central & Pacific |
Mountain | Show Name | Program Host(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9:00 am | 8:00 am | 7:00 am | Jack Hanna's Wild Countdown | Jack Hanna |
| 9:30 am | 8:30 am | 7:30 am | Ocean Mysteries with Jeff Corwin | Jeff Corwin |
| 10:00 am | 9:00 am | 8:00 am | Born to Explore with Richard Wiese | Richard Wiese |
| 10:30 am | 9:30 am | 8:30 am | Culture Click | Nzinga Blake |
| 11:00 am | 10:00 am | 9:00 am | Everyday Health | Laila Ali and Ethan Zohn |
| 11:30 am | 10:30 am | 9:30 am | Food for Thought with Claire Thomas | Claire Thomas |
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