wknd@stv

wknd@stv is a short-lived children's programming strand on Scottish television channel, STV. The block aired on Saturdays and Sundays, usually starting at 9.25am (the first ever edition began at 9.55am). It began on Saturday 17 January 2009 with a three-hour edition. The majority of editions were one to two hours in length.

The first series was originally scheduled to run for twelve weeks (to Sunday 12 April 2009), but STV subsequently decided to extend the run, which eventually ended on 21 June, just before the Scottish school summer holidays. A second series of wknd@stv began on Saturday 15 August 2009; this ran for six weeks, ending on 20 September 2009.

Featured programming consisted of cartoons, live-action drama/comedy and gameshows, principally archive output produced or co-produced by STV (formerly SMG Productions or Scottish Television Enterprises); there was also some imported programming to which STV holds the rights, such as Flying Rhino Junior High, which STV purchased prior to the launch of wknd@stv.

At the time of wknd@stv launching, the ITV network was not airing children's programming on weekend mornings. A networked CITV block was reintroduced in March and April 2009 and again from September 2009; STV prioritised their own show, such that in weeks where both wknd@stv and the CITV block were running, STV would screen their strand first and timeshift the CITV block to run afterwards; if there was not room to do this then the CITV block would be omitted completely in favour of the local show. In several weeks where the structure of the ITV network schedule did not permit STV to opt out and/or timeshift networked content on Sundays, only a Saturday edition would run.

The links were produced in the 16:9 widescreen format. Some of the insert programming was only available in the older 4:3 format; this is cropped to be screened in the compromise 14:9 format with coloured bars at the sides of the screen to make up the difference. Shows made in 16:9 are not cropped.

The method by which the programme links were produced and broadcast - a string of programmes interlaced with 'recorded-as-live' links, clips, skits and short features - is similar to that employed by Channel 4's T4 strand.

In addition to being available within Scotland on terrestrial, Freeview, satellite and cable TV, the programme was also available across the UK to satellite viewers who have added STV to their satellite receiver by manually tuning the frequency in. This also allowed access to all other STV opt-out content.^[1] Each edition of the programmme was also available to UK internet users for 30 days after original broadcast, via the STV Player, though any insert programmes which STV does not have the right to broadcast online were excluded.

There are currently no plans for any future series of wknd@stv.

Presenters

The programme was presented by two Scottish teenagers, Kimberley Neill ('Kim') and Jonathan Pender ('Johnny').^[2][3]

Until April 5, 2009, Kim and Johnny would present on Saturdays only, with another young duo, Caitlin Murphy and Nathan Byrne, presenting on Sundays. However, from the following week Murphy and Byrne were dropped, and Kim and Johnny presented all subsequent editions. Video content recorded by Murphy and Byrne continued to be available from the programme's website following their departure.

Featured programmes

Below is a list of programmes broadcast within wknd@stv to date. Uncle Dad and Twister were not screened in the first run (January–June). Some programmes have also been aired nationally on ITV's CITV block and/or the CITV channel.

References

External links

• wknd@stv at stv.tv