Sinclair To Launch 'KidsClick' Multiplatform Programming Block For Children

[Takao]

No changes planned for May.

Z...z...Z...z

 

[homeofthebadguys]

No changes planned for May.

Z...z...Z...z

Looks like this is the start of the summer for them. I wonder if this'll remain...
Also, just noticed that KTXL 40.4 had change their testcard (originally it was colour bard with a yellow box moving around the screen and the channel's call on the top of the video, now it's mere colour bars and removed the test tone). 40.4's ID hasn't changed and is still "TBD TV".

 

[Takao]

 

[RandomMe]

That post looks kind of amateur.

 

[Takao]

 

[Takao]

 

[superkeegan9100]

Their YouTube channel doesn't have any clips from their shows, it just has promos for events that already happened (i.e. Easter, President's Day, St. Patrick's Day, etc.).

 

[homeofthebadguys]

This isn't relative to KidsClick, but KTXL 40.4 just came out of a testcard (in 4:3) with TBD programming (the format changed to 16:9 aswell).
40.4 had been showing a testcard since February, and just came out of the testcard at 00.00 today, 40.4 doesn't have programme info, but has audio and video. I saw it when I was channel surfing in the early morning.

UPDATE: turning on CS1 reveals that there isn't captioning data either, but I'm not sure if that's just for the movie they're airing (Carpet Racers: A Crash Course) or if that's for the entire channel.
There's no captioning in the website, either but I don't think that has to do anything with it.

The advertising has captioning, though, so at least I know the captioning service works.

 

[homeofthebadguys]

Also, KidsClick is made available on TBD's TV network for any broadcast affiliate of that. So KTXL is affiliated with two networks that carry KidsClick as part of their TV schedules. I don't think KidsClick programmes are a part of TBD's livestream, though as there's content on the schedule from 06.00-09.00 and weekends from 07.00-10.00, even though those seem to be re-runs.

 

[Takao]

How long until TBD becomes a KidsClick channel?

 

[Sunnydee]

How long until TBD becomes a KidsClick channel?

That's interesting. Do you think that's likely? I could almost see that happening.

I mean, TBD's programming isn't all that original and KidsClick does seem like a better fit for a channel for Sinclair than a block. Especially because it's almost impossible to air the block at a consistent time across the nation.

But the block seems to be having trouble staying fresh and interesting to me right now. So I don't know if they could sustain an entire channel. Granted, I haven't been watching regularly recently.

 

[LinusFan303]

They'd need more programming first to make a whole children's channel would be nice to have an older targeted digital children's channel though.

 

[homeofthebadguys]

They'd need more programming first to make a whole children's channel would be nice to have an older targeted digital children's channel though.

Would be good competition for Qubo if anything else.

That's interesting. Do you think that's likely? I could almost see that happening.

I mean, TBD's programming isn't all that original and KidsClick does seem like a better fit for a channel for Sinclair than a block. Especially because it's almost impossible to air the block at a consistent time across the nation.

But the block seems to be having trouble staying fresh and interesting to me right now. So I don't know if they could sustain an entire channel. Granted, I haven't been watching regularly recently.

I've been waking up later as of recently, but as of late, it appears to be mostly stale (possibly it could be Sinclair getting cheap on the programmes).
Also, TBD has a use for those without good internet, or even on data caps, and kids programming is really hard to find in syndication nowadays for commercial networks (the closest to a kids network we recently got is state propaganda, otherwise known as the Public Broadcasting Service), so chasing down programmes could be difficult unless Sinclair Broadcast Group were willing to go older than the 2000s, and I'm not sure they would be keen to do that.

KidsClick's only got programming from MGM (the block's distributors as of it's launch, That might possibly be why "Pink Panther" is free for them to run and why it's so frequently used to fill an empty slot), Mattel Playground, 41 Entertainment (I'm one to assume they got the rights to "Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures" for cheap), Rovio (I checked, "Angry Birds Toons" is their only TV show), TMS (they got Dinosaur King, but won't air Sonic X, I'm guessing it's because Dinosaur King was made for 16:9 screens to begin with), and Method Animation.

 

[HB-seventy]

state propaganda, otherwise known as the Public Broadcasting Service

omg lolololol
Daniel Tiger's Neighborhood, Wild Kratts, Odd Squad and Sesame Street -- state propaganda?? Call me when they have illegal aliens or poor people scrounging for food in their next episodes.

 

[Looney Tunes Fan]

TMS (they got Dinosaur King, but won't air Sonic X, I'm guessing it's because Dinosaur King was made for 16:9 screens to begin with)

As far as I can tell, Dinosaur King is still licensed by 4Licensing Corporation (aka the former 4Kids Entertainment) per their website listing the series as one of their properties: http://www.4licensingcorp.com/

Plus, the series was done by Sunrise, not TMS: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=7519

 

[Takao]

That's interesting. Do you think that's likely? I could almost see that happening.

I mean, TBD's programming isn't all that original and KidsClick does seem like a better fit for a channel for Sinclair than a block. Especially because it's almost impossible to air the block at a consistent time across the nation.

But the block seems to be having trouble staying fresh and interesting to me right now. So I don't know if they could sustain an entire channel. Granted, I haven't been watching regularly recently.

The problem with Sinclair launching a KidsClick sub-channel is that there isn't a programming library for them to pick through. If you look at Comet, Stadium and Charge they were all created with another company that has a big content portfolio to use (mainly MGM). The thing is, all the large American children's content libraries have been snatched up by the likes of Disney or Warner, who aren't interested in licensing things out. I guess they could partner with DHX, but that's basically just Cookie Jar Toons Vol. 2.

As for the block's programming, the person who runs the social media pages constantly states they'll have new stuff soon. How extensive that'll be remains to be seen. I do find it unbelievable that Team Hot Wheels is still regularly aired.

 

[RDG]

As far as I can tell, Dinosaur King is still licensed by 4Licensing Corporation (aka the former 4Kids Entertainment) per their website listing the series as one of their properties: http://www.4licensingcorp.com/

Plus, the series was done by Sunrise, not TMS: https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/encyclopedia/anime.php?id=7519

And last we heard of 4LC, they went bankrupt (AGAIN).

 

[Takao]

Lacey Entertainment has Dinosaur King (and Rocket Monkeys): http://laceyentertainment.com/dinosaur-king/

 

[Sunnydee]

The problem with Sinclair launching a KidsClick sub-channel is that there isn't a programming library for them to pick through. If you look at Comet, Stadium and Charge they were all created with another company that has a big content portfolio to use (mainly MGM). The thing is, all the large American children's content libraries have been snatched up by the likes of Disney or Warner, who aren't interested in licensing things out. I guess they could partner with DHX, but that's basically just Cookie Jar Toons Vol. 2.

As for the block's programming, the person who runs the social media pages constantly states they'll have new stuff soon. How extensive that'll be remains to be seen. I do find it unbelievable that Team Hot Wheels is still regularly aired.

Yeah, you make a lot of great points and I agree with all of this, especially how there are almost no shows to choose from to make a channel.

The nice thing about a channel is that you could potentially get picked up by a cable provider and have a second form of income through them, making it easier to buy shows.

Partnering with DHX might not be such a bad idea. DHX would no longer be confined to airing E/I shows like they were with Cookie Jar Toons. Maybe shows like the new Mega Man or the recent Inspector Gadget would be more likely to air on the block as a result.

What shows on this block are worth keeping? Or do they need to clean house entirely?

 

[Takao]

I don't think you'd need to go completely scorched earth on the block. Assuming they pick up new episodes, Miraculous and Max Steel are fine. Pink Panther is overplayed relative to its episode count, but it's their free show via MGM. Pac-Man has 52 episodes and only airs on weekends. Dinosaur King is their most recent pickup and has a bunch of episodes.

I'd try to not run stuff that's available legally for free on YouTube, so Angry Birds should go unless it's doing well. Super 4 is getting stale. I pick on Team Hot Wheels because it only has 8 "episodes," yet has been on the air since October. That's way too few for it to still be on the air.