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62-493: Universal Kids (formerly Sprout or PBS Kids Sprout ) is an American children's television channel owned by the NBCUniversal Media Group division of NBCUniversal , which is a wholly owned subsidiary of Comcast . The channel launched on September 26, 2005, as PBS Kids Sprout , a preschool -oriented channel jointly operated by PBS , Comcast, Sesame Workshop , and HIT Entertainment , as an offshoot of

124-645: A block under the Sprout branding from 3 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET daily. Brennan explained that Sprout needed to "grow up with the rest of the family", and that Universal Kids would " offer something something to 2 to 12 year olds that has a slightly different purpose—widening their eyes, opening their minds and celebrating many aspects of being a kid." The network would launch with a slate of original non-scripted series, including Bear Grylls : Survival School and Top Chef Junior . NBCUniversal intended to make "significant" investments in original content for Universal Kids over

186-452: A capacity she would hold until March 30, 2007, being replaced by Margit Furseth. Playhouse Disney also premiered two new original series, Stanley and The Book of Pooh , in 2001. Radio Disney cross-promoted the block by rebranding its "Mickey and Minnie's Tune Time" block as "Playhouse Disney", and in 2002, the TV block's "Feet Beat" interstitials were renamed " BB 's Music Time" to promote

248-570: A channel is specialty service (or even more explicitly "specialty television programming undertaking"), referring to virtually any non- premium television service which is not carried over the airwaves or otherwise deemed exempt by the CRTC. They are primarily carried, therefore, on cable television and satellite television . The CRTC previously enforced strict regulations on the types of programming that may be carried by specialty services, employing minimums and restrictions across specific genres on

310-402: A different "tiny house" set with additional areas and camera options. Unlike Sunny Side Up , the segments are pre-recorded instead of broadcast live; supervising producer Vinny Steves felt that the live format was too "limiting", and explained that the new format was also designed to enable the segments to be distributed on digital platforms such as social media. With the launch of Sprout House ,

372-649: A different schedule. On May 26, 2010, Disney-ABC Television Group announced the launch of Disney Junior, a relaunching of Playhouse Disney that would serve as the brand for the Disney Channel block and a new standalone digital cable and satellite channel in the United States, as well as the new brand for the existing Playhouse Disney-branded cable channels and program blocks outside the US. The Playhouse Disney block ended its 14-year run on February 13, 2011, with

434-407: A little over a week after the launch of PBS Kids Go! ), PBS announced that it had entered into a partnership with cable provider Comcast and production companies HIT Entertainment and Sesame Workshop to launch a 24-hour cable network aimed at preschool children. Created to “strengthen the competitive positions” of all of the parties, PBS Vice-President of digital ventures Deron Triff noted that

496-432: A per-licence basis, and a category system granting exclusive rights to specific categories of channels. These restrictions were imposed to discourage networks from deviating from the programming format which they were licensed to broadcast . Under a deregulation scheme, the CRTC has since replaced these with streamlined, standard terms for most specialty channels ( discretionary services ), whose only major restrictions are on

558-451: A relaunch that signified the beginning of its full conversion into a commercial-free basic cable channel, and its preschool block now utilized a similar graphics package for its promotions as that used for the channel's afternoon children's programs. After Disney Channel's preschool block premiered three new original series in 1998 ( PB&J Otter , Rolie Polie Olie , and Out of the Box ),

620-930: A result, the network's operations were brought under the NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment Group , and the "PBS Kids" branding was removed (thus officially shortening its name to "Sprout"). The network's operations were later moved from Philadelphia to NBCUniversal's facilities in New York City . Whilst all these complex business arrangements were taking place, on July 7, 2012, Sprout began to produce educational programming blocks for NBC and Telemundo , branded as " NBC Kids " and "MiTelemundo" respectively. Both of these blocks replaced Qubo (a previous joint venture between NBCUniversal, Ion Media , Corus Entertainment , Scholastic , and Classic Media ), which had been airing on NBC and Telemundo since September 2006, but continued to air via

682-596: A third programming block on Ion Television as well as a separate 24-hour network known as Qubo Channel until that brand's full discontinuation in February 2021. NBC Kids was discontinued on September 25, 2016 (one day before Sprout's eleventh anniversary) and was replaced by " The More You Know ", a block produced by Litton Entertainment that would feature live-action documentary and lifestyle programs aimed at pre-teens and teenagers. However, MiTelemundo continued to air with its existing programming until January 6, 2018, when

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744-484: A wider youth audience—including DreamWorks Animation content, non-scripted programming (including game shows , and youth spin-offs of reality series from its NBCUniversal sister networks, such as American Ninja Warrior and Top Chef ), and acquired teen dramas. The channel continues to devote its daytime lineup to preschool programming. Amid declines in viewership in comparison to Sprout, Universal Kids ended its development of new original programming in 2019, with

806-513: A year later, the 24-hour PBS Kids Channel (which Sprout had replaced back in 2005) was revived by PBS as a digital multicast network on January 16, 2017. The network's head Sandy Wax stated that Sprout also planned to experiment with more half-hour programs, and commission programming with more "complex stories" that can appeal better to older preschool audiences. In August 2016, NBCUniversal acquired DreamWorks Animation . Deirdre Brennan, formerly of Canadian media company Corus Entertainment ,

868-481: Is marathon 'best-of volume' blocks of one program featuring individual segments aired continuously for 1–3 hours rather than a traditional block of consecutive episodes, emulating the model of the official YouTube channels for prevailing children's series, which either feature a continuous live stream of the series, or an uploaded video several hours in length containing multiple episodes. Traditional marathons of episodes are also scheduled. The scheduling model began in

930-432: Is more we can explore there." Universal Kids saw a significant decrease in viewership in comparison to its previous incarnation as Sprout, with IndieWire reporting a 30% decline in 2017, followed by a 73% drop in 2018. Brennan was replaced by Frances Berwick as network president in February 2019. In April of that year, Universal Kids unveiled a new logo and branding designed by the design agency Kill 2 Birds. On June 19, it

992-575: The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse episode "Mickey's Big Surprise" as its first program, mainly featuring a mix of original series and programs held over from the Playhouse Disney library (which largely aired as part of the channel's overnight schedule until mid-2014 when over time, more Playhouse Disney shows were taken off the air completely after premiering their series finales and ceased to air in reruns). Disney Junior took over

1054-500: The PBS Kids brand. After the acquisition of NBCUniversal by Comcast in 2011, the company bought out the remaining owners' shares in the network. NBCUniversal became the sole owner of the network in 2013, after which it was renamed Sprout . Under NBCUniversal ownership, the channel increased its investments into original programming. In 2017, the network relaunched as Universal Kids, adding an evening and prime time lineup targeting

1116-621: The Sky Digital platform. On April 4, 2009, Egmont Group launched a companion Playhouse Disney magazine in the United Kingdom & Republic of Ireland that focused on the channel's four most popular shows: Mickey Mouse Clubhouse , My Friends Tigger & Pooh , Handy Manny and Little Einsteins . Each issue included "to do" pages and suggested activities for parents and children based on an educational theme. The Playhouse Disney block on Disney Channel UK & Republic of Ireland

1178-484: The transition from analog broadcasting ), which usually focus on library programming catering to specific themes, genres, or demographics. The term "specialty channel" has been used most frequently in Canada , having been used as a marketing term by the cable industry for various simultaneous launches of new channels throughout the 1990s. The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) term for such

1240-513: The Bear would premiere on the Sprout block alongside the relaunch. On August 14, 2017, Sprout replaced its long-running morning block Sunny Side Up with Sprout House (renamed Snug's House in 2018), which is presented by Carly Ciarrocchi and the new character Snug, a talking dog portrayed by puppeteer Chris Palmieri, through 90-second segments throughout the block. The program was designed to be more flexible to produce than its predecessor, with

1302-409: The Bear returned to Universal Kids in the US on August 4, 2023, after 7 months of being gone off the air. As of October 2023, Universal Kids is watched by about 47.232 million households in the United States. Universal Kids operates two feeds nationally, one for the east coast and a times delay one for the west coast. DreamWorks Channel serves as the network's worldwide equivalent and Sky Kids for

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1364-575: The Disney Junior brand over the next three years, concluding with the rebranding of the Playhouse Disney block on Disney Channel Russia on September 1, 2013. Prior to Playhouse Disney's launch, Disney Channel had aired a lineup of preschool-targeted programs to compete with Nick Jr. (which were mixed alongside animated series aimed at older children) during the morning hours since its debut in April 1983. On April 6, 1997, Disney Channel underwent

1426-688: The Radio Disney block. On June 25, 2001, Disney-ABC Cable Networks Group (now Disney-ABC Television Group) announced plans to launch Playhouse Disney Channel, a companion digital cable and satellite channel that would have served the same target audience as the Disney Channel block; plans for the network were later scrapped, although Disney-ABC International Television would launch dedicated Playhouse Disney channels and blocks in international markets (including Canada, Afro-Eurasia and Latin America ) between 2002 and 2007. The Walt Disney Company acquired

1488-1035: The United Kingdom through Comcast's Sky division. Specialty channel The number of specialty channels greatly increased during the 1990s and 2000s with the increase of broadcast bandwidth and television's transition to digital , while the previously common model of countries having just a few (national) TV stations addressing all interest groups and demographics became increasingly outmoded, as it already had been for some time in several countries. About 65% of today's satellite channels are specialty channels . Types of specialty services may include, but by no means are limited to: (These categories are provided for convenience and do not necessarily represent industry-accepted or otherwise legally binding names or categories for these types of services.) Some specialty channels may not be free-to-air or may not be available through conventional broadcast or terrestrial television , and are only distributed via multichannel television services such as cable or satellite television . In

1550-547: The United States as a morning program block on the Disney Channel . Aimed mainly at children at two to five years of age, its programming featured a mix of live-action and animated series . The Playhouse Disney block on Disney Channel was rebranded as the Disney Junior block on Disney Channel on February 14, 2011. The remaining channels and blocks using the Playhouse Disney brand outside the US relaunched under

1612-460: The United States, such networks are colloquially referred to as cable channels or cable networks (regardless of distribution method), with the most widely distributed referred to as "basic cable" networks (as opposed to those in higher service tiers, or premium services). In the U.S., specialty channels also operate as broadcast television networks designed to be carried on digital subchannels of terrestrial stations (which proliferated following

1674-510: The block became programmed by Litton as well, retaining the "MiTelemundo" name. Under NBCUniversal ownership, Sprout began to increase its investments in original programming to better compete with Disney Junior and the Nick Jr. Channel , with a goal to double its original series output to at least 30% of its schedule by the end of 2015, and displace older and non-exclusive library content in favor of original series and acquisitions exclusive to

1736-680: The block officially launched as Playhouse Disney on February 1, 1999. One of Playhouse Disney's most popular series was Bear in the Big Blue House , which debuted on October 20, 1997; the series was named by TV Guide as one of the "top 10 new shows for kids" that year. For the first three years of its run, the Playhouse Disney block originally aired each weekday from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Eastern Time , and weekends from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time. Following each program, which usually ran 23 minutes (most of which, except for films, aired without promotional interruption),

1798-535: The block's demographics) alongside – beginning in 2002 – underwriter sponsorships (with companies such as McDonald's ) within breaks between programs (preschool-targeted programs that aired between 3:00 and 7:00 a.m. Central Time outside of the Playhouse Disney banner, included the promotional shorts for Disney entertainment products that were seen during Disney Channel's afternoon and nighttime schedule). On September 30, 2002, Playhouse Disney changed its logo to reflect Disney Channel's on-air rebranding. As part of

1860-427: The block's effort to phase out its older interstitial material, it introduced a mascot that month named Clay (voiced by Debi Derryberry ), an anthropomorphic clay figure who often used the catchphrases "It's true!" and "Are you with me?" On March 31, 2007, Ooh and Aah, two puppet monkeys (who served as the main characters for one of the short series featured on the Playhouse Disney lineup, Ooh, Aah & You ) became

1922-435: The branding change timed out to a general nadir for traditional cable/satellite channels tailored to children as all networks across the industry have been de-emphasized for their associated streaming services. Based on the latest numbers from Nielsen , in its 2023 year-end viewership list, Variety has the network ranked 137th among 154 cable and broadcast networks. Currently, the network's most prominent scheduling pattern

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1984-558: The broadcast of live sports programming. Contrarily, a service licensed as a mainstream sports network is restricted in their carriage of non-sport programming. Playhouse Disney Playhouse Disney was a brand of programming blocks and international cable and satellite television channels that were owned by the Disney Channels Worldwide unit (now Disney Branded Television ) of The Walt Disney Company 's Disney–ABC Television Group . It originated in

2046-519: The broadcast rights to The Wiggles as part of their purchase of the Fox Family Channel in 2001; The Wiggles moved to Playhouse Disney in June 2002 and became one of the block's most watched shows during its run. Like Disney Channel, Playhouse Disney was a commercial-free service, but it did show short "promotional spots" (structured as short-form segments for Disney products targeted at

2108-472: The channel now relying primarily on acquisitions and DreamWorks Animation content (drawn primarily from the series they had originally produced for Netflix ). Its remaining first-run programming moved to NBCUniversal's streaming service, Peacock . As of October 2023, the channel is available to about 47.232 million households in the United States. Following the failure of PBS's original 24-hour PBS Kids Channel launched in 1999, on October 20, 2004 (just

2170-589: The channel space held by the Disney-owned soap opera -focused channel Soapnet , largely due to that channel's existing subscriber reach (being carried in 75 million households with pay television). An automated Soapnet feed remained in operation for providers that did not yet reach agreements to carry the Disney Junior channel or providers that were required to continue carrying Soapnet in addition to Disney Junior until Soapnet fully ceased operations by going quietly dark on December 31, 2013, at 11:59 pm, following

2232-456: The channel was only carried between programs in small quantities and were aimed towards parents and caregivers. In spring 2009, it was announced that The Wiggles would be moving to PBS Kids Sprout from its previous broadcaster, Playhouse Disney , the morning preschool programming block on Disney Channel . This would coincide with the launch of a new programming block hosted by the group called Sprout's Wiggly Waffle . The reason for this move

2294-497: The channel. Sprout programs such as The Chica Show also earned increased visibility airing on NBC as part of the NBC Kids block. On September 26, 2015, Sprout underwent a brand refresh to mark the tenth anniversary of its launch, with new on-air imaging inspired by modern technology and mobile devices , a new tiny house -inspired studio at 30 Rockefeller Plaza for its hosted morning block The Sunny Side Up Show , as well as

2356-415: The company (such as the sitcom Bajillionaires ); DHX had recently entered into a programming agreement with DreamWorks Animation for its networks. DreamWorks would be leveraged by Universal Kids to bolster its programming, with linear television premieres of DreamWorks' Netflix series such as All Hail King Julien and Dragons: Riders of Berk as part of its launch lineup. Industry observers felt that

2418-555: The company in 2013. As a result, Comcast's interest in Sprout was turned over to the company. Apax Partners sold HIT Entertainment to Mattel on October 24, 2011, the sale did not include HIT's stake in Sprout, which was retained by Apax. In December 2012, Sesame Workshop sold its interest in Sprout to Comcast. On March 19, 2013, Comcast acquired the remaining 49% of NBCUniversal it did not already own, and concurrently acquired Apax's stake in Sprout. Comcast then acquired PBS's share in Sprout on November 12, 2013, giving it full ownership. As

2480-475: The content would be "consistent with PBS's values" and "meet certain curricular objectives and have been tested for educational efficacy." On April 4, 2005, Comcast announced that the network would be known as PBS Kids Sprout—a spin-off from PBS's children's programming brand PBS Kids . The service would soft launch as a branded video on-demand (VOD) service that same day. PBS Kids Sprout launched its 24-hour cable channel on September 26, 2005, effectively replacing

2542-529: The former aforementioned show reaired on the network on December 24 and 25, 2022, until it stopped airing on the channel once again, thus putting an end to the network's longtime chicken mascot altogether, and also removing the last vestige of Sprout. Masha and the Bear left Universal Kids in the US on January 1, 2023, but cable TV providers like Charter Spectrum & DirecTV stated that it's still there, and also streaming services like FuboTV , YouTube TV , Hulu with Live TV , and DirecTV Stream . Masha and

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2604-426: The integration of DreamWorks IP with Universal Kids would help NBCUniversal establish a viable multi-platform competitor to other major children's networks. The network planned to continue investing in preschool programming for the Sprout block; Brennan stated of Sprout that "the greatest thing is, there is nothing to fix there. Sprout is a beautiful brand. If anything, we want to invest more in original production. There

2666-421: The last program to air being an episode of General Hospital . On September 28, 1999, the Playhouse Disney brand was extended internationally with the launch of a self-branded block on Disney Channel in the United Kingdom and Ireland. On September 29, 2000, Disney Television International expanded the block with the launch of a channel in the country alongside the launch of Toon Disney and Disney Channel +1 on

2728-545: The last program to air being an episode of the short series Handy Manny's School for Tools at 8:55 a.m. Eastern Time. The Disney Junior block debuted on February 14, 2011, with the Little Einsteins episode “Fire Truck Rocket” as its first program. Several former Playhouse Disney series were carried over to the relaunched block including Mickey Mouse Clubhouse , Special Agent Oso , Imagination Movers , Handy Manny , and Little Einsteins . With

2790-511: The network acquired exclusive television rights to carry content from the popular YouTube channel Cocomelon . As PBS Kids Sprout, the channel featured reruns of many preschool shows from the PBS Kids library, like Sesame Street , Dragon Tales , Sagwa, the Chinese Siamese Cat , Teletubbies , Barney & Friends , Thomas & Friends , Angelina Ballerina , Make Way for Noddy and Super Why! . Even with

2852-589: The network began to downplay its longtime mascot, Chica, although she was still featured in certain segments (such as Chica at School ) until 2020, when it along with the Sprout House / Snug's House segments were removed from Universal Kids' lineup. However, the channel did briefly air reruns of The Chica Show (a former Sprout original show in which Chica starred in), on May 20, 2019, along with Moon and Me and Mofy , but all of these series stopped airing in that same year and 2021 respectively. However,

2914-568: The next three years, including original scripted programming. The launch lineup included a large number of international acquisitions, particularly from the U.K., Australia, and Canada (such as The Next Step and Nowhere Boys ); Brennan acknowledged that since youth audiences had become "globally aware", the network wanted to showcase foreign series that had not yet aired in the United States. Universal Kids would also feature programing produced by Canadian studio DHX Media for Family Channel and its sister networks, as well as co-produce series with

2976-545: The official hosts of the block, replacing Clay. Every summer since 2007, Playhouse Disney's end time was truncated to four hours on weekdays (from 6:00 to 10:00 a.m. Eastern Time). Episodes from Disney Channel's original series were aired during the late morning and early afternoon hours. However, the weekend schedule continued to air for seven hours. By 2010, the Playhouse Disney block had expanded to air from 4:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Eastern Time on weekdays, and 4:00 to 9:00 a.m. Eastern Time on weekends, each running

3038-473: The original 24-hour PBS Kids Channel. At launch, PBS Kids Sprout reached around 16 million viewers across the Comcast and Insight cable systems. The multi-platform approach was designed to appeal to different viewing habits; the Sprout channel featured dayparted programming blocks , with hosted segments such as activities, features, and promotions for supplemental content on Sprout's website. To increase

3100-409: The premiere of Nina's World — an original animated series spun off from its evening block The Good Night Show . Actress Alyssa Milano began to make appearances in interstitial segments as Sprout's " Mom-bassador ", with a particular focus on the channel's public service campaign "Kindness Counts". By this point, nearly all shows inherited from PBS's library were dropped from Sprout's lineup. Over

3162-586: The relaunch of the block, the block's mascots Ooh and Aah were retired and several of its older programs were entirely discontinued (however, Ooh and Aah & You was later briefly available on the Disney Junior website as a part of the Fan Favorites week of July 18, 2011 and was also later carried in reruns on the Disney Junior cable channel). Additionally, its episodes are available on Disney Junior's YouTube channel as of January 6, 2011. The 24-hour Disney Junior cable channel debuted on March 23, 2012, with

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3224-399: The remainder of the time period was filled by either short segments and music videos (the latter of which were originally aired under the banner "Feet Beat") or an episode of an acquired short series. On April 16, 2001, Playhouse Disney received a new rebrand produced by motion graphics company Beehive; actress Allyce Beasley began serving as the U.S. block's promo announcer at this time,

3286-577: The removal of the "PBS Kids" branding in the channel's name in November 2013 (due to PBS selling its interest in Sprout to NBCUniversal , with Sid the Science Kid being the last PBS show added to Sprout's lineup before the acquisition), many shows from its library continued to air on the network under extended license agreements. By the September 26, 2015 rebrand however, most of PBS's library

3348-611: The summer of 2020. Previously, original programs produced for the network included the Top Chef spin-off Top Chef Junior , the game shows Beat the Clock and The Noise , the bedroom redecoration show Get Out of My Room , and American Ninja Warrior Junior . The channel also airs several series produced by DreamWorks Animation (some of which were originally produced for the streaming service Netflix ) and has acquired and co-produced programs with international partners. In 2021,

3410-493: The variety of its schedule, Sprout did not repackage short-form series into half-hour episodes with interstitial segments, as had usually been the case for series imported for U.S. broadcast. Unlike PBS Kids, PBS Kids Go!, and the main PBS network respectively, all of which operated as non-commercial services, PBS Kids Sprout operated as an advertiser-supported service running traditional television commercials . However, advertising on

3472-470: Was dropped from Sprout's lineup. However, two PBS shows that have been on the channel since its launch, Caillou and The Berenstain Bears , continued to air on the network, with the former airing until March 31, 2019, and the latter airing until Sprout's rebranding into Universal Kids. Almost three years after PBS sold its share in Sprout to NBCUniversal, Space Racers (which aired on select PBS stations)

3534-534: Was due to competition from the Imagination Movers , a children's music group from New Orleans who received their own TV show in September 2008. The move took effect on August 24, 2009. A high-definition simulcast of the network launched in September 2010. Comcast acquired a 51% majority stake in NBC Universal from General Electric on January 28, 2011, and would assume full ownership of

3596-514: Was eventually disposed of in July 2004 after reducing hours of programming. The Playhouse Disney channel available there, however, continued to air until it was replaced by Disney Junior on May 7, 2011. On November 30, 2007, Astral Media launched a Canadian version of Playhouse Disney Channel under a brand licensing agreement with Disney-ABC Television Group; the channel operated as a multiplex channel of Family Channel , which had long maintained

3658-640: Was moved to Sprout for its second and final season on October 31, 2016, and continued to air into the Universal Kids rebranding until March 22, 2020. Sometime after the channel rebranded into Universal Kids, Barney & Friends and Bob the Builder both returned to the channel's lineup, with the former airing from December 17, 2018 to January 25, 2020, and the latter airing from April 22, 2019 to July 7 that same year. Both of those aforementioned shows, along with PBS's long-running Curious George (which

3720-505: Was named the new president of Sprout in January 2017, replacing the outgoing Sandy Wax. On May 1, 2017, NBCUniversal announced that it would be relaunching Sprout on September 9, 2017, as Universal Kids; the relaunched network aimed to be "an umbrella brand for NBCUniversal's family offerings". Universal Kids would introduce primetime programming targeting a wider youth and pre-teen audience, while still carrying preschool programming as

3782-479: Was produced by Universal Animation Studios , but never aired on either Sprout or Universal Kids) are also made available on NBCUniversal's streaming service Peacock . After losing the rights to most of PBS's library, yet prior to the Universal Kids rebranding, Sprout continued to premiere new series such as Kody Kapow , joining a slate that was included Dot , Nina's World , and DreamWorks-produced Noddy, Toyland Detective . New acquisitions such as Masha and

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3844-531: Was reported that Universal Kids had ceased the development of original programming, and had laid off its development staff or transferred them to other NBCUniversal properties. Thereafter, the channel would rely primarily on DreamWorks content, acquisitions, and its remaining slate of original programming. Some Universal Kids original series, such as American Ninja Warrior Junior , Super Wings and Where's Waldo? , moved to NBCUniversal's new streaming service Peacock . The network has struggled for viewers, though

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