Carlton Kids
Ownership
OwnerCarlton Television
(subdivision of Carlton Communications plc)
History
Launched15 November 1998; 25 years ago (1998-11-15)
Closed31 January 2000; 24 years ago (2000-01-31)
Replaced byDiscovery Kids
Availability (At time of closure)
Terrestrial
ONdigitalChannel 34

Carlton Kids was a British digital terrestrial pay television kids channel, provided by Carlton Television, which started broadcasting on 15th November 1998 and closed on 31st January 2000. Its sister channels were Carlton Food Network, Carlton World, Carlton Cinema and Carlton Select.[1] It broadcast exclusively on ONdigital,[2] the digital terrestrial pay-TV platform backed by Carlton and Granada, where it timeshared on channel 34 with Carlton World.

The channel had limited coverage, reaching only 69% of the population via the lowest-powered terrestrial multiplex D,[3][4] and newspapers and listings magazines were slow to feature the channel's programming.[5] In the face of competition from several other dedicated children's channels in the UK market[6] the channel ceased broadcasting at the end of January 2000 after 14 months, partly due to the limited uptake of the ONdigital platform where it was exclusively available. It was replaced by Discovery Kids.[7][8] The other Carlton channels closed over the next few years.[9]

Carlton Television later merged with Granada in 2004 to form ITV plc, which went on to launch another children's channel CITV, in 2006.

Programming

The channel showcased children's programming from Carlton and other ITV franchisees including Granada Television, Central Television, and Yorkshire Television, short films from the BBC library, as well as programmes acquired from American and overseas distributors. Shows included Mopatop's Shop, The Raggy Dolls, Rosie & Jim, Tots TV, The Berenstain Bears, Tickle on the Tum, Willo the Wisp, The Legends of Treasure Island and Worzel Gummidge.[10][11]

Presentation was provided by daily wrap-around shows "Wakey Wakey" and "The Max". Both were recorded at Ealing Studios. "Wakey Wakey" was presented by Chuck Thomas and Naomi Wilkinson.[12] The Max was presented by Angellica Bell[13][14][15] and Paul Leyshon. Other presenters included Jamie Rickers[16] and Alex Verrey.[17]

List of programs

Wrap-Around

Drama

Fantasy

Animated

Education

Food

Comedy

Puppet

Sports

References

  1. ^ "Laurent Dumeau - TRACE - Content Innovation Awards Speaker". Tmt.knect365.com.
  2. ^ "MEDIA: ONdigital plays the choice card". Campaignlive.co.
  3. ^ "DIGITAL TV POLICIES IN THE UK, US, AUSTRALIA AND ITALY" (PDF). Core.ac.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  4. ^ "Development of Digital TV in Europe" (PDF). Edz.bib.uni-mannheim.de. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  5. ^ Hardy, Jonathan (24 February 2019). Cross-media Promotion. Peter Lang. p. 135. ISBN 9781433101373 – via Google Books.
  6. ^ "House of Commons - Culture, Media and Sport - Minutes of Evidence". Publications.parliament.
  7. ^ "Carlton makes unhappy Discovery". The Guardian. 22 December 1999.
  8. ^ "Discovery channels boost ONdigital". The Independent. 22 December 1999.
  9. ^ Deans, Jason (4 December 2002). "Carlton finally drops digital channel". Theguardian.com.
  10. ^ Carlton Kids promo 1999
  11. ^ Carlton Kids promo 2 1999
  12. ^ Daniel Falconer (March 2014). "Naomi Wilkinson exclusive interview". Femalefirst.co.
  13. ^ "Bell rings in as face of CBBC". News.bbc.co. 11 February 2002.
  14. ^ "CBBC ROADSHOWS 2002" (PDF). Bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  15. ^ "New Beeb job is child's play". Evening Standard. 4 February 2002.
  16. ^ "BBC - Beds, Herts and Bucks Theatre - Panto - Cinderella - St Albans Arena". Bbc.co.
  17. ^ "Alex Verrey : Presenter – Biography" (PDF). Redcanyon.co.uk. Retrieved 24 February 2019.

External links

Defunct Granada Sky Broadcasting and Carlton Communications channels
Children's and teenagers' TV and radio channels in the UK & Ireland
Categories