1 May 2011

NEW ZEALAND'S ONLY LOCAL PRE-SCHOOL TELEVISION CHANNEL IS HERE

TVNZ Kidzone24, New Zealand's only locally produced television channel for pre-schoolers, goes live today at midday. TVNZ Kidzone24 features fun and educational content for pre-school children in a safe, trusted and advertising-free environment.  TVNZ Kidzone24 airs 24 hours a day on SKY channel 046.

The TVNZ Kidzone24 schedule has a strong focus on local programming including existing favourites like Kidzone with Kayne which features presenter Kayne Peters and offers opportunities for young viewers to think and learn about the world around them. Other local shows include Buzzy Bee and Friends, hilarious sketch-comedy show Giggles and from the creative minds of the Academy Award-winning Weta Workshop, The WotWots.
 
TVNZ Kidzone24 also features exciting new content including Guess with Jess (the popular cat from Postman Pat) which will allow children to learn about science and nature and Babar and the Adventures of Badou - a show centred around Babar's eight year old grandson, Badou and speaks to the importance of diversity, acceptance and strong family values.

Chief Executive Rick Ellis is delighted that SKY has made it possible for TVNZ to extend the popular Kidzone brand beyond the two hours that are available on public service channel TVNZ 7.

"Kidzone has been an increasingly popular collection of programming, providing educational and entertaining content for young New Zealanders, with a significant amount of locally produced programming.

"It is fantastic that we are now able to offer a commercially-viable, expanded Kidzone channel, on the SKY platform."

The channel is located within the stable of SKY family channels and is available as part of the SKY Basic Digital Package. Select content is available on iSKY. The channel also has a dedicated minisite located at www.tvnz.co.nz/kidzone24 which features show information, selected episodes and interactive elements.

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For further information:
www.tvnz.co.nz/kidzone24

For enquiries contact:
Danielle Knight
Publicist & Brand Manager TVNZ Kidzone24
021 658 787