This are how the pay TV kids channels performed ratings wise in the US in 2021 and the results are shocking (these drops were basically the same last year):
Nickelodeon 335k (-32%)
Disney Jr 258k (-17%)
Disney Channel 233k (-35%)
Nick Jr 232k (-31%)
Cartoon Network 201k (-26%)
Disney XD 83k (-13%)
Boomerang 77k (-16%)
Nicktoons 67k (-24%)
Discovery Family Channel 43k (-25%)
Teennick 37k (-37%)
Universal Kids 35k (+3%)
To put things into perspective since 2014, Disney Channel has lost 88.1% of its total audience and Cartoon Network is down by 79.3% and Nickelodeon by 74.5% since 2016.
It's crazy how many kids now don't watch the linear kids channels at all.
For a lot of them it is exclusively Youtube and gaming. Lots of kids don't even have a TV at home. You'd have to think these will be the first linear channels to go?
With everyone seemingly going streaming particularly the younger children. How are the UK kids channels performing in recent years. Also with the closure of the Disney branded channels has there been any kind of uptick in viewership with the other channels? How is the Milkshake block performing on Channel 5?
You've ignored the most watched children's channels though, surely you can't come to any conclusions without looking at their figures
Inspector Sands post_id=61448 time= user_id=1003 Wrote:You've ignored the most watched children's channels though, surely you can't come to any conclusions without looking at their figures
I think these are figures from the US
L1 post_id=61457 time= user_id=959 Wrote:Inspector Sands post_id=61448 time= user_id=1003 Wrote:You've ignored the most watched children's channels though, surely you can't come to any conclusions without looking at their figures
I think these are figures from the US
Doh yes I missed that bit in my morning blurry eyeness. Some of the figures would be bad in the UK..... but to be honest I don't really care about the US so I'll duck out of this thread
I would suggest looking at a trend over a few years. It's possible that the numbers you quote are a natural correction of a previous jump due to lockdowns
i got to admit i look at youtube and find the kids programme from the glorious past of my childhood, I dont think i would feature in the audience figures.
This is quite interesting and I think this is just part of a trend due to changes in technology.
When I was a child, as soon as I got home from school, was grab a packet of crisps and snacks from the cupboard (whilst my mum made dinner) and sat in front of the telly watching Andy Crane, Scofe, Forrester etc in the broom cupboard, or Tommy Boyd, or that scruffy dog on CITV munching away.
My children are about the same age now as I was then (13 and 11).
Neither of my kids watch linear Children's TV (or much linear TV for that matter) and haven't done so for a couple of years.
I just asked them what they do when they get home for school and I got 'mostly tiktok', and 'some Youtube, but not as much as there isn't as much good stuff on there.'
When my children were little babies, in the early 2010s, they did watch CBeebies, but never really watched CBBC aside from one or two programmes.
I think the world really has moved on - and kids really don't watch that stuff any more in the numbers they once did.
If my kids do watch anything on TV in their rooms, it's usually something on Disney+ or Netflix.
I haven't watched any linear children's television since around 2005, with one exception (Shaun the Sheep). However, me and my partner are expecting a baby soon so with CBeebies, that might change.
When I was a child (I was born in the early 90s), I mainly watched Cartoon Network and Nickelodeon, as my parents had Sky ever since the BSB-Sky merger. When my parents got Sky Digital in 99, Friday and Saturday nights for me looked like this:
Sweets, chocolate, crisps and Cartoon Network.
It is "bad" when you look at the figures, however from what I can see from my position of being an underling at one of the above for mentioned kids tv channels, most of the series produced are made with licensing (either to other platforms or toys) in mind really. Unfortunately my job is based on linear still being "a thing" so for the sake of my bank account I hope its lasts for many many years to come, so i can have a roof over my head without retraining. :?
I still feel there's a place for "linear kids channels". Maybe some kid is building Lego and needs something in the background to just look upon while he scrambles to find that one 1x2 he misplaced. Maybe some kid is being inspired by the works of art from geniuses like Pendleton Ward and is sketching their mind's creativity.
Although, if you look at kids channels in the past few years, at least in the US and sorta happening here, they seem to repeat the most popular programming ad nauseum, whether the show is good or not (i.e The Chase on Challenge, not a kids channel, but is similar). Since Cartoon Network launched Cartoonito in the US as a programming block, it basically means they have to try and schedule better than just Ctrl Ving the same show over and over. Nickelodeon has already had a Nick Jr block despite the channel existing, same with Disney Channel, but I suppose it puts parents mind at ease knowing they can just stick something on for the toddler and then let their older sibling enjoy Nickelodeon in the afternoon once school is over.
You can't exactly stick something on Netflix instantly, sometmes you need someone to schedule something they'd think you'd like. If not, switch to the +1 feed to see if anything you prefer is on. Yes, the convenience of choice is good, but sometimes you really need some sort of "shuffle" button like what Netflix has recently implemented.
In those initial figures although clearly bottom of the pack it is interesting how Universal Kids is bucking the trend and the only one to rise year on year. Obviously cord cutting will be somewhat of a factor in the US if people are ditching cable in favour of streaming services, and it would be interesting to see if the lost share is picked up there or if there is actually just a shift away from kids watching TV. Whilst in lockdown for many it would have been their only entertainment option for others it may have led to them entertaining their kids in different ways which don't involve sitcking them in front of a screen all day.
Brekkie post_id=61505 time= user_id=976 Wrote:.....Whilst in lockdown for many it would have been their only entertainment option for others it may have led to them entertaining their kids in different ways which don't involve sitcking them in front of a screen all day.
Interesting you say that, the viewer increase numbers I saw being totted around in our company town halls presentations were impressive. You would most think it was a resurgence of childrens tv. Shame it was because of Covid and not a more positive reason.
I've noticed some refocusing on pre-school content on pay-TV in the UK as a way to survive, for instance, Cartoonito now has a higher BARB viewing share than both Cartoon Network and Boomerang. As kids get older, they branch out into forms of entertainment and hobbies that are more involved, such as video games or play sports and socialise with their friends, also not forgetting the likes of Netflix etc. that eats way at pay-TV's influence. In terms of content, pre-school channels' only other rivals are the streamers (Netflix, Disney+ etc.) and YouTube. From what I remember before it closed, Disney Junior was keeping the Disney kids channels slightly above water.
As I mentioned on the 2022 prediction thread but its worth mentioning it here too, Cartoonito will be rebranding on 1st February, it will use the same graphics package as the new U.S. programming block. The new branding package was developed by Primal Screen, Buck, and Giant Ant.
Brekkie post_id=61505 time= user_id=976 Wrote:In those initial figures although clearly bottom of the pack it is interesting how Universal Kids is bucking the trend and the only one to rise year on year. Obviously cord cutting will be somewhat of a factor in the US if people are ditching cable in favour of streaming services, and it would be interesting to see if the lost share is picked up there or if there is actually just a shift away from kids watching TV. Whilst in lockdown for many it would have been their only entertainment option for others it may have led to them entertaining their kids in different ways which don't involve sitcking them in front of a screen all day.
Universal Kids airs Masha and the Bear and CoCoMelon, two of the most popular pre-school shows on YouTube, this is probably the reason why Universal Kids is seeing growth. Same applies to Cartoonito in the UK as it airs both shows.
Cartoonito also has first-run for Fireman Sam (also aired on Milkshake! on C5), which seems to be quite popular with very young children.
The BBC do have some rights to Cocomelon, as it's on iPlayer, but I don't think it's been aired on CBeebies yet.
RegularCapital post_id=61658 time= user_id=995 Wrote:I've noticed some refocusing on pre-school content on pay-TV in the UK as a way to survive, for instance, Cartoonito now has a higher BARB viewing share than both Cartoon Network and Boomerang. As kids get older, they branch out into forms of entertainment and hobbies that are more involved, such as video games or play sports and socialise with their friends, also not forgetting the likes of Netflix etc. that eats way at pay-TV's influence. In terms of content, pre-school channels' only other rivals are the streamers (Netflix, Disney+ etc.) and YouTube. From what I remember before it closed, Disney Junior was keeping the Disney kids channels slightly above water.
I've noticed that. Most kids channels now, even free-to-air ones struggle to even make it past 100K while pre-school channels like CBeebies, Tiny Pop and Cartoonito easily make it past that number with CBeebies in particular getting around 300K regularly.