Network/Broadcaster Research

  In this post I will be analyzing my course provided network options, including CBBC, Cbeebies, Milkshake!, Cartoon Network, and Nickelodeon, in which I will choose one broadcaster to pitch my animated TV series.

Based on its Wikipedia page, CBBC (or Children's BBC or the CBBC Channel) is a British free-to-air public broadcast children's television channel owned and operated by the BBC. It is also the brand used for all BBC content for children aged 6-12. CBBC also has a sister channel CBeebies that broadcasts programming and content for children aged under 6 and timeshares with BBC Three.

According to the 2016 CBBC Service License, 

"The remit of CBBC is to provide a wide range of high quality, distinctive content for 6–12 year olds, including drama, entertainment, comedy, animation, news and factual. The great majority of this content should be produced in the UK. CBBC should provide a stimulating, creative and enjoyable environment that is also safe and trusted. The service should have a particular focus on informal learning, with an emphasis on encouraging participation."

As CBBC is a British broadcasting network, I feel that my children's TV series wouldn't fit with the British programs on CBBC since it was not created with a British audience in mind. The CBBC Channel is also geared more towards educational content and factual learning. My cartoon, while meant to teach young kids on the importance of healthy relationships and fostering community, doesn't contain any factual learning sections or specific educational content. As CBBC is the BBC brand used for content aimed at ages 6-12, and my children's cartoon series is geared towards ages 2-8, I think my show would better fit on a network with a programming block for that age range. Because of these discrepancies, I believe my animated TV show would not be a good fit to appear on the CBBC Channel.

According to the CBeebies Wikipedia page, CBeebies is a British free-to-air public broadcast children's television channel owned and operated by the BBC that is also the brand used for all BBC content for children aged 6 years and under. It timeshares with BBC Four and, as previously stated, is sister channels with CBBC.

As CBeebies is owned by BBC and is a British broadcasting network, I feel that my children's TV series wouldn't fit with the British programs on CBeebies since it was not created with a British audience in mind. Like CBBC, Cbeebies is also geared more towards educational content and factual learning. My cartoon, while meant to teach young kids moral lessons and social dynamics, doesn't contain any factual learning sections or specific educational content. Although Cbeebies is the BBC brand used for content aimed at ages 6 and under and could theoretically play my children's cartoon series, which is geared towards ages 2-8, I believe my animated TV show would not be a good fit to appear on CBeebies because of the before stated discrepancies.

Based on information from its Wikipedia page, Milkshake! is a British children's television programming block on Channel 5 and is currently aimed at children aged 3-7. In 2014, the block began airing Nick Jr programs and has also previously aired shows from Playhouse Disney, Cartoon Network, Nickelodeon, and PBS Kids.

Unlike CBBC and Cbeebies, Milkshake! is not geared towards educational content and factual learning. My cartoon, which is meant to teach young kids moral lessons and social dynamics, doesn't contain any factual learning sections or specific educational content, so it would fit well with other programs on Milkshake! because of this. Since Milkshake! is aimed at ages 3-7, my children's TV show, which is geared towards ages 2-8, could play on the network with no issues. However, because Milkshake! is a British children's television program, I feel that my cartoon series might not fit with the other British programs on Milkshake! since it was not created with a British audience in mind. That being said, Milkshake! has also aired American cartoons alongside their British content.

According to information from its Wikipedia page, Cartoon Network (or CN) is an American cable television channel owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. It is a part of The Cartoon Network, Inc. that purviews the broadcasting and production activities of Boomerang, Cartoonito, Adult Swim, and Toonami. CN primarily broadcasts animated television series, mostly children's programming, ranging from action to animated comedy.

Cartoon Network shows usually targets children aged 6-14, while its early morning Cartoonito block is aimed at preschoolers and kindergarteners aged 2-6, and the channel shares channel space with its sister network Adult Swim, which targets older teenagers and young adults, 18-34.

My animated children's TV show would best fit in CN's Cartoonito network morning block since it is made for children aged 2-8. It falls under the animated comedy genre and matches the look and style of pre-existing CN shows, like The Amazing World of Gumball. My series is also similar to previous CN shows and miniseries, like The Powerpuff Girls, Adventure Time, Steven Universe, and Over the Garden Wall.

Based on the Nickelodeon Wikipedia page, Nickelodeon (or Nick) is an American pay television channel which launched as the first cable channel for children in 1979. It is run by Paramount Global and is primarily aimed at children aged 2-17, along with a broader family audience through its program blocks.

Nick has introduced several sister channels and programming blocks including Nick Jr., Nicktoons, and TeenNick. The network's daytime schedule is dedicated to shows targeting preschoolers. The Nick Jr block primarily targets audiences of preschool age as Nickelodeon's usual audience of school-aged children are in school during the block's designated time period. Nicktoons is geared towards children aged 7 to 11, and broadcasts reruns of original animated series from sister network Nickelodeon, while TeenNick is aimed at adolescents and young adults.

If my animated children's TV show were to air on Nickelodeon, it would best fit on the Nick Jr. programming block. Since Nick Jr. targets audiences of preschool age, my children's TV series that targets the ages of 2-8 would be suitable for the Nickelodeon program block. Although my cartoon is not very visually similar to any current or previous Nickelodeon cartoons, I don't believe it would stick out of the current line-up of shows on Nick Jr.

Based on all of my research, I have come to the conclusion that my children's animated TV show would best fit on the Cartoon Network broadcast. Although it could also do well on Milkshake! or Nickelodeon, my series is most suitable for the appearance of CN shows and has similar themes to many previous programs from the broadcaster. There are many networks that have programming blocks for preschool aged children, but Cartoon Network is unique in the fact that all of its shows targeting a younger audience simply play in the morning under the same programming block as the other cartoons. Many preschool geared programs on CN can be enjoyed by all ages, unlike other educational shows on different networks. My animated series can be enjoyed by all who watch, not just 2-8 year olds. I believe Cartoon Network is great fit for my animated children's TV show and would do very well in the mornings on this network.

Works Cited

CBBC (2022) CBBC, Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBBC (Accessed: January 7, 2023).

Wikipedia (2022) Nicktoons (American TV channel), Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nicktoons_(American_TV_channel) (Accessed: January 7, 2023).

Wikipedia (2023) Cartoon Network, Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cartoon_Network (Accessed: January 7, 2023).

Wikipedia (2023) CBeebies, Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBeebies (Accessed: January 7, 2023).

Wikipedia (2023) List of programs broadcast by Cartoon Network, Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_programs_broadcast_by_Cartoon_Network (Accessed: January 7, 2023).

Wikipedia (2023) Milkshake!, Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Milkshake! (Accessed: January 7, 2023).

Wikipedia (2023) Nickelodeon, Wikipedia. Wikimedia Foundation. Available at: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nickelodeon (Accessed: January 7, 2023).