News
Voda Spain launches kids TV channel
Stuart O'Brien Sep 14 2007, 12:30pm
Zinkia Interactive has launched a kids’ mobile TV channel with Vodafone Spain.
Pocoyo TV offers full back-to back seven-minute episodes of the hit animated TV series in English and Spanish.
Pocoyo is a kids’ TV phenomenon created by Zinkia and co-produced with Granada International, in association with Granada Kids and Cosgrove Hall.
The CGI animation, which airs in 100 countries, has won a bunch of gongs, including a BAFTA for ‘Best Pre-school Animation’ series in 2006.
In Spain the show airs on state broadcaster TVE’s La2, as well as digital channel Boomerang.
Zinkia MD Gonzalo Guirao told ME that the product is unique from a technical perspective and because it’s targeted at parents who want to give their kids something to watch when they’re sitting in the back of a car or in the buggy.
“Pre-schoolers don’t care whether they are watching a show on a two inch or 40 inch screen – they just want to see and hear what they are used to and Pocoyo is one of those brands,” said Guirao.
“The other great thing is that the length of each episode and the fact it uses primary colours and simple sounds means it’s ideally suited to mobile.”
Crucially, Zinkia retains all interactive rights to the Pokoyo brand, so is free to cut its own mobile deals. It was able to secure a rare minimum guarantee from Vodafone Spain for six-month exclusivity, with the operator supporting the channel with TV and print advertising.
Zinkia is speaking to operators outside of Spain regarding Pocoyo content and is assessing mobile opportunities of its other brands, Shuriken School and Sono.
