Discovery Kids on NBC
Encyclopedia
Discovery Kids on NBC was a six-hour block of Saturday morning television
children's programming broadcast by NBC
from September 14, 2002 to September 2, 2006. The block featured programming from the Discovery Kids
cable network, and all of its programming met the FCC's "E/I
" requirements. The block was replaced on September 9, 2006 with the Qubo
block.
Discovery Kids
. Several days later, it began to return any kids programming, which was absent entirely from 1993 to 2002.
All programming during the block, as is standard for Saturday morning network programming, was labeled as meeting E/I
requirements. Most of the television programming was imported from Discovery Kids. As the block launched on September 14, 2002, it consisted of only live-action series, including a kid-themed version of Trading Spaces
and J. D. Roth's Emmy-nominated reality game show Endurace
.
In later years, the block was expanded to include some animated series such as Kenny the Shark
, Tutenstein
, and Time Warp Trio
. Meanwhile, in 2004, NBC became a subsidiary of NBC Universal, when its parent company, General Electric
, acquired 80% of Vivendi Universal Entertainment from Vivendi
.
, Scholastic Press
, Classic Media
and Nelvana
for planning to launch a new children's block, which is later called Qubo
. The deal was started in May 2006. Qubo includes blocks that air on NBC, Telemundo
(the Spanish-language network owned by NBC Universal), and ION Media Networks's ION Television, as well as a 24/7 digital broadcast channel, video on demand services and a branded website.
Discovery Kids on NBC block was aired for the final time on September 2, 2006.
Television
Television is a telecommunication medium for transmitting and receiving moving images that can be monochrome or colored, with accompanying sound...
children's programming broadcast by NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
from September 14, 2002 to September 2, 2006. The block featured programming from the Discovery Kids
Discovery Kids
Discovery Kids is an American website owned by Discovery Communications, Inc. created for children. Until October 10, 2010, it was an American digital cable specialty channel, owned by Discovery Communications with television programming for education of children. It was launched in October 1996...
cable network, and all of its programming met the FCC's "E/I
E/I
E/I, which stands for "educational and informative," refers to a type of children's television programming shown in the United States. The Federal Communications Commission requires that every full-service Terrestrial television station in the U.S. show at least three hours of these television...
" requirements. The block was replaced on September 9, 2006 with the Qubo
Qubo
Qubo is a multi-platform children's television specialty channel endeavor operated as a joint venture between ION Media Networks, NBCUniversal, Nelvana, Scholastic Corporation, and Classic Media...
block.
History
Children's programming has played a part in NBC's programming since its initial roots in television. The block is preceded by TNBC, which was a live-action teen programming block. On January 6, 2002, NBC began a deal with Discovery Communications'Discovery Communications
Discovery Communications, Inc. is an American global media and entertainment company. The company started as a single channel in 1985, The Discovery Channel. Today, DCI has global operations offering 28 network entertainment brands on more than 100 channels in more than 180 countries in 39...
Discovery Kids
Discovery Kids
Discovery Kids is an American website owned by Discovery Communications, Inc. created for children. Until October 10, 2010, it was an American digital cable specialty channel, owned by Discovery Communications with television programming for education of children. It was launched in October 1996...
. Several days later, it began to return any kids programming, which was absent entirely from 1993 to 2002.
All programming during the block, as is standard for Saturday morning network programming, was labeled as meeting E/I
E/I
E/I, which stands for "educational and informative," refers to a type of children's television programming shown in the United States. The Federal Communications Commission requires that every full-service Terrestrial television station in the U.S. show at least three hours of these television...
requirements. Most of the television programming was imported from Discovery Kids. As the block launched on September 14, 2002, it consisted of only live-action series, including a kid-themed version of Trading Spaces
Trading Spaces
Trading Spaces is an hour-long American television reality program that aired from 2000 to 2008 on the cable channels TLC and Discovery Home. The format of the show was based on the BBC TV series Changing Rooms. The show ran for eight seasons....
and J. D. Roth's Emmy-nominated reality game show Endurace
Endurance (TV series)
Endurance is an American reality television children's program, currently shown on the Discovery Kids cable network in the United States and also on networks in other countries. The show's format is somewhat similar to the CBS television series Survivor, though with a teenaged cast...
.
In later years, the block was expanded to include some animated series such as Kenny the Shark
Kenny the Shark
Kenny the Shark is an animated television series produced by Discovery Kids. The show first aired on NBC's Discovery Kids on NBC from November 1, 2003 until February 18, 2006 with two seasons and 26 episodes having been shown. The series continued to run on Discovery Kids until the network changed...
, Tutenstein
Tutenstein
Tutenstein is an animated television series, produced by Porchlight Entertainment for Discovery Kids based on the comic by Jay Stephens which was published in Oni Press' JetCat Clubhouse. This cartoon also airs on Jetix in Europe and Maxi TV in Turkey. It began broadcasting on November 1, 2003...
, and Time Warp Trio
Time Warp Trio
The Time Warp Trio is a book series written by Jon Scieszka and illustrated by Lane Smith and later by Adam McCauley, which chronicles the adventures of three boys - Joe, Sam, and Fred - who travel through time and space with the aid of the mysterious Book.The storyline has been adapted into an...
. Meanwhile, in 2004, NBC became a subsidiary of NBC Universal, when its parent company, General Electric
General Electric
General Electric Company , or GE, is an American multinational conglomerate corporation incorporated in Schenectady, New York and headquartered in Fairfield, Connecticut, United States...
, acquired 80% of Vivendi Universal Entertainment from Vivendi
Vivendi
Vivendi SA is a French international media conglomerate with activities in music, television and film, publishing, telecommunications, the Internet, and video games. It is headquartered in Paris.- History :...
.
Transition to Qubo
At the beginning of 2006, NBC began its talk to ION Media NetworksION Media Networks
ION Media Networks is an American television broadcasting company that owns and operates over 60 television stations in most major American markets. It is now a privately owned company.-History:...
, Scholastic Press
Scholastic Press
Scholastic is a global book publishing company known for publishing educational materials for schools, teachers, and parents, and selling and distributing them by mail order and via book clubs and book fairs. It also has the exclusive United States' publishing rights to the Harry Potter book...
, Classic Media
Classic Media
Classic Media, LLC, is an American production company and distributor of family programming. It was founded in 2000 by former Marvel Entertainment CEO Eric Ellenbogen and former Broadway Video executive John Engelman in hopes of acquiring mismanaged classic properties and giving exposure to...
and Nelvana
Nelvana
Nelvana Limited is a Canadian entertainment company founded in 1971 known for its work in children's animation. It was named by founders Michael Hirsh, Patrick Loubert and Clive A. Smith after a Canadian comic book superheroine created by Adrian Dingle in the 1940s...
for planning to launch a new children's block, which is later called Qubo
Qubo
Qubo is a multi-platform children's television specialty channel endeavor operated as a joint venture between ION Media Networks, NBCUniversal, Nelvana, Scholastic Corporation, and Classic Media...
. The deal was started in May 2006. Qubo includes blocks that air on NBC, Telemundo
Telemundo
Telemundo is an American television network that broadcasts in Spanish. The network is the second-largest Spanish-language content producer in the world, and the second-largest Spanish-language network in the United States, behind Univision....
(the Spanish-language network owned by NBC Universal), and ION Media Networks's ION Television, as well as a 24/7 digital broadcast channel, video on demand services and a branded website.
Discovery Kids on NBC block was aired for the final time on September 2, 2006.