BBC Worldwide Strikes Deal With Zuku Tv To Launch Cbeebies Channel

A key partnership has been forged between BBC Worldwide and Zuku TV, East Africa’s leading home entertainment operator. It will see the CBeebies channel launch on the Zuku platform on Channel 602 and become available for all customers in its market from 1^st November as a 24 hour channel.

CBeebies is an award-winning, multi-platform brand for pre-schoolers aged six years and under, which encourages children to learn through play. The channel offers a mixture of new and landmark, high-quality programming to educate and entertain the BBC’s youngest audiences. It is already giving children from two to six, together with their parents and carers entertaining, interactive and educational programming in over 78 territories globally.

CBeebies has become a hugely successful channel in South Africa for pre-schoolers. It is where mums with children under the age of three spend the most time, 32 per cent ahead of its next competitor. This has helped the channel to achieve the highest YOY growth for average time spent amongst mums with toddlers, which is significantly ahead of other children’s channels.

Joel Churcher, Vice President and General Manager for Africa, BBC Worldwide said: “CBeebies is the number one channel for children under six in the UK. Following the success that the channel has had here in Africa, we’re thrilled to be launching it with a new partner to an even bigger family audience. The channel is home to some of the most entertaining and educational programmes for young children and given that the African continent has one of the youngest populations globally, we’re excited to be able to give new viewers on the Zuku platform access to such popular kids’ programmes.”

Jay Chudasama, Chief Executive Officer, Zuku TV said, “Zuku is keen on providing entertainment for the whole family and children in particular. Our partnership with BBC Worldwide and launch of the CBeebies channel comes at an ideal time when the children are home for the Christmas break. The channel has enriching, educational and enjoyable programs to watch as a family.  Following the success of the channel in South Africa, we’re confident that CBeebies will perform well with our customers across the Zuku platform.”

Bringing its schedule of award-winning and internationally renowned pre-school programming to the Zuku platform for the first time, CBeebies introduces the following key titles:

Go Jetters: An original commission for the international CBeebies network, this beautifully crafted animation series is packed with comedy, teamwork, action, awesome sights and fantastic facts about well-known landmarks.  Go Jetters follows the adventures of four plucky heroes, Xuli, Kyan, Lars and Foz, as they travel the world with their teacher, mentor and friend, Ubercorn, a funky disco-grooving unicorn. Aimed at the upper-end of preschool ages 4-6, Go Jetters incorporates music, cool gadgets and disco-dancing to fire up the imagination, and develop learnings about people, places and environments.

 Hey Duggee: A colourful and entertaining animated series aimed at 2-5 year olds where Duggee, a big lovable dog, runs a club for pre-schoolers that inspires children to have fun and be energetic. Each episode starts with Duggee welcoming the Squirrels, a bunch of curious little characters who are dropped off at the club by their parents. That marks the start of laughter and learning as they discover new things about the world around them, all under the patient guidance of Duggee. 

Sarah and Duck: The BAFTA award-winning, 2D animated, pre-school series, shown in over 90 territories, follows the curious adventures of seven year old Sarah and her loud, quacky friend Duck, as they explore the world around them in unexpected ways. From trying to reach a rainbow, pretending to be a penguin, or helping an umbrella to stay dry, the pair are helped along by The Narrator, who joins in the adventures, offering helpful suggestions and making sure they don’t go too far astray.