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BabyFirst

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BabyFirst
Country United States
Broadcast areaUnited States, Mexico, Europe, Asia, Canada, Central America, Caribbean, South America, Africa, Oceania
HeadquartersLos Angeles, California
Programming
Language(s)English, Chinese, Spanish, French, Turkish, German, Korean, Japanese, Portuguese, Polish, Russian, Arabic, and Hebrew
Picture format480i (SDTV)
720p (HDTV)
1080i (16:9) (HDTV)
Ownership
OwnerFirst Media
History
LaunchedMay 11, 2006; 18 years ago (2006-05-11)

BabyFirst is an American TV channel that produces and distributes content for babies' ages 6–36 months[1] and their parents through television, the internet, and mobile applications. The channel is owned by First Media.[2] The content is intended to develop an infant's skills, such as color recognition, counting and vocabulary.

The network is based in Los Angeles, California and is available in over 120 million homes in 33 countries and in 13 languages.[3][4]

History

Origins

BabyFirst was founded in 2004[5] by Guy Oranim[6] and Sharon Rechter.[7][8][9] The network was launched on 11 May 2006 on DirecTV and made available through EchoStar's Dish Network in June 2006.[10][11] The network is based in Los Angeles and was initially funded by Regency Enterprises, Kardan and Bellco Capital.[12][13] BabyFirst was controversial as the first 24-hour channel for children six months to three years in age,[13][14] but it was popular among parents[15][16][17] and grew quickly.[10]

Distribution expansion

In the 2000s, the Federal Trade Commission responded to a complaint by the Campaign for a Commercial Free Childhood alleging that BabyFirst's advertising that it helped babies develop skills was misleading. The FTC did not impose any sanctions.[10][18]

By 2008, it was broadcasting in ten territories in the Asia Pacific, such as China and Korea.[19] In October 2008, SingTel started distributing BabyFirst to the Singapore audience.[20] It was also being broadcast in Africa and Latin America.[10] In May 2008, it signed a distribution agreement with Time Warner Cable.[10][21][22] In 2009, HBO Asia became the exclusive distributor for BabyFirst in Asia.[23]

In 2011, the network obtained agreements to distribute BabyFirst in the United Kingdom through the BSkyB satellite network as well as in Mexico through Sky Mexico and Cablevision.[24] A French version was introduced with CanalSat in 2011.[5] In late 2011, it had arranged broadcasting agreements throughout Europe,[25] the Middle East,[24][25] and Canada.[26]

A bilingual Latin and English channel, BabyFirst Americas, was launched with Comcast in 2012.[27][28] A premium BabyFirst YouTube channel was introduced in June 2013.[7]

Recent history

In 2013, former ABC Network President Steven McPherson[7] and Rich Frank, the former chairman of Disney Channel[29] became investors and board members as the company worked to develop new content and improve advertising revenues.[29] In May 2014, BabyFirst and AT&T U-verse released a co-developed second-screen app for mobile devices for children to interact with the television programming through tablets or smartphones.[30]

Programming

File:BabyFirst video content.ogv
A sample of BabyFirst programming

BabyFirst's television channel provides 24-hour programming for babies.[31] About 90 percent of the 90 shows BabyFirst produces are original content created at its studios.[13][32] Acquired programs include Mio Mao, Ready Dress Go, Squeak!, Tec the Tractor, Suzy's Zoo, Color Crew, and Rainbow Horse. The format of the network limits each of the network's presentations to three to five minutes of length that are either live-action or animated.[14][32]

Current programming

Original programming

  • 123 Race
  • ABC Galaxy
  • Albert and Junior
  • Baby D.I.Y.
  • Baby Maze
  • Baby U
  • Big Box Adventure
  • Black and White
  • Bloop & Loop
  • Bonnie Bear
  • Carousel Dreams
  • Color Crew
  • Color Symphony
  • Clay World
  • Fred and Fiona
  • GooGoo
  • GooGoo and GaaGaa
  • Harry and Larry: Pros Who Help!
  • Harry the Bunny
  • Hide and Seek
  • Joey's Toy Box
  • Li'l Vinnie's Art
  • Lullabies
  • Kaleidoscope
  • My Animal Friends with Robi
  • My Color Friends
  • My Play Pals
  • My Pop-Up Book
  • Numbers Around the Globe
  • Number Time
  • PeekABoo, I See You!
  • Petey the Paintbrush (revived version)
  • Picture Pad
  • Pixies
  • Playtime with Al
  • Puzzles (CGI version)
  • Rainbow Horse
  • Ready, Dress, Go!
  • Safari Scrapbook
  • Sandman
  • Scuba Dots
  • Shapes School
  • Swing and Sing
  • Tell Me A Story
  • The Yoyo & Peanut Show
  • The Notekins
  • Tillie Knock Knock
  • VocabuLarry
  • Wonder Box

Acquired Programming

Current programming blocks

  • Rise and Shine
  • BabyFirst Club
  • Baby First Favorites
  • Developmental Programs for Baby
  • Mama & Me: Tot School
  • Mama & Me: Fun Time
  • Mama & Me: Sing Along
  • BabyFirst After Hours
  • BabyFirst Bedtime
  • Baby's Best
  • Early Bloomers
  • Breakfast Club
  • Super Duper Saturday

Former programming

Original programming

  • Bobby's Balloon House
  • Dance Time Boys
  • I Can Sign!
  • My Gym at Home
  • Numbers Farm
  • Petey the Paintbrush (Old version)
  • Puzzles (Old version)
  • Shape-A-Majigs
  • Shapes & Sizes
  • Sukey's Circle
  • The Wordies
  • Widget & His Wonder Machine
  • Magic Tunnels
  • Mitch Match
  • Letter Song

Acquired programming

Former programming blocks

  • Baby Class
  • Family Fun Time
  • iHola, Bebe!
  • Larry & Friends
  • Nighttime Programs for Baby
  • Preschool Basics[33]

The New York Times described the content as "decidedly unhurried," making extensive use of bright colors and upbeat music.[14] Programming development is guided by child psychology experts and is designed to encourage a child's skills development, such as counting, vocabulary and color recognition.[7][13][25][34] The BabyFirst logo in the corner changes colors to indicate the skills a segment is intended to develop. Late-night programming is intended to lull viewers to sleep.[14]

There are also 41 BabyFirst apps for mobile devices.[32] An app available to AT&T U-verse viewers allows children to draw on a mobile device and have the drawing appear on the television screen.[30]

Some experts argue that exposing children to television at such an early age is taking technology too far or that parents are using BabyFirst as a digital babysitter. Parents in-turn refute that argument, claiming that experts have lost touch with the realities of raising a child.[35] BabyFirst suggests the programming is intended to be watched by parents and their children together in an interactive way.[36]

References

  1. ^ Lopez, Lopez. "First Media Renews Content Partnership With China-Based Streamer iQiyi". Yahoo. Retrieved June 4, 2019.
  2. ^ "BABYFIRST Now on Verizon Fios". Multichannel. Media Financial Management Association. April 25, 2017. Retrieved September 15, 2018.
  3. ^ https://first.media/about-us
  4. ^ Skilton, Alison. "BabyFirst Extends Carriage in Mexico". TVKids. Retrieved June 11, 2019.
  5. ^ a b Guid, Elizabeth; Leffler, Rebecca (December 21, 2011). "Fox, CanalSat members of a baby boom". Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved June 17, 2014.
  6. ^ "Information - BabyFirst TV". Crunchbase.
  7. ^ a b c d Miller, DiAngelea (June 6, 2013). "BabyFirst, with premium YouTube channel and new investor, expands". Los Angeles Times.
  8. ^ Dunn, Laura. "Women in Business: Sharon Rechter, co-founder of BabyFirst". HuffPost. Retrieved March 16, 2015.
  9. ^ "Sharon Rechter". Israeli American Council.
  10. ^ a b c d e Carvaja, Doreen (May 19, 2008). "What can TV do for your baby? 2 channels specialized in child fare are thriving, but critics cite risks of too much viewing". International Herald Tribune.
  11. ^ Robinson (May 12, 2006). "'Screen Test' Toddler - Kid & Folks Rate Baby TV". The New York Post. p. 8.
  12. ^ "Round-the-Clock Channel for Infants Debuts on DirecTV". Associated Press. 2015-03-25. Retrieved 2019-03-21.
  13. ^ a b c d Davis, Joyzelle (June 14, 2006). "EchoStar to offer BabyFirst channel". Rocky Mountain News. Archived from the original on September 21, 2014. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  14. ^ a b c d Itzkoff, Dave (May 21, 2006). "TV Moves A Step Closer To the Womb". The New York Times. p. 1.
  15. ^ Shin, Annys (February 24, 2007). "Diaper Demographic; TV, Video Programming for the Under-2 Market Grows Despite Lack of Clear Educational Benefit". The Washington Post.
  16. ^ Karen B. TV for tots a turnoff. Courier Mail, The (Brisbane) [serial online]. October 14, 2009;:33. Available from: Newspaper Source Plus, Ipswich, MA. Accessed May 22, 2014.
  17. ^ Clemetson, Lynette (25 May 2006). "Parents Making Use of TV Despite Risks". The New York Times. p. 16.
  18. ^ Lafayette, Hayes (September 2, 2013). "McPherson Seeks More Carriage for Kid-TV Net". Broadcasting & Cable.
  19. ^ Wong, Christine (November 1, 2008). "Crossing the channels: despite the economic crisis, this year has seen a slew of new channels roll out in the region, with some still set to launch". Television Asia.
  20. ^ "BabyFirstTV on SingTel's mio TV". Television Asia. October 1, 2008.
  21. ^ Schneider, Michael (May 9, 2008). "Time Warner to carry BabyFirst". Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  22. ^ Flint, Joe. "It's Really Here: TV for Babies". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved March 29, 2015.
  23. ^ "HBO Asia strikes agreement to represent BabyFirst, WarnerTV across Asia". Television Asia. December 1, 2009.
  24. ^ a b Brennan, Steve (March 20, 2007). "BabyFirstTV crawls its way to U.S." The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
  25. ^ a b c Proudfoot, Shannon (July 27, 2012). "24-hour TV for kids under 3 is on the air". Winnipeg Free Press.
  26. ^ Vlessing, Etan (July 26, 2012). "BabyFirst crawling onto Canadian TV". The Hollywood Reporter.
  27. ^ Moore, Frazier (February 21, 2012). "Comcast to start new minority-owned cable channels". Associated Press.
  28. ^ "Comcast Outlines Plan to Carry 4 Minority-Owned Channels". The New York Times. p. 2. Retrieved August 28, 2014.
  29. ^ a b Getzler, Wendy (December 9, 2013). "With Rich Frank on-board, BabyFirst kicks into ad mode". Kidscreen. Retrieved June 3, 2014.
  30. ^ a b Baumgartner, Jeff (May 8, 2014). "AT&T, BabyFirst Team On U-verse App". Multichannel News.
  31. ^ Taylor, Kate (August 8, 2007). "Ok, I admit it: Treehouse is a parent's dream". Globe and Mail. Retrieved May 22, 2014.
  32. ^ a b c "Baby Boom: Profile: BabyFirst". Spring 2014.
  33. ^ "BabyFirst Launches Preschool Block". licenseglobal.com. 2013-07-24. Retrieved 2020-09-03.
  34. ^ Proudfoot, Shannon (July 27, 2007). "New network for the newly born; Commercial-free, 24-hour station for babies to launch in Canada". The Star Phoenix. pp. B8. Archived from the original on 2014-08-09.
  35. ^ Karen Brooks (2008). Consuming Innocence: Popular Culture and Our Children. Univ. of Queensland Press. p. 129. ISBN 978-0-7022-3645-7.
  36. ^ Villalpando, Nicole (August 24, 2012). "BabyFirst develops baby's first apps". The Statesman. Retrieved May 23, 2014.
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