Sinclair to show children's programming starting July 1

[Mr Tony]

Starting next Saturday Sinclair is going to start show "cartoons" 7 days a week. It will be on their FOX, My, CW and Independent stations. But dont fret. ThisTV is also going to carry them

Sinclair Wants Back in on Kids' TV
The group will launch a three-hour children's block across platforms this summer

By Diana Marszalek, Broadcasting & Cable


Sinclair Broadcast Group is trying to recapture some of the children’s programming business local broadcasters have largely ceded to cable.

Starting July 1, the group will air three hours of children’s programming daily across linear and digital platforms. The multicast network ThisTV will air the block, called KidsClick, as well as Sinclair-owned affiliates.


KidsClick will air from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m. Monday through Friday, and 7 a.m. to 10 a.m. on Saturdays and Sundays. The block will include long and short-form programs, Sinclair said.

In discussing the initiative on their 1Q earnings call Wednesday, Sinclair executives said the venture is a chance to reach young viewers – as well as capture some of the billion-dollar business currently going to cable channels such as Nickelodeon.

Local TV had a lock on children’s programming until roughly 18 years ago, they said.



My local CW (WUCW Minneapolis) has an article and their schedule (which varies from the "standard" slots due to these shows not meeting E/I so they will still have the "One Magnificent Morning" shows
http://thecwtc.com/news/local/kidsclick

WEEKDAY SCHEDULE (all times Central)
6:00am - Sonic X
6:30am - Max Steel
7:00am - Angry Birds
7:30am - Miraculous LadyBug
8:00am - Rocket Monkeys
8:30am - Super 4

SATURDAY SCHEDULE
5:00am - Robocop Alpha Command
5:30am - Sonic X
6:00am - Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures
6:30am - Scary Larry

1:00pm - The Pink Panther and Pals
1:30pm - Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures

SUNDAY SCHEDULE
12:00pm - Robocop Alpha Command
12:30pm - Sonic X
1:00pm - Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures
1:30pm - Scary Larry
2:00pm - The Pink Panther and Pals
2:30pm - Pac-Man and the Ghostly Adventures

 

[Mr Tony]

wiki article for those who want to read it

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KidsClick

 

[Mr Tony]

Here in Minneapolis the weekday programming replaces 3 paid programs, a religious show, Paternity Court and Corrupt Crimes (which moves to late night 2:30-3AM replacing a 2nd airing of Judge Faith)

 

[EddieTheRapFan]

Here in Minneapolis the weekday programming replaces 3 paid programs, a religious show, Paternity Court and Corrupt Crimes (which moves to late night 2:30-3AM replacing a 2nd airing of Judge Faith)

To be honest cartoons replacing teleshopping, televangelists and reality rubbish is the best that have happened to OTA TV in a while.

 

[TheBigA]

The question that comes up in my mind is did Sinclair get a library of cartoons in the purchase of Tribune?

 

[crainbebo]

They won't be shown on either KIMA/KEPR or the CW subchannels. I am hoping those stations that are getting the cartoons, will have enough revenue and audience. We live in a world where Nick and Cartoon Network, plus YouTube, dominate kids' lives. But many families are cutting cable, thus this is happening. Will there be enough toys, video games and kiddie places that advertise? Or will we see 'do you owe more than $10,000 to the IRS?' every single commercial break?

 

[TheBigA]

Or will we see 'do you owe more than $10,000 to the IRS?' every single commercial break?

There are some rules about the types of commercials stations can air during children's shows. Which is one reason why a lot of OTA stations got out of that business.

 

[Mr Tony]

They won't be shown on either KIMA/KEPR or the CW subchannels.

Because the CW that you get is the CW Plus they wont carry it. CW Plus is already programmed 24/7. The larger markets have a CW that they have to program outside of prime time
Sinclair isnt offering it on a CBS, ABC or NBC affiliate as they already have programming during those times

 

[ChocoMingo]

Since I don't live in a TV market with Sinclair (although Tampa used to be one), it will instead be on 32.2 WMOR-DT2. I wonder if those shows might replace "The Insider" in some stations that are in Sinclair and also have that show, as The Insider is being cancelled.

 

[Mr Tony]

Since I don't live in a TV market with Sinclair (although Tampa used to be one), it will instead be on 32.2 WMOR-DT2. I wonder if those shows might replace "The Insider" in some stations that are in Sinclair and also have that show, as The Insider is being cancelled.

If that show is on in the early morning. Remember this isnt on all Sinclair stations. Only a handful of Indy, CW, FOX and My affiliates (39 to be exact....according to wiki). Any Sinclair station that is ABC, NBC or CBS already has programming on during those morning times

 

[crainbebo]

The CW Plus has infomercials...and KIMA-DT2 airs the 2nd run of Big Bang Theory at noon weekdays replacing one of those infomercials. Perhaps they could air selected cartoons on weekends replacing some of the infomercials, while keeping One Magnificent Morning. The E/I quality has gotten better over the past few years. I have family members who watch Dog Whisperer: Family Edition - they are animal lovers and watch loads of Animal Planet shows on weekends as well...

 

[Y2kTheNewOldies]

They won't be shown on either KIMA/KEPR or the CW subchannels. I am hoping those stations that are getting the cartoons, will have enough revenue and audience. We live in a world where Nick and Cartoon Network, plus YouTube, dominate kids' lives. But many families are cutting cable, thus this is happening. Will there be enough toys, video games and kiddie places that advertise? Or will we see 'do you owe more than $10,000 to the IRS?' every single commercial break?

Well the last time Kids programming was on OTA TV Sylvan and Kumon tutoring services were mentioned along with ads for toys. But I'm not sure if Kids Click will work unless the shows are also released to Youtube or Kids Click Website and app to get the median audience.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-4508862/Nepotism-bad-blood-caused-Cellino-Barnes-split.html

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/05/11/nyregion/cellino-barnes-lawsuit.html

http://abcnews.go.com/Blotter/taxmasters-patrick-cox-hit-200-judgment/story?id=16040652

Unless as you suggested ads for Celino and Barnes plus Tas Masters appear in kids show then SInclair is crossing the line here if they did that.

 

[Mr Tony]

The CW Plus has infomercials...and KIMA-DT2 airs the 2nd run of Big Bang Theory at noon weekdays replacing one of those infomercials. Perhaps they could air selected cartoons on weekends replacing some of the infomercials, while keeping One Magnificent Morning.

Looking at the list there are some other markets where they own a CW Plus or FOX as a sub and arent putting it on there. There are even some large markets where it wont be on the Sinclair station...only the ThisTv affiliate
-Salt Lake City (Sinclair owns KJZZ which is an Independent)
-Baltimore....which makes no sense as Sinclair owns the FOX, CW and My there....along with it being the "mothership" for Sinclair offices

 

[TheBigA]

Looking at the list there are some other markets where they own a CW Plus or FOX as a sub and arent putting it on there.

At most stations, that decision is up to the GM. I'm not sure how Sinclair works, but if we study which stations carry the children's shows and which don't, we will find out which GMs have the power to do what they want, vs. just do what ownership wants. Carrying a big block of children's shows in the morning is potentially giving up a lot of local revenue. This may be an experiment at a group of smaller stations to see if that's still true, or if there's now money to make with children's programming.

 

[Mrtejano]

So Bugs bunny or Mickey?

 

[TheBigA]

So Bugs bunny or Mickey?

Neither.

 

[KeithE4]

So Bugs bunny or Mickey?

I don't think either TW or Disney offer anything to local stations anymore (not sure Disney ever did).

Bugs Bunny and the other WB cartoons (mostly post-WW2, with only a few Leon Schlesinger-era titles here and there) still occupy several hours a day on Boomerang. Along with Tom & Jerry and Scooby Doo, those three are about 22 of 24 hours per day on that channel. The Flintstones has also completely disappeared from their air.

I doubt you'll ever see any classic cartoons on OTA stations anymore. TW, Disney, and Viacom/Paramount own most of them, and I think they're more interested in DVD sales than broadcasting nowadays.

 

[TheBigA]

I doubt you'll ever see any classic cartoons on OTA stations anymore. TW, Disney, and Viacom/Paramount own most of them, and I think they're more interested in DVD sales than broadcasting nowadays.

Exactly which is why I was wondering if Sinclair bought any libraries when they bought Tribune. At one time, Tribune syndicated its own network programming, and I don't know if any cartoons or children's programming is in their library. From what I see in the OP, they're getting these shows from companies like MGM.

The other thing is today's children don't have memories of Bugs Bunny. With Mickey, we assume he's the core of Disney, but not really. They've been very active in creating new properties rather than mining the Mickey archive. As a result, today's kids see Disney as lots of things besides Mickey. So the question is, are you programming a children's network for today's children, or their parents (or even grandparents)?

 

[KeithE4]

Exactly which is why I was wondering if Sinclair bought any libraries when they bought Tribune. At one time, Tribune syndicated its own network programming, and I don't know if any cartoons or children's programming is in their library. From what I see in the OP, they're getting these shows from companies like MGM.

AFAIK, the only kids programming owned by Tribune was the stuff that came from Chicago -- Bozo's CIrcus and the other Channel 9 kids shows that would be meaningless to anyone who didn't grow up watching WGN. I don't think they produced or financed any cartoons for nationwide distribution. Maybe some similar programs from WPIX New York, but that would be about all.

The other thing is today's children don't have memories of Bugs Bunny. With Mickey, we assume he's the core of Disney, but not really. They've been very active in creating new properties rather than mining the Mickey archive. As a result, today's kids see Disney as lots of things besides Mickey. So the question is, are you programming a children's network for today's children, or their parents (or even grandparents)?

Bugs Bunny, at least in the last 20 years post-Space Jam, has become a relic. The WB cartoons still air on Boomerang, but that audience is adults, not kids, for the most part. The Coyote and Road Runner are probably better-known to those younger than 40 than BB, Porky Pig, and Daffy Duck are.

But as far as Mickey Mouse is concerned... while most younger folks today probably have never heard of Steamboat Willie, Fantasia, or even the original Mickey Mouse Club, he's still the corporate trademark, and his likeness is everywhere. Kids still buy Mickey and Minnie toys, even though they've never seen them in a cartoon.

Mickey Mouse will be around for a good long time. Bugs Bunny's days are most likely numbered, if last year's sad attempt at bringing him "up" to modern audiences, "Wabbit" is any indication.

 

[TheBigA]

Kids still buy Mickey and Minnie toys, even though they've never seen them in a cartoon.

I agree...I think that's what I was saying. There are lots of other characters on the Disney cable channels that kids know in that context. But yes, when a 5 year old goes to Disney World or Disney Land, he expects to see Mickey and those characters, along side the other current characters. He knows who Mickey is. He doesn't have that kind of association with Bugs Bunny. Although it would be an interesting experiment to see how he'd react.