The Cookie Jar Kids Network (formerly DIC Kids Network) was a syndicated children's programming block that airs selected Cookie Jar Group shows on local Fox, The CW, MyNetworkTV, and independent stations to provide them with a source of E/I programming required by federal law. The block is known on-air as simply Cookie Jar. It was first formed in 2003 as the DIC Kids Network, and was syndicated by Tribune Entertainment from 2003 to 2007, and then by Ascent Media from 2007 to 2011.[1][2]
National ad sales for the syndicated blocks were handled by Tribune Entertainment with a barter basis available.[3] Ads could have stitched together other programs throughout the three blocks.[4]
History
In February 2003, DIC announced three syndicated children's programming E/I blocks called DIC Kids Network with 200 stations including those owned by Tribune, Sinclair, Clear Channel and Cox signed up to carry the blocks. Margaret Loesch and Donald Roberts, a specialist in kids and media at Stanford University, help develop the blocks.[3] By July, 400 stations had signed 3 to 5 year deals to air the block, and it was also announced that the block would launch on September 1.[4][5] With its three feeds, DIC Kids was on Fox, The WB and UPN affiliates and out fulfilled the networks' Saturday morning blocks by December 1.[6]
In May 2005, DIC announced that Strawberry Shortcake would be added to the strand beginning in January 2006 in order to broaden the screen reach for the series.[14] In October, it was confirmed that Strawberry would replace Captain Planet on the schedule.[15]
In mid-2008, the group announced that they would renew the focus of the block with an emphasis on offering DIC Entertainment programming to additional digital subchannels to meet their E/I needs.[16] On June 20, 2008, it has been announced that DIC Entertainment would be acquired by Canada-based Cookie Jar. On July 23, 2008, the deal was completed, and the block was later relaunched as the Cookie Jar Kids Network on August 31, 2009. The block quietly ended on September 17, 2011.
Programming
Notes:
-Shows marked with a * do not fulfill E/I requirements. -The programming premiere and end dates are based on weekday broadcasts.
Originally ran on weekdays. Moved to Saturday mornings in late 2004 due to expanded religious programming. This, along with other syndicated E/I programming preempted the Kids' WB programming after the affiliate switch from UPN to The CW in 2006. Kids' WB programming were seen in the Boise market via The CW+ affiliate KNIN-DT2.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply. Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.
