Canal+ to Launch Children's Channel

Starting in June, Swedish, Norweigna and Danish subscribers to Canal+ can watch children's and family programming on a new channel. Not yet named, the new channel will feature programming from the British BBC's prizewinning children's concept CBeebies and child-friendly feature films.

"Canal+ has a lot to offer most viewers whether their preference is films, sports or TV-series," says Johan Kleberg, CEO for Canal+. "We are now broadening our offer for the family households with CBeebies and children's films. BBC make what are perhaps the best children's programming in the world, educating as well as entertaining the youngsters."

CBeebies is the BBC's channel for pre-schoolers aged 0-6. The focus is on educational entertainment. The channel is shown in, among other places, Australia, India, Singapore, Hong Kong and Poland. On Canal+, CBeebies will be shown in morning and afternoon blocks, with feature films in between. The channel will be broadcast from early in the morning until dinnertime.

"I am delighted that a bespoke, localized CBeebies block will be available in Norway, Sweden and Denmark for the first time," says Ian McDonough, senior vice president and general manager EMEA, BBC Worldwide Channels. "CBeebies is the No. 1 channel in the U.K. for pre-school children, and has proved to be immensely popular with our audiences internationally."

The new channel will be offered to subscribers as part of the Canal+ Film, Canal+ Total and Canal+ Max packages.