Launch date July 10, 2003 | Owner Cookie Jar Group Dissolved September 18, 2011 | |
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Type Defunct weekly/daily block Availability Nationwide, though not in every market Similar Cookie Jar TV, Toonturama, CBS Kidshow, Nickelodeon Saturday program, Marvel Action Universe | ||
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, 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 2008, and then by Ascent Media. In early 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. On June 20, 2008, it has been announced that DIC Entertainment would be acquired by Cookie Jar Group. On July 23, 2008, the deal was completed, and the block was later re-launched as the Cookie Jar Kids Network. The block ceased to exist on September 18, 2011.
Contents
National ad sales for the syndicated blocks were handled by Tribune Entertainment with barter basis available. Ads could have stitched together different programs throughout the three blocks.
History
In January 2003, DIC announced 3 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. By August, 400 stations had signed 3 to 5 year deals. The block was launched on September 1. With its 3 feeds, DiC Kids was on FOX, WB and UPN affiliates and out performed the networks' Saturday blocks by December 1.