Jun 20, 2019

Universal Kids Ends Development of Original Content

Universal Kids, the Comcast-NBCUniversal-owned cable channel dedicated to children's programming, will no longer produce original content. The move follows Universal's failed rebranding of its preschool network Sprout to Universal Kids, which saw a 73% drop in ratings from 2017 to 2018.

Universal Kids will continue to air as a linear channel, but will no longer develop original content, according to a Variety report, instead ramping up acquisitions from DreamWorks Animation TV (DreamWorks is also part of NBCUniversal). The network has also indicated that it will continue to acquire programming from third-party producers.

On the animation front, Universal Kids will soon launch two new DreamWorks series (Where's Waldo and Norman Picklestripes), which will join other DreamWorks series currently airing on the channel (All Hail King Julien, Dinotrux, The Mr. Peabody & Sherman Show, Dragons: Riders of Berk, and Home: Adventures with Tip & Oh).

According to Kidscreen, this strategic shift will affect employees of the New York-based channel. It is not clear how many employees have had their employment affected.

Last February, Deirdre Brennan left her position as general manager of Universal Kids. Since then, her position has not been filled, and Frances Berwick, president of lifestyle networks for NBCUniversal Cable, has overseen the network since that time.