NEW YORK, March 6, 2012 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On the heels of celebrating the fifth anniversary of its commitment to children and families, Qubo Channel today announced the launch of 16 new animated and live action series that will join the network starting this quarter. The acquisition of over 400 new program half-hours will kick-off with the premieres of "Timeblazers" and "Dex Hamilton: Alien Entomologist." Qubo will thereafter continue to add a variety of entertaining programming to its family-friendly lineup throughout the course of 2012 and 2013.
Highlighting the announcement is the addition of "Artzooka," a series blending live action and animation to show kids new ways to create their own masterpieces, as well as "Jakers," "Sandra, the Fairytale Detective" and "Timothy Goes to School." Qubo also introduces "Guess with Jess," "Harry and his Bucket Full of Dinosaurs" and "Where on Earth is Carmen Sandiego" this spring, followed by the summer launches of "Animal Atlas" and "Taste Buds." Qubo rounds out this year's additions in the fall with "Eliot Kid," "Liberty's Kids," "Archie's Weird Mysteries," "Sherlock Holmes in the 22nd Century" and "Culture Click."
"We are pleased to renew our commitment to our loyal audience by continuing to provide quality educational programs that are both fun and entertaining," said Marc Zand, EVP, Content Acquisitions and Digital Networks, ION Media Networks. "Our addition of over 200 new content hours will offer a compelling program lineup that combines beloved family favorites, classic animation and the U.S. premieres of some of the highest quality kids programming in the world."
About Qubo
Qubo® is an entertainment destination for children and their caregivers that provides fun, quality programming to help kids develop healthy minds and healthy bodies. Qubo was formed in 2006 by an unprecedented alliance of leading distribution partners and content players in children's television that includes ION Media Networks, Scholastic, NBC Universal and Corus Entertainment Media. Qubo can be seen 24/7 on Qubo Channel and www.qubo.com, and is also broadcast Wednesday-Friday mornings on ION Television, Saturday mornings on NBC and weekend mornings on Telemundo.
# # #
Contact:
Chris Addeo, ION Media Networks
561-682-4210
chrisaddeo@ionmedia.com
QUBO NEW ACQUISITIONS SHOW DESCRIPTIONS
CURRENTLY ON-AIR
TIMEBLAZERS (40 x 30:00)
Sam and Jen, two globe-trotting and time traveling explorers, take viewers on a comedic and adventurous trip through history to see what life in the past was really like – with a pace that never lets up!
DEX HAMILTON: ALIEN ENTOMOLOGIST (26 x 30:00)
Set in the year 3000, 18-year-old Dex Hamilton races across the universe capturing incredible alien insects. Once back on Earth, he studies these amazing creatures at his insect sanctuary, Hamilton's Habitat, in Metro City. In the Habitat, he learns from these fascinating space creatures while helping keep the natural balance of the galaxy.
SPRING 2012
ARTZOOKA (20 x 30:00)
The half hour series blends live action and animation to show kids that art is everywhere, and that there is an artist in everyone. Children are taught to draw outside the lines and create their own masterpieces. The works created represent everything from digital movies and silk-screened t-shirts, to lamps made from oranges!
GUESS WITH JESS (26 x 30:00)
The show follows the adventures of Jess and his gang of animal friends as they play and explore in the idyllic surroundings of their home, Greendale Farm. Jess and his friends search for the answers to science and nature-led questions, allowing children to learn about the world around them. Each episode is based upon a 'big question.' Along with friends Mimi the rabbit, Horace the frog, Baa the lamb, Billie the field mouse, Joey and Jinx the twin puppies and Willow the pony, help is always at hand for Jess, no matter what the challenge!
HARRY AND HIS BUCKET FULL OF DINOSAURS (26 x 30:00)
Harry knows he's the luckiest kid in the world. His Nana has given him the greatest present ever, and it's a gift that no one else has: a bucket with six toy dinosaurs that come to life and are best friends with Harry.
WHERE ON EARTH IS CARMEN SANDIEGO (40 x 30:00)
The world-famous thief, Carmen Sandiego, plays an intricate game of cat and mouse with teen ACME detectives Zack and Ivy. Based on the award-winning line of educational computer games, this energizing series is rich in both excitement and education as Carmen Sandiego attempts to steal the most valuable objects in the world. It's up to our detectives and the audience to figure out where in the world she is. Filled with unique characters, wonderful story lines and humor, this Emmy® award-winning animated series educates kids of all ages in the subjects of history, geography and fun through its action-packed adventures!
SUMMER
JAKERS (39 x 30:00)
Grandpa Piggley Winks entertains and educates his grandchildren with tales of his childhood on Raloo Farm in the middle of Tara in Ireland. As Grandpa's stories unfold, viewers travel back in time to the comical adventures of the young Piggley Winks (a mischievous pig) and his best friends, Ferny (a young bull) and Dannan (a female duck). Piggley and his playmates love to create adventures for themselves in the Irish countryside, all based on their own imaginations.
ANIMAL ATLAS (26 x 30:00)
The series enters an exciting world of wildlife discovery in a socially interactive environment. Viewers are introduced to every kind of animal imaginable, from the Americas to Africa, Asia, Australia and everywhere in between! The show also promotes conservation and actively supports and elevates awareness of wildlife sustainability.
SANDRA, THE FAIRYTALE DETECTIVE (26 x 30:00)
The animated series is about a young girl, Sandra, who is the lone descendent from a line of fairytale detectives. Although very few, if any, people are aware of 'The Land of Once Upon a Time' (where all of the fairytale characters live), even fewer are aware of the fairytale detective (who solves all sorts of mysteries therein). Sandra is like many kids her age, but when her assistant and friend Fo, a 500-year-old elf, arrives with a problem, the girl dons her overcoat and jumps into action. Maybe Cinderella loses her glass slipper, or maybe Snow White's evil stepmother's mirror mysteriously goes missing. Either way, Sandra is on the case, using a convenient and humorous blend of magic and deductive reasoning to solve each riddle.
TASTE BUDS (32x 30:00)
The hands-on, live action food adventure series for kids encourages them to think about what they eat and explore cool foods from the world around them. Viewers learn and laugh as the hosts cook up kid-tailored recipes and go on fun food adventures. The show mixes heaps of laughs and spoonfuls of fun, with positive messages about healthy eating, kitchen safety and environmental responsibility. Most importantly, viewers are taught to be creative in the kitchen and beyond, making it the ultimate food series for kids!
FALL
ELIOT KID (26 x 30:00)
Eliot Kid interprets everyday events, people and the world around him in very unusual ways. His mindboggling imagination turns the most commonplace situations into Hollywood-style action-adventure blockbusters. Caught up in it all are his best friends Kaytoo and Mimi. Together they are a team that can take on anything Eliot's imagination can create, from man-eating sharks and black clad vampires to carnivorous plants, demonic scientists and vicious Vikings. So, when a tooth falling out turns into a hunt for a giant mouse or when the city's sewers transform into foaming white rapids, you know you've entered the wonderful world of Eliot Kid.
TIMOTHY GOES TO SCHOOL (26 x 30:00)
Based on the popular books by author and illustrator Rosemary Wells, this series follows the adventures and quandaries of Timothy, an enthusiastic but bashful five-year-old raccoon who is starting kindergarten. Play along with Timothy and his friends and discover just how fun and exciting school can be!
LIBERTY'S KIDS (26 X 30:00)
This exciting series thrusts the viewer into the dramatic fray of the War of Independence, as seen through the eyes of two kids who've been taken in and given jobs as roving reporters by Ben Franklin. Sarah sees both sides of the war and doesn't like either, while Gregory is a passionate defender of freedom and liberty. Henri, who's also taken in by Ben, may be younger than Sarah and Gregory, but he often sees most clearly. The series is packed with action, yet it confronts moral decisions head-on and uses the drama of the events as a backdrop for the conflicts faced by the show's characters.
ARCHIE'S WEIRD MYSTERIES (26 x 30:00)
Things are getting weird in Riverdale, home of all-American boy and high school newspaper reporter Archie Andrews. Ever since an experiment in the high school physics lab went awry, Riverdale has become a magnet for the stuff of which "B-Movies" are made. A swamp creature has taken up residence in the old swimming hole, Frankenstein's monster is hanging out in Lover's Lane and mad scientists, werewolves and vampires are invading Riverdale. It's thrills, chills and a whole lot of laughs. It's up to Archie and his pals Betty, Veronica, Reggie and Jughead to do their best to unravel the mysteries.
SHERLOCK HOLMES IN THE 22ND CENTURY (26 x 30:00)
The world's greatest detective has returned - and this time, he's fighting crime in the brave new world of the 22nd century! Sherlock Holmes has been brought back to battle Professor James Moriarty, the only adversary Holmes ever considered an equal. Moriarty, accidentally cloned by an unscrupulous scientist, is determined to dominate the crime-free world of the future. To help Holmes stop him, the personality of Holmes' loyal friend and companion, Dr. Watson, is programmed into an android. Each thrilling, action-packed mystery is inspired by one of the actual literary classics of Arthur Conan Doyle.
CULTURE CLICK (13 x 30:00)
Utilizing the power of the internet, Nzinga will guide audiences on an enlightening thrill ride as she answers the questions that shape our society. From the common thread found between Twilight and President Lincoln to the correlation shared by Justin Bieber and the ancient Egyptians, this series will unleash an untapped wealth of cultural insight and perspective.
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