KidsCo


 * 1) KidsCo was a worldwide children's entertainment brand founded by Canadian broadcaster Corus Entertainment's Nelvana, American-based producer DIC Entertainment, and European broadcaster Sparrowhawk Media Group in April 2007. By the end of 2007, Sparrowhawk was purchased by media conglomerate NBC Universal, thus giving the company its share in the brand. In June 2008, DiC Entertainment was acquired by Cookie Jar Group, thus also having a stake. In May 2012, Cookie Jar's minority shares in KidsCo were brought by NBCUniversal and Corus, which saw NBCUniversal become majority shareholder with a 51% share while Corus obtained a 43.8% share.

KidsCo was closed down worldwide on early 2014 by its owners, in light of NBCUniversal's acquisition of US children's network Sprout and "growing challenges in the international children's television industry. The network was based in London at the time of its closure, due to lowest popularity polls channel and cartoon are not included the new cartoon broadcast.

History
The first KidsCo networks were launched in Poland, Romania and Turkey on September 7, 2007. The channel also launched in Hungary, and Russia.

In 2008 KidsCo was launched in France, Italy, Germany, Belgium, the Netherlands, Latin Amarica (replacing Discovery Kids +1), Japan and the United States (replacing Discovery Turbo). Despite numerous claims of an imminent UK launch since 2007, the channel never had presence in the country because as of 2011 market conditions mean a launch isn't commercially viable.

On January 1, 2008, KidsCo launched in the Philippines on SkyCable and in the Arab World on Orbit Showtime   on March 20, 2008. On the first trimester of 2009 the channel was launched in Portugal on Optimus Clix. The channel become available also on Vodafone Casa TV platform on July 25, 2010.

On November 15, 2009, KidsCo launched in Australia on Foxtel.

In November 2009, Kidsco launched in Greece on Conn-x TV and in Cyprus on CytaVision. In November 2010 KidsCo became carried via Greece's IPTV On Telecoms platform. On May 1, 2010 Kidsco launched in South Africa on TopTV   and on DStv on July 12, 2010.

On January 8, 2013, KidsCo began broadcasting from Corus Quay in Toronto - a state-of-the-art facility that will broadcast the channel to over 100 territories in 18 languages. A refreshed logo, on-air look and website was also launched.

On April 30, 2013, KidsCo was closed in cable networks in Poland, and on other on May 5.

Citing growing challenges in the international children's television industry, and the addition of the competing USA channel Sprout to NBC's portfolio due to its recent acquisition by Comcast, KidsCo announced that it would shut down in early 2014.

The first KidsCo feed to close was in Turkey on January 1 (New Year's Day 2014). The KidsCo feeds in Southeast Asia and Australia closed down soon after on February 13, 2014. On February 15, 2014, the Latin American feed was replaced by Discovery Kids +1 (a 1-hour timeshift service of the Latin American feed of Discovey Kids) almost 6 years after KidsCo replaced them.

On September 6, 2014, KidsCo closed in other countries (except for the American feed).

The last remaining KidsCo feed (United States) ended and renamed into The CW4Kids on July 19, 2015 at 8:00AM after an episode of Catscratch. Two days after the launch of The CW4Kids, KidsCo's website and the site about the end of KidsCo on The CW's website (cwtv.com) were closed.