“Science Busters for Kids”, “Klimakrach”, “YOGAKids”, “YEAH! The talk show for cool kids”, “All Ears” and more in the new children’s program
Vienna (OTS) – On January 1st, 2024 at 6:00 a.m. the time has come! Then the ORF children’s program starts into a new era with “ORF KIDS”. With the linear 24-hour streaming offer and the option of accessing the content on demand, “ORF KIDS” offers a continuously available programming environment that children and parents alike can trust – ad-free, non-violent and age-appropriate. The new ORF offer encourages the youngest viewers to be creative, to participate and to have a say – with information, knowledge, service, orientation and entertainment. As part of a press event, ORF General Director Roland Weißmann, ORF Program Director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz, ORF TV entertainment director Martin Gastinger and the two program managers for “ORF KIDS” Yvonne Lacina-Blaha and Alexandra Schlögl presented today, December 4th, 2023, the new ORF streaming offer for children.
The program consists of many exclusive new productions for “ORF KIDS”, classics from ORF 1’s current OKIDOKI children’s program as well as carefully selected and popular animated children’s series. The focus is on nature, technology, research, adventure, discovery and puzzles. And there is also a regular selection of attractive films and series for young people and families. Programs that are broadcast linearly on “ORF KIDS” are available on the on-demand service for an unlimited period of time, depending on the licensing law.
ORF General Director Roland Weißmann: “I am extremely excited about our brand new digital offering ‘ORF KIDS’ and am proud that today we can give an insight into the variety of new formats that we will be offering on kids.ORF from January 1st. at start. I congratulate the very committed team, especially the project managers Yvonne Lacina-Blaha and Alexandra Schlögl, as well as head of entertainment Martin Gastinger, on this completely successful ORF offspring – the first pure ORF digital baby. ‘ORF KIDS’ is a milestone on our way to an ‘ORF for everyone’. Now we can no longer just offer educationally valuable content for the youngest audience linearly on ORF 1, but reach the kids where they are – at a time that suits them. This digital option is a win-win situation for children and parents, who will now receive even more high-quality ORF content for their youngest children.”
ORF program director Stefanie Groiss-Horowitz: “With ‘ORF KIDS’ we are closing a big gap in the program for our youngest children. With our 24-hour streaming channel and the new on-demand offering, we want to entertain our youngest viewers, encourage them to participate and have a say, promote their creativity and impart relevant knowledge to them in an age-appropriate manner. At the same time, we offer parents the security that their children are in good hands with us. This violence- and advertising-free program for children is unique in Austria. I would like to thank the entire team for their incredible commitment and look forward to starting on January 1st, 2024.”
ORF TV entertainment director Martin Gastinger: “’ORF KIDS’ is already in trial operation and we are pleased that the ‘ORF KIDS’ team has managed in just a few weeks to be available on kids.ORF from January 1, 2024. at can also offer knowledge, information, talk and entertainment in a playful way for the target group with a large selection of in-house productions.”
Play – Laugh – Discover! The new ORF programs on “ORF KIDS”
“Science Busters for Kids”, “Klimakrach”, “Hello, what are you doing?”, “YOGAKids”, “Kling Klang”, “This is how young Austria thinks!”, “YEAH! The talk show for cool kids” or “all ears” – “ORF KIDS” wants to inspire with its new formats and convey knowledge, orientation, spirit of discovery and team spirit in a playful way. Sport, exercise and healthy eating are also topics. Programs for the entire family promote a shared media experience that parents and children can then talk to each other about.
In “Science Busters for Kids” comedian Martin Puntigam and molecular biologist Dr. Martin Moder scientific answers and facts. In “Klimakrach”, climate journalist Clara and flapjack Waldmar report on topics relating to climate protection and sustainability. At “YOGAKids” classic yoga exercises are playfully packaged in stories – from the underwater world to the pirate island to the circus ring. In “YEAH! “The talk show for cool kids” Robert Steiner, Ilia & Arwen discuss with three other talk guest kids – street surveys and expert discussions included. “This is how young Austria thinks!” presents opinion surveys among children and young people on current topics such as school, climate activism, fashion, gender, politics, money, friends, social media and many more. “Kling Klang” is dedicated to the world of music – the path from instrument building to mastering an instrument. In “Ganz Ohr” the reporters from “ZIB Zack Mini” delve into the children’s lives and deal with topics such as “Bullying, how can I protect myself from it?” and “Why do we get sick more easily in the fall?”; and in “Hello, what are you doing?” they pursue their dream jobs together with children. Before it is broadcast on ORF 1, “ZIB Zack Mini” can be seen on the linear online stream the day before from 5:55 p.m. and then watched on demand. The news format conveys current context and background information for six to ten year olds. “Mini Spezial” offers useful articles and tips on various topics – every Saturday and Sunday as well as on public holidays at the “ZIB Zack Mini” broadcast slot.
Films and series can also be found on “ORF KIDS”, including the preschool formats “The Little Dragon Coconut” and “Laura’s Star”, the educational series “StoryZoo”, children’s formats such as “The Smurfs 3D”, “Simsala Grimm” and “Zoom , the white dolphin”, well-known heroes such as “Lassie” and “Robin Hood” as well as the youth series “Find Me in Paris”, “Theodosia” and “Athena”. From January 21st, a Sunday film will be shown on “ORF KIDS” every week, including well-known and popular series such as “Ostwind” or “Fünf Freunde”, adventures with “Wickie and the Strong Men” and scary fun with “Hui Buh – “The Castle Ghost.”
Accessibility on “ORF KIDS”
When it starts on January 1st, 2024, the “ZIB Zack Mini” will be broadcast on “ORF KIDS” – in the stream and also on demand – in sign language. Many programs and series are offered with subtitles and the proportion of barrier-free content is gradually being expanded. It is also important to “ORF KIDS” to represent all walks of life in the program.