ABC‘s dedicated children’s channel ABC3 is to be relaunched next month as ABC ME.
ABC ME, aimed at school aged children and their families, will build on ABC3’s current program suite with new titles plus more opportunities for viewer interaction. The channel will also be available via a new app that can be personalised, and will include an optional section for parents, enabling better control over content.
New Australian programming includes pop culture review show News To Me, animation series Prisoner Zero and The Deep, arts and craft series Create, travel show Let’s Go, sports program The Ultimate Goal and short-form documentary series This Is Me as well as new episodes of Nowhere Boys, Doodles and You’re Skitting Me.
YouTube: ABC3
In a statement issued today, ABC Director of Television Richard Finlayson said:
“We’ve been listening to our young audiences and it’s clear that they want flexibility, mobility and control. In the past 12 months we’ve seen an extraordinary uptake of kids programming on our digital platforms. In 2016, 78% of ABC3 online program plays were viewed via a mobile device. Families who have children aged 4-12 in the home are 28% more likely than average to watch TV/Video on a mobile device. Such insights are at the heart of ABC ME and continue to inform our ongoing commitment to today’s digitally savvy Australian audience.”
ABC ME begins 19 September on free-to-air channel 23 and Foxtel channel 723.
