CBC Revenue Group

OWN SPECIAL PLACE TO PLAY ON KIDSCBC.CA

May 1, 2012

New site lets pre-schoolers build their own online play space to interact with their favourite KIDS' CBC characters

KIDS' CBC is the first children's broadcaster to offer pre-schoolers a fun, innovative web zone where they can create their own customized play space and interact with their favourite shows and characters. The newly-launched KIDSCBC.CA is the pre-schoolers' online destination. Here, younger children can create a unique page bearing their name and choose their own backgrounds from their favourite KIDS' CBC characters - and their computer will remember their choices every time they return to the site.

"It's fun, it's easy to work with, and it lets your little ones make their own choices about how they want their page to look and which of their favourite characters they get to play with online," said Kim Wilson, CBC's Creative Head for Children's & Youth Programming.

By using lightboxes and other design improvements, games and videos have been moved to the forefront, minimizing the number of clicks required. And there's a fun new character who loves to play online, Lion.  Look for him while watching KIDS' CBC on TV, and he'll let you know about new games, activities and new features coming to KIDSCBC.CA!

KIDS' CBC continues to improve its CBC PARENTS website (cbc.ca/parents) to celebrate, empower and involve Canadian families. Be sure to check out its newest addition - AUGMENTED REALITY (AR) technology.  KIDS' CBC is the first children's broadcaster in Canada to utilize this project to deliver activities for five to six year-olds that promote play between parents and their children using new technology linked to a home computer and a webcam. This brand new project, featuring nine games and activities, began rolling out in December 2011. Among the first is the Lion's Letter Lab. Created with funding from the Canadian Media Fund's Experimental Stream, the AR project is an easy-to-use and engaging visual tool intended to enhance learning in young children.

About CBC/Radio-Canada

CBC/Radio-Canada is Canada's national public broadcaster and one of its largest cultural institutions. The Corporation is a leader in reaching Canadians on new platforms and delivers a comprehensive range of radio, television, Internet, and satellite-based services. Deeply rooted in the regions, CBC/Radio-Canada is the only domestic broadcaster to offer diverse regional and cultural perspectives in English, French and eight Aboriginal languages, plus seven languages for international audiences. In 2011, CBC/Radio-Canada celebrated 75 years of serving Canadians and being at the centre of the democratic, social and cultural life of Canada. 

For further information:

Renee Weekes
Veritas Communications
weekes@veritascanada.com
(416) 640-4155 (office)
(416) 894-7209 (cell)