Carlton Kids


Carlton Kids was a British digital terrestrial pay television kids channel, provided by Carlton Television, which started broadcasting on 15th November 1998 and closed on 31st January 2000. Its sister channels were Carlton Food Network, Carlton World, Carlton Cinema and Carlton Select. It broadcast exclusively on ONdigital, the digital terrestrial pay-TV platform backed by Carlton and Granada, where it timeshared on channel 34 with Carlton World.
The channel had limited coverage, reaching only 69% of the population via the lowest-powered terrestrial multiplex D, and newspapers and listings magazines were slow to feature the channel's programming. In the face of competition from several other dedicated children's channels in the UK market the channel ceased broadcasting at the end of January 2000 after 14 months, partly due to the limited uptake of the ONdigital platform, which was the only platform that the channel had carriage. Initially it was expected to be replaced by an ITV Kids channel, which was planned in mid-1999 to counter the rise of UKTV, but, after a new deal signed by ONdigital with Discovery Communications, it was replaced by Discovery Kids. The other Carlton channels closed over the next few years.
Carlton Television later merged with Granada in 2004 to form ITV plc, which went on to launch another children's channel CITV, in 2006.

Programming

The channel showcased children's programming from Carlton and other ITV franchisees including Granada Television, Central Television, and Yorkshire Television, short films from the BBC library, as well as programmes acquired from American and overseas distributors. Shows included Mopatop's Shop, The Raggy Dolls, Puppydog Tales, Rosie and Jim, Tots TV, The Berenstain Bears, Tickle on the Tum, Willo the Wisp, The Legends of Treasure Island and Worzel Gummidge.
Presentation was provided by daily wrap-around shows "Wakey Wakey" and "The Max". Both were recorded at Ealing Studios. "Wakey Wakey" was presented by Chuck Thomas and Naomi Wilkinson. The Max was presented by Angellica Bell and Paul Leyshon. Other presenters included Jamie Rickers and Alex Verrey.

List of (known) programs

Wrap-Around

The MaxTiny TimeWakey Wakey
  • RAW TV

Drama

Byker Grove Harry's Mad

Fantasy

Animated

The Adventures of Sir PrancelotAround the World in Eighty Days The Berenstain Bears BodBolek and Lolek Car-Toon Time with Little BrrrrmDenver, the Last DinosaurThe DreamstoneDorisGoodtimes Family ClassicsHenry's CatKetchup: Cats Who CookThe Legends of Treasure IslandMolly's GangNoah and Nelly in... SkylArkRosie & Ruff in Puppydog TalesThe Raggy DollsRubbish, King of the Jumble

Education

Alphabet Castle

Food

Food Factory Planet Nosh
  • ''School Dinners''

Comedy

The Big Comfy Couch

Puppet

Mopatop's ShopRosie & Jim

Sports

  • ''High Five''

Closure

Carlton Kids was the first of five Carlton Communications channels to shut down, doing so on 31 January 2000. The channel had no mention of its closure, and after airing its final program aired a few advertisements and a promo of Discovery Kids coming to the UK, which would foreshadow Discovery Kids replacing Carlton Kids.