The American pay television channel, HBO, has raised the stakes by launching a new "Kids" section which will directly compete with streaming sites such as Netflix, Hulu and Amazon.
The television network, known for its popular shows such as Game of Thrones, is adding another category notch to its belt.
The move to include a new "Kids" section will also be made available to the mobile app as well as introducing children's programming on its TV network.
What are the shows included? Popular shows like Sesame Street, Pinky Dinky Doo and The Electric Company are some of the many shows that will air on HBO.
The partnership with Sesame Street in particular is a good move set by the network because of the prominent changes in the industry.The move to expand its audience also saved Sesame Street which has struggled to bring in revenue and mostly relied on DVD sales. The deal with HBO includes 35 new episodes, of the beloved kids show, per year.
Since, viewers are now relying on streaming and mobile services compared to watching live television and purchasing DVDs, this makes HBO's target markets broader enabling it to become a mainstream brand. Game of Thrones, Ballers and other original programming shows are not "friendly" shows for kids, and it may take a while for the news to sink in, for viewers because Sesame Street is typically not a brand or show you associate with HBO.
HBO is planning to roll out the new kids content this weekend and they hope to stake their claim in a fast-paced video-streaming market which already houses Hulu, Youtube or Netflix. Right now, Game of Thrones keeps HBO's ratings stable which means that this new launch may help stabilize the network once the popular fiction series written by George R.R. Martin ends.
The kids content will be available this weekend, reports confirmed, January 16, 2016 9:00 AM on the HBO network and in the HBO mobile app.
