qubo (kyoo-bo, originally called called Smart Place for Kids until August 23, 2006^[1]) is the name of the children's programming endeavor involving three broadcast networks, a new digital television network, and numerous children's entertainment producers.

On May 8, 2006, ION Media Networks, NBC Universal, Corus Entertainment's Nelvana unit, Scholastic Books, and Classic Media and its Big Idea Productions unit announced plans to launch a new children's entertainment endeavor spread across all media platforms, including video-on-demand on digital cable and an interactive webpage.

The primary goal for qubo will be to "champion literacy and values in the children's television category."^[2] The endeavor will utilize ION's digital broadcast outlets, the educational, literary, and creative assets of Scholastic, and the combined content libraries and production facilities of Nelvana, Classic Media, Big Idea, and NBC Universal, which will also dedicate their weekend morning lineups to qubo. More than 1,000 half-hours of children's programming, including a new, original series from each of the partners per year, will air throughout the year.

Qubo debuted on NBC and Telemundo on Saturday, September 9, 2006. This was followed by NBC's qubo block repeating on ION Television, which began on Friday, September 15, 2006.

All programming on qubo meets the FCC's "E/I" requirements using the same E/I bug used for PBS's programming (although they are not affiliated with PBS in any way). None of the partners has publicly explained why the name "qubo" was chosen, or why its logo is a cube.

Stand-alone digital network

A 24-hour broadcast digital television network, carried via the digital signals of ION's affiliates, began broadcasting on January 8, 2007.^[3] qubo’s digital channel initially launched with a rolling four-hour block of children’s programming.

Currently, programming on qubo's digital channel is entirely exclusive to that channel, but will soon expand its offerings to include shows from other producers, as well as some programming currently seen on the main qubo block on NBC. ^[4]

Criticism

Not all shows are seen on all stations. Some of qubo's programming are delayed or pre-empted for local or syndicated programming, especially on NBC affiliates.

Originally, the VeggieTales broadcasts initially did not feature the religious content that appears on the videos before and after the main feature, since the block is designed to educate all viewers. This has drawn criticism for the block and NBC in particular from the conservative watchdog group Parents Television Council, as well as VeggieTales co-creator Phil Vischer, who claims that he was unaware of the intent to edit out religious content when the three programs were acquired for qubo.^[5]. Starting with King George and the Ducky, the religious content was left intact in the storyline.

Programs seen in the qubo block

• Postman Pat
• Dragon
• VeggieTales Presents: 3-2-1 Penguins! and Larry-Boy Stories
• VeggieTales
• My Friend Rabbit
• Jane and the Dragon

All shows are seen in this exact order on all three networks, although the Telemundo broadcasts are split between two days.

Former shows

• Babar (2006-2007)
• Jacob Two-Two (2006-2007; debuted on Telemundo in 2005 (ca.))

qubo's digital programming

• Theodore Tugboat (Classic Media)
• Boo! (NBC Universal)
• Pecola (Nelvana)
• Elliot Moose (Nelvana)
• Lamb Chop's Play-Along (Classic Media)
• Marvin the Tap-Dancing Horse (Nelvana)
• Rupert (Nelvana)
• Sitting Ducks (NBC Universal)

References

External links

• Official Press Release at ION's website
• Official Press Release at NBC-Universal
• Official qubo Website
• Official Announcement of qubo's President/GM and Senior Vice President of Advertising Sales and Sponsorships
• Interview with Rick Rodriguez about the future of qubo (11/06/06)
• Provides listing of additional shows featured on qubo 24/7

•  • [ e] NBC Universal, Inc. (a subsidiary of General Electric)
Universal Studios	Focus Features • Islands of Adventure • Rogue Pictures • United International Pictures1 • Universal Animation Studios • Universal Studios Home Entertainment • Universal Orlando Resort • Universal Pictures • Universal Studios Hollywood Theme Park • Universal Studios Florida Theme Park • Universal Studios Japan • Universal Studios Singapore • Universal Studios Theme Parks • Universal CityWalk
Broadcast TV Assets	NBC • Telemundo • NBC News • NBC Sports
NBC Universal Cable	A&E Television Networks (25%) • Bravo • Chiller • CNBC • MSNBC2 • Mun2 • NBC Weather Plus • Sci Fi Channel • ShopNBC • Sleuth • Sundance Channel (co-owned with Robert Redford and CBS Corporation) • Telemundo Internacional • Telemundo Puerto Rico • Trio • Universal HD • USA Network
CNBC Global Channels	CNBC (US) • CNBC World • CNBC Latin America • CNBC Europe • CNBC Asia • CNBC Africa
CNBC Europe Branches	Class CNBC • CNBC-e • CNBC Arabiya (according to CNBC Europe) • CNBC Nordic • CNBC Africa • TVN CNBC Biznes
CNBC Asia Branches	Nikkei CNBC • CNBC-TV18 • CNBC Awaaz • CNBC Pakistan • CNBC Australia • CNBC Hong Kong • CNBC Singapore
Sci Fi Global Channels	US • UK • Germany • France • Australia • Spain • Benelux
NBC Universal Television Group	NBC Studios • NBC Universal Television Distribution • Telemundo Television Studios • Universal Media Studios
NBC O&Os	KNBC • KNSD3 • KNTV • KXAS3 • WCAU • WMAQ • WNBC • WRC • WTVJ • WVIT
Telemundo O&Os:	KBLR • KEJT-LP • KHRR • KDEN • KNSO • KTAZ • KTMD • KVDA • KSTS • KVEA • KXTX • WKAQ • WNEU7 • WNJU • WSCV • WSNS
ShopNBC O&Os:	WWDP
Spanish Independent TV Stations	KBOP4 • KWHY
Internet Ventures:	msnbc.com2 • NBBC5 • iVillage • Television Without Pity • OUTzoneTV.com • getTRIO.com • BrilliantButCancelled.com • calamitygame.com
Other Assets:	qubo6 • EMKA, Ltd.
50%, with Viacom's Paramount Pictures. Co-owned with Microsoft in a joint venture (82% owned by NBC, 18% owned by Microsoft). The stations are co-owned with LIN TV in a joint venture (76% owned by NBC, 24% owned by LIN). KNSD also includes a repeater used for rebroadcast of Entravision's KBNT-CA. Owned by Commercial Broadcasting Corp., and operated by the NBC / LIN joint venture (see note 2) A joint venture between NBC Universal and its broadcast affiliates. Co-owned with Corus Entertainment, Classic Media, Scholastic Books and ION Media Networks The station is owned by NBC Universal, but is controlled by ZGS Broadcast Holdings.

•  • [ e] Corus Entertainment
Television Assets	CHEX • CHEX-TV-2 • CKWS • CMT • Discovery Kids • Encore Avenue • Food Network • Movie Central • SCREAM • Telelatino • TELETOON (English) • TLTOON (French) • TELETOON Retro • Treehouse TV • W Network • YTV
Radio Stations	CFEL • CFFX • CFGQ • CFHK • CFLG • CFMJ • CFMI • CFMK • CFNY • CFOX • CFOM • CFPL • CFPL • CFQR • CHAY • CHED • CHLN • CHLT • CHMJ • CHML • CHMP • CHQR • CHQT • CHRC • CILQ • CIME • CIMJ • CINF • CING • CINW • CIQB • CISN • CJDV • CJKR • CJOB • CJOY • CJRC • CJSS • CJUL • CJXY • CJZZ • CKAC • CKBT • CKCB • CKDK • CKNG • CKNW • CKOI • CKRS • CKRU • CKRY • CKWF
Other Assets	Corus Custom Networks • Corus Digital Post • Kids Can Press • Max Trax • Nelvana • qubo1
1 Co-owned with NBC Universal, Classic Media, Scholastic Books and ION Media Networks