France Télévisions readies Okoo kids platform
June 19, 2019
From Pascale Paoili-Lebailly in Paris
Anticipating the likely closure in 2020 of its linear kids channel France 4, as required by French government, French PSB group France Télévisions is preparing the launch next December of online kids platform Okoo.
The service targeting the 3-12 years-old is set to become the entrance point for all the group’s kids offering. Open to all TV genres and all formats, the new ad-free service will offer anytime 5,000 titles on-demand, including 80 animated shows as well TV series, documentaries and TV magazines. Okoo will be available on all screens from a dedicated app, and will complement the kids replay service accessible from website france.tv.
In parallel, TV channel France 5 is set to strengthen its kids slots in the coming year.
Despite the launch of the OTT service, French animation producers are urging the French government to postpone to 2022 its decision to close France 4. France Télévisions invests €32 million each year into the French animation production sector, but France 4 TV shows are still watched mostly via the linear channel.