First kids on-demand service launches on Freeview

The first free on-demand service for kids, Ketchup TV, has launched on the Freeview platform in the UK.

Ketchup targets 2-to-11s with a line-up that includes acquired kids series Noddy, Casper, George of the Jungle, Olivia and LittleBabyBum. Its launch marks the first rollout of a kids on-demand service on free to air digital terrestrial service Freeview.

Ketchup will be available via Freeview connected TVs and set tops and sit alongside the linear kids channels in the EPG.

A streaming version of the ad-supported service is also available via dedicated Apple and Android apps.

Ketchup comes from VOD365, the on demand specialist behind the docs service Planet Knowledge, which is also on Freeview.

Paul Coster, former Universal Music exec and founder of VOD365, said: “As the first, free, dedicated VOD channel for kids on Freeview we believe it provides a unique and easy-to-access offering to parents and grandparents to entertain the kids via their TVs and we’re looking forward to adding more premium titles in the coming weeks and new channel features.”

There are several on demand services for kids such as Hopster, and the childrens sections of Amazon Prime and Netflix SVOD services, but Ketchup is the first AVOD service to launch on free DTT.