Kid Genius Cartoon Channel Goes OTT

Genius Brands’ Kid Genius Cartoon Channel is now available as a free app on Roku, Amazon Fire TV and Apple TV. Genius Brands will also bow separate apps for Baby Genius and SpacePOP.

Kid Genius Cartoon Channel remains available on-demand to 20 million households through Comcast Xfinity TV, in addition to other pay-TV distributors.

The channel offers a variety of programming for young viewers (toddlers to age 12) aligned with Genius Brands’ mission to provide “content with a purpose.”

Original programming includes “Baby Genius,” “SpacePOP,” “Warren Buffett’s Secret Millionaires Club” and “Thomas Edison’s Secret Lab,” as well as shows from other program creators, including “Eddie is a Yeti” and “Nancy Drew Codes & Clues.” Other titles include “Where on Earth Is Carmen Sandiego,” “Dennis the Menace” and “Stan Lee's Mighty 7.”

Working with Future Today Inc., a backend video technology company, Genius Brands has since last November worked to develop branded apps for OTT video platforms, according to Debra Pierson, GM of Kid Genius Cartoon Channel.

“As anyone with kids understands, being able to access and stream engaging entertainment on-demand is essential in today’s world,” Pierson said, adding that OTT video is not strictly an alternative to pay-TV. “If you want to reach the widest possible audience, you do that through [OTT video].” 

In December, Genius hired veteran family media executive Margaret Loesch as executive chairperson of Kid Genius Cartoon Channel. In January, Sony Pictures Home Entertainment became a stakeholder in Genius Brands.