KidsCo was co-founded by former
BBC Radio 1 controller Paul Robinson, citing an increasing focus on older "
tween" audiences and increasing
vertical integration by mainstream counterparts
Disney Channel,
Cartoon Network and
Nickelodeon, in addition to the need to reduce costs for other content producers by not adopting a traditional
license fee deal. Subsequently, its offering was said to have included "over 3,000" half-hour episodes each of DIC and Nelvana content, with a broadcast facility made available by Sparrowhawk Media in the United States. Later in 2007, Sparrowhawk Media was purchased by media conglomerate
NBCUniversal, while DIC was merged into
Cookie Jar Group the following year. Although numerous claims had been made of an imminent UK launch throughout its existence, the channel struggled to establish an official foothold there because market conditions at the time meant a launch would not be commercially viable. Plans had also been discussed for a potential expansion throughout France, Germany, Italy and Latin America, but these did not transpire. Robinson served as managing director of the network through 2011, after which he was succeeded by Hendrik McDermott. In May 2012, Cookie Jar's minority shares in KidsCo were bought by NBCUniversal and Corus, which saw the former obtain a controlling 51% stake while the latter increased its share to 43.8%. On January 8, 2013, KidsCo moved its broadcasting facilities to
Corus Quay in Toronto, while also introducing a refreshed schedule, on-air look and website. In February 2013, as part of a joint venture with the NBC-affiliated
Syfy network, it debuted a new programming block titled
Syfy Kids. In November 2013, citing "growing challenges in the international children's television industry", and the addition of the competing U.S. channel
Sprout to NBC's portfolio due to its recent acquisition by
Comcast, KidsCo announced that it would shut down in early 2014. KidsCo's European feeds ceased broadcasting on December 31, 2013, with the remaining feeds for Malaysia on 10 February 2014 and Asia, Australia and Sub-Saharan Africa following suit on Valentine's Day 2014. == Availability ==