Studio 4 Networks
About usTeamPressDistributionPartnersContact usJobs

Studio 4 Networks News Release


Studio 4 Kids to Give Parents and Children DVDs that were previously Expensive and Hard-To-Find

LOS ANGELES – December 2007 – Busy parents wanting to give their children DVDs this holiday season can avoid the perils of buying a title that looks great on the outside packaging but fails to deliver on content. Video-on-demand (VOD) is emerging as the ultimate “try before you buy” tool as families turn to their cable providers or the Internet to experience free, quality programming culled from independent producers focused more on providing education than advancing a brand or selling toys.

Video-on-demand allows parents to explore with their children DVDs from a variety of alternative edutainment oriented producers to find out what they actually like and respond to before purchasing a DVD title that they can’t return. One added benefit: they can test-drive titles right from their living room sofa or computer desk.

“While holiday shoppers can expect the shelves of local warehouse retailers to be stocked with heavily-hyped home entertainment titles, parents who want to give their children DVDs of a less commercial, instructional nature are typically a bit more challenged because these titles often don’t enjoy the same wide distribution or the support of aggressive advertising campaigns,” says Gigi Johnson, general manager of Studio 4 Kids, which is offering content from "Brainy Baby," "Big Comfy Couch," "Galloping Minds," "Firefighter George," “Fundamentals” and "Wowzies," among others this December.

Studio 4 Kids is part of Studio 4 Networks, a leading independent provider of lifestyle and educational video-on-demand programming accessible via cable and a kid safe site. Studio 4 Networks’ cable distribution partners serve cable subscribers in approximately 15.5 million households in 23 states and Canada, with Charter Communications systems having just come aboard in November, 2007. The free basic cable service can also be used be parents to preview specialty titles before they purchase for their children DVDs that will invariably get screened over and over again.

But what is video on demand?
In a nutshell, video on demand is content digitally downloaded or streamed to a television or computer and allows the viewer to essentially be their own television programming executive determining when and what they watch on their own schedule. The programming ranges from television shows to movies to DVD content. Video on demand’s flexibility creates an ideal distribution channel for specialized programming like fitness and edutainment that is more convenient and often offers more unique choices than video rental stores, video-rentals-by-mail, and mass merchandisers. With VOD, parents can sample programming from these broader selections, and if they like what they see and hear, then can find these videos through specialized online retailers and give their children DVDs that are more likely to have a positive impact on a child’s cognitive development.

Video-on-demand is a rapidly becoming a staple in U.S. cable homes, with an estimated 35 million video-on-demand homes in the United States by the end of 2007. VOD is projected to grow from its availability on approximately 53% of U.S. cable households to nearly 75% by 2010.

“With smaller children, DVDs get watched over and over again. Video on demand gives parents additional resources to make smarter decisions about the DVD products they purchase and put their kids in front of,” said Johnson, a parent herself. “Ultimately, video on demand offers parents another option for vetting a broader selection of kid-friendly programming that is educational as well as entertaining.”

For homes without access to video on demand channels via cable, their on-demand content sampling is also often available through their kid safe site on the Internet at www.Studio4Kids.tv, says Johnson.

About Studio 4 Kids
Studio 4 Kids (http://www.studio4kids.tv) provides an environment for parents to discover and for children to learn. At its heart is curated family-friendly educational programming – a broad selection of high-quality choice right at their fingertips at home. Studio 4 Kids, featuring dozens of award-winning titles, broadens a family’s learning environment beyond scanning channels or the shelves of their local retailer. With respected and recognized producers like Brainy Baby and Big Comfy Couch, Studio 4 Kids gives infants to elementary-aged children the best in fun learning programming, while giving parents peace of mind. It’s like having shelves and shelves of your favorite educational videos that your child can watch again and again – or a new set of videos each week from names you can trust and enjoy. Studio 4 Kids is part of Los Angeles-based Studio 4 Networks, one of the nation’s leading providers of VOD entertainment. Launched in 2003, Studio 4 broadcasts educational material using three defined networks – Studio 4 Kids (www.studio4kids.tv); Studio 4 Learning (www.studio4learning.tv) and Studio 4 Fitness (www.studio4fitness.tv).

About Studio 4 Networks
With three networks, Studio 4 Networks (http://www.studio4networks.com) has both highly targeted markets and an expansive and diverse audience. It is one of the nation’s leaders in the rapidly growing market of VOD, which is projected to grow from its availability on approximately 40 percent of cable systems in the United States to nearly 100% by 2010. Its broadband offerings are poised to bring those audiences complementary choice in the burgeoning broadband video space – but with a curated environment just for their needs.

Media Contact:
Eric Schwartzman/Jonathan Zaleski
Office: (310) 446.8310 ext. 111
After hours: (310) 569.0153

Studio 4 Learning Studio 4 Fitness Studio 4 kids Studio 4 Networks Studio 4 kids