Programming blocks
DIC operated many programming blocks for various television stations across the United States.
Kideo TV was an anthology series that was produced as a joint-venture between DIC Enterprises and their US syndicator LBS Communications, with Mattel handling sponsorships.<[7] The block aired on syndicated television stations, with Metromedia stations agreeing to carry the block by January 1986,<[10] and launched in April of the same year.<[7]<[10] Kideo TV aired for 90 minutes and consisted of live-action material with three cartoons from DIC's library used as framing material. Rainbow Brite, Popples and Ulysses 31 first aired on the block, while The Get Along Gang and Lady Lovely Locks were added later on.<[7] The "Kideo" brand was also used by LBS as a joint-venture home video line which released various DIC cartoons on VHS.
Weekend Funday was a 90-minute weekend strand produced by DIC that was syndicated through Coca-Cola Telecommunications during the Fall of 1987. Weekend Funday normally ran on Sundays under the name of Funday Sunday, but it would also run on Saturdays as Funtastic Saturday, if it wanted to go head-to-head with the other kidvid blocks.<[73] It consisted of various half-hour cartoons from the DIC lineup, including Sylvanian Families and Starcom: The U.S. Space Force.
Funtown was a daily children's programming block on the CBN Family Channel that launched on September 11, 1989. It ran for 26 hours a week, broadcasting from 7:00am–9:00am on weekdays, and 8:00am–11:00am and 4:00pm–6:00pm on weekends. DIC handled the advertising sales of the block, while the CBN Family Channel handled the distribution and marketing. The lineup of shows was a mix of formats, from live-action-animated hybrids to live-action, and programs ranging from original to off-network shows, whether produced by DIC or other companies. In addition, a companion club program was supposed to be developed. DIC also planned to produce four specials each quarter with the launching of Funtown, combined with the others, mostly holiday specials, for the fourth quarter of 1989, but nothing came out of these initial plans.<[27]
Dragon Club (Chinese: 小神龙俱乐部 ( Little Dragon Club )) was a daily television strand operated and distributed through Capital Cities/ABC through various syndicated television stations in China. It launched on September 19, 1994, and broadcast various DIC and ABC programs in addition to third-party, live-action and local offerings.<[39] After the Disney purchase of Capital Cities/ABC, the strand transitioned to airing Disney-produced content and continued to broadcast until the start of 2019. Panda Club (Chinese: 熊猫俱乐部) was the short-lived sister strand of Dragon Club that launched on October 2, 1994, and broadcast on a smaller selection of stations. Its programming was similar to that of Dragon Club, and broadcast until 1999.
Freddy's Firehouse (FFH) was a planned children's educational programming block that would broadcast various programs from DIC Entertainment's library, initially announced in May 1998. In the United States, it was planned to air on Pax TV after DIC signed a deal with the broadcaster to become the exclusive supplier of animated programming on the network. The plan was for the block to run on weekends, running for three hours on Saturday and two hours on Sunday. Buena Vista International Television handled syndication sales, and would also allow for the strand to be sold to other outlets internationally.<[48]<[74] The block was rejected in favor of Pax producing the children's block in-house, with "Cloud 9" (later renamed "Pax Kids") launching with Pax TV on August 31, 1998, and broadcasting until the end of the contract with DIC in 2000.<[75]
National and syndicated broadcast blocks include:
- DiC Kids Network: a set of three syndicated children's programming E/I blocks launched on September 1, 2003.<[56]<[57]
- KOL Secret Slumber Party: a three-hour long block launched on September 16, 2006, a programming block with partner KOL (AOL's kids online).<[64]
- KEWLopolis: launched on September 15, 2007, a programming block with partner American Greetings.<[65]
