Kindernet

Kindernet was a Dutch-language children's television network associated with curated, generally non-violent programming and classic animated and live-action series. It operated in two distinct forms: an original service that ran from 1988 until 2003, and a short-lived revival within the Nickelodeon network family from 2011 until 2013. The concept originated with Finnish producer and distributor Dennis Livson, who believed that television programming for children was often excessively violent. His proposed alternative was a channel built around what was described as violence-free cartoons and other age-appropriate material. Kindernet was launched on 1 March 1988 through satellite distribution and selected Dutch cable systems. The service was established and owned by Livson's production company, Telecable Benelux B.V., with financing from British retailer WHSmith and Fuji Eight Co., Ltd., a former Fuji Television subsidiary. Because Dutch law restricted commercial television at the time, Kindernet used a cross-border operating structure. It maintained an office and Dutch marketing operation in Luxembourg, while its signal was distributed through Luxembourg and England. This arrangement allowed it to become an early commercial television service available to Dutch viewers and, according to the referenced account, eventually reach approximately 70 percent of households in the Netherlands. At first, the channel was largely commercial-free and was funded through a per-subscriber payment collected by cable operators. That model proved difficult to sustain, and advertising was introduced in the early 1990s. The original schedule was deliberately structured around children's daily routines. Broadcasts initially occupied morning hours, beginning at 7:00 a.m. and using half-hour programming blocks. Preschool content included series such as Tik Tak, while later slots featured educational programming, including the Once Upon a Time franchise and documentaries. Weekend schedules could include live-action series for children who were not attending school. The channel shared transmission capacity with other services at different times, including BRT, Lifestyle, Screensport, Discovery Channel, Net5 and later Veronica. A 1995 expansion introduced VTV, a female-oriented channel that shared time with Kindernet, although VTV was not successful. Brand and distribution arrangements changed repeatedly during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Kindernet was renamed Kindernet 5 during a period of association with Net5, and its transmission relationship later shifted to Veronica. By the end of 2001, MTV Networks Europe had acquired the service. The network subsequently adopted visual branding influenced by Nickelodeon's identity. In 2003, Kindernet was replaced by Nickelodeon and ceased its original broadcast operation. Kindernet returned on 4 April 2011 as a Nickelodeon-associated service, replacing TMF in the Dutch television lineup. The revival was developed with Studio 100, which supplied programming from its catalogue of classic children's properties. It initially broadcast from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. while sharing the broader channel space with Comedy Central. From 1 October 2012, its daily schedule was reduced to three hours, from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. The revival ended on 1 November 2013, when Comedy Central expanded into the vacated airtime. The Kindernet website was subsequently redirected to the Dutch Nick Jr. website. The brand is therefore best understood as a discontinued Dutch children's television channel with an important early role in the country's commercial television history, rather than as a currently operating broadcaster.

Kindernet emerged from Dennis Livson's concern that children's television contained too much violent material. Livson, a Finnish producer and distributor of animated programmes, developed the idea of a dedicated service offering what he characterized as violence-free cartoons. The channel was launched on 1 March 1988 by Telecable Benelux B.V., Livson's production company. Its launch financing came from WHSmith and Fuji Eight Co., Ltd., a former subsidiary of Fuji Television. The political and regulatory environment shaped the channel's early structure. Dutch law restricted commercial television, so Kindernet used a cross-border arrangement involving Luxembourg and England. The service established an office in Luxembourg and employed a Dutch team for marketing, while its programming reached viewers through satellite and cable. It initially used Intelsat V at 27.5 degrees west and shared capacity with other services. On cable systems, it began with a limited morning schedule, often sharing channel space with services such as the Flemish BRT. On satellite, its capacity was also shared with Lifestyle during the day and Screensport at night. The original editorial model was highly structured. Broadcasts began at 7:00 a.m. with half-hour programmes, followed by preschool material such as Tik Tak. Later morning hours were devoted to educational content, including the Once Upon a Time franchise and documentaries. Weekend programming could shift toward live-action series. The channel initially promoted itself with the slogan "Kindernet, voor net uit bed," later adopting a message focused on the reassurance it offered parents. Funding was initially based on a payment collected through cable operators for each subscriber. Because that approach did not provide a sufficiently durable commercial base, advertising was introduced in the early 1990s. Kindernet experimented with related channel arrangements during the 1990s. In 1995, its director launched VTV, a service aimed at women that shared transmission time with Kindernet. VTV did not achieve the expected success. Kindernet subsequently shared capacity with Discovery Channel and Net5, and it was renamed Kindernet 5 during the period associated with Net5. From September 2002, the channel's relationship shifted from Net5 to Veronica. MTV Networks Europe acquired Kindernet by the end of 2001. The change in ownership was accompanied by new visual branding that drew heavily on the style associated with Nickelodeon. In 2003, the original service was discontinued and replaced by Nickelodeon. This ended Kindernet's first broadcast era, which had lasted approximately fifteen years. The brand was revived on 4 April 2011 as part of the Nickelodeon family of networks. The relaunch replaced TMF and was developed in collaboration with Studio 100, whose catalogue supplied classic programming. The revived channel initially broadcast from 6:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. while sharing broader channel infrastructure with Comedy Central. On 1 October 2012, the schedule was reduced to a three-hour morning window, from 6:00 to 9:00 a.m. The second iteration ended on 1 November 2013, when Comedy Central expanded into the freed airtime. Kindernet's website was later redirected to the Dutch Nick Jr. site. No current broadcast operation is identified in the supplied reference material.

• 2013

  Second iteration closes

  [1]Kinderneten.wikipedia.org

  Kindernet stops broadcasting on 1 November, with Comedy Central taking over the available airtime.

• 2012

  Broadcast schedule is shortened

  [1]Kinderneten.wikipedia.org

  The revived network's airtime is reduced to a three-hour morning block.

• 2011

  Kindernet is relaunched

  [1]Kinderneten.wikipedia.org

  The brand returns on 4 April as part of the Nickelodeon network family, replacing TMF.

• 2003

  Original service ends

  [1]Kinderneten.wikipedia.org

  Kindernet is replaced by Nickelodeon after its channel arrangements move through Net5 and Veronica.

• 2001

  Acquisition by MTV Networks Europe

  [1]Kinderneten.wikipedia.org

  MTV Networks Europe acquires the network and later integrates its branding more closely with Nickelodeon.

• 1995

  VTV is launched

  [1]Kinderneten.wikipedia.org

  A female-oriented service is introduced as a time-sharing partner, although it later proves unsuccessful.

• 1990

  Advertising is introduced

  [1]Kinderneten.wikipedia.org

  Kindernet supplements its original subscriber-funded model with advertising revenue.

• 1988

  Kindernet begins broadcasting

  [1]Kinderneten.wikipedia.org

  The original Dutch-language children's network launches on 1 March through satellite and cable distribution.

A child-focused television service built around carefully selected, generally non-violent, educational and entertaining programming, with particular emphasis on morning viewing and classic children's content.

• Children's television network · 1988

  Original Kindernet service

  The first Kindernet operation ran from 1988 to 2003. It broadcast Dutch-language animated, preschool, educational and live-action programmes, primarily in morning time slots. Its programming identity was based on age-appropriate entertainment and a stated preference for non-violent cartoons. The service used satellite and cable distribution and shared transmission capacity with other broadcasters at different times.

• Children's television network · 2011

  Kindernet revival

  The second Kindernet iteration operated from 2011 to 2013 within the Nickelodeon family of networks. Developed with Studio 100, it used classic children's programming from Studio 100's catalogue and initially broadcast for nine hours each day. Its schedule was later reduced to three morning hours before the service closed.

• 2013

  Closure of the revived serviceStrategy

  Background

  The Nickelodeon-associated revival had already been reduced to a three-hour morning schedule.

  Action taken

  Kindernet stopped broadcasting on 1 November, and Comedy Central expanded into its former airtime.

  Aftermath

  The website was later redirected to Nick Jr. Netherlands, ending the brand's identified broadcast presence.

  Source

• 2012

  Reduction of daily airtimeStrategy

  Background

  The revived service had initially broadcast from 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

  Action taken

  From 1 October, the broadcast window was cut to 6:00–9:00 a.m.

  Aftermath

  Kindernet became a short morning block before the service was closed the following year.

  Source

• 2011

  Relaunch with Studio 100 programmingProduct launch

  Background

  The Nickelodeon family sought to use the channel position previously occupied by TMF for a children's service with a classic-programming orientation.

  Action taken

  Kindernet was relaunched on 4 April in collaboration with Studio 100.

  Aftermath

  The revival initially operated as a nine-hour daily service sharing broader channel space with Comedy Central.

  Source

• 2003

  Replacement of the original channel by NickelodeonGeneration change

  Background

  Following the MTV Networks Europe acquisition and changes involving Net5 and Veronica, the channel's brand architecture was revised.

  Action taken

  Kindernet ceased broadcasting and its service was rebranded as Nickelodeon.

  Aftermath

  The original Kindernet era ended after roughly fifteen years of operation.

  Source

• 2001

  Acquisition by MTV Networks EuropeM&A

  Background

  By the end of 2001, Kindernet was acquired during a period when its transmission relationships and branding were changing.

  Action taken

  MTV Networks Europe took ownership of the network.

  Aftermath

  The network moved closer to the Nickelodeon brand family and was eventually replaced by Nickelodeon in 2003.

  Source

• 1990

  Move from subscriber funding toward advertisingStrategy

  Background

  Kindernet initially operated largely without commercials and relied on a payment collected through cable operators for each subscriber. The supplied account describes that model as unsustainable in the early 1990s.

  Action taken

  The network began carrying advertising to create an additional revenue source.

  Aftermath

  Advertising became part of the original channel's operating model, although no financial results are provided.

  Source

1. 1Kinderneten.wikipedia.org
2. 2Kindernet official websitekindernet.nl