Pebble TV

Pebble TV was a Dutch children's television channel aimed at viewers in the Netherlands and Belgium. The channel positioned itself around children's programs from the past rather than relying primarily on fast-paced contemporary animation or highly stimulating visual formats. Its programming was broadcast around the clock and was designed to place greater emphasis on stories, characters, and substantive entertainment, with images serving the narrative instead of overwhelming it. The channel began test transmissions on 29 October 2009 and made its official debut on 12 November 2009. Henk Krop, a former director of the Dutch children's channel Kindernet, founded the service. Bas van Toor, widely known in the Netherlands as the clown Bassie, participated as a co-initiator. Their involvement connected Pebble TV to the earlier Dutch tradition of locally recognizable children's television personalities and programming. Pebble TV's editorial identity was distinctive in its deliberate avoidance of intense visual stimulation. The channel stated that it sought to avoid imagery with a strong visual impact and to present programs in which the visual component supported the story. This approach was intended to provide a calmer viewing experience for children and to distinguish the channel from formats built around rapid editing, loud presentation, or constant sensory escalation. Its catalogue-oriented concept also gave it an archival role, bringing older children's programs to a contemporary television audience. The channel operated in the Dutch and Belgian markets. Public reference material does not establish a complete corporate ownership structure, detailed audience figures, financial performance, or a comprehensive programme catalogue, so those aspects remain unspecified. On 3 November 2025, the channel was rebranded in the afternoon as StoryZoo & Friends after its acquisition by the founders of StoryZoo. That change ended Pebble TV's operation under its original name and makes the brand a historical television-channel identity rather than an active standalone channel.

Pebble TV emerged in the Netherlands as a dedicated children's television channel with a focus on older programming and a less visually intense presentation style. The channel was founded by Henk Krop, who had previously served as a director of Kindernet, an earlier Dutch children's television service. Bas van Toor, known to Dutch audiences as the clown Bassie, was involved as a co-initiator. Their backgrounds linked Pebble TV to the Netherlands' established children's broadcasting culture and to the use of familiar local entertainment figures in programming for younger audiences. The station commenced test broadcasts on 29 October 2009. Its official first broadcast followed on 12 November 2009. From its launch, Pebble TV targeted children in the Netherlands and Belgium and operated as a 24-hour channel. Rather than centering its identity on newly produced high-energy content, it aired children's programs from the past. This gave the channel a catalogue-based proposition: older series and familiar formats could be brought back into circulation for children and families, while also appealing to adults who recognized programs from an earlier period. A central part of the channel's stated philosophy was its treatment of visual stimulation. Pebble TV avoided images with a strong visual impact and favored substantive programs in which visuals illustrated and supported the story. The channel's concept therefore presented television as a calmer, more narrative-oriented experience. It sought to avoid intense sensory effects that might make children restless, distinguishing its editorial approach from children's formats characterized by rapid visual changes, aggressive presentation, or constant stimulation. Publicly available reference material does not provide a full account of Pebble TV's corporate structure, distributors, audience performance, programming rights, or financial results. It does establish the channel's launch chronology, founders, geographic focus, editorial concept, and later change of identity. On 3 November 2025, Pebble TV was rebranded during the afternoon as StoryZoo & Friends. The change followed the acquisition of the channel by the founders of StoryZoo. As a result, Pebble TV ceased operating under its original brand name and entered the history of Dutch children's television as a former channel rather than a continuing active service.

1. 2025Rebrand as StoryZoo & Friends

   After acquisition by the founders of StoryZoo, Pebble TV was rebranded as StoryZoo & Friends on 3 November 2025.

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2. 2009Test broadcasts begin

   Pebble TV began test transmissions on 29 October 2009 ahead of its formal launch.

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3. 2009Official launch

   The channel's official first broadcast took place on 12 November 2009.

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A Dutch children's television channel built around classic programming and a calmer, story-led alternative to highly stimulating children's media.

• Pebble TV channelChildren's television channel2009

  Pebble TV was a 24-hour children's television channel serving the Netherlands and Belgium. Its schedule emphasized children's programs from the past and reflected the channel's preference for narrative substance over intense visual stimulation. The service operated under the Pebble TV identity from its 2009 launch until its 2025 rebrand as StoryZoo & Friends.

• 2025Acquisition and transition to StoryZoo & FriendsM&A

  Pebble TV was acquired by the founders of StoryZoo after operating as a Dutch children's channel focused on classic programming.

  What changed. The channel was rebranded as StoryZoo & Friends on 3 November 2025.

  Aftermath. Pebble TV no longer operated under its original name and became a former channel brand.

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• 2025Pebble TV rebranded as StoryZoo & Friends

  On 3 November 2025, Pebble TV was rebranded in the afternoon as StoryZoo & Friends following the channel's acquisition by the founders of StoryZoo.

  M&ALeadership changeOther
  Source

1. Pebble TV
2. Pebble TV official website