ZeeQ partners with BBC Worldwide to bring CBeebies

The channel has tied up with BBC Worldwide to get CBeebies programmes to preschoolers in India.

ZeeQ, the edutainment channel from the Zee Network, has partnered with BBC Worldwide to bring CBeebies to Indian audiences. With this new license agreement, ZeeQ will air CBeebies' programmes from Mondays to Thursdays for an hour between 9.30 am and 10.30 am, with a two hour repeat telecast on weekends between 11.00 am and 1.00 pm.

The CBeebies brand will be launched on July 1.

CBeebies, along with BBC Entertainment India, ceased airing in the country in November, 2012.

ZeeQ viewers will now be able to watch popular series such as 'Teletubbies' targeted at preschoolers (aged 0-3 years); '3rd & Bird', an animated series for 3-5-year olds packed with entertaining stories and songs; and 'Charlie and Lola', a witty animation series about two siblings based on the award-winning picture books by Lauren Child.

Subhadarshi Tripathy, business head, ZeeQ, says, "We are happy to partner with BBC. ZeeQ is committed to the positive development of children and ZeeQ's ethos of 'What Is Right for the Child' gels well with The CBeebies' philosophy of providing clean and safe content to the child."

Myleeta Aga, senior vice-president and general manager, India and content head, Asia, BBC Worldwide, adds that The CBeebies' brand is trusted by parents and caters internationally to deliver a safe, non-violent and interactive experience designed by developmental experts to promote imaginative play, social interaction, language skills and educational values. "The CBeebies time band on ZeeQ is just the beginning of our partnership. We look forward to working with Zee to continue to bring popular and award-winning CBeebies programmes to ZeeQ," Aga points out.

ZeeQ currently caters to the 4-14 year age segment. With this association, ZeeQ aims to tap the pre-school segment as well (0-3 years) and strengthen its current portfolio of programmes. The channel currently airs a mix of live action and animated shows. Some of its shows include Teenovation, Science with BrainCafe, Amar Chitra Katha Heroes, Sid the Science Kid, The Weekly Wrap, Word Match and MI Four- The Multiple Intelligence quiz.