KI.KA

KI.KA ("Der Kinderkanal" = "The Children's Channel")is a public television channel based in Erfurt, Germany. It is a joint-venture of Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (ARD (TV)) and Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) (German: Second German Television (channel)) and is targeted at children and youths. KI.KA is broadcast on analogue satellite as well as digital services, both DVB-T and via Astra. KI.KA operates daily from 6:00 am CET until 9:00 pm CET, and airs a mixture of live action and animated features. Until 2003, its analogue satellite service ended at 19:00 pm CET; after that time the frequency was used by Arte. KI.KA now has exclusive use of its frequency — Arte was assigned its own in 2003.

Related Topics:
Television channel - Erfurt - Germany - ARD (TV) - ZDF - Satellite - Digital - DVB-T - Astra - CET - 2003 - Arte

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The station uses live continuity announcers, two of the most popular being Juri Tetzlaff and Karsten Blumenthal. The station also repeats shows such as Tabaluga TiVi from ZDF's main service.

Related Topics:
Juri Tetzlaff - Karsten Blumenthal - Tabaluga TiVi

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The station generally serves children ranging from the age of 4 to approximately 16. On Sundays, the station airs the request program Wunschfilm Am Sonntag; children call into the station during the week, voting for films they would like to see on the Sunday lunchtime slot, usually from noon to 2:00 pm. The telephone calls they make are charged at a local rate and cost no more than ?0, 12 (Euro).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

KI.KA plays a loop of Bernd das Brot films every night, during its notional close-down period from 9pm to 6am, causing bafflement to non-German viewers.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~