Welcome one again to our look at defunct children's television blocks on network TV. This is due to the eventual end of traditional children's TV on Broadcast TV. This time we look at FOX KIDS.
So to talk about FOX Kids we have to talk a little about FOX, the network launched in 1986 using mostly old independent (non-affiliated with networks ) channels . Independent channels had something to them they would have to fill their days with movies, sitcoms , dramas and children's programs. Weekday Children's programming instead of soaps or some talk show , or game show. FOX was a brash , edgy network compared to the others. Their stations who mostly to be independent (this changed in 1994-95) had afternoon children's television blocks of syndicated programming.
In 1987 Disney , which at the time syndicated it's programming for kids, premiered "Duck Tales" and these Fox, the remaining independent stations , and maybe some big 3 network affiliates picked up the program to air in their children's television slot. In 1988 in LA Disney bought a local TV channel , now known as KCAL-TV, and they of course wanted their own made program to air on their channel. The problem was : FOX . Fox owned (still does) KTTV in LA and they were airing the program. So they pull the program from ALL their owned stations .
That was long history ,but what does that have to do with FOX KIDS?
FOX launched it's own programming block , FOX KIDS , (what else would you call it? ) , on September the 8th 1990. It aired 30 minutes each afternoon and 3 hours on Saturday Mornings. So you could say that this was FOX's only daytime networked programming. This block could be mixed in with the local stations pre-existing children's programming.
FOX KIDS Network (sounds like a 24 hour channel) /Youtube
Programs included : "Attack of the Killer Tomatoes" ( See , Mom if we eat the vegetables they will come back and kill us ) , "Bobby's World" (created by Howie Mandel ,yes THAT Howie Mandel , how many do you know?) , "Peter Pan and the Pirates" , "Tom and Jerry Kids" (no Tom and Jerry did not actually get married to some cat and mouse down the street and have kids, it was them as kids, though I like your thinking) .
See it was a real show .. Marvel/ Fox Kids/ Youtube
It also aired Bugs Bunny , because 3 networks are never enough. Batman the animated series , Then we can't mention FOX KIDS with out mentioning "Tiny Toon Adventures" , yep this program started in Syndication in 1990 then moved to FOX in 1992 , then we got "Animaniacs"in 1993. A great 90's show that was liked by kids and adults alike. It ran on FOX kids from 1993-1995 then moved to Kids WB (oh we got to write about them soon don't we?) And if anything FOX Kids is remembered for it would be "Power Rangers" the program's first series started as "Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers" , it's become a large franchise of TV series and sold lots of toys (which children's TV kind of does). In 1993 , FOX KIDS was now on 3 hours each weekday from 2-5PMET (Times Varied due to fox station) and 4 hours on Saturday 8AMET/7AMCT. That's alot of time to fill.
Yes, where on Earth is she? / Youtube
Fox Kids was merged with Saban Entertainment in 1996 , providing it with more program rights and programs themselves. In 1996 they now had more compensation , especially on the weekdays , The new new The WB and UPN networks had introduced their own children's TV blocks. What else came out in 1996? Oh yeah, our old friend the Children's television act, we will get back to that soon. KIDS WB was one block that was going to compete well against , FOX , it had some of the programs that were made by Warner Brothers but aired on FOX, "Animanics" for example. But Fox Kids continued and did well, it launched more "Power Rangers" series (those were still hip with the kids, 80's kids ?) . They also made the book series "Goosebumps" into a TV series that became just as popular as the books.
Now back to the E/I rule , FOX decided to add some educational programs , there was one ,"The Magic School Bus" (what's more educational than that?) After the program ended on PBS in 1997 , FOX picked up the repeats. (Most stations aired it in the mornings) . It gave FOX stations some help in reducing their E/I quota of 3 hours a week of E/I programming.
It kept airing non E/I programming , the mix of entertaining live-action and cartoons. But the world was changing or something. In 1999 the weekday version of the block was cut to 2 hours. Their programs were the same as continuing and a little more action cartoons. Remember that competition we spoke of? , UPN Kids was doing great (ok ok that was a joke) , KIDS WB was doing really well ,in 1999 they aquired one of the the most popular programs to air on broadcast TV since "Power Rangers" ,"Pokemon". That's not where all the competition was coming from either... there were Nickelodeon and Cartoon Network where kids could watch cartoons and other programs until the cows came home . FOX affiliates also wanted a change : many of them were wanting to do something different in the afternoons and wanted some part of Saturday morning to air news or something. E/I rules limited commercials in Children's TV, that means limited revenue coming in to FOX Kids and to the local stations. A fox station could air more advertisements therefore make more money from airing some talk/court/trashy-talk/late-afternoon newscasts than Children's shows. The Weekday block died in 2001.
Fox did get Digimon , which is still running to this day , and that has it's own fans.
Angela Anaconda , from Canada , aired on FOX Kids and Fox Family /yotube.
