KiKa

KiKa (Der KinderKanal) is a 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. KiKa is broadcast on analogue satellite as well as digital services, both DVB-T and via Astra. KiKa 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. KiKa now has exclusive use of its frequency — Arte was assigned its own in 2003.

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.

The station generally serves children ranging from age 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).

External links

• Official KiKa Homepage (German)
• Tabaluga TiVi Home Page (German)

See also: List of German language television channels