Network | HBO Family |
---|---|
Launched | August 26, 2001 |
Closed | February 29, 2024 |
Country of origin | United States |
Owner | Home Box Office, Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery) |
Formerly known as | Jam (2001–2016) |
Sister network | Magnet (2001–2005) |
Running time | 6am-3pm (2001–04) 6am-1:30pm (2004–05) 6am-9am (2005–06, then again 2020–21) 6am-12:00pm (2006–07) 6am-8am 6am-10am (2020) 4pm-5pm (formerly) 6am-11am (2011–20) 6am-8am (2021–24) |
Original language(s) | English |
HBO Kids (formerly Jam) was an American preschool/children's television morning programming block operated by Home Box Office, Inc. (HBO), a division of Warner Bros. Discovery. The block ran on HBO Family, HBO's sister station that targets children and families.[1]
The block last ran from 6:00 am to roughly 8:00 to 9:00 am (ET) on weekdays; the block's shows were not shown in a standard half-hour timeslot. The block used to have an weekday 4pm timeslot, which was filled with The Electric Company. The block also aired on weekends until October 2020.
In 2001, HBO Family launched two children's programming blocks: Jam in the morning, and Magnet on weekday afternoons. Programming for both blocks was developed in coordination with CINAR Animation, Nelvana Limited, Sony Entertainment, Sandpaper Films, Scholastic, Devine Entertainment, S4C, HiT Entertainment, Golden Egg Entertainment, Poseidon Pictures, Cuppa Coffee Studios, Curious Pictures, Hyperion Pictures, and Planet Grande.[1] Starting in 2007, with a new set of CGI bumpers for the block, HBO began to slowly remove the block's acquired programming, exclusively focusing on HBO's original children's series. For several years, no new programs were produced or acquired for the block, focusing exclusively on reruns of HBO's own children's programs.
On August 13, 2015, HBO announced a deal with Sesame Workshop to move first-run Sesame Street episodes on HBO.[2] The episodes premiered on the network on January 16, 2016, alongside other Sesame Workshop-produced programming, including The Electric Company and Pinky Dinky Doo.[3] Jam would later rebrand as HBO Kids. On November 12, 2020, first-run Sesame Street episodes moved to HBO Max starting with its 51st season.
On August 18, 2018, an animated series entitled Esme & Roy, also produced by Sesame Workshop, premiered.[4] HBO removed all Sesame Workshop shows from its HBO Family channel by January 2021, reverting the block back to HBO's original children's series. However, most of the acquired shows from Sesame Workshop were still available on the HBO Max streaming service until January 2, 2021, with only Sesame Street, Esme & Roy, and any Sesame Workshop show made exclusive for the streaming service still being available. Currently, the block's schedule shows four of HBO's original programs, followed by a children's TV special, before airing one more program, then starting one of the channel's circulated movies or specials. [5]
On February 29, 2024, the block was discontinued, but some HBO Kids programs remain available on Max.
Title | Original run | HBO Kids run | Source(s) |
---|---|---|---|
A Little Curious | February 1, 1999 – May 1, 2000 | August 26, 2001 – February 29, 2024 | [note 1] |
Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child1 | March 12, 1995 – July 18, 2000 | August 26, 2001 – February 29, 2024 | [note 2][note 3] |
January 2005 - February 29, 2024 | |||
Crashbox1 | February 1, 1999 – April 1, 2000 | [note 4][note 5] | |
Kindergarten1 | August 26, 2001 – September 7, 2001 | August 26, 2001 – February 29, 2024 | |
HBO Storybook Musicals1 | November 18, 1987 – December 8, 1993 | ||
El Perro y El Gato1[note 6] | 2004 – 2011 | 2008 – February 29, 2024 | [note 7] |
Classical Baby1 | May 14, 2005 – 2017 | May 14, 2005 – present |
Title | Original network | Original run | HBO Kids run | Now on | Source(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
The Electric Company | PBS Kids Go! PBS Kids |
January 23, 2009 – April 4, 2011 | January 17, 2016 – November 1, 2020 | Hulu | [3] |
Pinky Dinky Doo | Noggin Nick Jr. Channel |
April 10, 2006 – June 17, 2010 | January 17, 2016 – January 2, 2021 | Knowledge Kids | [3] |