First launch in Western Europe.

London, UK, May 9, 2008 (XTVWorld.Com) -- KidsCo, the joint venture channel owned by leading media companies NBC Universal, DIC Entertainment (DIC) and Corus Entertainment Inc. (Corus), has launched in Spain via local operator Teuve. The new children's and family channel will also see a VOD service following later this year.

KidsCo programming in the region will include pre-school offerings such as Strawberry Shortcake, Boobah, Maggie and the Ferocious Beast, Dennis the Menace and Care Bears while older age groups can tune in to much-loved series including Sabrina, Inspector Gadget, Rescue Heroes and Sonic the Hedgehog. KidsCo's Family Zone will also offer feature-length movies for the whole family.

KidsCo's launch into Spain is the first stage of the channel's rollout across Western Europe following the strategic expansion into the world's TV markets with the channel now broadcasting in key territories including Romania, Ukraine, the Middle East, Hungary, Russia, Turkey, Poland, Singapore, the Philippines, South Korea, Hong Kong and countries across sub-Saharan Africa. It is anticipated that KidsCo will be airing in up to 40 territories including Europe and Latin America within the next 18 months.

KidsCo Managing Director Paul Robinson commented: "Spain is a strategically important market for KidsCo and marks our first in Western Europe with our partner Teuve and platforms including Ono, Orange and R Cable. We are confident that KidsCo's high quality, safe and trusted programming will add to the children's television choice in Spain and will help build our position as the international 4th kids' TV network."

Graeme Stanley, Managing Director of Teuve added: "We are delighted to be working with Kidsco and look forward to the introduction of quality programming for Spanish television viewers."

"Marking the beginning of our rollout through Western Europe, we are thrilled to launch KidsCo in Spain through Teuve," stated Jeffrey Edell, President & COO, DIC Entertainment. "We are excited with the positive reception from platform providers around the world, and the tremendous growth and momentum of the channel witnessed to date."

KidsCo features renowned animated and live-action television series and feature-length movies from pre-eminent, independent animation programme suppliers, DIC and Corus' Nelvana. DIC's programming library features approximately 3,000 half-hours of top quality series, including; Inspector Gadget, Strawberry Shortcake, Madeline, Dennis the Menace, Care Bears and more.

With more than 3,200 half-hours of kids' programming, Nelvana Enterprises' catalogue features international favourites such as Babar, Franklin, The Adventures of Tintin and Rolie Polie Olie.