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Five plans digital kids channel RTL-backed UK terrestrial Five has confirmed that it is considering spinning off its Milkshake kids programming block into a new digital children's channel. The move would mark Five's somewhat belated move into multi-channel TV, bringing it in line with similar arrangements from rival terrestrials, such as the BBC's well-established CBeebies and CBBC, and ITV's planned joint-venture with Nickelodeon for a CiTV channel. A spokeswoman for Five refused to comment further on the Milkshake plans today, but confirmed that it the move "is just one of the options being considered" by Five's chief executive, Jane Lighting. The news confirms comments made by Five's controller of children's programming, Nick Wilson, at a Voice of the Listeners & Viewers conference last November.  At the VLV event he said that the channel was looking at rolling out Milkshake and that Five needed to "develop other outlets." He added that the channel would like to have a presence on the children's section of electronic programming guides.Milkshake currently targets preschoolers on weekday mornings between 6.00-9.00, emerging as simply Shake over the weekends, aimed at older kids. Because Milkshake has a strong record for coproductions and acquisitions, a standalone channel would be of interest to the international production and distribution community at large. Previous acquisitions include Bear in the Big Blue House, Peppa Pig and Barney. Five also has first-look rights to any new shows based on Enid Blyton characters. It is unclear what platforms the planned channel would run on, or what partners - if any - Five may tie up with. Insiders have speculated that a tie up with Lighting's former employer, Telewest-owned pay-TV group Flextech, could be likely. Another option would be to tie up with an existing kids channel. Another UK terrestrial broadcaster, Welsh-language network S4C, is also planning to launch a digital kids channel later this year. The Welsh pubcaster's five-year plan includes the launch of a standalone digital channel for kids, which starts life in March as a three-hour block on S4C Digidol. Jules Grant 11 Jan 2005 © C21 Media 2005 
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