ZooMoo network launched in Oz

David Haslingden

The ZooMoo interactive preschool network dedicated to animals and wildlife has become the first kids’ service to launch on Australian telco Telstra’s media player.

Launched last October, Telstra TV provides access to Netflix and local subscription VoD services Stan and Presto as well as the five free-to-air broadcasters’ catch-up apps and movie rentals through BigPond Movies.

ZooMoo is free to Telstra customers but data counts towards their monthly allowance. Telstra TV is a partnership between Telstra and US streaming media set-top-box maker Roku. The player costs A$109 (US$83) but is included with some broadband packages.

“We’re very proud to be expanding our Telstra TV offering with the addition of ZooMoo as it provides a great interactive entertainment option for kids at home,” said Telstra director of home media Serkan Honeine.

In January, Australian free-to-air broadcaster Seven Network bought the ZooMoo series, produced over 115 half-hours by ZooMoo Networks, for its digital channel 7Two.

Part of the Racat group of companies owned by David Haslingden, former president of Fox Networks Group, the ZooMoo channel is available in 24 countries, including the US (via DirecTV) and Mexico (partnered with Sky), and elsewhere in Latin America and Asia.