Zig and Zag are back - RTjr celebrates its nd birday

Zig and Zag are back - RT jr celebrates its 2nd birthday

15/4/2015: Kids TV legends, Zig and Zag are celebrating RT jrs second birthday by announcing a new animation series on the commercial-free television, radio and online service for Irelands under-sevens.

As part of a range of new and exciting programming announced today, RT jr will welcome old friends Zig and Zag onto the channel in 2016 for 26 episodes of an animated series - a fitting return to Irish children's television toon-style' for everybody's favourite aliens.

Commenting on the announcement, RT 's Cross-Divisional Head of Children's Content Sheila de Courcy said: With lots of exciting new animation coming to RT jr, it's a particular delight to see Zig & Zag's new animated series finally going into production! RT jr viewers' parents grew up with the original alien brothers and I know that Double Z, Flickerpix and Jam Media are going to replicate the fun and mayhem for children today in what's shaping up to be a super series for 2016.

She continued: Supporting Irish animation is hugely important to RT as we continue in our mission to offer fun, educational and uniquely Irish content to the under sevens. We're delighted to see that viewing figures are on the increase and that children are engaging with our content on multiple platforms. Irish children are so digitally aware that we need to engage with them through apps, television, radio and online platforms, and constantly update and refresh our schedules on all platforms.

RT jr is delivered across four platforms, TV, radio, online and mobile (ios) allowing children under seven to watch, listen and play with commercial-free channels on television and digital radio from 7am-7pm daily.

After two years, RT jr can make a number of proud claims:

Offering up to 34 hours of programmes for youngsters throughout Ireland every day.

Unlike the majority of children's channels, RT jr offers children a mixed programming schedule similar to RT One, including, entertainment, animation, arts and crafts, language and science, wildlife, sport and educational magazine programming.

31% of content is home produced, both in house and independently

RT jr co-funds 3 - 4 Irish animation projects annually. The cost of an animation series lies between 1.5m and 5.5m.

In 2014 the RT jr site had almost half a million page views, with a monthly average of 40,000 page views. There was also 7.5 million views and 1.2 million streams on the RT jr App (iOS). The RT jr App will be released for Android later this year.

RT jr currently has three new original Irish animation series in production along with returning series of Wildernuts, and Puffin Rock.These include:

ZIG & ZAG (26 episodes):

RT jr is looking forward to welcoming old friends Zig and Zag onto the channel in 2016. In partnership with RT jr and CBBC; Double Z Enterprises, Flickerpix and Jam Media have been green lit for 26 episodes of an animated Zig and Zag series. It is fitting return to Irish children's television toon-style' for everybody's favourite aliens. Originally from the Planet Zog, the alien brothers have set themselves up in a half spaceship/half house in the burbs. Zig & Zag will take young viewers along with them on their hilarious adventures as the crazy pair attempt to experience everything planet Earth has to offer. The series is produced with support from the IFB, BAI and NI Screen and distributed by JAM Media.

Havananimal (6 episodes)

Havananimal is a new series of animated story-songs from Igloo Films for RT jr and is supported by the BAI. Each episode is a song about animals written by Shay Healy some years ago for his grandson Ois n. The songs are arranged and performed by Northern Ireland performer Duke Special and visualised through beautiful animation.

The Day Henry Met (26 episdoes):

The Day Henry Met, produced by Wigglywoo, is bursting with joy and colour and will premiere on RT jr this summer. Using his imagination and thirst for adventure Henry becomes something different in every show depending on who he meets it could be a cow, the moon, a microscope or a sword! The Day Henry Met has also been nominated in the pre-school for TV category for a Pulcinella Award at Cartoons on the Bay in Venice.

Other forthcoming highlights include observation documentary series such as Ailbhe & Feilim's Day Out which follows this entertaining duo as they explore Mayo from head to toe with their family and a new series called Our Seaside which tracks day to day adventures in the lives of a young family living beside the sea on the north west coast of Ireland.

A brand new archaeological series, Magical Sites, which introduces Ireland's national monuments to a young audience. Produced in-house by RT Young People's department, with support from the BAI, the series breaks new ground in presenting archaeology in an accessible way for the under-7s.

Plus Makers a new crafts series produced in-house by RT Young People's, with support from the BAI and made in partnership with The Design and Crafts Council of Ireland. This series takes a look at iconic Irish craft and craftmakers and has been conceived specially for young children under the age of 5.

RT jr Radio:

Nora agus Dora 2 (10 episodes)

Nora agus Dora is a fun entertainment and educational series aimed at 3-7 year olds and combines a format of singing, vocabulary and guessing games on various topics in the Irish language. It has the educational value of learning Irish and includes audience participation.

Nora and Dora love to sing and have fun. In each episode they uncover a new topic and they then set about revealing and exploring new words, songs, raps and exercises within that topic. Episodes in this series include : An Baile Mor, Scoil, Tinn agus An Rud Is Fear Liom.

Fins, Scal

LINK:	http://www.rte.ie/about/en/press-office/press-releases/2015/0415/69425...
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