Children's programming on ABC Television
| Company type | Division |
|---|---|
| Industry | Broadcasting, Children's television |
| Headquarters | Australia |
Area served | Australia |
| Products | ABC Kids, ABC Family |
| Parent | Australian Broadcasting Corporation |
ABC Television, the broadcasting arm of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, manages two dedicated children's channels as of 2021: ABC Kids and ABC Family, both recognized as leading children's networks in Australia.
History
Prior to 2009, ABC's programming for children was identified under the ABC Kids brand (styled as abckids), distinct from the main ABC Television/ABC1 and ABC2. The introduction of ABC2 on 7 March 2005 allowed ABC Kids content to be broadcast for up to 13 hours daily across both ABC1 and ABC2 channels. With the approach of ABC3's debut, the ABC Kids brand was phased out, and children's shows were incorporated into the schedules of ABC1 and ABC2. During segments aimed at pre-school audiences, standard network branding was replaced by child-friendly animations under the "ABC For Kids" label.
On 4 December 2009, aligning with the launch of ABC3, the children's segment on ABC2 was renamed "ABC For Kids on 2," concentrating solely on pre-school programming by excluding shows intended for school-aged viewers. By May 2011, this segment transitioned into ABC4KIDS, offering a continuous 13-hour block from 6am to 7pm daily on ABC2 dedicated to pre-school content. The channel underwent another rebranding on 2 March 2015, adopting the name ABC Kids.