New kids channel and sports deal for beIN

Patrick Elmendorff

Studio 100 and beIN Sports are launching a new kids channel, beJunior, while beIN Media is also rolling out three HD sports nets on Australian pay TV platform Foxtel.

The beJunior service will target viewers in the Middle East and North Africa, with producer and distributor Studio 100 partnering with Qatari-owned beIN.

The kids channel will be on the beIN Media Group’s pay platform in the MENA region, with Studio 100 providing its programming and branding expertise.

The look and feel of the service will be based upon Studio 100’s Junior channel, which goes out in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.

Titles on beJunior will include Maya the Bee, Vic the Viking and Heidi. It will also have upcoming Studio 100 series including Arthur and the Minimoys, based on the Luc Besson movie franchise.

Patrick Elmendorff, CEO Studio 100 Media said: “We are delighted to build up a twin network to our “Junior” channel in collaboration with the beIN MEDIA GROUP. The new channel will be based on the established concept of “Junior” but always with special regard to the viewing habits and requirements of the audience of MENA region.”

Yousef Al-Obaidly, deputy CEO of beIN MEDIA Group, said: “beIN launched our own and branded movie entertainment channels in November 2015. We want to expand the portfolio of our branded channels by launching beJunior.”

Separately, the sports division of beIN Media is rolling out three HD sports nets on Australian pay TV platform Foxtel. The beIN SPORTS 1, 2 and 3 nets will launch on Foxtel in mid-May.

The new services will replace the SD beIn Sports channel, which was a premium option. The new trio of channels will be in the operator’s Sports pack for no extra charge.

The channels have key sports rights and will cover the 2016 UEFA Champions League Final and all of the games from the UEFA EURO 2016 tournament. Other football on the channels will include every game from the top Spanish and German leagues.