Latest news with #PipandPosy
The Irish Sun
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- The Irish Sun
Sky reveals ‘deeply concerning' change to popular kids TV channel
SKY has scrapped plans to make original kids' TV shows — sparking 'deep concern' from experts. UK-based watchdog the Children's Media Foundation (CMF) slammed the move, after Sky confirmed it will stop creating its own content and instead buy in shows from other providers. 2 Pip and Posy was co-commissioned with Channel 5's Milkshake Recent original titles from Sky include Pip & Posy — co-commissioned with Sky Kids, led by Lucy Murphy, currently has around 150 original titles in its catalogue. Although it will honour content still in production, Sky confirmed it has no plans to greenlight any new original The broadcaster also warned that some job losses may follow as a result of the strategy change. Read more on Technology Jamie Morris, Sky's executive director of content strategy and performance, said: 'With a strong pipeline of new original shows still to come, we now have a rich slate of content that allows us to evolve our strategy. 'In the future, Sky Kids will focus on acquiring third-party content. "While this means reviewing the number of roles required to deliver the next phase of our offer, we remain committed to bringing the very best in children's entertainment to families across the UK.' The decision comes just over two years after Sky made headlines by launching its own children's linear TV channel — a bold move at a time when many other broadcasters were moving away from traditional channels in favour of digital platforms. Most read in Tech But the CMF said the change was 'a depressing and short-sighted decision, which will leave UK children less well-served.' Highlighting that only the BBC and Milkshake! remain as major commissioners of factual and entertainment content for children, the organisation said Sky's exit removes 'healthy competition' in the market and urged the broadcaster to think again. Sky TV remotes have hidden trick that saves you so much time Greg Childs, director of the CMF, said: 'This is not the time to give up on great UK content for UK kids. "Just as we are working with government and platforms like YouTube to help children and young people find more personally and socially valuable content on video-sharing platforms. "Sky is walking away from its kids' needed is fresh thinking about deals and partnerships that take their content to where kids are watching, not a knee-jerk cost-cutting spree which will damage their relationship with their customers and certainly diminish the prospects of quality viewing time for children in their country.' Animation UK also hit out at the decision, calling it a 'significant blow' to the animation sector and those behind Sky's well-received original content. Will more kids TV channels vanish? Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun These latest closures don't come as much of a shock with children largely shifting to digital platforms for entertainment thanks to apps like TikTok and YouTube. Some of the POP's other channels have gone digital-only already. And in September 2023 the The BBC have been mulling the But it's been granted a temporary reprieve for now. Children's TV boss Patricia Hidalgo told the i paper at the end of 2024 that "currently the numbers don't tell us you have to close it yet", adding: "It's really important to us as public service broadcasters that if children still need us on a linear network, we're going to be there for them." It warned that losing a major commissioner like Sky limits creative opportunity and reduces access to culturally relevant UK storytelling. Kate O'Connor, chair of Animation UK, said: 'Sky has played a valuable role in backing original UK animation and children's programming. "Its decision to step away from commissioning is another signal that the children's content sector needs urgent attention. 'Without intervention, we risk losing the UK's ability to tell its own stories to its youngest citizens and to support our world class content creation sector.' The change to Sky Kids follows a wider shake-up across the broadcaster. Earlier this year, Sky shut down its standalone The group has been gradually shifting its focus toward digital-first content and streamlining services under pressure from increased competition and changing viewer habits. The Sun has reached out to Sky for further comment. 2 Sky Kids, led by Lucy Murphy, currently has around 150 original titles in its catalogue Credit: PA:Press Association
Scottish Sun
17-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Scottish Sun
Sky reveals ‘deeply concerning' change to popular kids TV channel
Sky Kids currently has around 150 original titles Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) SKY has scrapped plans to make original kids' TV shows — sparking 'deep concern' from experts. UK-based watchdog the Children's Media Foundation (CMF) slammed the move, after Sky confirmed it will stop creating its own content and instead buy in shows from other providers. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 2 Pip and Posy was co-commissioned with Channel 5's Milkshake Recent original titles from Sky include Pip & Posy — co-commissioned with Channel 5's Milkshake! — as well as BooSnoo! and The Brilliant World of Tom Gates. Sky Kids, led by Lucy Murphy, currently has around 150 original titles in its catalogue. Although it will honour content still in production, Sky confirmed it has no plans to greenlight any new original children's programming. The broadcaster also warned that some job losses may follow as a result of the strategy change. Jamie Morris, Sky's executive director of content strategy and performance, said: 'With a strong pipeline of new original shows still to come, we now have a rich slate of content that allows us to evolve our strategy. 'In the future, Sky Kids will focus on acquiring third-party content. "While this means reviewing the number of roles required to deliver the next phase of our offer, we remain committed to bringing the very best in children's entertainment to families across the UK.' The decision comes just over two years after Sky made headlines by launching its own children's linear TV channel — a bold move at a time when many other broadcasters were moving away from traditional channels in favour of digital platforms. But the CMF said the change was 'a depressing and short-sighted decision, which will leave UK children less well-served.' Highlighting that only the BBC and Milkshake! remain as major commissioners of factual and entertainment content for children, the organisation said Sky's exit removes 'healthy competition' in the market and urged the broadcaster to think again. Sky TV remotes have hidden trick that saves you so much time Greg Childs, director of the CMF, said: 'This is not the time to give up on great UK content for UK kids. "Just as we are working with government and platforms like YouTube to help children and young people find more personally and socially valuable content on video-sharing platforms. "Sky is walking away from its kids' needed is fresh thinking about deals and partnerships that take their content to where kids are watching, not a knee-jerk cost-cutting spree which will damage their relationship with their customers and certainly diminish the prospects of quality viewing time for children in their country.' Animation UK also hit out at the decision, calling it a 'significant blow' to the animation sector and those behind Sky's well-received original content. Will more kids TV channels vanish? Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun These latest closures don't come as much of a shock with children largely shifting to digital platforms for entertainment thanks to apps like TikTok and YouTube. Some of the POP's other channels have gone digital-only already. And in September 2023 the CITV channel closed down, switching to a new digital-only streamed channel ITVX Kids on the ITVX app. The BBC have been mulling the closure of CBBC's linear channel and making it digital only via iPlayer too. But it's been granted a temporary reprieve for now. Children's TV boss Patricia Hidalgo told the i paper at the end of 2024 that "currently the numbers don't tell us you have to close it yet", adding: "It's really important to us as public service broadcasters that if children still need us on a linear network, we're going to be there for them." It warned that losing a major commissioner like Sky limits creative opportunity and reduces access to culturally relevant UK storytelling. Kate O'Connor, chair of Animation UK, said: 'Sky has played a valuable role in backing original UK animation and children's programming. "Its decision to step away from commissioning is another signal that the children's content sector needs urgent attention. 'Without intervention, we risk losing the UK's ability to tell its own stories to its youngest citizens and to support our world class content creation sector.' The change to Sky Kids follows a wider shake-up across the broadcaster. Earlier this year, Sky shut down its standalone Sky Mix channel and moved some content to its streaming platform NOW, while also cutting several back-office roles as part of a cost-saving restructure. The group has been gradually shifting its focus toward digital-first content and streamlining services under pressure from increased competition and changing viewer habits. The Sun has reached out to Sky for further comment.
Telegraph
24-03-2025
- Entertainment
- Telegraph
Parents attack CBeebies show over gender-neutral raccoon
Parents have attacked a CBeebies show for featuring a gender-neutral raccoon. In the episode of Hey Duggee, an award-winning show, which is aimed at five-year-olds, a racoon called Wren and 'their' siblings are introduced. The gender-neutral language has been criticised as 'inappropriate' and 'confusing' for children still learning how to speak. Hey Duggee, produced by Studio AKA in association with BBC Studios, features Duggee, a cartoon dog, who runs a clubhouse with five 'squirrels': Bettie, Roly, Tag, Norrie and Happy. In the episode Sibling Badge, first shown last year, Roly discovers he is getting a new brother or sister. The squirrels then meet different animals and their siblings. Dog Arlo is shown with 'his' siblings, monkey Lucy with 'her' siblings, yak Rami appears alongside 'his' siblings. It then adds: 'And this is Wren and their siblings.' The words 'they' and 'their' are commonly used as gender-neutral pronouns, particularly for those who identify as non-binary. The episode by Jo Clegg, the writer behind dozens of episodes as well as popular shows Go Jetters and Pip and Posy, has now come under question. Shelley Charlesworth, researcher for Transgender Trend, a UK-based campaign group, described the episode as 'so inappropriate'. She said she felt the use of the word 'their' for the last animal was subtle but not an error. Ms Charlesworth said: 'Its target audience is still learning to speak and this only confuses. Language skills and accurate grammar take years to learn, most children are still making mistakes up to the age of eight. 'There is no way that a child of three to five can understand non-binary they/them pronouns, and using these neo-pronouns takes no account of child development.' She accused the BBC of breaking its accuracy and impartiality code, adding the language 'stems from adult political activism'. One parent who saw the programme accused the show's language of 'sounding weird', adding: 'The use of their in that particular bit just stuck out to me. There was no reason to use it as all the pronouns before were gendered. 'It just sounded weird. I don't think it was an accident.' A BBC spokesman said: 'We take our responsibility to our young audience and their families very seriously and take great to care that all content is appropriate. Everyone is welcome at CBeebies and in this case Wren the raccoon is not a non-binary character.' Hey Duggee was previously criticised for using the term 'fireman' by the London Fire Brigade after a veteran female firefighter had to explain why the term was wrong to a young relative. The BBC said at the time 'CBeebies strives to avoid stereotyping and looks to celebrate strong female role models'. A spokesman added: 'Within the wider context of the Hey Duggee Dressing Up Badge episode, animated characters are shown dressing up in costumes depicting roles such as a plumber, pirate, knight and farmer but these roles are occupied by girl characters as well as boys, is done without comment and infers these roles are all gender-neutral.' In 2023, the BBC was accused of trying to brainwash children after telling them male fish could become female. CBeebies broadcast a segment about how some species can go from 'being a boy fish to a girl fish'. Campaigners claimed it was trying to normalise sex-swap ideology at a young age. A BBC spokesman said at the time: 'While this segment aired at the start of June, it was not produced specifically for Pride month. 'CBeebies 'Everyone's Welcome' ethos supports inclusivity and we air segments on a range of related topics throughout the year.' Grant Orchard, the series creator, said he ignored gender altogether in a 2017 interview. 'The way we treat characters on the show, we don't think about gender at all,' he said. He added 'It wasn't a conscious decision to make it a gender-neutral show', adding 'kids' personalities are not allocated by their sex'. 'Only when we started talking to distribution and marketing people about the show, and they were discussing what kind of show it was and whether it would be placed in a boys or girls aisle in supermarkets, we became determined to keep the show gender neutral as much as possible.'
