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Qubo

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This article is about the television network. For the cargo vehicle, see Fiat Fiorino.
QUBO redirects here. For the computing technique, see Quadratic unconstrained binary optimization.
Qubo
CountryUnited States
NetworkIon Television
NBC
Telemundo (broadcast in Spanish)
Ownership
OwnerQUBO Venture, LLC.
ION Media Networks
NBC Universal
Nelvana
Scholastic Corporation
Classic Media

Qubo (pronounced "Q-bo") is a multi-platform children's television endeavor operated as a joint venture between ION Media Networks, NBC Universal, Nelvana, Scholastic Corporation, and Classic Media. The endeavor operates multiple services under the Qubo branding, including programming blocks in English and Spanish on the NBC, Telemundo, and Ion Television networks, a digital television network, and video on demand content. The first of these, the Saturday morning blocks, debuted on September 9, 2006.

History

On May 8, 2006, ION Media Networks, NBC Universal, Corus Entertainment's Nelvana, Scholastic Corporation, and Classic Media announced plans to launch a new children's entertainment endeavor spread across all media platforms, including video-on-demand on digital cable and an interactive webpage. Originally announced under the name "Smart Place for Kids", the official name Qubo was announced in August 2006.[1] The name "qubo" was chosen for the platform due to its "fun" sound and marketability in both English and Spanish.[2] Each owner contributed shows to the network.

The primary goal for Qubo is to "provide quality, entertaining children's programming in a safe environment." The endeavor utilizes ION's digital broadcast outlets, the educational, literary, and creative assets of Scholastic, and the combined content libraries and production facilities of Nelvana, and NBC Universal, which will also dedicate its weekend morning lineups to Qubo. qubo's Saturday morning block debuted on NBC and Telemundo on Saturday, September 9, 2006, replaced the Discovery Kids block on NBC. This was followed by the Qubo block repeating on Ion Television, which began on Friday, September 15, 2006. This was followed by the launch of a digital television network on January 8, 2007 on the digital subchannels of Ion Television affiliates.[3]

Initially, religious content was edited out of the original VeggieTales broadcasts by request of NBC's standards and practices department.[4] The removal drew criticism from the Christian conservative watch group Parents Television Council, which complained to NBC.[5] NBC replied that the editing conformed to the network's broadcast standards of "not to advocate any one religious point of view." VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer also expressed discontent with the edits, stating that he was not informed that religious content would be removed from the series, and he would have refused to sign a contract if he had known of this beforehand. Vischer said, "I would have declined partly because I knew a lot of fans would feel like it was a sellout or it was done for money."[6] Still, Vischer added that he understood NBC's wish to remain religiously neutral, and said, "VeggieTales is religious, NBC is not. I want to focus people more on 'Isn't it cool that Bob and Larry are on television?'"[7]

Qubo Channel

A 24-hour standalone digital broadcast television network, carried via the DT2 digital subchannel of ION's affiliates, began broadcasting on January 8, 2007.[8] Qubo’s digital channel initially launched with a rolling four-hour block of children’s programming. Almost all of the programming also comes with an alternate Spanish language soundtrack via the SAP channel, and Spanish closed captioning via CC3.

On December 3, 2007, Qubo expanded its offerings on the digital channel to include shows from other producers, as well as some programming currently seen on the main Qubo block on NBC. In addition, the block was expanded to a 6-hour block, seen four times each day.[9]

In January 2008, ION Media Networks and Comcast reached an agreement to continue carrying ION's bouquet of digital channels; Ion Television, Qubo and ION Life except in Atlanta, GA as of February 27, 2011 where the Comcast viewers are oblivious to the network's existence.[10][11] ION is currently seeking the inquiry of the Federal Communications Commission for must-carry cable and satellite carriage of qubo.[12]

On September 28, 2010, Qubo Channel launched a late night programing block aimed at older audiences entitled "Qubo's Night Owl", the block airing nightly from 12:00 a.m. - 6:00 a.m. EST, features animated series primarily from the Filmation animation library.[13][14] That same date, the network began officially advertising itself as "Qubo Channel", which the NBC and Ion Television blocks already referred to the channel as in promos for the channel's programming on those networks' qubo-branded blocks, instead of simply "Qubo" in order to discern the channel from the Qubo-branded blocks on NBC, Telemundo and Ion Television.

Scheduling notes

Not all programs are seen on all stations. During the NBC block, the programming might be delayed or pre-empted because of local affiliates schedules, or delayed by the network to show sporting events such as Wimbledon, The French Open, and the USGA's U.S. Open. As with all Saturday morning programming it is advisable to check local listings for showtimes. Usually when there's a delay, a special notice is shown during commercial breaks to note the delays, as part of E/I compliance[citation needed].

Due to ION's extension of regular programming, ION airs the block in one hour sections, Wednesdays-Fridays at 8:00 a.m. EST/7:00 a.m. CST.[citation needed]

Qubo programming

Current programs on all Qubo broadcasts blocks

Current programs on Qubo channel

Current programs on Qubo Channel Night Owl block

Current interstitial programming on Qubo channel

Former programs on Qubo channel

Former programming

Upcoming programming

References

  1. ^ "Qubo to launch on NBC, Telemundo and the i Network this September".
  2. ^ "wubo's Rodriguez: Offering a 'Building Block' to Kids". Retrieved 2008-02-16.
  3. ^ "qubo 24/7".
  4. ^ Westbury, Joe, NBC chooses family values over spiritual values in VeggieTales Saturday morning line-up, The Christian Index, September 26, 2008
  5. ^ Cohen, Sandy Talking Veggies Stir Controversy at NBC, Associated Press, Foxnews.com, September 22, 2006
  6. ^ (Cohen 2006)
  7. ^ Parker, Jenni,PTC Applauds NBC's Airing of VeggieTales, Religious Content Intact, Agape Press, December 6, 2006
  8. ^ "Qubo 24/7".
  9. ^ "Qubo Launches as 24-Hour Digital Broadcast Channel on ION Media Networks Station Group".
  10. ^ ION Media Networks and Comcast Announce Affiliation Agreement for Channel Suite, Yahoo!, January 14, 2008
  11. ^ ION Media Plugs In New Comcast Accord, Multichannel News, January 14, 2008
  12. ^ Ion Uses FCC Inquiry on Content Control to Push for Qubo Carriage, MultiChannel News, May 19, 2009
  13. ^ a b c d e "Qubo Channel Kicks off Fall 2010 Lineup Starting Monday, September 27". Business Wire. September 14, 2010. Retrieved September 14, 2010.
  14. ^ "Qubo: TV Schedule". Qubo. Retrieved October 14, 2010.
  15. ^ a b c d e f "Schedule Starting September 27" (PDF). qubo. Retrieved September 16, 2010.
  16. ^ "Qubo to Launch New Slate of Kids Shows". Animation World Network. May 12, 2010. Retrieved 13 May 2010.
  17. ^ "Qubo to Launch New Slate of Kids Shows Beginning This Summer Through Fall 2010". Business Wire. May 11, 2010.
  18. ^ a b "qubo Channel Schedule 2009-2010" (PDF). qubo. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
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