MUMBAI: The Al Jazeera Group has launched a new pan-Arabic free-to-air kids’ edutainment channel, which will broadcast 18 hours daily on weekdays and 19.5 hours on weekends.

The channel is called Al Jazeera Children's Channel (JCC) and is headquartered in Doha.

According to media reports, JCC also has five regional offices in Amman, Beirut, Cairo, Rabat and Paris.
 
 

The channel was launched on 9 September by Emir H H Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani and his wife Sheikha Mozah bint Nasser Al Missned.

JCC will combine entertainment with teaching tolerance and the channel's aim is to teach modern values such as open-mindedness and tolerance to Arab children, aged three to 15, and their families.

Around 40 per cent of its programming will be commissioned. The channel is in the process of acquiring shows from various countries around the world in a range of genres, including animation, documentaries, live-action drama, performing arts and music. All these shows will be dubbed into Arabic.

The schedule includes a daily debate show coupled with an educational game show. There will be weekly spots and news shows, apart from monthly shows on science, health, multimedia and current affairs.

According to a media report, JCC’s interstitial feature two original virtual characters --- Fafa the turtle, for preschoolers, and Nad the robot.

Lagard?re Images International (LII) is working with JCC on acquisitions, supervision of external productions and the visual identity of the channel, production of European segments for the magazine shows out of the Paris office and the design of the channel’s website.

LII's sister concern, Lagard?re Networks International, will be handling the international distribution of the channel to cable and satellite operators in the Arab world and in Europe.