Children's programming on UniMás
Children's programming has played a part in UniMás (formerly known as Telefutura)'s programming since its initial roots in television. This article outlines the history of children's television programming on UniMás including the various blocks and notable programs that have aired throughout the television network's history.
History
For much of its history, the bulk of Telefutura/UniMás' children's programming was derived of mainly live-action and animated programming from American and international producers, much of which consisted of dubbed versions of series natively produced in English (including Bob the Builder, Ned's Newt and The Dumb Bunnies).
Toonturama
On January 15, 2002, one day after the network launched, UniMás (then known as Telefutura) debuted three children's program blocks aimed at different youth audiences. Toonturama, aired on weekend morning. Toonturama included a three-hour lineup that consisted mainly of dubbed versions of American, Canadian, and European animated series originally produced in English (including Bob the Builder, Mr. Bogus, Cadillacs and Dinosaurs, Tales from the Cryptkeeper, The Dumb Bunnies, Flight Squad, Toad Patrol, The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat and Problem Child), as well as Japanese anime series (Lost Universe, Tenchi Universe, and Red Baron). Toad Patrol was an exception to the dubbing as an English dub had to be used to fix translation issues.[1][2]
On September 9, 2018, in an agreement with Animaccord, the network launched the popular Russian cartoon Masha and the Bear, airing it every Sunday morning.[3]
Mi Tele
When the network launched in 2002, TeleFutura launched three children's program blocks aimed at different audiences: "Mi Tele" ("My TV"), a two-hour animation block on weekday mornings featuring a mix of imported Spanish-language cartoons (such as Fantaghiro and El Nuevo Mundo de los Gnomos ("The New World of the Gnomes").
Toonturama Junior
Toonturama Junior was a two-hour companion block that preceded Toonturama on Saturday and Sunday mornings, featuring programs aimed at preschoolers that fulfilled educational programming requirements defined by the Children's Television Act. Among the programs featured on Toonturama Junior was Plaza Sésamo ("City Square Sesame"), Televisa and Sesame Workshop's Spanish-language adaptation of Sesame Street. It features a mix of original segments featuring characters based on its U.S.-based parent series and interstitials from Televisa. The program moved to TeleFutura after a seven-year run on Univision.
Programming
Schedule issues
Due to regulations defined by the Children's Television Act that require stations to carry E/I compliant programming for three hours each week at any time between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. local time, some Univision stations may defer certain programs aired within its Saturday morning block to Sunday daytime or earlier Saturday morning slots, or (in the case of affiliates in the Western United States) Saturday afternoons as makegoods to comply with the CTA regulations.
List of notable programs
- Anatole (January 15, 2002 – October 6, 2002)
- Animal Atlas (September 10, 2005 – June 9, 2018)
- Betty Toons (July 8, 2006 – December 28, 2008)
- Bruno the Kid
- Cadillacs and Dinosaurs (March 23, 2002 – July 27, 2003)
- The Dumb Bunnies (November 2, 2002 – January 8, 2005)
- Fairy Tale Police Department
- Flight Squad
- Gladiator Academy
- Li'l Elvis and the Truckstoppers
- Lost Universe
- Marcelino Pan y Vino (August 2, 2003 – January 1, 2006)
- Masha and the Bear (September 9, 2018 – December 29, 2019)
- Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm (January 4, 2003 - January 8, 2005)
- Mummy Nanny
- Mr. Bogus (March 23, 2002 – July 27, 2003)
- Mythic Warriors (January 15, 2002 – December 29, 2002)
- Ned's Newt (March 23, 2002 – January 8, 2005)
- The New World of the Gnomes (January 15, 2002 – October 6, 2002)
- Plaza Sésamo (May 3, 2003 – May 7, 2016)
- Problem Child
- Red Baron
- Super Models (January 15, 2002 – October 6, 2002)
- Tales from the Cryptkeeper (March 23, 2002 – January 8, 2005)
- Tenchi Universe
- Toad Patrol (September 6, 2003 – March 11, 2012)
- The Twisted Tales of Felix the Cat (January 4, 2003 - January 8, 2005)
- La Vida Animal (November 4, 2007 – September 30, 2012)
- Widget (November 2, 2002 – July 27, 2003)
- Zoo Clues (October 7, 2012 – April 29, 2018)
- Bob the Builder (August 2, 2003 – September 4, 2005)
- El Club de los Tigritos (2002–2005)
- El Cubo de Donalú (2002–2005)
- El Espacio de Tatiana (2002–2005)
- Animal Fanpedia (August 2, 2020-present)
- El Mundo es Tuyo (May 7, 2018–present)
- Super Genios (May 14, 2016 – July 26, 2020, November 22, 2020-present)
Reference
- ^ "Cartoons For Children On TeleFutura". Hispanic Ad Weekly. Hispanic Media Sales, Inc. December 15, 2001. Retrieved November 7, 2015.
- ^ Sam Thielman (December 10, 2012). "Hispanic Networks Rebrand en Masse". AdWeek. Guggenheim Partners.
- ^ Animaccord, International licensing Company and Studio (September 7, 2018). "Animaccord Extends the Masha and the Bear Media Presence in the USA".