The History of ABC Kids

Simon!

24 Sept 202203:00

Summary

TLDRThe video script discusses the history of ABC Kids, a TV block launched by Disney in 1997 after the merger with Capital Cities. It highlights the unique features of the block, including a virtual set and special day treatment. The block initially featured popular shows like 'Recess' and 'Disney's Dog,' with interstitials such as 'Schoolhouse Rock.' However, with the FCC's new regulations and the shift to live-action shows, the block declined and was eventually discontinued in 2011. The script also mentions 'Disney's One Too,' which aired on UPN.

Takeaways

🎬 The script discusses the history of a TV block from the 2000s, specifically ABC Kids, which was a significant part of Saturday morning programming.
🔄 In 1996, the Walt Disney Company merged with Capital Cities/ABC, leading to Disney owning one of the big three networks and prompting a revamp of ABC's programming.
🛠️ Michael Eisner, CEO of Disney at the time, sought to differentiate ABC's Saturday morning block from competitors like Fox Kids and Kids WB, enlisting Peter Hastings to make changes including a virtual set and special day treatment for Faraday.
🗓️ Disney's One Saturday Morning officially launched on September 13th, 1997, with a three-hour regular block that included a two-hour block of interstitials hosted by child actors.
📺 Popular shows like 'Recess' and 'Disney's Dog' were part of the programming, alongside educational interstitials such as 'Schoolhouse Rock', which first aired in 1973.
📉 The script mentions the downfall of Fox Kids and suggests watching a separate history video for more details on that topic.
🚀 In the early 2000s, live-action shows moved to the ABC Kids block, powered by zugzizzy, marking a shift in the type of content being aired.
🏠 In 2001, Disney's acquisition of Fox Family led to the end of Fox Kids and the introduction of a successor, ABC Kids, in 2002, which mainly aired reruns and certain seasons of 'Power Rangers'.
📈 The FCC introduced new regulations for Saturday morning TV, which impacted the programming strategy of ABC Kids, turning it into a repository for Disney Channel programming.
💤 ABC Kids eventually ceased in 2011, marking the end of an era for Saturday morning children's programming.
📺 The script also briefly mentions 'Disney's One Too', which aired on UPN, indicating there was another Disney-related programming block.

Q & A

What significant event occurred in 1996 that impacted ABC?
-In 1996, the Walt Disney Company merged with ABC Capital Cities, which was big news because Disney then owned one of the big three networks.
Who was tasked with revamping ABC's Saturday morning block in the late 1990s?
-Michael Eisner asked Peter Hastings to make changes to ABC's Saturday morning block to differentiate it from Fox Kids and Kids WB.
When did Disney's One Saturday Morning officially launch?
-Disney's One Saturday Morning officially launched on September 13th, 1997.
How long did the Disney's One Saturday Morning block air regularly?
-The block aired for three hours regularly, including a two-hour block of programming.
What was the role of child actors in the Disney's One Saturday Morning block?
-Child actors hosted interstitials within the Disney's One Saturday Morning block.
What is Schoolhouse Rock, and when did it first air?
-Schoolhouse Rock is an interstitial series that aired within the Disney's One Saturday Morning block, and it first aired in 1973.
What changes did the FCC make to Saturday morning TV that affected ABC Kids?
-The FCC made new changes to better regulate Saturday morning TV, which eventually led to ABC Kids becoming a graveyard for Disney Channel programming.
When did ABC Kids come to an end?
-ABC Kids was laid to rest in 2011.
What was the role of zugzizzy in the early 2000s for ABC Kids?
-Zugzizzy powered the live-action shows that moved to the ABC Kids block in the early 2000s.
What happened to Fox Kids after Disney bought Fox Family in 2001?
-After Disney bought Fox Family in 2001, Fox Kids was effectively replaced, and a successor, ABC Kids, was introduced in 2002.
What was the content of ABC Kids after its introduction in 2002?
-After its introduction in 2002, ABC Kids mainly aired reruns of Disney Channel programming and various seasons of Power Rangers.

Outlines

00:00

📺 ABC Kids Block Introduction

The script introduces a retrospective on the ABC Kids TV block from the 2000s, which was a significant part of the channel's programming. The block was launched on September 13, 1997, following the merger of the Walt Disney Company with Capital Cities/ABC. The aim was to create a unique Saturday morning block that stood out from competitors like Fox Kids and Kids WB. Michael Eisner, then CEO of Disney, sought to revamp the programming, enlisting Peter Hastings to implement changes such as a virtual set and treating the day as special. The block initially aired for three hours, featuring interstitials hosted by child actors and including popular shows like 'Recess' and 'Disney's Dog.'

🔄 Evolution of ABC Kids Block

This section of the script details the evolution of the ABC Kids block. It mentions the early success of 'Schoolhouse Rock,' which first aired in 1973 and became a hit. The script then discusses the shift in the 2000s when live-action shows were introduced to the block, powered by zugzizzy. In 2001, Disney's acquisition of Fox Family led to the discontinuation of Fox Kids, and the introduction of a successor, ABC Kids, in 2002. This new iteration primarily aired reruns of Disney Channel programming and various seasons of 'Power Rangers.'

📉 Decline and End of ABC Kids Block

The final part of the script addresses the decline of the ABC Kids block. It notes that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) implemented new regulations to better oversee Saturday morning television content. As a result, ABC Kids gradually became a repository for Disney Channel programming that was no longer in demand. The block eventually ceased operations in 2011, marking the end of an era in children's television. The script also hints at another related topic, 'Disney's One Too,' which aired on UPN, suggesting a continuation of the story in a subsequent video.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡ABC Kids

ABC Kids was a programming block on the ABC network that aired children's television shows. It started in 1996 after the Walt Disney Company merged with Capital Cities/ABC. The block was significant as it represented Disney's entry into the children's television market, aiming to differentiate itself from competitors like Fox Kids and Kids' WB. In the script, ABC Kids is mentioned as the subject of the video, highlighting its history and eventual decline.

💡Walt Disney Company

The Walt Disney Company is a multinational entertainment conglomerate known for its theme parks, films, television channels, and various other media productions. In the context of the video, the company's merger with Capital Cities/ABC in 1996 is a pivotal event, as it led to the creation of the ABC Kids programming block, expanding Disney's reach into the television broadcasting sector.

💡Michael Eisner

Michael Eisner is a former CEO of the Walt Disney Company who played a significant role in the company's growth and diversification during his tenure. In the video script, Eisner is mentioned as the person who wanted to revamp ABC's Saturday morning programming, leading to the creation of Disney's One Saturday Morning, which was part of the ABC Kids block.

💡Peter Hastings

Peter Hastings is a television writer and producer known for his work on animated series. In the script, he is credited with making changes to the ABC Kids block, such as adding a virtual set and treating Faraday as a special day, which contributed to the unique identity of the programming block.

💡Faraday

Faraday, as mentioned in the script, seems to be a reference to a character or element within the ABC Kids programming. While not explicitly defined in the transcript, it is implied that Faraday was part of the changes made to the block, possibly indicating a show or a character that was featured during this time.

💡Interstitials

Interstitials are short pieces of content that are inserted between television programs. In the context of the ABC Kids block, these were segments hosted by child actors and included educational content like Schoolhouse Rock. They served to engage the audience and provide a break between the main shows, as mentioned in the script.

💡Schoolhouse Rock

Schoolhouse Rock is an educational series of animated musical shorts that originally aired in 1973. It is mentioned in the script as an example of the interstitial content that aired during the ABC Kids block, highlighting its long-standing popularity and educational value.

💡Fox Kids

Fox Kids was a children's programming block on the Fox network, which was a competitor to ABC Kids. The script refers to the history of Fox Kids and its eventual downfall, suggesting a comparison between the two programming blocks and the challenges faced in the children's television market.

💡Zugzizzy

Zugzizzy is mentioned in the script as powering the live-action shows that moved to the ABC Kids block in the early 2000s. It represents a shift in the type of content being aired, indicating a change in the programming strategy of the block to include more live-action content.

💡FCC

The FCC, or Federal Communications Commission, is the United States government agency responsible for regulating interstate and international communications by wire and radio in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and U.S. territories. In the script, the FCC is mentioned as making new changes to regulate Saturday morning TV, which impacted the content and structure of the ABC Kids block.

💡Disney's One Too

Disney's One Too is another programming block that aired on UPN, as mentioned in the script. It is related to the ABC Kids block as both were part of Disney's strategy to expand its presence in children's television. The mention of Disney's One Too serves to provide a broader context of Disney's efforts in the television industry.

Highlights

Walt Disney Company merged with Capital Cities in 1996, owning one of the big three networks.

Michael Eisner wanted to revamp ABC's Saturday morning block to differentiate from Fox Kids and Kids WB.

Peter Hastings was asked to make changes, including adding a virtual set and treating Faraday as a special day.

Disney's One Saturday Morning officially launched on September 13, 1997.

The block aired for three hours regularly, including a two-hour block of interstitials hosted by child actors.

Recess appeared on day one of Disney's One Saturday Morning.

Disney's Dog was moved to the block.

Schoolhouse Rock aired during interstitials, which first aired in 1973 and was a massive hit.

In the early 2000s, live-action shows moved to the block, powered by Zugzizzy.

When Disney bought Fox Family in 2001, Fox Kids was axed.

A sort of successor to ABC Kids was introduced in 2002, airing reruns of Disney Channel programming and Power Rangers seasons.

The FCC made new changes to better regulate Saturday morning TV.

ABC Kids became a graveyard for Disney Channel programming.

ABC Kids was finally laid to rest in 2011.

Disney's One Too aired on UPN but was not discussed in detail in the transcript.

The video is a history of ABC Kids and its evolution over time.