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Â鶹Éç Worldwide, the commercial arm of the Â鶹Éç, today announced that Knowledge Network Corporation has purchased the assets of Â鶹Éç Kids from Shaw Media and Â鶹Éç Worldwide, subject to CRTC ratification. This new agreement sees the formation of a new joint-venture between Â鶹Éç Worldwide and Knowledge Network Corporation.

The deal creates an alliance between two companies who have long been committed to the investment, creation, and promotion of children's programming that informs, educates and entertains its young viewers. The Â鶹Éç is a known global leader in the development of premium, responsible children’s content for viewers 2-17. Knowledge Network, a publicly funded, commercial-free environment, has a dedication to public education programming which aligns with the trust and integrity associated with the Â鶹Éç and the Â鶹Éç Kids brand. Knowledge Network will deliver a robust programming line-up for the Â鶹Éç Kids channel, with content from Canada, the UK, and around the world supported by marketing campaigns aimed at growing viewership and subscribers.

Currently, Â鶹Éç Kids is a joint-venture with Shaw Media, a leading Canadian media corporation. Shaw Media remains a valued partner of Â鶹Éç Worldwide Canada.

Hilary Read, COO of Â鶹Éç Worldwide Canada, said: "Since 2001, Â鶹Éç Kids has offered quality children's entertainment to Canada's youngest viewers and youth alike. I'd like to thank Shaw Media for their dedication to the Â鶹Éç Kids brand through the years, and steadfast support during this transition. I look forward to working with Knowledge Network, a company that shares our commitment to superior children's content, on this excellent joint-venture that will provide Â鶹Éç Kids key opportunities in the marketplace and the perfect environment to truly spread its wings."

Rudy Buttignol, President and CEO of Knowledge Network Corporation, said: "Knowledge Network is honoured to be working with the Â鶹Éç, a respected brand the world over and a leader in the creation of quality programming for children. Our goal is to extend the success we've had with Knowledge Network in British Columbia to the Â鶹Éç Kids channel across Canada. This joint-venture with the Â鶹Éç is a great opportunity to revitalize Â鶹Éç Kids. We will strengthen the channel by making significant investments in programming, and re-launch it as a commercial free service for young Canadians."

Once the deal between Â鶹Éç Worldwide and Knowledge Network is ratified by the CRTC, operation and management of Â鶹Éç Kids will transfer from Shaw Media in Toronto, Ontario to the Knowledge Network in Burnaby, British Columbia. Thanks to Shaw Media, at no point will the Â鶹Éç Kids channel go off air during this transition. Knowledge Network intends to continue operating Â鶹Éç Kids under the same terms and conditions as those in effect under its current license, providing top tier educational and entertaining programming for children and youth ages 2-17 years.

NOTES TO EDITORS
About Â鶹Éç Worldwide Canada
Â鶹Éç Worldwide is the main commercial arm and a wholly owned subsidiary of the British Broadcasting Corporation (Â鶹Éç). Â鶹Éç Worldwide Canada, located in Toronto was first established in 1952 and incorporated as a Canadian company in 2002. The company exists to maximize the value of the Â鶹Éç's assets for the benefit of the UK license payer and invest in public service programming in return for rights. The company's activities in Canada include joint-venture channels Â鶹Éç Canada, and Â鶹Éç Kids, program distribution, ad sales for bbc.com and the newly established digital distribution business. The company is also a minority shareholder in Canadian production company, Temple Street Productions.

About Knowledge Network Corporation
Knowledge Network is where stories live that speak to our time. A viewer-supported public broadcaster, Knowledge Network provides commercial-free creative documentaries, arts and culture, and children's programs from Canada and around the world. Knowledge Network plays a vital role in supporting the independent production community in B.C. and the rest of Canada by commissioning, pre-licensing and acquiring documentary and children's content for broadcast on Knowledge Network and Knowledge.ca.

Catherine Mirra