MultiChoice packs new gaming channel with an educational punch

"KidsWise is a 'strategic investment' for our subscriber base, bringing quality educational content to over one million households subscribing to MultiChoice's DStv bouquet and further enhancing the DStv offering," explains Richard Fyffe, General Manager of iTV at MultiChoice Africa. "The KidsWise games channel supports MCA's objective to provide quality programming, entertainment and education to all our subscribers.

"There is already a community of dedicated game-players on the DStv platform," continues Fyffe, "and now we are taking that one step further by targeting a particular age group - a first for us - in order to offer three to 12 year-olds entertainment with a difference. The games are really fun to play while supporting a wide range of learning activities."

The move comes after extensive research conducted by MultiChoice Africa. "Over 50% of subscriber households have children under the age of 12. We identified a gap and realised that an offering such as KidsWise could fill it," continues Fyffe. "Based on a yearly content plan developed by educational psychologists, the channel will offer five educational games with new content each month. Aimed specifically at developing skills such as reading, problem-solving and maths as well as developing creativity, the games offering is tailor-made for children, offering them the opportunity to learn in an environment that is fun.

"Moreover, parents can be directly involved in this process," adds Fyffe. "In fact, the entire ethos of KidsWise is all about facilitating quality time between parent and child. Parents can level-set in each game customising each activity to their child's particular level of development. Each game is also supplemented by an activity sheet, which parents can download and print from the KidsWise website, www.kidswise.co.za. For the first time TV gaming will be about parents interacting with their children in an environment geared to foster a sense of learning."

The channel is easily accessed and simple to use. Parents or children need just use their remotes and click the OK button on any channel and under 'play games,' choose the 'KidsWise' option. On-screen aids help children navigate themselves around the activities and for youngsters who can't yet read, voice prompts point them in the right direction.

Supplied at no extra charge, the added-value KidsWise channel comes at a time when MultiChoice is expanding its children's entertainment platform with new channel Boomerang - this in addition to Cartoon Network and K-World, thereby giving both parents and children more viewing choice.