Cookie Jar Kids Network

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Cookie Jar Kids Network

Launched	September 1, 2003 (2003-09-01) (as DIC Kids Network) August 31, 2009 (2009-08-31) (as Cookie Jar Kids Network)
Closed	August 29, 2009 (2009-08-29) (as DIC Kids Network) September 17, 2011 (2011-09-17) (as Cookie Jar Kids Network)
Country of origin	United States
Formerly known as	DIC Kids Network (2003–2009) The Incredible World of DiC (2003–2009), on-air name)

The Cookie Jar Kids Network (formerly DIC Kids Network) was a syndicated children's programming block that airs selected Cookie Jar Group shows on local Fox, The CW, MyNetworkTV, and independent stations to provide them with a source of E/I programming required by federal law. The block is known on-air as simply Cookie Jar. It was first formed in 2003 as the DIC Kids Network, and was syndicated by Tribune Entertainment from 2003 to 2007, and then by Ascent Media from 2007 to 2011.^[1][2]

National ad sales for the syndicated blocks were handled by Tribune Entertainment with a barter basis available.^[3] Ads could have stitched together other programs throughout the three blocks.^[4]

In February 2003, DIC announced three syndicated children's programming E/I blocks called DIC Kids Network with 200 stations including those owned by Tribune, Sinclair, Clear Channel and Cox signed up to carry the blocks. Margaret Loesch and Donald Roberts, a specialist in kids and media at Stanford University, help develop the blocks.^[3] By July, 400 stations had signed 3 to 5 year deals to air the block, and it was also announced that the block would launch on September 1.^[4][5] With its three feeds, DIC Kids was on Fox, The WB and UPN affiliates and out fulfilled the networks' Saturday morning blocks by December 1.^[6]

On March 31, 2004, DIC acquired the North American broadcast rights to Ace Lightning from Alliance Atlantis, and would premiere the series on April 5th.^[7] On the same day, Liberty's Kids was announced to be added to the block, alongside the return of Sabrina: The Animated Series. A holiday lineup consisting of specials and movies like A Christmas Carol and Inspector Gadget Saves Christmas was also planned.^[8][9][10] DIC also planned to offer up acquired programmes for the block as well.^[11]

In May 2004, DIC acquired the syndicated television rights to 26 select episodes of The Smurfs and the first three seasons of The Adventures of Captain Planet from Warner Bros. Domestic Television Distribution for a March 2005 broadcast window.^[12][13]

In May 2005, DIC announced that Strawberry Shortcake would be added to the strand beginning in January 2006 in order to broaden the screen reach for the series.^[14] In October, it was confirmed that Strawberry would replace Captain Planet on the schedule.^[15]

In mid-2008, the group announced that they would renew the focus of the block with an emphasis on offering DIC Entertainment programming to additional digital subchannels to meet their E/I needs.^[16] On June 20, 2008, it has been announced that DIC Entertainment would be acquired by Canada-based Cookie Jar. On July 23, 2008, the deal was completed, and the block was later relaunched as the Cookie Jar Kids Network on August 31, 2009. The block quietly ended on September 17, 2011.

Notes:

-Shows marked with a * do not fulfill E/I requirements.
-The programming premiere and end dates are based on weekday broadcasts.

† - Program transitioned to Cookie Jar

† - Program transitioned from The Incredible World of DiC

The following is a list of stations that carried the DiC Kids Network/Cookie Jar Kids Network block in syndication as of September 17, 2011.

•   Light purple indicates stations ran DiC Kids Network programming A
•   Pink indicates stations ran DiC Kids Network programming B
•   Light yellow indicates stations ran DiC Kids Network programming C
•   Light indigo indicates stations ran DiC Kids Network programming D

•   Light purple indicates stations ran Cookie Jar Kids Network programming A
•   Pink indicates stations ran Cookie Jar Kids Network programming B

• Cookie Jar TV (Cookie Jar's former Saturday morning/daily children's block on CBS)
• Cookie Jar Toons (another former Saturday morning/daily children's block on This TV)