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Médiamétrie’s international department Glance analyses the kids' shows market at MIPJunior and reveals global content trends. 

"As children’s television continues to evolve, new trends reflect an increasing emphasis on originality and meaningful content, driving viewership across diverse markets and increasing audience on children’s channels."

Candice Alessandra, Client & Research Director at Glance

Children's television channels have seen a positive shift in viewership during the first half of 2024 across several key European markets. In Germany, Spain, and Italy, audience shares for children's channels among younger viewers rose compared to H1 2023, leading gains in Germany (+1.6 pts), Spain (+2.1 pts), and Italy (+0.6 pts). In France they maintained a steady audience share, while the UK saw a decline. 

Another noticeable development this year is that the TFOU children’s block in France, now airing on both TF1 and TFX, has increased its airtime and expanded its audience.

New Shows and Original Content Dominate Successful Launches

In H1 2024, 21 new children’s shows launched successfully, with over half being original creations*. Highlights include 1000 Bornes Challenge on TF1, Mystery Lane on Rai Gulp, and Vida the Vet on CBeebies. These original programs resonate with young audiences, further cementing the demand for fresh content.

Among broadcasters, top-rated programs for this period reflect familiar favorites: The Loud House led viewership with 46.8 million hours watched by children while Bluey followed with 44.3 million hours. Paw Patrol held the third spot, amassing 40.5 million hours watched - a 3.6 million hour increase from H1 2023.

On SVOD platforms, among households with kids, Bluey continued to lead as the most-watched show with 59.3 million viewed hours on Disney+.

Programming Trends Highlight New Themes in Children’s Content

Three major programming trends have emerged this year, marking shifts in the types of narratives captivating young audiences.

Environmental Awareness and Citizenship
Shows like Audrey’s Shelter (France 4) and Vida the Vet (CBeebies) nurture environmental consciousness. Groep 8 aan de macht in the Netherlands and De raad van Soekie in Belgium inspire viewers with themes of democracy and community responsibility, achieving substantial audience share increases among their target age groups.

Heritage and Self-Discovery
Programs exploring identity and heritage resonate strongly, as seen with Netflix’s Brazilian series Luz, where an adopted girl embarks on a journey of self-discovery. In Canada’s Gangnam Project, the young Canadian-Korean Hannah flies to Korea to teach English to K-pop stars while reconnecting with her Korean heritage. In Italy, Clan on Rai Play explores a character’s journey away from a criminal environment. These programs engage audiences with their unique cultural perspectives.

Reinventing the Classics
Familiar brands and themes get fresh spins with shows like the Spanish toy-related SuperThings Rivals of Kaboom, continuing its media expansion on Clan, and Max and the Midknights, adapted from the books by Lincoln Peirce, a comedy series with a distinctive soundtrack. These programs help to expand brands diversification with new storytelling angles, appealing to young audiences while reinvigorating classic comedies.

*Methodology: in national top 20 or top 3 by channel rankings in either the children’s or pre-school demos.