BabyFirst TV: Entertaining Babies So You Don't Have To
Published May 17, 2006
I almost feel dirty writing critically about a TV channel aimed squarely at babies and toddlers: I am guilty of allowing my two children, six and two, to watch too much TV. But, honestly, the only parents I know that don't allow their children to watch TV are those elitist, pseudo-smartypants, new-age worrying types; and their kids are psycho too - trust me I've seen them in organic and whole foods stores. So while I know too much Spongebob Squarepants might cause my children to have a rather fanciful vision of the undersea world, generally speaking, they seem no more nor less screwed up than their non-TV watching peers.
So what's wrong with a 24-hour, all babies all the time TV channel? Perhaps nothing, and possibly a lot.
BFTV - BabyFirst TV the first ever of its kind, offers around the clock television programming, with a target demographic between "6 months and 3 years of age."
BabyFirst TV is a subscription-only channel with zero advertising. It currently features English only, but promises to branch out into Spanish, at least, by the end of the year.
The current cost of the channel is $9.99 a month, which seems kind of pricey for one channel. You would need your child to do A LOT of sitting in front of the TV to make it cost effective; especially when you consider that PBSKids offers free children's programming during the peak viewing hours for children, early morning and after school (my kids also dig the McLaughlin Hour hard - riveting stuff there). Sesame Street is a perennial favorite in our house.
BabyFirst TV is proud of the research and development that went into the channel's creation, and they will be the first to tell you.
- What makes BabyFirstTV unique is that it is the first cable and satellite network in the U.S to offer high-quality content for babies and their parents when and where you want it, and we also offer interactive tools to help babies and parents learn and play together. In addition, BabyFirstTV provides positive, friendly and educational content similar to best selling award-winning baby DVDs such as including Brainy Baby, First Impressions, and So Smart.
BabyFirstTV claims the following "unique programming elements" that aspire to create a "safe and enjoyable experience" for parents and babies, including:
80 percent original content, such as Rainbow Horse, Sandman, I Can Sign. This is less repetition for baby than a single DVD, which features 20-30 minutes of content;
Award-winning content from popular DVD brands (Brainy Baby, First Impressions, So Smart, etc.);
Interactive subtitles to guide parents as they interact with baby;
A color-coded programming guide to demonstrate the educational value of each segment;
Stimulating daytime and soothing night/naptime content;
Multi-layer content that is adaptable to all levels of a baby's development;
And coming this summer, programming geared toward parents offering tips and advice.
The 24-hour commercial free programming aspect is appealing. Being able to turn to a channel that has something age appropriate always on could be very convenient, from a parental perspective. Although I don't know too many families that have small children up and watching TV at three in the morning - but who am I judge.
Dawn Olsen is a veteran blogger who proudly supports the guy who publishes this awesome site. She's also an avid reader of high quality tabloid fare, enjoys gardening and scatological skywriting.
- BabyFirst TV: Entertaining Babies So You Don't Have To
- Published: May 17, 2006
- Type: News
- Section: Video
- Filed Under: Culture: Education, Culture: Family and Relationships, Culture: Media, Video: Animation, Video: Family, Video: Film and TV Business, Video: Television
- Writer: Dawn Olsen
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Comments on this articleComments
Dawn, if I remember right, cable was supposed to be commercial free - that was the big point in paying the fees. Of course, it hasn't happened that way. I never bought cable in the States simply because I refused to pay for the privilege of having some huckster hustle trash at me when I could get the same thing for free...
I can't say anything pro or con to a channel whose product I haven't seen, but there seems something obscene in marketing to infants.
Humor is too important to be left to television, Mom!!! I've got five kids and no TV and believe me, they know how to laugh. My experience with TV-toxified kids who are raised on Sponge Bob is the opposite: humorlessness and a jaded attitude that is depressing to witness in children.
If you ever decide to get rid of the television, you can find support at our website: www.whitedot.org
We're an international anti-television campaign.
Thanks for taking comments.
Jean Lotus
My kids act out their favorite scenes in front of the television, which always reminds me of the behavior of full-grown adults at screenings of The Rocky Horror Picture Show.
Remember when children's television shows were little more than 30 minute commercials for cereal, toys and candy and the only truly educational programs were Sesame Street and Schoolhouse Rock?
Regardless of the 24-hour news cycle and its generous contributions to pessimism and the "culture of fear," kids have it better today than they ever did in history. Perhaps the next generation -- unlike those of us who grew up on the Big Three and PBS -- will be TV savvy enough to see obvious hyperbole for what it really is.
No television channel or network actually helps kids to develop TV watching habits because children do what their parents do, not what the television -- or even their parents -- tells them to do.
If kids see their parents or parental equivalents as "couch potatoes," they will imitate that behavior, believing that it is "normal" and expected.
Margaret, your wisdom always amazes me.
Fortunately we have no viewing habits, we watch two shows, 24, and American Idol sometimes, and our kids seem to have zero interest in either - well, sometimes Lily likes American Idol. For the most part they use the kids show as a backdrop to their playing, a lot of times they pay no attention to the TV, so we just enjoy the "relative" quiet.
We have been subscribers to Baby First TV for over a year now and we love it, of course each parent has to make up their own mind about the amount of TV watched our son has done well with it. My wife has been so passionate about it; it prompted us to start our own website KidsInfoZone.com with a Baby First TV review among other things. We like the fact that there are no ads showing the hot toy of the week etc. and everything has learning involved. Also they recently dropped the price to $4.99 per month.
it was trying to find the free baby first tv.. free gift that keep's appearing on my tv screen, [Personal contact info deleted]
you can watch babytv for free on the internet, go to the website babytvchannel.com and click 'on demand' choose your region - US
Free BabyTV's a tempting offer. But even quality stuff raises the BIG issue, one I saw most recently: How can a passive experience in front of a glowing screen compare to the live interaction between devoted parent (or other loving adult) and child?
if you have kids and let them watch you'll see its not just a passive experience
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i would expect we'll see a lot of pros and cons with regards to the tv watching/child rearing argument as a result of this channel.
what's bound to happen is that just like with any thing else, too much of a good thing is bad and that the only thing that this channel will do is help kids develop tv watching habits.