Category: Kids

It found that only one of every eight E/I shows (13 per cent) is rated as highly educational. In contrast, almost twice as many, nearly one of every four (23 per cent) were classified in the lowest category of minimally educational. Most E/I programmes (63 per cent) were judged to be moderately educational.

Media researchers Dr. Barbara J. Wilson (University of Illinois), Dr. Dale Kunkel (University of Arizona) and Kristin L. Drogos (University of Illinois) analysed 120 episodes across 40 programme titles, evaluating each show on a range of educational criteria that are associated with children‘s learning from television. Their findings indicate that most programmes designated as E/I offer only limited educational value for child viewers.

The study notes that when only one in eight E/I episodes is highly educational and nearly twice as many are deficient in educational merits; when few broadcasters offer more than the bare minimum of programming and confine their entire E/I schedule to one or two days of the week; when more than one-quarter of E/I shows model harmful violent or socially aggressive behavior; and when the vast majority of programs contain no basic academic or health-related lesson, it is difficult to see how broadcasters’ efforts are sufficiently serving the educational needs of the nation’s children.

Children Now’s Children and the Media programme Christy Glaubke says, “This evidence suggests that the nation‘s children are being short-changed by broadcasters. This is clearly a missed opportunity to help support the educational development of the nation‘s children.”

Commercial television broadcasters are required by law to air children‘s E/I programming as part of their public service obligations in return for the free use of publicly-owned airwaves. The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) enforces this requirement and has specified that each station should air a minimum of three hours per week of children‘s educational programming.

The new study reveals that the large majority of stations (59 per cent) deliver only the minimum required amount, with just 3 per cent of stations nationally offering more than four hours per week. Furthermore, 75 per cent of stations schedule E/I programming exclusively on weekends, despite the fact that children watch an average of three hours of television per day every day of the week.

Previous studies in the 1990s found that between 20 per cent and 33 per cent of E/I programmes were rated as highly educational. Thus, the new data suggest that educational quality is at the lowest point yet measured for E/I shows aired on commercial channels.

In contrast, the educational programming delivered by US pubcaster PBS was rated significantly higher (receiving an average quality rating of 9.1 on a 12-point scale) than were E/I shows on commercial stations (which received a 7.9 average score).

Another important difference is that PBS programs tended to emphasize cognitive-intellectual lessons in their educational fare (55 per cent of programs), whereas commercial channels relied largely on social-emotional lessons (67 per cent of programs), such as sharing or getting along with others, as their educational substance.

Each celebrity design is being framed and auctioned on eBay with all proceeds going to BBC Children in Need. One has to log onto www.inthenightgarden.co.uk, click straight through to the eBay auction and let the bidding wars begin.

The pubcaster adds that this is the fans chance to get an Igglepiggle design from celebrities, including Sporty Spice Melanie C and Big Brother psychologist Dr Linda Papadopoulos who will also be joining the fashion extravaganza.

Fashion designer Zandra Rhodes and stylists to the stars, Lucie McCullin and Emma Milne-Watson have risen to the challenge of teaching Igglepiggle how to embrace all of next season‘s key trends!

There will also be designs from movie star and mum Isla Fisher and Britain‘s Got Talent winner George Sampson added to the auction over the next few days.

Last year‘s BBC Children in Need Appeal raised a record-breaking ?37 million, which went to help thousands of disadvantaged children and young people across the UK who are living with a disability or in situations of neglect, abuse or deprivations.

Universal Music India MD Rajat Kakar said, “We are excited to partner with The Walt Disney Company in India. Localisation plays a pivotal role in reaching music to a larger audience especially in a key market like India where consumers want to experience global properties with a local flavour. “

Walt Disney Television International (India) SVP and MD Antoine Villeneuve added, “One of the key components of Disney Channel is localising global content. We‘re optimistic that Camp Rock can have as long a life as High School Musical around the world – with local elements like these built to support its success.”

The title track We Rock sung by the Sunidhi Chauhan and music band Aasma mirrors the inspirational theme of the movie. The second re-created version, Hasta La Vista, sung by Jimmi Felix and Vasudha, is a Bollywood style track with bhangra beats, hip hop and electric guitar. The duet sung by Sunidhi Chauhan and Sangeeta Haldipur, Khush Hoon Main (original title: This is me) captures the path of self discovery and enthuses self belief.

The themes of Camp Rock– believe in yourself, express yourself and stay true to yourself – is carried through the lyrics specially written for the album. Available in retail and music outlets across key metros, the album is priced at Rs 195.

Camp Rock will release in India in December this year.