RTÉjr
RTÉjr – Springing to Life!
RTÉjr, the number 1 channel among children age 4 -7 in Ireland, announces its Spring schedule
Signs of Spring are all around us and RTÉjr is all about wildlife and weather in its new Spring schedule. Highlights include three new exciting Irish animation series, Puffin Rock, Nelly and Nora and Inis Spraoi, as well as new young people’s wildlife docu-series Wild Things, all about Ireland’s wildlife. As well as these brand-new television programmes, children and adults alike can look forward to favourites like Twigín, Andy’s Dinosaur Adventures & Ben and Holly.
Meanwhile, a range of new wildlife documentaries will air on RTÉjr Radio, while the RTÉjr apps will continue to showcase the range of RTÉjr content.
Speaking about the new season on RTÉjr, which broadcasts on television from 7am to 7pm daily, Sheila DeCourcy, RTÉjr Channel Controller said: “As RTÉjr goes from strength to strength we are thrilled to bring youngsters three new animation series from Ireland’s exceptionally talented animation sector. These original series are full of love and tenderness and will make young and old alike laugh, cry and smile a lot. And alongside them we have the best of Irish and acquired programming from 7am – 7pm daily on TV, radio and on the RTÉjr app.”
New television programming this Spring season on RTÉjr includes:
Puffin Rock : Monday – Friday 08:10 and 13:10
Puffin Rock, the animated pre-school series narrated by Chris O’Dowd, follows a family of lovable puffins living on a wild and beautiful Irish island. Young puffling, Oona, and her little brother, Baba, explore the island with their friends, and their stories are filled with laughter and adventure.
Puffin Rock has a gently educational tone, appealing to 2-6 year olds and their parents. As narrator, Chris O’Dowd (Bridesmaids, Moone Boy and The IT Crowd) adds an extra twinkle of comedy, mixing amusing observations with interesting facts about the wildlife on the island. The episodes are also available to view on the RTÉjr app and on RTÉjr website: www.rte.ie/rtejr/puffinrock
Nelly and Nora : Monday – Friday 9:30am and 11:30pm
The series follows the stories of two young sisters, Nelly and Nora, who spend their family holidays and weekends in a mobile home camping park by the sea
Nestled between a sheltered beach and farm, Nelly and Nora love the freedom of the camping park where they spend most of their time outdoors having exciting adventures and making lifelong memories. Spending so much time outside means the weather plays a major part in the girls’ daily fun – windy days can be chaotic, rainy days make raindrop music, while sunny days can be just too hot!
With charming stories and engaging characters, the series entertains young viewers and encourages them to discover that the weather outside is something to be embraced and enjoyed. http://www.rte.ie/rtejr/nelly-and-nora/
Produced by Geronimo Productions, the Irish version will feature in our Seachtain na Gaeilge celebration starting on March 2nd.
Inis Spraoi: TX 16 February Monday – Friday 07:00 and 14:00
Inis Spraoi follows the adventures of Sean, Roisín and their classmates, who hop on board a school-boat which takes them to their playschool on a magical island called Inis Spraoi.
This charming animation series, which was created by Magpie6Media Productions, will air 26 episodes in total and is aimed at 3 to 6 year olds. The educational series aims to instil and encourage an appetite for learning and inspire a spirit of inquisitiveness, as well as demonstrating the value of creative problem solving through teamwork.
An Irish language version of Inis Spraoi will air on RTÉjr during Seachtain Na Gaeilge starting March 3rd.
Wild Things: TX 16 February Monday – Friday 08:55 and 17:40
Wild Things is a six part short documentary series exploring Ireland’s native wildlife for a pre-school audience. From the Golden Eagles in Donegal, to the Humpback Whales off the Wexford coast, the playful and curious Red Squirrel to the delicate butterflies that float through the air during summer, this series will bring us a selection of Ireland’s wildlife in short-form documentary style made specifically for young children.
Award winning Dublin company Crossing the Line Productions has been filming Ireland’s wildlife and wild places for over ten years and over this time have amassed some of the best wildlife archive in the country. Wild Things utilises the best of this footage to bring together six beautifully made short documentaries voiced by six engaging children who tell the story of these animals in a truly engaging way.
Co-funded by RTÉjr and the Environment Fund for Biodiversity Awareness Grant Scheme 2013, these programmes have enormous educational value along with their inherent entertainment.
Kate and Mim Mim : TX 23 February Monday –Friday 09:20 and 11:50
Based on a real life girl, Kate & Mim-Mim follows the fantastical adventures of feisty five-year-old Kate and her toy bunny Mim-Mim as they travel to the fantasy world of Mimiloo, where Mim-Mim transforms into a larger-than-life playmate!
High-spirited, smart and sassy, all Kate needs for her great adventures is her wild imagination and her best friend. So whenever Kate needs to solve a problem at home she travels to Mimiloo. Here, Kate can be and do anything, from being a princess to playing cowgirl or leading a pirate treasure hunt! With a different challenge every day, Kate and Mim-Mim have extraordinary adventures with their special Mimiloo friends.
There’s Gobble the adorable gardener, Tack the clever inventor, Boomer the hilarious mischief-maker and his sweet and affectionate big sister Lily. Kate is the group’s fun and fearless leader and a boundless whirlwind of energy. Together, she and goofy and bashful Mim-Mim, form a perfect pair. Whenever Mim-Mim’s fears get the better of him, Kate provides the gentle nudge and words of encouragement to help Mim-Mim do the things he never dreamed he was capable of.
Whether they’re learning to fly gigantic wind flowers, solving King Tut-n-bunny’s riddles, or flying to the moon, Kate and Mim-Mim brush off mishaps, giggle with friends and always enjoy a big bunny hug! And by the time their adventure is over, Kate has always thought of a clever solution to her problem and can’t wait to get home to tell Mum and Dad all about it!
RTÉjr Radio – Listen
Irish Doggie Tales : TX Saturday 21 February 10:15
As part of the new Weekend Club, RTÉjr Radio will broadcast ‘Irish Doggie Tales’, a fun new documentary series highlighting the original working purpose of our native Irish dogs. The series will be broadcast at 10.15am each Saturday morning.
In this documentary, with support from the Irish Kennel Club and the Irish Breeds Society we will listen to dogs at work and talk to the dog owners about their dogs day-to-day working life today and what it used to be like in the past.
Over the six part series we look at the lives of Irish Wolfhounds, Kerry Beagles, Irish Setters, Irish Water Spaniels, Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, Irish Glen of the Imaals, Kerry Blues and Irish Terriers.
Each dog was bred for a unique purpose such as hunting wolves, fox hunting, retrieving game birds, hunting badger, otter, vermin as well as general farm herding. Irish dogs can be put into three categories hounds, gun dogs and terriers.
Seasons of The Forest : TX Saturday 21March 11:00
Seasons of the forest is a series of six, thirty minute stories, about an native Irish woodland, each original story, told through the voice of the seasons, highlights the lives of the flora and fauna of the wood as the seasons change throughout the year.
Which Irish animals, insects or birds depend solely on the forest? How those who have come to depend on the forest benefit the forest itself. The plant life that thrives and the imported plants that threaten the natural habitat. The differences between broadleaf, mixed and conifer woodland. How grazing animals help and how they hinder the flora of the forest floor. The impact of wood clearance and how dumping can not only damage the landscape but threaten wildlife.
RTÉjr Digital radio on www.rte.ie/rtejr/rtejr-listen , UPC channel 942
RTÉjr Online – Play
The world of RTÉjr continues across platforms. The RTÉjr website is a hub through which youngsters can explore the range of RTÉjr content – rte.ie/rtejr.
Youngsters can enjoy a range of programme games and activities including our new Peter Rabbit game – Lily’s Memory Match-Up.
And the Kate & Mim-Mim Pop! Pop! Peaches game where your little ones can help Kate collect the peaches that Mim-Mim picks from the trees!
Plus there are familiar favourites Can’t Catch Boj, Chuggington’s Chug Patrol Challenge and Tree Fu Tom’s Zap –all of which can be played on mobile devices.
Budding photographers, artists, cooks and adventurers can find interesting facts, exclusive clips, art instructions and downloads, recipes and activities. These include Shutterbug animal facts and exclusive clips, Wildernuts activity sheets, Grubz Up recipes, Out the Back tips and The Curious World of Professor Fun and Dr. Dull art instructions! Youngsters can also tune into RTÉjr Radio and listen back to their favourite RTÉjr Radio shows.
Parents who want to get involved can upload birthday requests, art work and clips on the website or can follow RTÉjr on Facebook and Twitter for daily updates on new content, competitions and ways to get involved. You can also catch up on your favourite RTÉjr contents on the RTÉ Player.
RTÉjr Free Apps
The popularity of the free RTÉjr App, which is updated with fresh content each week, continues. Currently available on iOS, an Android version of the app is planned for 2015. Through the app, youngsters can listen to RTÉjr Radio live and check out exclusive episodes of all their favourite Irish RTÉjr TV shows including Bug Hunters 2, The Beo Show Virtuoso and The Curious World of Professor Fun and Dr Dull.
The fun educational magazine TV show Twigín also has its very own app available to download for free on iOS and Android where you can help Séamus as he races through the woods to get to the next level!
RTÉjr is delivered across four platforms TV, Radio, online and mobile (ios) allowing children to watch, listen and play with commercial-free channels on television and digital radio from 7am-7pm daily. Plus over 40 hours of children’s’ television content is available on the RTE player everyday.
RTÉjr is available on Sky Channel 624,Saorview Channel 7,UPC Channel 600. Also, check out RTÉjr for grownups on facebook (fb/rtejr) and Twitter (@rtejr)
-Ends-
Date: 10 January 2015
Further Media Information Contact:
Sinead Harrington, RTÉ TV Press and Publicity, 01-208-2667, 087-666 9311, sinead.harrington@rte.ie
Editors’ Notes:
About RTÉJr
RTÉjr is a dedicated Irish children’s channel on TV, Radio, Online and Mobile. Launched earlier this year, this new channel is part of public service broadcaster RTÉ’s strategy in the development of services for young people. Completely advertisement-free, the channel is specifically for children aged 0-7, allowing viewers to watch, listen and play with brand new channels on television and digital radio from around 7am to 7pm daily. RTÉjr also offers online and mobile services which allow children to access original, entertaining and educational content that reflects their lives and is made exclusively for them.
RTÉjr is RTÉs award-winning service designed specifically for youngsters aged under 7 and their older friends and family.
RTÉjr is available on 4 platforms – TV, where it’s RTÉs third channel; Digital Radio; Online and Mobile. RTÉjr offers up to 34 hours of programmes for youngsters every day.
RTÉjr is an entirely commercial-free service and offers a mixed schedule of original and acquired programming.
RTÉjr aims to explore and reflect the world in which youngsters in Ireland are growing up and to bring them entertaining, educational and relevant content wherever they are.
RTÉjr tells a wide range of stories about what it’s like to be a child through the eyes of the child.
‘Education by Stealth’ one of our mottos – every programme introduces an idea, a character or an issue to youngsters in ways which are age appropriate and which they will engage with.
RTÉjr content can be used to develop watching, listening and motor skills, develop new language skills, learn about the environment, nature, community and diversity within our island, explore places and lifestyles different to one’s own. There are opportunities for youngsters to interact with RTÉjr through our website and mobile APP, and for their parents, guardians and teachers to engage with RTÉjr through the RTÉjr facebook page.