Kids
Viacom, Disney make settlement with FCC over ad violations
MUMBAI: Viacom Inc. and the Walt Disney Company have agreed to pay $1 million and $500,000 respectively to settle charges made by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on Nickelodeon and the ABC Family violating ad limits for kids’ programming.
This settlement stems from a FCC ruling that limits the ad time in kids’ programming to 10.5 minutes per hour on weekends and 12 minutes per hour on weekdays. Apparently Viacom broke that limit almost 600 times last year and also violated product placement restrictions 145 times.
Hence, Viacom will pay $1 million for the ad programming that aired on Nickelodeon and Disney will pay $500,000 because of the commercials that aired over its ABC Family Channel, said a media report.
“As a result of routine audits conducted by Enforcement Bureau field agents, serious questions arose concerning the amount of commercial matter during children’s programs on the ABC Family Channel and Nickelodeon. Both channels are hugely popular with children and are carried on virtually all cable systems nationwide, each reaching in excess of 85 million households,” the FCC was quoted in a media report as saying.
The FCC rules of the time limits apply to over-the-air broadcasters and cable operators for programming originally produced and aired for an audience of 12 years and younger, said the report. Apart from that, the rules also bar broadcasters from airing commercials that refer to or offer products that are related to the children’s program.
FCC chairman Michael Powell was quoted in a media report as saying that the announcement marked the end of “major investigations” regarding rules violations governing limits on advertising during children’s TV programming.
“While the vast majority of our programing hours were well under the FCC commercial allotments, we take full responsibility for any errors, and have initiated new procedures to help ensure this will not happen again,” Viacom was quoted in a media report as saying.
However, a spokesperson from ABC said that it had “accidentally” violated the ban on running programme-related commercials because of a problem with its computer system. The problem has now been taken care of and it was pointed out that the company has derived no “economic benefit” from the apparent mistake.
Kids
Sony YAY! launches ‘House of Masti’ to celebrate 20 years of Shin chan
Comedian Kiku Sharda joins the fun with a special rap track as the mischievous icon returns to Indian TV.
MUMBAI: Shin chan is back and this time, he’s bringing the whole house of masti with him! Sony YAY!, India’s leading kids’ entertainment channel, has unveiled ‘House of Masti’, a specially curated programming block to mark 20 years of the iconic animated series Shin chan on Indian television. The campaign transforms the beloved character’s mischievous world into a fresh, high-energy viewing experience. It features new episodes, fan-favourite moments, and themed programming stunts, all designed to stand out from regular broadcasts.
Adding extra sparkle to the celebration, popular comedian Kiku Sharda has joined the campaign. He anchors the integration with a lively rap track titled ‘Shin chan ka YAY! Dhamaal’, infusing contemporary music and humour into the beloved series.
Sony YAY! business head of kids and animation Ambesh Tiwari said, “Over the past 20 years, Shin chan has built a strong and enduring connection with audiences in India. With ‘House of Masti’, we are celebrating this milestone through a differentiated, campaign-led experience. Kiku Sharda and the rap track add a fun, high-energy layer that will resonate with today’s kids and families.”
Starting 27 April, viewers can enjoy the World Television Premiere of Shin chan along with new episodes and an exciting lineup of blockbuster movies on Sony YAY!.
By blending nostalgia with fresh, engaging content, Sony YAY! is ensuring that the cheeky, laughter-filled adventures of Shin chan continue to entertain and connect with new generations across the country.
In a world full of serious cartoons, Shin chan remains delightfully naughty and with ‘House of Masti’, Sony YAY! is making sure his brand of chaos stays as fresh and fun as ever. Get ready for some serious masti!
