KiKa (Der KinderKanal) is a television channel based in Erfurt, Germany. It is a joint-venture of Arbeitsgemeinschaft der öffentlich-rechtlichen Rundfunkanstalten der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (ARD (TV)) and Zweites Deutsches Fernsehen (ZDF) (German: Second German Television (channel)) and is targeted at children and youths. KiKa is broadcast on analogue satellite as well as digital services, both DVB-T and via Astra. KiKa operates daily from 6:00 am CET until 9:00 pm CET, and airs a mixture of live action and animated features. Until 2003, its analogue satellite service ended at 19:00 pm CET; after that time the frequency was used by Arte. KiKa now has exclusive use of its frequency — Arte was assigned its own in 2003.

The station uses live continuity announcers, two of the most popular being Juri Tetzlaff and Karsten Blumenthal . The station also repeats shows such as Tabaluga TiVi from ZDF's main service.

The station generally serves children ranging from age 4 to approximately 16. On Sundays, the station airs the request program Wunschfilm Am Sonntag; children call into the station during the week, voting for films they would like to see on the Sunday lunchtime slot, usually from noon to 2:00 pm. The telephone calls they make are charged at a local rate and cost no more than €0, 12 (Euro).

External links

• Official KiKa Homepage (German)
• Tabaluga TiVi Home Page (German)

See also: List of German language television channels