Sprout To Launch Four New Series

Preschool-based cable network Sprout will add four new original series to its on-air programming lineup and will expand its digital presence over the next year, network representatives announced Monday.

The network, which has posted 17 consecutive months of year-to-year total day audience gains, will launch a new pre-school game show dubbed Ruff-Ruf, Tweet & Dave in which kids can play along on a smartphone or tablet with three young friends who go on adventures and ask multiple choice questions about their quests throughout the show.

Other new series include Boj, an animated series which features the exploits of a free-spirited 5-year-old-bilby (Australian marsupial); Driftwood Bay, a mixed-media animated show about the adventures on an island that exists in the imagination of a little girl; and Tree Fu Tom, which follows the adventures of  a boy who straps on a power belt and, through movement magic called "Tree Fu" transforms into a tiny, mighty magical superhero.

The network has also renewed such shows as The Chica Show and LazyTown, said network officials.

Sprout has also spruced up its website to improve user functionality and offer visitors more character-based activities through more than 100 new online games as well as a growing library of mobile apps.

“Sprout's continued investment in high-quality programming, with a focus on original content, coupled with our deep commitment to deliver purposeful, engaging content for parents and children to enjoy together drive our month over month growth," said Sandy Wax, President of Sprout in a statement. "As we continue on this upward trend it is essential that we actively pursue new and exciting ways for families to engage with our content across various platforms, while remaining true to our co-viewing DNA."

R. Thomas Umstead

R. Thomas Umstead serves as senior content producer, programming for Multichannel News, Broadcasting + Cable and Next TV. During his more than 30-year career as a print and online journalist, Umstead has written articles on a variety of subjects ranging from TV technology, marketing and sports production to content distribution and development. He has provided expert commentary on television issues and trends for such TV, print, radio and streaming outlets as Fox News, CNBC, the Today show, USA Today, The New York Times and National Public Radio. Umstead has also filmed, produced and edited more than 100 original video interviews, profiles and news reports featuring key cable television executives as well as entertainers and celebrity personalities.