TORONTO, April 11, 2016 /CNW/ - Today TVO announced that while it will continue to air the daily Gisèle's Big Backyard program block, in-house production of the short interstitial segments will end in May. With an inventory of over 800 interstitial segments for Gisèle's Big Backyard, there is sufficient content to provide a quality educational experience to pre-school viewers during the 6am to 3pm program block.
"I would like to thank the cast, puppeteers, production team and crew of Gisèle's Big Backyard, especially host and namesake Gisèle Corinthios, for unwavering dedication in inspiring our youngest minds to be successful in school and in life," said Marney Malabar, Director, Kids TV.
"With limited resources, TVO must make difficult choices. Regrettably, in-house production of the short interstitial segments will cease, but we will be able to continue to serve our two to four year old pre-school audience with our inventory of Gisèle's Big Backyard for years to come," added Malabar.
This announcement impacts approximately six employees and seven hours of in-house production per year.
There will be no visible changes to viewers, with children still able to enjoy favourites like Paw Patrol, Hi Opie!, Doozers and Alphabet Goop each day, introduced by learning lessons from Gisèle and the team.
This announcement does not affect The Space, TVO's afternoon programming block designed for school-age children.
As the technological extension of Ontario's public education system, TVO's vision is to create a better world through the power of learning. TVO provides learning opportunities for Ontarians through innovative educational products, in-depth current affairs, groundbreaking documentaries, and award-winning TVOKids resources both inside and outside the classroom. TVO is funded primarily by the Province of Ontario and is a registered charity supported by sponsors and thousands of donors. For more information, visit tvo.org.
Where to find TVO
Media contact: Jeff Rohrer, Director, Communications, 416.484.2735, [email protected]