Helen Silver, chair of the ACTF board, was speaking at the launch of the organisation’s annual report for the 2024/25 financial year, during which it committed A$11.14m (US$7.28m) to production funding.
Silver declared children’s programming was “the most endangered screen content globally,” adding: “It is not seen as a driver of new subscriptions, so it does not attract large investments or licence fees in the way that landmark drama for adult audiences does.
“Whilst children’s content is seen as a subscription retention tool, that purpose can be achieved through re-licensing old favourites for children who might be discovering them for the first time.”
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ABC Children’s Programming from 2026 Showcase
Returning:
- DO NOT WATCH THIS SHOW
- FIZZY & SUDS
- GARDENING AUSTRALIA JUNIOR
- GINGER AND THE VEGESAURS
- GOOD GAME SPAWN SQUAD
- HARD QUIZ KIDS
- PLAY SCHOOL
New:
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Found an interesting article that describes how ABC have decreased the focus on older kids shows on TV since the demise of ABC ME.
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Apparantly 12 year olds watch Tipping Point. Fascinating
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ABC’s Children & Family lineup heats up this summer
Get ready for unmissable family viewing this summer on ABC Kids, ABC Family and ABC iview. The highly anticipated Shaun Tan’s Tales From Outer Suburbia will premiere on New Year’s Day, bringing to life Tans’ beloved illustrated stories and featuring the voice of Dawn French.
Costa and the crew are back for more outdoor escapades in Gardening Australia Junior Season 3, and adventures await with Ginger and the Vegesaurs Season 4. Dance with Tom celebrates First Nations storytelling through dance, and an all new Indigenous lullaby debuts in January from King Stingray.
Upcoming releases for ABC Children’s & Family:
Shaun Tan’s Tales From Outer Suburbia
Thursday 1 January at 6am on ABC iview and Sundays at 7:30pm on ABC Family
A 10-part adaptation of the best-selling illustrated book by Shaun Tan comes to the ABC after premiering at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in 2025. This cinematic series follows Klara and her brother Pim as they move to the suburbs with their mum Lucy (Geraldine Hakewill) and find there’s more to their new neighbourhood than meets the eye. As Pim and Klara navigate the quiet mysteries of everyday life, and adventures full of surprising and bizarre encounters, they must learn to support each other as a family and discover where they belong in this ever-changing world. Starring newcomers Brooklyn Davies and Felix Oliver Vergés.
Gardening Australia Junior Season 3
Thursday 1 January at 6am on ABC iview and Fridays at 7:05pm on ABC Kids
The nature-loving, spade-wielding kids are back with Costa, Hannah, Millie, Tammy and Clarence to explore, create and laugh in the garden. Whether it’s in a forest older than dinosaurs or a backyard teeming with tiny ants and beautiful bugs, Gardening Australia Junior is always ready to get grubby, dig deep and get amongst it.
Gurtha ŋhärana Lullaby with King Stingray
Monday 12 January at 6am on ABC iview and 7:25pm on ABC Kids
King Stingray’s Gurtha ŋhärana Lullaby brings viewers to saltwater Yolŋu Country in North-East Arnhem Land, sleeping and dreaming by the campfire. Listen to the sound of the wind blowing through the casuarina trees and the waves crashing on the beach. The fire is burning, slowly dying, and the moon is friendly, coming out in the distance. Children are slowly closing their eyes and dreaming of the stars.
Ginger and the Vegesaurs
Boxing Day Special episode: 26 December, 6am on ABC iview and 8:05am on ABC Kids
Season 4: Monday 19 January at 6am on ABC iview and weekdays at 8:05am on ABC Kids
Ginger the Tricarrotops and her baby Pea-Rex friends are back for their biggest adventures yet. They’ll come face to face with the lightning-fast Radishraptor, bounce past the Lycheemodus, dodge the pranks of the cheeky Baby Bananaraptor, and brave the stink-tastic roar of the mighty Onion-Rex!
Dance with Tom
Monday 2 February at 6am on ABC iview and weekdays at 8:55am on ABC Kids
Dance with Tom is an enchanting blend of live action and animation that brings to life vibrant stories of Australia’s First Nations culture through the universal language of dance. Set in the heart of the Yugambeh Language Region, Dance with Tom introduces young viewers to traditional dances inspired by the land, animals, and elements, as told through the eyes of Tom, a First Nations storyteller and dancer.
PRODUCTION CREDITS
Tales From Outer Suburbia: A Highly Spirited and Flying Bark Productions production for the ABC and BYUtv. Major production investment from Screen Australia and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation in association with the ABC. Produced in New South Wales and Western Australia with Siamese and financed with support from Screenwest. Adapted from Shaun Tan’s multi-award-winning book Tales from Outer Suburbia. Directed by Noel Cleary. Creative Director: Shaun Tan. Producers: Sophie Byrne and Alexia Gates-Foale. Co-producer: Francesca Hope. Executive Producers: Barbara Stephen, Bernadette O’Mahony, Andra Johnson Duke, Francesca Hope, Jeff Simpson, Julia Adams, Karen Vermeulen, Libbie Doherty. Acting Head of ABC’s Children & Family: Mary-Ellen Mullane. International sales by the Australian Children’s Television Foundation.
Ginger and the Vegesaurs Season 4: Commissioned by the ABC. A Cheeky Little Media production. Production investment from BBC, the Australian Children’s Television Foundation, Studio 100, and the ABC. Financed with support from Screen NSW and Mind the Gap Financing. Post, digital and visual effects supported by Screen NSW. Created by Gary Eck and Nick O’Sullivan. Executive Producers Patrick Egerton, David Webster, Gary Eck, Nick O’Sullivan, Bernadette O’Mahony. Directed by Steve Moltzen. Acting Head of ABC’s Children & Family: Mary-Ellen Mullane, Commissioning Editor: Amanda Isdale. Worldwide Distribution by Studio 100.
Gardening Australia Junior Season 3: An ABC Production Acting Head of ABC’s Children & Family: Mary-Ellen Mullane. Executive Producer: Lyndal Mebberson. Commissioning Editor Nicole Cheek. Worldwide Distribution: ABC Commercial.
Dance with Tom: Commissioned by the ABC. An Allstory Pictures Production. Production funding from Screen Queensland. Developed and produced in association with the ABC. Acting Head of ABC’s Children & Family: Mary-Ellen Mullane, Commissioning Editor: Amanda Isdale. Produced and filmed on the Traditional Country of Jagera and Turrbul people, Queensland. Worldwide Distribution: ABC Commercial.
Gurtha ŋhärana Lullaby with King Stingray: Commissioned by the ABC. Produced by Vishus Productions. Original song: Theo Dimathaya Burarrwanga (Yolŋu Matha) and Roy Django George Kellaway. Director: Chantelle Murray (Bardi/Bunial), Producer, Art Direction: Luke Jurevicius, Illustrator and CGI artist: Jeremiah Osbourne (Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara), Acting Head of ABC’s Children & Family: Mary-Ellen Mullane, Producer ABC: Kirra Homer (Wiradjuri), ABC Commissioning Editor: Nicole Cheek. Worldwide Distribution: ABC Commercial.
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Space Nova season 2 was the sole Australian winner at the 30th Asian Television Awards, held in Jakarta late last week. The animated series was named Best Children’s Programme.
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GINGER AND THE VEGESAURS BOXING DAY SPECIAL
FRIDAY 26 DECEMBER 8.05 AM
A Boxing Day Special for our little viewers., with Ginger and the Vegesaurs.
Ginger the Tricarrotops and her baby Pea-Rex friends are back for another adventure.
In this exciting new Boxing Day special episode, Ginger and the Peas babysit a mischievous Baby Bananaraptor that proves to be more than a handful.
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