VeggieTales launches.

Big Idea launched VeggieTales on Telemundo as part of the new “qubo” Saturday morning programming block, which also airs on NBC and the i network. In addition to the television debut, two Spanish language VeggieTales DVDs, Gideon: Tuba Warrior and Minnesota Cuke and the Search for Samson’s Hairbrush will be released on December 1. These two initiatives are the first tangible rollouts for Big Idea’s long-term Hispanic distribution strategy to provide family-friendly Spanish language programming to children.

“This is a milestone offering for Spanish-speaking children and their families who are looking for children’s programming with positive messages,” says Terry Pefanis, Big Idea’s COO. “VeggieTales, Penguins and LarryBoy are stories that kids love and entertainment parents trust. We are grateful for the opportunity to bring these shows to an even larger audience.”

To further the expansion of their Hispanic initiative, Big Idea is also developing local grassroots events to bring the VeggieTales characters to Hispanic neighborhoods; a Spanish-language web page full of games, parenting tools and interactive play; in-language VeggieGram email newsletters that are distributed to fans monthly; and a national live tour to bring families together for songs, dancing and positive life lessons! Big Idea will also be customizing their current 27 VeggieTales titles and bonus features for Hispanic audiences.

VeggieTales has helped teach children values like honesty, kindness, and forgiveness with its unique blend of humor, award-winning animation, and infectious “Silly Songs.” This fall marked the national television debut for the Big Idea properties, which have sold over 52 million videos since the company began in 1993. VeggieTales creator Phil Vischer is producing the 30-minute VeggieTales TV episodes, which have been tailored to meet Telemundo/NBC’s programming guidelines and national educational and informational (E/I) standards for children’s programming.

VeggieTales’ 3-2-1 Penguins and Larry Boy Adventures, also air weekly in Spanish as part of the new “qubo,” programming block. A venture from ION Media Networks, NBC Universal, Scholastic, Classic Media/Big Idea and Corus Entertainment’s Nelvana, the “qubo” initiative is to champion literacy and positive values through entertainment and represent an alliance of leading distribution and content providers in children’s television.