View source for Kika (TV channel)

{{short description|German free-to-air television channel}}
{{Expand German|KiKa|date=October 2025}}
{{About|the German children's television channel|other uses|Kika (disambiguation)}}
{{Infobox television channel
| name = Kika
| logo = Kika 2012.svg
| logo_alt = 
| logo_size = 200px
| logo_caption = Logo used since 2012
| launch_date = {{Start date and age|1997|01|01|df=yes|p=yes}}
| picture_format = [[720p]] [[HDTV]]<br />{{small|(downscaled to [[576i]] for the [[SDTV]] feed)}}
| headquarters = [[Erfurt]], Germany
| language = [[German language|German]]
| owner = [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] and [[ZDF]]
| area = {{hlist|[[Germany]]|[[Austria]]|[[Switzerland]]|[[Liechtenstein]]|[[Belgium]]|[[Luxembourg]]}}
| sister_channels = 
| timeshift_service = 
| website = {{URL|http://www.kika.de/}}
| former_names = Der Kinderkanal <small>(1997–2000)</small>
| terr_serv_1 = [[Digital terrestrial television]]
| terr_chan_1 = Multiplexes vary depending on location
| online_serv_1 = kika.de
| online_chan_1 = [https://www.kika.de/live/live-100 Watch live]
| 3gmobile serv 1 = 
}}

'''Kika''' (currently stylised as '''KiKA''', formerly as '''KI.KA'''; formally {{lang|de|Der Kinderkanal von ARD und ZDF}}, {{Translation|The Children's Channel of [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] and [[ZDF]]}}) is a German [[free-to-air]] [[television channel]] based in [[Erfurt]], [[Germany]]. It is managed by a joint venture by public-service broadcasters<ref>{{Cite web |title=KiKA von ARD und ZDF |url=https://www.mdr.de/unternehmen/informationen/standorte-programme/kika-kinderkanal-fernsehen-programm-kikaninchen-angebote-streaming-100.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240425023215/https://www.mdr.de/unternehmen/informationen/standorte-programme/kika-kinderkanal-fernsehen-programm-kikaninchen-angebote-streaming-100.html |archive-date=2024-04-25 |access-date=2024-06-22 |language=de}}</ref> ARD and ZDF. Its intended audience is children and the youth, devoid of advertising, and it is generally watched by children 3 to 13. The [[Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk|MDR]] is responsible for its playout.<ref>{{Cite web |title=About us. ARD |url=http://www.ard.de/download/564240/ARD_Brochure_2011_English.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190215010858/http://www.ard.de/download/564240/ARD_Brochure_2011_English.pdf |archive-date=2019-02-15 |access-date=2019-03-29}}</ref>

The channel also repeats shows, such as ''[[Tabaluga#Tabaluga tivi|Tabaluga tivi]]'' from ZDF's main channel.

==History==
In the channel’s early years, the program consisted mostly of series and shows that were already being broadcast on ARD and ZDF. Whole programs were being broadcast simultaneously on the main channels and the children’s channel, for example the afternoon program of ZDF. Kika showed German as well as international series, like cartoon classics from the 1970s and 80s (''[[Heidi, Girl of the Alps|Heidi]]'', ''[[Maya the Honey Bee|Biene Maja]]'', ''[[Vicky the Viking|Wickie]]'', ''[[Little Amadeus]]'' or ''[[The Wonderful Adventures of Nils (TV series)|Nils Holgersson]]''). Classics of children’s TV like film versions of [[Astrid Lindgren]] books or the [[Augsburger Puppenkiste]] were also regularly being broadcast.

After a time, more original broadcasts started appearing in Kika’s program, like ''[[Schloss Einstein]]'', and ''[[The Tribe (1999 TV series)|The Tribe]]''.

The all-girl [[popular music]] band [[Saphir (band)|Saphir]] was formed of the 2007-2010 winners of the talent show {{lang|de|KI.KA LIVE — Beste Stimme gesucht!}} (Best Voice Wanted).

In July 2020, Kika announced that it would [[Germany in the Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2020|participate]] in the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest]] for the first time, with an entry for the [[Junior Eurovision Song Contest 2020|2020 edition]] written by singer-songwriter Levent Geiger, a finalist of ''{{ill|Dein Song|de}}'' in 2015 and 2019. The performer was decided in the national final ''Dein Song für Warschau'', won by Susan Oseloff.<ref name="susan jesc">{{Cite web |date=2020-09-02 |title=Susan is Germany's first Junior Eurovision Contestant! |url=https://junioreurovision.tv/story/susan-is-germanys-first-participant |access-date=2020-09-03 |website=junioreurovision.tv |publisher=EBU |archive-date=2020-09-22 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200922072445/https://junioreurovision.tv/story/susan-is-germanys-first-participant |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-07-08|title=Germany will participate at Junior Eurovision 2020|url=https://junioreurovision.tv/story/germany-will-participate-at-junior-eurovision-2020|access-date=2020-07-08|website=junioreurovision.tv|language=en|archive-date=2020-07-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708112755/https://junioreurovision.tv/story/germany-will-participate-at-junior-eurovision-2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

==Programming==
Since launch, Kika has aired [[Animation|animated]] and [[Live action|live-action]] series; however, due to changes in the programming, the former now predominate (85%). Besides animated series, the afternoon [[soap opera]] ''Schloss Einstein'' is currently the only [[live-action]] series in Kika's lineup during the day. There are only two other live-action shows, one of which is aired in the afternoon and the other in the evening. Some series, such as ''[[Pet Alien]]'', ''[[Being Ian]]'', and ''[[Jakers! The Adventures of Piggley Winks]]'', are aired daily, as Kika previously used to air different programming on weekdays and weekends. Separately, many programmes, especially older series, such as ''[[Pan Tau]]'', ''[[Pippi Longstocking]]'', and {{lang|de|Es war einmal}}, can be seen only on the ZDF and regional channels.

The channel sometimes airs repeats of old series. Similar to private TV channels, these series are broadcast as double features. Much of the older series which were broadcast from 1997 to 2004 are excluded from the lineup, partly due to ARD and ZDF no longer owning the broadcast rights.

One of Kika's older programmes, ''[[Augsburger Puppenkiste]]'', origuinally aired on Saturday and Sunday mornings and later went on hiatus four years but returned to the channel's lineup in April 2008.

Kika airs at least two movies a week on Fridays and Sundays; often animated films rather than live-action films.

==Mascot==
[[File:Bernddasbrot-puppenspieler.jpg|thumb|left|''Bernd das Brot'' and [[puppet]]eer Jörg Teichgraeber during an autograph session]]

Kika's [[mascot]] is the puppet character [[Bernd das Brot]], a chronically [[Depression (mood)|depressed]] loaf of bread.

==Announcers==
The channel uses live continuity announcers. Four of the most popular announcers were Juri Tetzlaff (1997–2010), Karsten Blumenthal (1997–2004), Singa Gätgens (1997–2010), and Lukas Koch (2003–2009).

==Kikaninchen==
[[File:2021-08-15 WikiEule in Erfurt 1DX 9598 by Stepro.jpg|thumb|A statue of Kikaninchen]]

[[Kikaninchen]]<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-11-05 |title=KiKANiNCHEN {{!}} KiKA |url=https://www.kika.de/kikaninchen/kikaninchen-114 |access-date=2024-11-10 |website=www.kika.de |archive-date=2024-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20241110201652/https://www.kika.de/kikaninchen/kikaninchen-114 |url-status=live }}</ref> is a segment on KiKA whose main character is a blue, friendly [[rabbit]], that is very popular among children in Germany. Kikaninchen is known for its entertainment, engaging children in fun and educational games with its friends, as well as featuring preschool shows during the segment. Kikaninchen airs only on [[weekdays]], between 6:10AM (after [[:de:Logo (Nachrichtensendung)|Logo!]]) and somewhere around 10:20AM (actual end time may vary). His friends are Anni, Jule and Christian. His [[catchphrase|famous catchphrase]] is "Dibedibedab"!

==Logos==
<gallery perrow="5">
File:Kinderkanal Logo alt.svg|(1997–2000)
File:Ehemaliges KI.KA-Logo.svg|(2000–2005)
File:KIKA-Logo.svg|(2005–2008)
File:KI.KA 2008.svg|(2008–2012)
File:Kika 2012.svg|Current logo since 14 February 2012
</gallery>

==See also==
*[[List of German language television channels]]

==References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
*{{official website}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20040913011406/http://www.tivi.de/fernsehen/tabaluga/start/index.html Tabaluga tivi's website] {{in lang|de}}

{{Television in Germany}}
{{ARD/ZDF}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ki.Ka}}
[[Category:Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk]]
[[Category:ARD (broadcaster)]]
[[Category:ZDF]]
[[Category:Television channels and stations established in 1997]]
[[Category:1997 establishments in Germany]]
[[Category:Children's television networks]]
[[Category:Commercial-free television networks]]
[[Category:Television stations in Germany]]
[[Category:German-language television stations]]
[[Category:Mass media in Erfurt]]