TORONTO – With Canadian families at home for the foreseeable future thanks to the Covid-19 crisis, CBC continues to release new original content across all platforms including CBC Kids, the free CBC Gem streaming service, and CBC Podcasts.
This week, CBC Kids introduced the daily program CBC Kids Hang Time With Tony and Janaye, available live on the CBC Kids’ Facebook page at 3 p.m. ET, featuring music, stories, games and more. Also, beginning April 5, CBC Kids programming will be extended by 90 minutes on Sunday mornings, with content for preschoolers aged two to six now airing on CBC from 6 to 9:30 a.m.
Indigenous preschool series Anaana’s Tent (13×22, Taqqut Productions, Canada) will launch all episodes on CBC Gem on Friday, April 17, with versions available in English and Inuktitut. In a very special tent in the Arctic, Rita Claire and her husky Qimmiq learn new songs, words and stories with the help of some animated friends and Inuit performers, says the release.
There is much more here about the content CBC is releasing for kids and tweens (like The Next Step, coming to Gem April 10th) this week and this month.
CBC Kids News, the news site for Canadian kids ages nine to 13, continues to operate remotely and publish age-appropriate and informative daily updates on the Covid-19 situation and how it is affecting kids across the country. CBC Kids News will host an Instagram Live Q&A on Wednesday, April 8 at 3:30 p.m. ET featuring public health expert Cathy Egan, who will answer questions from kids about Covid-19.
Speaking of answering kids questions, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and chief public health officer Theresa Tam will do just that on Sunday. Kids may submit their questions from Thursday, April 2 at 2:30 p.m. EDT to Friday, April 3 at 6 p.m. EDT by email to CBC Kids News at cbckidsnews@cbc.ca for English speakers and via the MAJ website or Zone Jeunesse on Radio-Canada.ca for French speakers.
Prime Minister Trudeau and Dr. Tam will answer select questions in a video conference that will be available simultaneously on the CBC Kids News and MAJ platforms, and broadcast on CBC TV, CBC Gem and ICI TÉLÉ on Sunday, April 5 at 9 a.m. EDT. CBC/Radio-Canada will make this video conference available to all broadcasters.
CBC also announced a new one hour show for adults launching this Sunday. What’re You At? With Tom Power (pictured) will premier this Sunday, April 5 at 8 p.m. (8:30 NT) on CBC TV and CBC Gem. “Welcoming audiences into his home for a weekly national catch up during these unprecedented times, award-winning host Tom Power will share an uplifting and inspiring mix of interviews, storytelling, musical performances and perspectives as he checks in with Canadians across the country,” says the press release.
Each Sunday, Power will connect virtually with Canadians on the frontlines
and from all walks of life, including artists and storytellers, musicians offering intimate performances from their homes, and everyday heroes helping their families and communities. Each show will incorporate a mix of live and pre-taped segments.
This Sunday’s debut episode will feature an interview with Schitt’s Creek co-creator, showrunner and star Daniel Levy ahead of the hit comedy’s finale; a performance by groundbreaking JUNO Award-winning singer and songwriter Jessie Reyez, and conversations with Canadians in their communities sharing how they are navigating this challenging time, including three first responders.
“Back home in Newfoundland when you see someone you ask ‘What’re you at?’ There is a debate on the spelling but it generally means ‘How are you?’ or ‘How are you holding up?’,” said Power, in the release. “At a time when we’re all searching for meaning and connection, I am honoured to have this opportunity to check in with how Canadians are doing each week and celebrate those who are making a difference in their communities.”
