Scholastic’s 9 Story Media Launches AVOD Service for Kids and Families

Scholastic and its 9 Story Media Group are getting into the free streaming business.

9 Story is launching a Scholastic-branded AVOD app in conjunction with Future Today. The free channel, featuring about 400 hours of programming to start, is available on Roku and Amazon Fire TV as of Wednesday and is slated to roll out on other platforms in the near future.

The service will feature several staples of 1990s kids television, including the classic Clifford the Big Red Dog, Magic School Bus and Goosebumps series, the 1990 Baby-Sitters Club and Animorphs, among other titles. It’s aimed at kids 12 and under and their families (including parents who likely grew up watching those shows).

Scholastic made a big investment in the Toronto-based 9 Story last year. The AVOD service comes on the heels of 9 Story debuting a number of Scholastic titles on paid VOD platforms earlier this year. The Scholastic app will also give Future Today, which runs free streamers Fawesome, HappyKids and iFood.tv, another entry point in the kids and family streaming arena.

“We’re seeing strong demand for quality nostalgic content, and the Scholastic brand is trusted by families everywhere,” said Elianne Friend, vp digital and distribution at 9 Story. “Future Today was the ideal partner to help us bring Scholastic’s beloved stories to new audiences. We’re excited to build on this momentum and continue expanding Scholastic Entertainment’s incredible catalog across global streaming platforms.”

Added David Di Lorenzo, senior vp kids and family at Future Today, “Scholastic books and programs have been a cornerstone of childhood for generations, bringing characters and lessons that stay with us for life. With this new app, we’re ensuring families everywhere will have access to timeless stories that entertain, educate and inspire, backed by a brand they know and trust.”