Qubo Television Channel (TV)

     Debuting in 2006, Qubo is a product of a variety of well-known production and literary companies such as NBC Universal and Scholastic Corporation. Qubo’s focus is as a “groundbreaking bilingual, multi-platform entertainment destination for children that focuses on literacy, values and healthy lifestyles while celebrating the unlimited possibilities of a child's imagination” (http://www.qubo.com/, 2010). Programs that air on Qubo usually have some literary counterpart such as Max and Ruby, Franklin, Maisy, and the Magic School Bus. Because of the familiarity children may have with the literary format, the televised editions can reinforce comprehension if used in conjunction with the associated book. Functioning alone, the televised programming will most likely only stimulate narrative skills and possibly phonological awareness. However, the Qubo website states that literacy is promoted as well as values and life lessons through a media format.

            To access Qubo, one must have digital cable access that supports the ION network. Some cable companies require the customer to purchase the ION channels separate from regular cable packages therefore increasing the general package cost.

Resources:

Qubo channel. (2010). About Qubo [website]. Retrieved from http://www.qubo.com/about.asp

Wikipedia. (2010). Qubo. Retrieved from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qubo.