Workshops on Children’s TV Programmes at TVK and RTB

Workshops on Children’s TV Programmes at TVK and RTB

This autumn I had the pleasure of conducting 2 in-country workshops on “Children’s TV Programmes” organized by AIBD with the support of NRK. The first workshop was held in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, hosted by National Television of Cambodia (TVK) from 14 to 18 October with a group of 12 participants. Then I conducted the second activity with 11 participants from Radio Television Brunei (RTB) in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei from 4 to 9 November 2013.

14 – 18 October 2013, National Television of Cambodia (TVK)

We focused on trends in international children’s programmes, children and the Web, transmedia, different age groups and how to work with children on television and creativity in the development of the programmes. Part of the workshop included exercises in writing and drama and the participants took part actively and enthusiastically in these activities.

The fact is there is a digital war going on in the Children’s World. They are fighting for your children’s mind and money, if you are not there for the kids, others will be there. So you must take care of your own culture and identity. Children today must relate to global media to a far greater extent than before, but children need to also take their own cultural ballast with them in order to be able to understand and accept other cultures, values and religions.

4 – 9 November 2013, Radio Television Brunei (RTB)

Since my first meeting with Asian Children programmes in 1996, I have seen a qualitative development in children’s programming. In many countries, broadcasters have also increased the budgets for children’s programmes while in other countries there is less resource for the production of children’s programmes than for programmes for adults. But there is still a great interest in learning and preparing for production of children’s programmes.

In these workshops the participants were split into groups with the task of developing and creating programmes for children: drama and game shows. The participants showed a great enthusiasm in the pitch of these projects.

It was very nice to conduct activities where I feel that different cultural backgrounds disappear in the interest of working with children, in enjoyment and humor.

By Kalle Fürst
Consultant for NRK and Director of Fürst & Far Film and Fjernsyn