On Screen Manitoba

Winnipeg Companies Bridge Gap Between Television and Web to Entertain and Educate Children about the Environment

In this digital age, gone are the days of encyclopedias and other archaic supplementary learning tools. Information has never been more accessible as it is through the Internet, and children across Canada are embracing this valuable learning tool.

An innovative team in Winnipeg is fostering that love of cyber learning by creating an “edutainment” website that teaches children about the wonders of our planet and the importance of nurturing it, while also learning about Canadian history and Aboriginal culture.

Elemental Motion Media, Media RendezVous and Positive Productions have partnered to develop an online world for Planet ECHO, a Canadian children’s television series. This dynamic team brings together specialists in the areas of television production, web development and interactive design to create an innovative website for the series, which premiered on January 8th, 2011 on Aboriginal Peoples Television Network (OSM member) and later in 2011 on Knowledge and SCN. Hosted by Winnipeg brothers, Andy and Chuck Clément (OSM member), the series features a maniacal eco-scientist and his beloved giant pink guinea pig, skateboarding puppets, environmentally themed science stories, as well as snapshots of Canada’s National Parks and Aboriginal heritage.

Simon Burgess, Creative Director of Elemental Motion Media, says, “In the digital age, children have access to a huge amount of information, so there’s a lot of competition out there. By making content fun and interactive, we can get kids participating in learning about the environment, their heritage, and all the cool things there are to do in the Canadian outdoors.

The Planet ECHO website will give users access to videos, games, quizzes and exclusive online content. The website will also include a unique navigation device called the EchoCode, which bridges the gap between the television series and the website. These EchoCodes appear throughout the television show, and once entered on the website, allow the user to unlock special features, access exclusive content and participate in special online adventures.

To ensure that Canadian media producers remain competitive globally and find their audiences regardless of where they choose to watch their favourite programs, the federal government has mandated that every Canada Media Fund project develop and implement a trans-media strategy with content showcased in a minimum of two platforms, including television.

Charles Clément, President of Media RendezVous says, “With viewers demanding ultimate flexibility and control in terms of where and how they watch their shows, this synergy between television and the Internet is not simply a fad, and our roles as television producers has evolved to becoming screen producers, regardless of whether that screen is a movie, television or iPhone screen!”