Published 20th May 2024

Aardman launches 'Shaun the Sheep & Friends' FAST channel

Aardman has today announced the launch of ‘Shaun the Sheep & Friends’, a brand-new TV channel available now on Xumo Play, and coming soon on VIZIO WatchFree+ and Samsung TV Plus in the United States.

Shaun the Sheep & Friends is a free ad-supported TV (FAST) channel dedicated to premium, hilarious, heartwarming and action-packed family entertainment. Aardman content available to watch on the platform includes, Shaun the Sheep, Timmy Time and Learning Time with Timmy, Wallace & Gromit, The Very Small Creatures, Lloyd of the Flies: The Adventures of Arachnofly, Morph, as well as behind the scenes, crafts, and more.

Aardman is renowned for its multi-award-winning productions and has been recognised by major awards and festivals all over the world. The studio currently holds four Academy Awards® with a further nine nominations, 15 BAFTAs with a further 23 nominations and has won 6 International Emmys.

Viewers will also have access to Aardman’s distribution portfolio of quality animated content from leading animation studios, including Interstellar Ella (Fabrique Fantastique, Apartment 11), Pop Paper City (LoveLove Films), Happy the Hoglet and Sol (Paper Owl Films), Alphablocks and Numberblocks (Blue Zoo), with more to join in the coming months.

With 8 out of 10 households having a Smart TV* and over half of US households now using a FAST service **, platforms are eager for premium and trusted content for family audiences.

To coincide with the FAST channel launch, Aardman will also launch over 12 shows on demand via Xumo Play and Samsung TV Plus, increasing the ways for audiences to access content in the way they want to.

Laura Taylor-Williams, Head of Digital and Strategic Development at Aardman said: “Our TV channel launch is a key part of our US digital strategy; where our goal is to engage with audiences wherever they are. In a fragmented market, we see FAST channels as helping audiences discover content and aiding onward watching via other ways, whether that be AVOD, SVOD, TVOD.

“Our channel has a wealth of much-loved and award-winning shows curated with bespoke behind the scenes content, branded craft and drawing tutorials. Shaun The Sheep & Friends will have dedicated content blocks for preschoolers, older kids and the whole family. A channel, trusted by parents, that will seek to not only entertain audiences but could help inspire the next generation of animators.

“Scheduling new series alongside Aardman family favourites, we will introduce audiences to fantastic new brands from Aardman’s acclaimed independent producer partners.”

“Shaun the Sheep & Friends joins a growing collection of family-friendly channels on Xumo Play,” said Stefan Van Engen, Vice President of Content Programming and Partnerships, Xumo. “With programming beloved by many across the U.S., the launch of this new channel will give our viewers another great option in family entertainment.”

“At VIZIO, we’re committed to serving up high quality entertainment for audiences of all ages,” said Greg Barnard, Senior Director of Content Acquisitions & Strategy, VIZIO. “Soon, families can enjoy the Shaun the Sheep & Friends FAST channel on VIZIO WatchFree+ with no downloads or subscriptions required.”

*Source: Kantar Media, October 2023

** Source: Hub Entertainment, Connected Home 2024 Report