RTÉ KIDSjr facts for kids
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| Country | Ireland |
|---|---|
| Broadcast area | Republic of Ireland Northern Ireland |
| Headquarters | Donnybrook, Dublin |
| Programming | |
| Language(s) | English Irish |
| Picture format | 1080p 16:9 (HDTV) (RTÉ Player & Sky Glass) 576i 16:9 (SDTV) |
| Ownership | |
| Owner | Raidió Teilifís Éireann |
| Sister channels | RTÉ One RTÉ2 RTÉ News RTÉ Kids |
| History | |
| Launched | 20 September 2010 (programming block) 27 May 2011 (simulcast channel) 15 April 2013 (stand-alone channel) |
| Former names | RTÉjr (2010–2025) |
| Availability | |
| Terrestrial | |
| See separate section | |
| Streaming media | |
| See separate section | |
RTÉ KIDSjr is an Irish children's television channel. It is free to watch and is owned by RTÉ. The channel mostly shows programs for kids aged 2 to 7. However, it also has some cartoons for older children. RTÉ KIDSjr is part of the larger RTÉ Kids family of programs.
The channel broadcasts for 12 hours every day, from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM. You can also watch its shows online or on mobile devices. RTÉ KIDSjr works alongside its sister channel, RTÉ Kids, which is on RTÉ2. Before 2025, there was also a radio service called RTÉ Jr Radio.
Contents
The Story of RTÉ KIDSjr
How it Started: A Programming Block
RTÉjr first began as a special block of children's shows. This block was shown on the public service broadcaster RTÉ2. It launched on 20 September 2010. This new block took the place of an older children's program called Den Tots.
A Special Animated Series for Kids
On 3 May 2011, RTÉjr showed a very special cartoon called Punky. This was the first animated series in the world to focus on a girl with Down syndrome. Punky was shown daily. It was designed by an award-winning Irish company called Monster Animation and Design.
Becoming Its Own Channel for Young Viewers
RTÉ decided to create a whole television channel just for RTÉjr. This new channel started on 27 May 2011, at 11:00 AM. The channel does not show any advertisements. This is because RTÉ has a rule not to show ads to children under six years old.
By April 2013, the channel began to have its own full schedule of shows. It was no longer just a block of programs. It became a stand-alone channel with its own schedule and new programs. On 15 April 2013, it launched 14 newly created shows. These included a bilingual show called Spraoi and a dance show named Move It!. It also featured RTÉjr Workshop.
The Rebrand to RTÉ KIDSjr
On 26 November 2025, the RTÉjr channel and its programming block changed their name. They became known as RTÉ KIDSjr. This change happened after TRTÉ also rebranded to RTÉ Kids in 2024.
Where You Can Watch RTÉ KIDSjr
You can watch RTÉ KIDSjr in almost all homes in Ireland. It is available through a service called Saorview. The channel also became available on Virgin Media Ireland on 15 March 2012. On Sky Ireland, it launched on channel 624 (or 635 in Northern Ireland) on 15 April 2013. People outside Ireland can watch shows online or through mobile apps.
Watching on Cable TV
- Virgin Media (Ireland): Channel 600
Watching on Internet TV (IPTV)
- eir TV (Ireland): Channel 612
- Vodafone (Ireland): Channel 600
Watching on Satellite TV
- Sky (Northern Ireland): Channel 621
- Sky (Ireland): Channel 616
- Saorsat (Ireland): Channel 7
Watching Online
- RTÉ Player (Ireland): Watch live
Watching on Free-to-Air TV
- Saorview (Ireland): Channel 17
What to Watch on RTÉ KIDSjr
RTÉ KIDSjr offers many different types of shows. These include live-action programs and animated cartoons. Most shows are either in Irish or English. Many of the programs are made in Ireland. Examples include Boy Girl Dog Cat Mouse Cheese and Puffin Rock. The channel also shows some programs from other places, mainly from the BBC.
Its main program is hosted by popular presenters. These include Emma O'Driscoll, Muireann NiChiobhain, and Clara Murray. They are joined by their puppet friends, Séamus the dog and Bláithín the flower fairy.
Logos of RTÉ KIDSjr
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This logo was used from 2010 until 2025.
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This logo has been used since 2025.
